New London Connecticut Legal Blog

We fight for your workers' compensation benefits

On behalf of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law posted in Workers' Compensation on Friday, November 9, 2018.

For people who work hard, their paycheck is a lifeline that provides them with the things they need to live. Without this, they are likely facing a tough road that will be filled without many of life's necessities. Sadly, this is exactly what might happen to some workers who are injured at work. We understand that you just want to go to work and make an honest living. When you have an accident in the process, you expect that you will be taken care of.

The workers' compensation system in this state is one that is meant to protect workers and employers alike. It helps to cover the cost of medical care for the injuries for the worker, but the employer won't have to cover these out-of-pocket. Instead, the insurance policy picks them up.

Money must be protected in a divorce

On behalf of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law posted in Divorce on Thursday, November 8, 2018.

Financial issues are not always the paramount consideration in a Connecticut divorce. Yet, how the couple approaches the split and property division in the final settlement can be extremely costly to both parties, often needlessly. Attempting to reach an agreement without acrimony is best, but even when there are fundamental differences, there's no need to throw money away by making hasty decisions that fail to account for all the factors.

Personal finance experts caution that tax consequences associated with some assets must be factored into the property division equation. This is especially true for people over 50. One reason for this is that older individuals tend to have accumulated more in their retirement accounts than younger couples facing divorce. A court decree may be necessary to split work-related accounts between the spouses.

Bipolar illness presents some challenges in divorces

On behalf of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law posted in Divorce on Thursday, November 1, 2018.

Marriage is a daily challenge to try to make things work. When one spouse suffers from a mental illness like bipolar disorder, the the marital struggle is more intense. There are some instances in which a spouse's mental illness can contribute to or cause a divorce. Unfortunately, this can be just as complex as the relationship.

For the person who has been diagnosed with a mental illness, the divorce can thrust them into an unwelcome period of change. This can lead to more complicated feelings that are difficult for them to work through. Making extra appointments for mental health counseling might be beneficial in these cases. In others, the downward spiral is going to continue if it is left unchecked.

Crushing injuries can kill hardworking employees

On behalf of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law posted in Workers' Compensation on Friday, October 26, 2018.

Many workers face the possibility of being crushed by equipment and other items in the workplace. Preventing these crushing hazards must be a priority for companies with employees working under these conditions. Unlike a struck-by hazard, a crushing hazard catches the worker between two objects. One or both must be moving in a way that it crushes or suffocates the employee, usually in the abdomen or on the rib cage.

There are many industries that face these risks. The construction industry is filled with moving machinery that is in proximity to the workers. Many factory workers also face the same risk.

Connecticut driver admits to striking pedestrian

On behalf of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law posted in Auto-Pedestrian Accidents on Wednesday, October 24, 2018.

Police in Connecticut say that charges will likely be filed against a man who admits to striking a pedestrian in Windham County on the evening of Oct. 20 and fleeing the scene. A 27 year old woman was injured while walking a bicycle on Norwich Road in Plainfield at approximately 7:20 p.m. according to a police report. Media sources say that the 55-year-old local resident turned himself in to police on Oct. 22.

Plainfield police say that the woman was struck by a northbound vehicle as she walked southbound on Norwich Road. Debris found at the scene led police to believe that the vehicle involved was either a Chevrolet Silverado or GMC Sierra pickup truck manufactured between 2007 and 2013. Accident investigators say that the pickup truck sustained damage to its passenger side mirror and headlight assembly in the accident.

Your divorce decisions now can impact your life later

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

When you make the decision to divorce your spouse, you need to make sure that you have things together to protect yourself. There are some splits that are amicable; however, others are filled with disagreements. Even if you and your spouse get along fairly well, the divorce might pit you against each other. We know that this is a difficult situation, but planning ahead can be a huge help.

One thing that you can do if you are in this position is to gather financial documents. This might seem like overkill since both parties have to fill out disclosures. The issue here is that sometimes, people aren't fully honest. By having copies of financial documents in your hand, you might be able to refute claims that you know aren't correct.

Social Security benefits will see increase for 2019

On behalf of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law posted in social security disability on Thursday, October 11, 2018.

The payments that a person who receives Social Security Disability (SSD) receives do replace some of the income they had before their disability, but not all of it. Many people eagerly await the news from the Social Security Administration (SSA) about whether they will get a cost of living adjustment each year.

The news for next year's cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is out. People who get SSDI will receive a 2.8 percent increase in their benefits. This is one of the biggest increases that's occurred since many baby boomers have begun receiving benefits. This comes as inflation rises.

The increase in large truck traffic deaths

On behalf of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law posted in Truck Accidents on Tuesday, October 9, 2018.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported that the number of U.S. fatalities in 2017 involving large trucks, or trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds, rose by 9 percent. Connecticut motorists may be interested to learn that for the same time period, the total number of motor vehicle traffic deaths fell by 1.8 percent.

In 2017, the number of people who were killed in traffic crashes totaled 37,133, a drop from the 37,806 that was reported for 2016. The number of people who died as a result of crashes in which large trucks were a factor totaled 4,761 for 2017, representing a rise of 392 deaths year-over-year.

Injured motorcyclists may opt to seek compensation

On behalf of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law posted in personal injury on Friday, October 5, 2018.

Motorists need to watch out for motorcycles, even when they don't think there will be any on the road. One of the issues that happens in many cases is that drivers will claim they didn't see the motorcyclist. This is especially true around intersections where bushes and other hazards might impair the driver's ability to see the small profile vehicles. We know that crashes can lead to some very serious injuries since the motorcyclist doesn't have the protection that an occupant of a car has.

When motorcyclists have the right of way, other drivers might not respect that. This is a factor in two-thirds of the crashes that involve a motorcycle and another vehicle. There isn't any good reason for this since all nonemergency vehicles on the road have to follow traffic laws.

Taxes: Another reason for strategic planning in divorce

On behalf of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law on Monday, October 1, 2018.

Divorce is fraught with emotion. When the spousal relationship dissolves, it can create stress and bring out the worst in some people. While it can seem cold to say so, it is important for the parties seeking a Connecticut divorce to approach the process rationally. After all, in the eyes of the law, what is occurring is the ending of a contract.

A large part of the emphasis in divorce centers on financial aspects. Financial planning that seeks to secure the stability of both spouses as they enter this new phase of life is important. And this is even more important when children are factored in.