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Wethersfield (860) 278-4040 (860) 276-8100

Car Accidents

The victim of a Connecticut car accident may be able to collect financial compensation for his or her losses, including property damage, pain and suffering, medical bills, estimated future medical expenses, lost wages, and lost income potential.

The car accident attorneys in Hartford at Jackson O’Keefe addresses the needs of people who are injured in Connecticut no matter how severe the injury. The law firm has years of experience, a record of success, and the resources to help you recover fair compensation. After an automobile accident it is essential for you and your family to regain the physical and emotional stability you lost due to an accident. Let the Jackson O’Keefe firm, and its team of lawyers, address your legal concerns while you focus on recovery. For more information, contact us to schedule a free consultation.

The Connecticut Road System

As of 2007, the Connecticut State Highway System had a total of 3,719 miles of roadway. The number of licensed drivers increased from 2. 1 million in 1979 to 2. 8 million in 2007. Total vehicle registrations increased from under 2. 3 million to just over 3 million in 2007. The total annual vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in Connecticut increased from 19. 4 billion in 1979 to 32. 1 billion in 2007. This includes rural VMT of about 5 billion in 1979 and 4 billion in 2007, and urban VMT of 14. 4 billion in 1979 and 28 billion in 2007. The average annual VMT for a licensed driver was 9,222 in 1979 and 11,252 in 2007.

In Connecticut, auto accidents frequently happen on the Interstate and State Highways: I-84, I-91, Route 2, Route 6, Route 44, I-395, I-95, I-291, I-384, Route 85, Route 17, Route 14 and Route 12. The Connecticut Turnpike (Interstate 95) runs southwest to northeast along the coast, and Interstates 84, 91, and 395 further service the inbound and outbound traffic trying to reach New York, Boston, or points further south. Other major road systems include the Merritt Parkway and the Wilbur Cross Parkway, which combine to form Connecticut State Route 15, which begin from the Hutchinson River Parkway in New York but turn north to New Haven and ending as a surface street in Berlin. Interstate 95 is one of the most heavily traveled and congested highways in America because of the traffic to and from New York and increasing population density.

Connecticut Motor Vehicle Accidents – The Statistics

According to reports by the Connecticut legislature in 1985, there were 115,427 accidents reported in Connecticut. In 2006, there were 71,724 reported accidents. The law requires only certain accidents to be reported, but the definition of a reportable accident in 1985 was different than in 2006, which may account for some of the decrease in 2006. In 1985, motor vehicle operators were responsible by law to file an accident report in certain circumstances with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The law also required police authorities to file a copy of all police-investigated traffic accidents when the investigation was completed. The law defined a reportable accident as a motor vehicle accident in which someone was killed or injured or incurred over $ 600 in property damage. As of October 1, 1990, operators are no longer required to file accident reports.

Sixteen towns were among the 20 towns with the most reported accidents in both 1985 and 2006: Bridgeport, Bristol, Danbury, East Hartford, Fairfield, Greenwich, Manchester, Milford, New Haven, Norwalk, Norwich, Stamford, Stratford, Wallingford, Waterbury, and Westport. The top seven towns were the same in both years, although their ranking changed slightly: Bridgeport, Danbury, Hartford, New Haven, Norwalk, Stamford, and Waterbury.

The 20 towns with the most reported traffic accidents in 1985 accounted for 50% of all accidents reported in the state. In 2006, they accounted for 47% of all reported accidents. The top seven towns were the same in both years, although their ranking changed slightly: Bridgeport, Danbury, Hartford, New Haven, Norwalk, Stamford, and Waterbury. Table 1 ranks the 20 towns with the most reported accidents in 1985 and 2006 in descending order.

 

Table 1: The 20 Towns with the Most Reported Traffic Accidents, 1985 and 2006

1985 2006
Rank Town Accidents # (% of state) Rank Town Accidents # (% of state)
1 Hartford 8,353 (7. 2%) 1 New Haven 3,425 (4. 9%)
2 Waterbury 5,870 (5. 1%) 2 Bridgeport 3,137 (4. 4%)
3 New Haven 4,090 (3. 5%) 3 Waterbury 2,672 (3. 7%)
4 Norwalk 4,065 (3. 5%) 4 Hartford 2,537 (3. 5%)
5 Bridgeport 3,457 (3. 0%) 5 Norwalk 2,224 (3. 1%)
6 Stamford 2,794 (2. 4%) 6 Stamford 2,186 (3. 1%)
7 Danbury 2,569 (2. 2%) 7 Danbury 2,216 (3. 0%)
8 East Hartford 2,519 (2. 2%) 8 Hamden 1,320 (1. 8%)
9 Manchester 2,448 (2. 1%) 9 Stratford 1,284 (1. 8%)
10 Bristol 2,291 (2. 0%) 10 Greenwich 1,259 (1. 8%)
11 West Hartford 2,204 (1. 9%) 11 West Haven 1,235 (1. 7%)
12 Milford 2,196 (1. 9%) 12 East Hartford 1,153 (1. 6%)
13 Greenwich 2,085 (1. 8%) 13 Meriden 1,124 (1. 6%)
14 New Britain 2,053 (1. 8%) 14 Wallingford 1,123 (1. 6%)
15 Stratford 1,913 (1. 7%) 15 Westport 1,121 (1. 6%)
16 Westport 1,750 (1. 5%) 16 Manchester 1,109 (1. 6%)
17 Groton 1,748 (1. 5%) 17 Milford 1,088 (1. 5%)
18 Fairfield 1,737 (1. 5%) 18 Fairfield 1,074 (1. 5%)
19 Norwich 1,619 1. 4%) 19 Norwich 1,071 (1. 5%)
20 Wallingford 1,605 (1. 4%) 20 Bristol 1,028 (1. 4%)
TOTAL (% of all in state) 57,366 (50%) TOTAL (% of all in state) 33,386 (47%)

 

Traffic Accidents by Town – 1985 AND 2006

The following Table compares accidents that occurred on Connecticut’s publicly maintained roadways by town for 1985 and 2006. For its 1985 report, the Connecticut DOT obtained data from the Connecticut DMV. For its 2006 report, the DOT obtained data solely from police accident reports.

1985 2006
Town Total % of Total Total % of Total
Andover 87 0. 1% 36 0. 05%
Ansonia 388 0. 3% 171 0. 24%
Ashford 96 0. 1% 58 0. 08%
Avon 528 0. 5% 295 0. 41%
Barkhamsted 125 0. 1% 72 0. 10%
Beacon Falls 90 0. 1% 70 0. 10%
Berlin 341 0. 3% 421 0. 59%
Bethany 116 0. 1% 75 0. 10%
Bethel 379 0. 3% 313 0. 44%
Bethlehem 45 0. 0% 20 0. 03%
Bloomfield 669 0. 6% 530 0. 74%
Bolton 154 0. 1% 116 0. 16%
Bozrah 62 0. 1% 45 0. 06%
Branford 1,038 0. 9% 697 0. 97%
Bridgeport 3,457 3. 0% 3,137 4. 37%
Bridgewater 31 0. 0% 29 0. 04%
Bristol 2,291 2. 0% 1,028 1. 43%
Brookfield 587 0. 5% 418 0. 58%
Brooklyn 161 0. 1% 109 0. 15%
Burlington 158 0. 1% 131 0. 18%
Canaan 25 0. 0% 18 0. 03%
Canterbury 57 0. 0% 50 0. 07%
Canton 393 0. 3% 244 0. 34%
Chaplin 58 0. 1% 36 0. 05%
Cheshire 837 0. 7% 592 0. 83%
Chester 118 0. 1% 57 0. 08%
Clinton 235 0. 2% 85 0. 12%
Colchester 250 0. 2% 219 0. 31%
Colebrook 36 0. 0% 17 0. 02%
Columbia 109 0. 1% 69 0. 10%
Cornwall 43 0. 0% 30 0. 04%
Coventry 206 0. 2% 194 0. 27%
Cromwell 509 0. 4% 403 0. 56%
Danbury 2,569 2. 2% 2,126 2. 96%
Darien 754 0. 7% 667 0. 93%
Deep River 110 0. 1% 30 0. 04%
Derby 871 0. 8% 512 0. 71%
Durham 157 0. 1% 119 0. 17%
Eastford 37 0. 0% 22 0. 03%
East Granby 152 0. 1% 73 0. 10%
East Haddam 135 0. 1% 67 0. 09%
East Hampton 275 0. 2% 155 0. 22%
East Hartford 2,519 2. 2% 1,153 1. 61%
East Haven 764 0. 7% 564 0. 79%
East Lyme 518 0. 4% 375 0. 52%
Easton 188 0. 2% 116 0. 16%
East Windsor 487 0. 4% 266 0. 37%
Ellington 252 0. 2% 139 0. 19%
Enfield 1,452 1. 3% 688 0. 96%
Essex 141 0. 1% 67 0. 09%
Fairfield 1,737 1. 5% 1,074 1. 50%
Farmington 990 0. 9% 823 1. 15%
Franklin 99 0. 1% 86 0. 12%
Glastonbury 946 0. 8% 400 0. 56%
Goshen 55 0. 0% 21 0. 03%
Granby 154 0. 1% 98 0. 14%
Greenwich 2,085 1. 8% 1,259 1. 76%
Griswold 221 0. 2% 181 0. 25%
Groton 1,748 1. 5% 688 0. 96%
Guilford 570 0. 5% 325 0. 45%
Haddam 212 0. 2% 124 0. 17%
Hamden 1,324 1. 1% 1,320 1. 84%
Hampton 30 0. 0% 14 0. 02%
Hartford 8,353 7. 2% 2,537 3. 54%
Hartland 18 0. 0% 13 0. 02%
Harwinton 182 0. 2% 101 0. 14%
Hebron 136 0. 1% 75 0. 10%
Kent 93 0. 1% 45 0. 06%
Killingly 469 0. 4% 318 0. 44%
Killingworth 81 0. 1% 63 0. 09%
Lebanon 125 0. 1% 51 0. 07%
Ledyard 405 0. 4% 223 0. 31%
Lisbon 168 0. 1% 131 0. 18%
Litchfield 289 0. 3% 208 0. 29%
Lyme 42 0. 0% 9 0. 01%
Madison 499 0. 4% 239 0. 33%
Manchester 2,448 2. 1% 1,109 1. 55%
Mansfield 598 0. 5% 363 0. 51%
Marlborough 141 0. 1% 122 0. 17%
Meriden 1,414 1. 2% 1,124 1. 57%
Middlebury 375 0. 3% 290 0. 40%
Middlefield 189 0. 2% 89 0. 12%
Middletown 1,170 1. 0% 584 0. 81%
Milford 2,196 1. 9% 1,088 1. 52%
Monroe 526 0. 5% 338 0. 47%
Montville 626 0. 5% 431 0. 60%
Morris 62 0. 1% 29 0. 04%
Naugatuck 828 0. 7% 381 0. 53%
New Britain 2,053 1. 8% 963 1. 34%
New Canaan 609 0. 5% 268 0. 37%
New Fairfield 207 0. 2% 123 0. 17%
New Hartford 169 0. 1% 77 0. 11%
New Haven 4090 3. 5% 3425 4. 78%
Newington 784 . 07% 642 0. 90%
New London 1,483 1. 3% 551 0. 77%
New Milford 668 0. 6% 577 0. 80%
Newtown 932 0. 8% 499 0. 70%
Norfolk 66 0. 1% 32 0. 04%
North Branford 298 0. 3% 256 0. 36%
North Canaan 113 0. 1% 56 0. 08%
North Haven 970 0. 8% 973 1. 36%
North Stonington 174 0. 2% 153 0. 21%
Norwalk 4,065 3. 5% 2,224 3. 10%
Norwich 1,619 1. 4% 1,071 1. 49%
Old Lyme 259 0. 2% 137 0. 19%
Old Saybrook 326 0. 3% 285 0. 40%
Orange 522 0. 5% 783 1. 09%
Oxford 202 0. 2% 139 0. 19%
Plainfield 445 0. 4% 289 0. 40%
Plainville 678 0. 6% 517 0. 72%
Plymouth 146 0. 1% 237 0. 33%
Pomfret 93 0. 1% 84 0. 12%
Portland 245 0. 2% 154 0. 21%
Preston 169 0. 1% 186 0. 26%
Prospect 184 0. 2% 163 0. 23%
Putnam 290 0. 3% 139 0. 19%
Redding 224 0. 2% 137 0. 19%
Ridgefield 788 0. 7% 427 0. 60%
Rocky Hill 431 0. 4% 456 0. 64%
Roxbury 50 0. 0% 37 0. 05%
Salem 73 0. 1% 81 0. 11%
Salisbury 109 0. 1% 71 0. 10%
Scotland 25 0. 0% 6 0. 01%
Seymour 556 0. 5% 501 0. 70%
Sharon 99 0. 1% 49 0. 07%
Shelton 1,142 1. 0% 670 0. 93%
Sherman 55 0. 0% 27 0. 04%
Simsbury 521 0. 5% 304 0. 42%
Somers 202 0. 2% 98 0. 14%
Southbury 506 0. 4% 283 0. 39%
Southington 1,274 1. 1% 790 1. 10%
South Windsor 539 0. 5% 307 0. 43%
Sprague 69 0. 1% 29 0. 04%
Stafford 264 0. 2% 157 0. 22%
Stamford 2,794 2. 4% 2,186 3. 05%
Sterling 40 0. 0% 26 0. 04%
Stonington 767 0. 7% 410 0. 57%
Stratford 1,913 1. 7% 1,284 1. 79%
Suffield 349 0. 3% 221 0. 31%
Thomaston 210 0. 2% 224 0. 31%
Thompson 224 0. 2% 109 0. 15%
Tolland 367 0. 3% 250 0. 35%
Torrington 896 0. 8% 685 0. 96%
Trumbull 725 0. 6% 891 1. 24%
Union 70 0. 1% 56 0. 08%
Vernon 1,052 0. 9% 705 0. 98%
Voluntown 38 0. 0% 34 0. 05%
Wallingford 1,605 1. 4% 1,123 1. 57%
Warren 21 0. 0% 11 0. 02%
Washington 88 0. 1% 68 0. 09%
Waterbury 5,870 5. 1% 2,672 3. 73%
Waterford 926 0. 8% 643 0. 90%
Watertown 683 0. 6% 452 0. 63%
Westbrook 275 0. 2% 96 0. 13%
West Hartford 2,204 1. 9% 916 1. 28%
West Haven 1,596 1. 4% 1,235 1. 72%
Weston 196 0. 2% 117 0. 16%
Westport 1,750 1. 5% 1,121 1. 56%
Wethersfield 905 0. 8% 592 0. 83%
Willington 176 0. 2% 107 0. 15%
Wilton 697 0. 6% 407 0. 57%
Winchester 231 0. 2% 283 0. 39%
Windham 835 0. 7% 467 0. 65%
Windsor 958 0. 8% 651 0. 91%
Windsor Locks 399 0. 3% 243 0. 34%
Wolcott 395 0. 3% 187 0. 26%
Woodbridge 350 0. 3% 294 0. 41%
Woodbury 231 0. 2% 135 0. 19%
Woodstock 139 0. 1% 92 0. 13%
Unknown 2 0 0 0
TOTAL 115,427 100% 71,724 100%

Source: Connecticut Department of Transportation, Bureau of Policy and Planning

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