Sabatini and Associates, LLC

If you have been injured in an accident and are receiving medical treatment from a doctor, make sure when the doctor asks for your prior relevant medical history to disclose any previous injuries or conditions similar to the injuries suffered in the accident.  Do not withhold this information thinking that it will help your personal injury case.  In fact, it will seriously harm your case.  The insurance companies maintain a database containing a history of each and every injury claim a person has filed in the past.  So the insurance company knows of your prior injury claims. 

The insurance company is waiting to see if you disclose your past medical history to your doctor.  If you do not, count on the insurance company to use that non-disclosure against you.  So if you have suffered a back injury 5 years earlier and now suffered a new back injury or aggravated the old one as a result of a car accident, tell your treating physician about it. 

For more information about personal injury law and how to properly handle a personal injury case, please contact our attorneys today.

In many areas of the US right now, icy road conditions prevail. If you do not have to be driving on the road, the best safety tip when dealing with icy conditions is to not drive until the roads have been properly treated for ice. If, however, you must travel on icy roads here are a few basic safety tips to keep in mind:

Make sure all passengers are wearing seat belts.
Keep plenty of distance between cars. You never know when you will hit an icy spot.
If you do skid, turn the wheels into the direction of the skid.
At any intersection stay alert even if you have the green light and keep a lookout for any vehicle that maybe skidding into the intersection.

Here is a list of basic motorcycle riding tips for all riders out on Connecticut roads and highways.
Always wear a helmet with a face shield or protective eyewear — Wearing a helmet is the best way to protect against severe head injuries. A motorcycle rider not wearing a helmet is five times more likely to sustain a critical head injury.
Wear appropriate gear — Make sure to wear protective gear and clothing that will minimize the amount of injuries in case of an accident or a skid. Wearing leather clothing, boots with nonskid soles, and gloves can protect your body from severe injuries. Consider attaching reflective tape to your clothing to make it easier for other drivers to see you.
Follow traffic rules — Obey the speed limit; the faster you go the longer it will take you to stop. Be aware of local traffic laws and rules of the road.
Ride defensively — Don’t assume that a driver can see you, as nearly two-thirds of all motorcycle accidents are caused by a driver violating a rider’s right of way. You should always ride with your headlights on; stay out of a driver’s blind spot; signal well in advance of any change in direction; and watch for turning vehicles.
Keep your riding skills honed through education — Complete a formal riding education program, get licensed and take riding courses from time to time to develop riding techniques and to sharpen your street-riding strategies.
Be awake and ride sober — Don’t drink and ride, you could cause harm to yourself and others. Additionally, fatigue and drowsiness can impair your ability to react, so make sure that you are well rested when you hit the road.

Despites sometimes initial subtle symptoms, blows to the head can cause long term traumatic brain injuries. Every year in the United States, almost 1.5 million people suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI).  There are many TBI causes including car accidents, slip and falls, and physical assaults.  Traumatic Brain Injury is defined by the Brain Injury Association of America as a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the functioning of the brain.  While not all head trauma results in TBI, it sometimes difficult to determine the severity of the brain injury. Approximately, 50,000 people die each year due to TBI.  The Center for Disease Control estimates that more than 3 million Americans living with TBI require long term assistance in performing daily activities. 

TBI is often missed in initial medical examinations following a head injury.  Initial symptoms can be subtle and can be easily overlooked.  The effects of TBI can be delayed and not evident for days or weeks.  People suffering from TBI experience cognitive difficulties with attention and memory, sleep problems, confusion, speech problems, mood and emotional disorders, and sensory and perceptual problems. TBI can also cause physical seizures, chronic pain, increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and other brain disorders.