A 15-month-old child died on Monday, after his father left him all day in a car, on one of the hottest days so far this year.

Ridgefield Police Capt. Jeff Kreitz said the child, Benjamin Seitz, was in the back seat of the car. His father, Kyle Seitz would usually drop him off at his day care center in Ridgefield, before going to buy his coffee and then go to work in Grove Street.

For some reason he did not drop Benjamin off, but went for his coffee and then to work. Apparently, sources say that he went back to his car at lunchtime and went for lunch.

However, when he finally finished work at the end of the day he realized that Benjamin was still in the car, and drove him directly to Danbury hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Ridgefield police were called by the hospital but they have not yet said what charges, if any, will be faced.

This is the third recent incident where children have been left in vehicles, although neither of the other cases was fatal. One was in Orange and one in New London, and both parents were charged with risk of injury to a minor.

If you or a loved one was injured or killed in an accident involving negligence,  you may be entitled to monetary compensation for the pain, suffering, and debilitating injuries which resulted from your accident. Contact the Stamford pedestrian accident attorneys at Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP. We can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Call us at  (888) 244-5480 – or Click here for a free case evaluation.

GM Compensation

Lawyer Kenneth Feinberg has been appointed as the administrator for the GM faulty switch compensation fund, and has now met with the families to go over the details of the scheme.

Feinberg said that meeting the families has been the hardest part of his job, having to face those who lost loved ones due to accidents caused by the switch, and meeting those with permanent injuries such as brain damage or paraplegics.

He said that whilst he can hand over the compensation, naturally he cannot bring back those who died nor can he cure the disabilities suffered by those who were injured in the car accidents. The money will assist them but it cannot take away from their suffering.

However, he could confirm that he is totally in charge of the process and the amounts, and the latter will be based on predicted potential future earnings of the victims plus an amount for pain and suffering. GM will not be able to appeal the awards he recommends and nor can they put any cap on the amounts.

If you or a loved one was injured or killed as a result of a defective GM vehicle,  you may be entitled to monetary compensation for the pain, suffering, and debilitating injuries which resulted from your accident. Contact the Stamford pedestrian accident attorneys at Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP. We can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Call us at  (888) 244-5480 – or Click here for a free case evaluation.

All year children all across the country have been waiting anxiously for the summer months. Top on their list is to get out of school and have two or three months free of getting up early and doing homework. Second on the list, for most American children, is probably going to play in area swimming pools, lakes, and beaches. Kids absolutely love to play in the water, and can do so safely as long as the adults supervising them follow certain safety guidelines.

In the following video you will be presented with various safety tips which are meant to help you keep the children you supervise safe when swimming in pools, lakes, and beaches.

Every year approximately 300 children drown in U.S. pools and spas, and thousands more are seriously injured in near drownings. Practically all of these unfortunate situations can be prevented by adults who take certain steps to ensure the kids’ safety. Always remember that children should never be left alone to play in swimming areas or swimming pools. Adult supervision it is absolutely essential. Also, remember that, though children are definitely going to play in the swimming area, such play should be limited and not be allowed to get out of hand.

If you have been injured as a result of an accident in Stamford, involving the negligence of another party, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for the pain, suffering, and debilitating injuries which resulted from your accident. Contact the Stamford pedestrian accident attorneys at Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP. We can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Call us at  (888) 244-5480 – or Click here for a free case evaluation

Driving entails handling many hazards, from adverse weather conditions, to distracted drivers on the roads, to suboptimal road conditions. However, the most frightening hazardous conditions a driver may face include those which involve mechanical failures of the automobile itself. And among these failures, brake failure ranks among the top on the list of danger and ability to cause significant injury to a driver.

Though most drivers will never have to deal with a brake failure, such incidences do happen on a daily basis across the country. Here we present you with a video on how to handle brake failure:

If you have been injured as a result of brake failure, your injuries may actually have been caused by improper installation of your brakes, or even manufacturer defects. In order to help determine the cause of your brake failure, please contact our offices immediately for a free evaluation. You may be entitled to monetary compensation for the pain, suffering, and debilitating injuries which resulted from your accident. Contact the Stamford pedestrian accident attorneys at Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP. We can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Call us at  (888) 244-5480 – or Click here for a free case evaluation

Driving in the weather presents some of the most difficult challenges any driver will face. Though snow and ice are by far the most hazardous weather conditions, rainy weather conditions are not only highly hazardous as well, but are also far more likely to strike Stamford at any time. The rain presents several challenges for drivers including:

• Reduced visibility
• Reduced traction
• Water Puddles
• Hydroplaning
• Increased erratic behavior of other drivers

One of the best ways to deal with driving in rainy conditions is to properly prepare yourself beforehand. Here we present a video which gives you valuable tips for driving in the rain:

Not surprisingly dozens of fatal auto accidents happen in the state every year as a result of drivers taking to the roads in adverse weather conditions. It would be best to avoid driving in the whether all together, if possible. But, as such weather avoidance is generally not possilbe, we recommend Stamford drivers take every precaution possible to drive safely in adverse weather conditions.

If you, or a loved one, have been injured or killed in a weather related accident in Stamford, the Stamford pedestrian accident attorneys at Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Call us at  (888) 244-5480 – or Click here for a free case evaluation

The family of a person who died in a drunken driving accident in 2013 has filed suit against five Connecticut bars which served alcohol to the driver in the hours before the fatal crash.

On September 1, 2013 Matthew Faillace was driving his 2000 Porsche Boxster S, with 25 year-old Maikol Chumaser as his passenger, when he crashed on West Rocks Road. Chumasero was severely injured in the accident, and died four days later. During the investigation of the crash police discovered that Faillace had a blood alcohol content of 0.239, which is three times the legal limit. Faillace suffered severe injuries but was not killed in the crash.

The lawsuit alleges that Faillace had consumed alcohol at a Westport restaurant which he owns with his father, and that the restaurant was negligent in allowing him to drink alcohol in excess. The suit also claims that Faillace was served alcohol at four additional area establishments.

According to court records the victim’s family has already sued Matthew Faillace, and his father Peter, in November of last year. The suit was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.

If you, or a loved one, have been injured or killed in an alcohol related accident, the attorneys at Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Call us at  (888) 244-5480 – or Click here for a free case evaluation

A woman is being investigated by Stamford police after a fatal hit-and-run over Easter weekend.

Police have identified 45 year-old Yolanda McDowell as the likely perpetrator of a fatal hit-and-run, which cost 70 year-old Margarita Gonzalez her life over Easter weekend.  According to police, Gonzalez was struck after leaving an Easter gathering at about 6:45 PM on Sunday.  The accident happened on Woodland Avenue, allegedly when McDowell pulled around stopped cars and ran into Gonzalez.

Instead of stopping to assist Gonzalez, McDowell is alleged to have the fled the scene.  But, a witness to the incident followed McDowell and called 911 in order to report what happened.

According to Stamford Police Sgt. Andrew Gallagher, police were able to obtain the license plate number of the car which was being driven by McDowell, a car which turned out to have been borrowed.  Upon tracking her down, McDowell was arrested and charged with manslaughter and felony evading responsibility.

According to Sgt. Gallagher, McDowell told investigators that she was unaware that she had struck a pedestrian.  As of Monday, Yolanda McDowell was being held on $250,000 bond.

Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP – (888) 244-5480 – Click here for a free case evaluation

A Stamford man is now in custody, after allegedly leaving the scene after crashing into two parked cars at a restaurant on Stillwater Avenue.

The 37 year-old suspect his alleged to have crashed a Toyota 4-Runner into two vehicles at Restaurant Maya on Stillwater Avenue on March 1.  After the accidents, which occurred at about 11:30 pm, the owner of the vehicle, identified as Walter Ruiz Morales, allegedly fled the scene.  He later appeared at a local police station claiming that his vehicle had been stolen.

Police arrested Morales after a witness at the scene of the accidents identified him as the driver.  Police have charged Morales with making a false report, leaving the scene of an accident, driving without a license and criminal attempt at second-degree forgery.

This case shows just how important it is to take follow the proper procedures after  a car accident. So often people panic after getting into a car crash, especially if they have been drinking. But the consequences of running can be far worse than simply owning up to the mistake. The law offices of Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP is concerned about the safety of our roads, and the security of Stamford’s residents. Contact us if you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an automobile accident in Stamford.