Car accidents can occur in the blink of an eye. One moment you are happily driving. In the next moment, everything is a mix of motion, noise and confusion—even a fender bender can leave you shaken and in a state of shock.

However, thanks to modern technology, most people involved in car accidents now have smartphones—a technology that can be of great assistance following an accident.

Call for Help

Not every accident requires an ambulance or law enforcement to come to the scene. Still, you may need help. Whether it is calling 911 or contacting a friend for a ride after an accident, your smartphone can make it easier to obtain the help you need.

Take Pictures of the Scene

Most mobile phones are much more that just a phone—they are also equipped with a camera. Law enforcement does not investigate every Connecticut car crash. However, you can use your smartphone to take pictures of everything from the damage to the cars to the entire intersection. In some cases, you may even want to take pictures of your injuries.

The more information and pictures you can take of an accident’s aftermath, the easier it may be for your attorney to assist you in getting the compensation to which you are legally entitled.

Get Contact Information

Immediately following a car accident is generally the best time for obtaining any information about what has happened. Drivers in Connecticut are required to exchange information after a car accident. You may not have a pen and paper, but a smartphone can be used to record any insurance information for the other driver or drivers involved. Additionally, you can use your phone to store contact information from any witnesses. Once you leave the scene of the accident, you may never hear from the witnesses again.

Share Your Insurance Information

Many insurance companies have smartphone apps that make it easy to always have your insurance information with you. If you utilize one of these apps, you can then easily share your policy information with police officers and involved drivers. Moreover, within the app, you will have the phone number you need to notify your insurance company of the accident. Some carriers even let you begin filing a claim right from the app.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a car accident, protect your rights by contacting a knowledgeable Westport personal injury lawyer right away. Call Richard H. Raphael, Attorney at Law at 203-226-6168 to schedule your consultation today.

Source:

https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/title_52.htm

More than one-third of all vehicle fatalities that occur in the United States are alcohol-related. Over 10,000 people die every year in an accident where at least one driver had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 or more. Yet, despite all the education, touting the dangers of drinking and driving, a new study reveals that millions of Americans are still not getting the message.

According to new statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than four million people admit to driving drunk at least once in the previous month. This works out to more than 120 million instances in a year’s time.

The study, which was published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), also found that the area of the country with the highest number of people who admitted to getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking where in the Midwest.

When it comes to gender, men were responsible for 80 percent of the four million episodes of drinking and driving. Additionally, young men who are between the ages of 21 and 34 years of age were responsible for more than 30 percent of all the instances cited.

Binge drinking appears to be a particular issue with driving while drinking. More than 85 percent of those who participated admitted to binge drinking. Those binge drinkers accounted for 60 percent of those drunken driving instances. The binge drinkers also reported multiple instances of alcohol-impaired driving within the past 30 days.

Although the results of the study may seem shocking, given the negative associations society now has towards drunk driving compared to decades ago, the study’s authors did cite current strategies which do work when it comes to combatting drunk driving. Those cited included the nationwide recognition of 0.08 BAC driving statutes, law enforcement sobriety checkpoints which are announced to the public ahead of time, and the use of alcohol ignition interlocks for those convicted of drunk driving. The study also cited alcohol tax increases as another successful determent to drunk driving.

If you have been injured in a crash caused by a drunk driver, contact an experienced Westport personal injury attorney today to find out what legal recourse you may have against the other driver for your pain and loss.

Sources:

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2015/08/06/over-4-million-americans-say-theyve-driven-drunk-in-prior-month-cdc

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6430a2.htm

Most travelers dread driving around or near a tractor trailer. Big rigs can be intimidating because of their size, and can cause a legitimate uneasiness for those driving near one due to the dangers they may cause.

Every year in the U.S., there are nearly 4,000 people killed in tractor trailer crashes, and almost more than 105,000 people are seriously injured. Over 300,000 tractor trailers are involved in accidents every year. According to figures released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTA), almost half of those accidents involve a truck and a vehicle both traveling straight at the time of the crash.

Being stuck behind a tractor trailer can be frustrating due to the massive size of the vehicle. Moreover, it can be impossible to see what is ahead or what is coming in the opposite direction because a tractor trailer can block one’s view entirely. However, new technology by one company may help solve this issue for many drivers.

Samsung Technology Gives Cars a Better View 

Samsung, the company known for the manufacturing of televisions, phones, and other electronics, has begun mounting giant screens on the back of their company’s tractor trailers which gives the cars behind the truck a clear view of what is in front of the truck.

The screen is actually a video wall which uses four outside monitors. Wireless cameras are placed in the front of the truck and transmit to the monitors in real time. The technology enables drivers behind the tractor trailer to prepare for any situations which may be coming at them but are unable to see because of the truck’s size. Additionally, the screens enable drivers to see what is in the next lane, or coming at them from opposing traffic, therefore assisting when trying to pass the truck.

Samsung has been testing the screens in Argentina, where the accident fatality rate is extremely high. According to the country’s statistics, one person is killed every hour in a vehicle accident.

A Compassionate Westport Personal Injury Attorney Can Help

If you have been injured in an accident caused by a tractor trailer, please contact an experienced Westport personal injury attorney to find out what compensation you may be entitled to for your pain and loss. We are here to help you.