New Haven County Personal Injury Law Blog

In an effort to hold drunk drivers accountable and prevent further loss, Connecticut has cracked down on drunk driving recently. As previous posts have mentioned, increased ticketing and harsher DWI consequences are just some efforts lawmakers have made to reduce serious injuries caused by a drunk driver. Lawmakers, however, are not the only group working to reduce drunk driving accidents; Connecticut schools are also in on the fight.

Seymour and Oxford High School students recently participated in "Take a Stand," an initiative to alert teens to the harsh consequences of drinking and driving. The event intentionally occurs just before junior prom.

Legislators in Connecticut are currently considering two bills that could have a substantial impact on the filing of malpractice claims in the event of a medical error. One bill would make it less difficult for individuals to bring medical malpractice claims in the state.

However, a separate bill before the House would increase the burden of proof for a medical malpractice claim related to emergency care. This comes at a time when it appears Connecticut's emergency rooms will receive an all-time high number of patients, estimated to include 1.6 million visits. Other states are also considering laws related to medical malpractice claims in light of recent developments in health care.

In Connecticut, two crosses embedded along Route 44 honor the memory of two young men, 17 and 18 years old, who lost their lives in a tragic car accident last September. According to police, driving at high speed contributed to the accident. Sadly, those crosses are not the only memorials positioned along Connecticut roads. The simple tributes stand as silent testaments, reminding all, particularly the Connecticut police, that negligent driving can result in serious injury and sometimes fatality.

These tragic accidents prompted Connecticut State Police to engage in a series of "ticket blitzes" recently. The police shift that issues the most tickets in a certain area during a specific period of time wins a pizza. The ticket sprees were fiercely contested because they resemble efforts to fill a quota, which are illegal under a Connecticut statute. However, an investigation into the blitzes revealed no wrongdoing, and they will continue.

Since drunk driving accidents cause serious injuries and substantial medical expenses, Connecticut is taking the dangers of drunk drivers seriously. The state recently passed a law that requires individuals with multiple drunk driving accident convictions to use a vehicle disabling device on any car the convicted individual plans to drive.

Vehicle disabling devices, specifically Alcohol Ignition Interlocks Devices, do something for which the police do not have sufficient time; they measure blood alcohol content by requiring the driver to blow into a tube each time the driver gets into the driver's seat.