New London Connecticut Legal Blog

Divorce mediation requires some planning on your part

On behalf of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law posted in Divorce on Thursday, July 19, 2018.

Divorce mediation is a process that enables you and your ex to work together to come up with the terms of the split. This is often a preferable alternative to having to go through a divorce trial. One of the draws of mediation is that you have a say in what you are going to get when you end your marriage.

Just because mediation seems like an easier option than a trial doesn't mean that you can go into the sessions unprepared. Instead, you need to make sure that you are ready to handle the negotiations.

Women find financial surprises in divorce

On behalf of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law posted in Divorce on Tuesday, July 17, 2018.

According to a survey conducted by online marketplace Worthy, 46 percent of women who'd gone through divorce reported that the process included some financial surprises. The end of a Connecticut marriage brings with it emotion and stress for the parties involved. Being prepared for potential surprises can make the process smoother and relieve women who are divorcing of some undue stress.

In the study, women from three different groups were surveyed: those who were approaching divorce, those who were going through one and those whose marriages had already been dissolved. Among the surprises that women experience as a result of divorce are assuming child support or alimony payments would last longer or be higher, assuming they would keep the home, the cost of divorce and the cost of healthcare. It's also not uncommon for people to be unaware of the amount of marriage debt they have, including mortgages, lines of credit, credit card debt, and car and student loans.

Burned out doctors could be more likely to commit errors

On behalf of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law posted in personal injury on Monday, July 16, 2018.

How burned out is your doctor? The answer might have major impacts on your likelihood of facing a medical error.

This is what a recent study suggests. The research was based off of surveys of physicians from 2014. The study found that the doctors who reported burnout had around double the likelihood of making medical mistakes. Also, medical error likelihood tripled for health care facilities where it appeared that burnout was a common issue, according to the study.

Vehicle infotainment systems distract drivers

On behalf of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law posted in Car Accidents on Monday, July 2, 2018.

Vehicle infotainment systems are distracting drivers in Connecticut and across the U.S., according to a new study. Apparently, the systems demand too much brain power for drivers to adequately pay attention to the road.

For the study, researchers from the University of Utah tracked 64 drivers while they operated five different vehicles. These vehicles included the 2017 Ford Mustang GT, the 2017 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E, the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado LT, the 2018 Kia Optima and the 2018 RAM 1500 Laramie. At some points during the study, the participants were asked to use the infotainment system in their vehicle. At others, they were asked to use Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, which both allow the phone to operate the vehicle's infotainment features. The researchers found that the Android and Apple smartphone apps demanded less brain power from the study participants than the vehicle infotainment systems did. However, the apps still placed moderate levels of demand on the drivers' brains, which could lead to distracted driving.

Retirement readiness is often affected by divorce

On behalf of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law posted in Divorce on Thursday, June 21, 2018.

There are many financial complications that can accompany divorce, especially for Connecticut residents who decide to end a marriage later in life. While the American divorce rate is no longer rising, this is not true for people over 50. Between 1990 and 2010, the divorce rate among this group has doubled, and the trend is continuing. When people divorce later in life, they have less time to regroup financially. In addition, retirement funds are often split in a divorce. This can hinder retirement plans for many people aged 50 and up.

People who are planning to divorce may benefit from considering a number of key financial issues, including their ability to save for retirement. The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College developed a retirement risk index to measure the number of Americans at risk of a deteriorating standard of living after retirement. They found that around half of all Americans are at risk of financial problems after they leave their jobs. This is escalated after divorce. In fact, those who have been divorced are 7 percent more likely to face financial difficulties upon retirement.

Sanitation employees and workplace safety

On behalf of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law posted in Workers' Compensation on Wednesday, June 13, 2018.

Sanitation workers in Connecticut are susceptible to injuries while they are collecting trash and performing other duties. The Solid Waste Association of North America reports that there were seven sanitation worker fatalities in just the first 10 days of 2018. The Bureau of Labor Statistics released data that reveals recyclable and refuse material collectors had the fifth highest fatal work injury rate in 2016 among civilian occupations. Furthermore, they had a fatality risk that was over 10 times higher than that of workers in all other industries.

Sanitation workers are prone to strains, sprains and overexertion injuries due to constantly managing heavy loads and jumping off and on trucks. They also face the danger of being exposed to hazardous materials. While the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has no regulations that explicitly oversee sanitation vehicles or employees, OSHA inspections do occur if the agency receives a complaint or if there is a fatality. Also, sanitation workers are provided a set of procedures for guidance from the Safety Standards for Mobile Refuse Collection and Compaction Equipment, which was published by the American National Standards Institute.

A list of injuries that can occur in truck accidents

On behalf of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law posted in Truck Accidents on Thursday, June 7, 2018.

Connecticut residents and others who are involved in truck accidents could sustain a variety of injuries. For instance, broken bones are not uncommon when the body makes impact with a windshield, steering wheel or other object inside of the vehicle. Arm, leg and hip bones are among the most likely to fracture in a truck accident. Spinal injuries are also common occurrences among those who are injured in accidents involving large trucks.

Spinal cord injuries could result in a person being temporarily or permanently paralyzed. Seeking treatment as soon as possible after a crash may help minimize the long-term impact of such an injury. Head injuries could also impact an individual throughout his or her life. In addition to skull fractures, a person might experience changes in mood and personality. Symptoms of a concussion may take days to appear, and they could last for days, weeks or even longer.

What are some common factors in motorcycle accidents?

On behalf of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, May 31, 2018.

The warmer Connecticut weather has bikers jumping onto their motorcycles and hitting the road. Unfortunately, this means more opportunities for motorcycle accidents as well.

Connecticut is above the national average when it comes to motorcycle fatalities. Nationwide, around 14 percent of all traffic fatalities involve a motorcycle death.

Planning alimony in 2019

On behalf of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law posted in Divorce on Wednesday, May 30, 2018.

As any recent divorcee in Connecticut will testify, an integral part of the separation proceedings is figuring out the size and conditions of alimony payments. This is all the more pertinent thanks to the fact that alimony payments are governed by ever-changing laws.

An excellent case in point is how the introduction of The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in early 2017 has affected couples about to dissolve their marriages. While paid alimony used to be tax deductible and alimony received was considered as taxable income, the situation has been reversed for all new divorces starting in 2019. Although this may seem like a more favorable arrangement for the recipient, the fact of the matter is that by taking a chunk out of after-tax income, the IRS could leave less money for the couple to split.

CVSA to enforce traffic rules from July 15 to 21

On behalf of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law posted in Truck Accidents on Tuesday, May 22, 2018.

In 2007, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance established the Operation Safe Driver Program in an effort to cut down on highway accidents, injuries and deaths. As part of this program, it hosts a nationwide event called Operation Safe Driver Week once a year. Drivers in Connecticut should know that this year, the event will be held between July 15 and 21.

The CVSA, along with enforcement officials across the nation, will be monitoring the roads for signs of unsafe driving behavior, which is the leading cause of crashes according to a study from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Such behavior, the study found, plays a role in 93 percent of large truck crashes as well as 88 percent of accidents that involve smaller passenger vehicles.