Our team at Jacobs & Wallace is proud to announce that both partners of the firm have been recognized as 2020 Super Lawyers. Partner Adele Jacobs was named among the 2020 New England Super Lawyers, and Partner Andrew Wallace was listed as a Super Lawyers Rising Star.

This is not the first year our partners have received this great honor. Adele Jacobs has been included on the list of New England Super Lawyers since 2007. Andrew Wallace has been a Rising Star since 2016.

Recognitions from Super Lawyers are not easily obtained. Super Lawyers must attain a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The patented selection process includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations of over 70 practice areas to highlight the elite lawyers in the industry. Only 5% of lawyers in New England are named Super Lawyers every year, and no more than 2.5% percent are listed as Rising Stars.

This honor is a true testament to our partners’ dedication to the firm and commitment to supporting clients seek the justice they deserve. Our team could not be prouder of your accomplishments. Congratulations to you both!

Car crashes are the leading cause of death for children in the United States. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.), 675 children ages 12 and under were killed in car crashes in 2017. Sadly, approximately 40 percent of these deaths could have been prevented if the child was properly buckled up.

Child Passenger Safety Week is an annual safety initiative aimed to reduce child vehicle fatalities by spreading awareness about car seat safety. Created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (N.H.T.S.A.), this annual event provides parents with education and resources to help ensure their children are riding safely.

From September 20 to September 26, national and local organizations in Connecticut will be participating in Child Passenger Safety initiatives to help keep children safe. Ending the week with National Seat Check Saturday, residents can visit car seat check sites in their community to gain peace of mind that their child’s car seat is correctly installed. They will also have the possibility to consult with experts on tips for a better fit.

Children cannot protect themselves in the car. It’s up to every Connecticut parent to properly use a car seat and stay informed on how these products can reduce their child’s risk of injuries. To start, we’ve compiled a few of the best need-to-know safety tips parents can use when it comes to car seat safety.

Car Seat Mistakes To Avoid

Choosing a car seat is not as easy as it used to be. Recommendations for car seats are ever-changing as our understanding of vehicle safety continues to expand. Unfortunately, as fast as information is gained, it doesn’t always reach the people who need it most.

So many parents still do not know which type of car seat is best for their child. Designs become more complicated every year. The N.H.T.S.A. estimates that 3 out of 4 car seats are being misused.

Some of the most common mistakes parents make when choosing and installing a car seat are the simplest errors to correct, including the type of seat, placement, and installation.

Car Seat Type

Choosing your child’s car seat is one of the most vital steps to keeping them safe in the car. Mistakes parents often make when shopping for or choosing a car seat include:

When parents are shopping for a car seat, their child’s size and age will determine which seat provides optimal protection. Certain brands and styles are not right for every child, and not every car seat is capable of following a child as they continue to grow.

Car seats that are old, damaged, and subject to a previous crash may not provide protection in an accident. A car seat’s and safety features can become stressed and weakened over time, leading to malfunctions and injuries.

Car Seat Placement

If you were to ask a dozen parents what the best position for a car seat was inside their vehicle, you would most likely get several different (and possibly dangerous) answers.

One of the most common errors parents make when installing car seats is flipping their child around too soon. In Connecticut, it’s the law that children must ride rear-facing until they are at least two-years-old, if not longer. Some safety experts have even suggested moving the age to five, stating that children are safer impact injuries in the rear-facing position.

Another mistake parents make when placing a car seat in a vehicle is putting a seat by the passenger side door. Safe Rides 4 Kids reports children are 43 percent safer when placed in the middle seat of a car. Passenger doors and windows increase a child’s risk for injuries if a car is struck on the side. The middle seat provides a lower risk for impact injuries, particularly in the case of direct collisions.

Installation

Car seats can save an average of 300 lives every year when used correctly. The N.H.T.S.A. predicts at least 59 percent of car seats are installed wrong when placed in a vehicle. Some of the most common installation mistakes highlighted by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia include:

 Failing The ‘Pinch Test’: The ‘pinch test’ involves the harness’s tightness once the child is buckled in. If you can pinch extra material when your child is in the seat, it is not tight enough.

Connecticut Car Seat Laws

Connecticut has specific laws regarding children in car seats that parents and guardians transporting children must follow to help keep children safe:

State laws are not enough to encourage parents to use proper safety precautions for their children in the car and not due to a lack of trying. Children are all different. Parents and guardians should seek additional resources specific to their child’s size and capabilities before making any decisions pertaining to their car seats.

Target Trade-In Deal

Car seats are expensive, and the price is one of the top reasons parents hold on to damaged and expired products. That’s why Target is offering a seat trade-in incentive to encourage customers to recycle old car seats and purchase a new model for a safer ride.

This year, Target is offering a 20% coupon to customers who trade in car seats now through 9/26. The program begins with customers dropping off their car seats in a designated box inside the store to receive a mobile coupon for future purchases.

To participate, you must download the Target App and scan the barcode on the drop-off box to receive the coupon. The coupon can be used on a new seat, stroller, or other select baby gear online or in-store.

Get Your Car Seat Checked!

In a 2016 study published by the Journal of Pediatrics, researchers found nearly 95 percent of parents are making at least one mistake when installing and securing car seats. There is no harm in getting your child’s car seat inspected for safety. A quick and simple inspection could highlight even a small error that could save your child’s life.

With National Seat Check Day around the corner, there are several different inspection sites Connecticut residents can visit. Most sites are open to the public but will require calling ahead for an appointment to ensure each family is granted an appropriate amount of time for their safety inspection.

These are some of the Fairfield County car seat fitting stations available:

Bethel Police Department

49 Plumtree Road, Bethel CT 06108
203-744-7900
hburnes@bethelpd.com
Officer Heather Burnes
Residents only
Appointment Only

Bristol Police Department

131 North Main Street, Bristol CT 06010
860-584-3017 ext. 3168
rmarcham@ci.bristol.ct.us
Sergeant Russ Marcham
Residents Only
Use the online form on the PD website to make an appointment

Bridgeport Hospital Yale New Haven Health

267 Grant Street
Bridgeport, CT
203-200-KIDS or 203-384-4390
Appointment Only one Wednesday month

Brookfield Police Department

63 Silverman Road
Brookfield, 06804
Contact: Mitchell Heller
203-775-2575
mheller@brookfieldct.gov
Appointment Only

The Car Seat Crew LLC

Nick@thecarseatcrew.com
www.thecarseatcrew.com
www.facebook.com/thecarseatcrew
Serving Fairfield County
Fee-based service at your location or ours

Danbury Police Department

375 Main Street,
Danbury CT 06810
203-743-6314
j.antonelli@danbury-ct.gov
Sgt. Antonelli
Residents/Employees Only
Appointment only 1st 3 Mondays of the Month

Darien Police Department

25 Hecker Ave,
Darien CT 06820
203-662-5300 Ext. 5370
Open to Public
Contact Elizabeth Dilorio

Easton Police Department

700 Moorehouse Road,
Easton CT 06612
203-268-4111
daren@eastonctpolice.com
Officer Mark Pastor
Open to Public

Executive Livery, LLC

175 North St.
Goshen, 06756
Office: 860-491-3955
executivelivery@me.com
Appointment Only
Free Service No Charge

Greenwich Fire Department

15 Havemeyer PL
Greenwich CT 06830
203-622-8087
ctroths@aol.com
Firefighter Roth
Open to Public
Appointment Only

Fairfield Police Department

100 Reef Road,
Fairfield CT
One Saturday a month
Call Allison or check FPDCT.com for details.

Little Riders LLC

203-231-5907
LittleRidersCT@aol.com
www.facebook.com/littleriders
Serving Fairfield and New Haven county
Appointments at your home/office, evenings and, weekends.
Fee-based service
Special needs trained

Monroe Police Department

7 Fan Hill Road,
Monroe CT 06468
203-261-3622
Detective Buckley
Residents & Appointments only

New Canaan Police Department

174 South Ave,
New Canaan CT 06840
203-594-3555
carseats@newcanaanct.gov
Officer Thomas Patten
Appts must be made via email: carseats@newcanaanct.gov

New Fairfield Police Department

302 Ball Pond Road,
New Fairfield CT 06810
203-312-5701
DLNY@comcast.net
Officer Lange
Open to Public
Appointments only

Newtown Police Department

3 Main Street,
Newtown CT 06470
203-426-5841
william.hull@newtown-ct.gov
Officer Flynn
Residents Only
Appointment Only

Norwalk Police Department

Norwalk Police Department
1 Monroe Street,
Norwalk CT 06854
203-854-3005
jhaggerty@norwalkct.org
Appointment Only

Safe in the Car

203-868-8151
www.facebook.com/safeinthecar
www.safeinthecar.com
jodi@safeinthecar.com
Fee based service at your home/office
Serving all of Fairfield and New Haven counties and parts of Litchfield and Hartford counties
Special needs trained

Trumbull Police Department

Trumbull Police Department
158 Edison Rd Trumbull, CT
203-452-3854
CFitch@trumbull-ct.gov
Coleen Fitch
Residents only, call for appointment

Weston Fire Rescue

56 Norfield Road,
Weston CT 06883
203-222-2647
westonfirerescue@yahoo.com
Mark Blake
Open to Public
Appointment Only, Special Needs Assistance available

Westport Police Department

50 Jesup Road,
Westport CT 06880
203-341-6000
cproudfoot@westportct.gov
Officer Chris Proudfoot
Residents Only
Appointment Only

Wilton Police Department

240 Danbury Road,
Wilton CT 06897
203-834-6260
anthony.cocco@wiltonct.org
Officer Anthony Cocco
Appointments only, open to the public

Connecticut Personal Injury Attorneys and Safety Advocates

Connecticut children deserve the best protection available when it comes to riding in the car. If your child has sustained a serious injury from a vehicle accident due to the negligence of another, you could be eligible for financial compensation to help out with any damages suffered. Our winning team of attorneys at Jacobs & Wallace are committed to fighting back for your family’s right to safe travels on Connecticut roads. Call us for a free case evaluation to review all of your options for seeking restitution for your child’s unnecessary injuries.

From September 14 to September 18, worksites across the country will participate in the National Safety Stand-Down to prevent fall accidents in construction. Created by the Occupational Safety and Health Organization (O.S.H.A.), this safety initiative aims to spread awareness about the prevalence of fatal fall accidents in the industry and provide employers with the support they need to prioritize workers’ safety.

Falls are the leading cause of occupational death in construction. In 2018, O.S.H.A. reported 338 construction fatalities related to falls out of 1,008 total deaths that year. Fall hazards have also continually ranked as the number one safety violation witnessed by O.S.H.A. field agents. If workplaces do not act immediately to address fall hazards, 2020 results could be just as tragic.

As occupational safety and health advocates, our team at Jacobs & Wallace encourages all workplaces to participate in the National Safety Stand-Down to prevent workplace falls. Most falls resulting in injuries are entirely preventable. Holding a stand-down to address fall risks in your workplace could save someone’s life.

How To Hold A Stand-Down

Stand-downs are terrific opportunities for employers to educate their staff on fall hazards and receive employee input on current safety concerns. These voluntary events involve putting down all job responsibilities to focus on discussing how to improve workplace safety. Stand-downs assure workers that employers are serious about their health and safety by demonstrating the importance of replacing all other tasks with a genuine conversation.

A stand-down does not have to be more elaborate than an open meeting with workers and managers on the importance of workplace safety. All industries pose an element of fall risks that can lead to severe and fatal injuries. In construction, the most common fall hazards include:

Fall prevention measures significantly reduce workplace injuries and are key elements to address during this week’s stand-downs. Other safety areas that can be addressed to reduce occupational falls include reviewing current safety policies and protective measures and establishing a safety goal for the company to achieve together.

O.S.H.A. encourages all employers who participate in a stand-down this week to share their stories and techniques. For employers who need more ideas on hosting a stand-down, O.S.H.A. provides free safety events to participate in and suggestions here.

Occupational Falls Are Preventable

Falls in the workplace are 100 percent preventable. It often takes more effort and financing to recover from an accident than it does to prevent the fall from happening in the first place.

This year, several national safety organizations have partnered with O.S.H.A. to spread awareness about the National Safety Stand-Down to fight back against fall accidents. Some of these supporters include:

This impressive turnout to increase fall prevention proves how prevalent fall accidents have become across all American industries. Every workplace has a role to play in reducing these preventable accidents. For more information on how to participate in National Safety Stand-Down, see what some companies have done in years past here.

Connecticut Workplace Accident Attorneys

Workplace accidents can be dramatically reduced when effective safety protocols are in place. Employers and contractors who do not prioritize safety put the lives of their workers at unnecessary risk. If you or a loved one has been injured in a workplace accident due to negligent safety practices, our team is here to support you in seeking the justice you deserve.

As Connecticut personal injury experts, we always have your best interests and safety in mind. Our aggressive attorneys at Jacobs & Wallace will help you fight back by providing a free case evaluation to explore all your options for seeking justice against reckless distracted drivers. Contact us today for a free consultation and to explore your rights.

Connecticut police departments have been cracking down on distracted drivers this August with an uptick in enforcement efforts on the road. According to a press release published by Patch, Fairfield Police, Connecticut State Police, and municipal and state elected officials gathered earlier this month at the Fairfield Police Department to support the U Drive. U Text. U Pay. initiative. In partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (N.H.T.S.A.) National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the safety campaign aims to reduce preventable traffic accidents caused by distracted driving by heavily enforcing the laws that hold drivers accountable for reckless behaviors.

Fairfield County officers will continue to progress efforts through August 31 to catch distracted and texting drivers before their actions lead to a crash. Since the beginning of the pandemic, more residents than ever are taking walks and exercising outdoors. Drivers who are not remaining vigilant to pedestrians could easily cause a fatal crash if distracted by something else behind the wheel.

Distracted driving accidents are 100 percent preventable, and it only takes a few seconds for a driver’s attention to lead to tragedy on the road. As safety advocates, our team at Jacobs & Wallace is in full support of preventing driving distractions that lead to catastrophic and fatal traffic accidents. All Connecticut motorists are responsible for reducing preventable harm to others on the road.

Distracted Driving Kills Every Day

The N.H.T.S.A. reported over 400,000 injuries and 2,841 deaths resulting from distracted driving accidents in 2018. Among the fatalities were 1,730 drivers, 605 passengers, 400 pedestrians, and 77 bicyclists.

Distracted driving is defined as any item or action that takes a driver’s attention off the road, including, but is certainly not limited to, the following:

When a driver takes their attention off the road critical road hazards can be missed. Pedestrians on sidewalks, bicycles, motorcycles, or other vehicles can all become targets when a distracted driver looks away from the road.

Cellphone Laws in CT

Approximately 1 in 4 distracted driving accidents nationwide involve the use of cellphones behind the wheel. Connecticut State Law bans the use of all handheld cellphones while operating a motor vehicle, regardless of age or level of driving experience. If a driver is caught with a cellphone in their hand or to their ear, this is considered a violation of the law.

Penalties for getting caught on your cellphone while driving in Connecticut include:

These fines may include the accumulation of points which could ultimately result in a driver losing their license. Drivers whose cellphone behaviors lead to an accident resulting in an injury or death could also face criminal charges in addition to fines and points.

Drive Safe or Not At All

Fairfield and Connecticut State Police are urging drivers to safely operate their vehicles to help prevent distracted driving accidents in their community. With the start of school in Connecticut less than two weeks away, it’s more important than ever to stay alert and pay attention to the road.

Fairfield Police provide the following safety recommendations that all drivers should keep in mind before getting behind the wheel:

Get involved in your community to help end distracted driving. Teens, parents, educators, and employers can all do their part to help. For more information on how to get involved, visit the N.H.T.S.A. Distracted Driving page for resources.

Connecticut Distracted Driving Accident Attorneys

Distracted driving is an epidemic in our country that has worsened over the past few years. There is no excuse for participating in distractions while driving that are known to take others’ lives.

As Connecticut personal injury experts, we always have your best interests and safety in mind. Our aggressive attorneys at Jacobs & Wallace will help you fight back by providing a free case evaluation to explore all your options for seeking justice against reckless distracted drivers. Contact us today for a free consultation and to explore your rights for justice.

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