Legal Advice Blog: Legal Advice, Case Insights, & Local Law Information

If you or a loved one has been exposed to lead-contaminated drinking water in Connecticut, you may be wondering whether you have legal grounds to sue. The short answer is: yes, you may be able to pursue legal action, depending on the circumstances of your exposure and who is responsible. Understanding Lead Contamination in Public Water Systems Recent years have brought national attention to the dangers of lead in drinking water. The Flint, Michigan water crisis is a well-known example, where government agencies and private contractors faced lawsuits after switching the city’s water supply led to widespread lead poisoning. Families affected by the crisis—especially those with children—have sought financial compensation for the harm caused by exposure. Unfortunately, lead contamination is not limited to Flint. A USA Today investigation revealed that hundreds of public water systems across the United States have tested positive for unsafe levels of lead. According to WTNH News 8, more than 50 public water systems in Connecticut were identified as having lead levels above safe limits. What Is a Public Water System? A public water system (PWS) is any water supply that serves more than 25 individuals. These systems can include: Schools and daycare centers Apartment buildings Office buildings Parks and recreational facilities In Connecticut, there are roughly 2,000 public water systems. The state Department of Public Health acknowledges that it cannot guarantee the safety of every system, particularly since the pipes in individual buildings may still contain lead. While the state claims the water sent to these locations is treated and clean, contamination can still occur within outdated infrastructure. Are Landlords and Property Owners Responsible? If you live or work in a building with a private or semi-public water system, the property owner or landlord may be responsible for regular water quality testing. Connecticut law requires them to: Conduct routine water testing Submit reports on contamination levels Take corrective action if unsafe levels of lead are detected Currently, 14 systems in Connecticut are known to exceed safe lead levels, according to health officials. If your property is one of them and you’ve suffered harm due to exposure, you may have a valid lead poisoning lawsuit. Can I File a Lawsuit for Lead Exposure in Connecticut? If you or your child has been diagnosed with lead poisoning or has experienced symptoms of lead exposure—such as developmental delays, behavioral issues, or other health problems—you may be eligible to seek compensation. A successful legal claim can help recover: Medical expenses Pain and suffering Emotional distress Ongoing care or rehabilitation costs Why Speak With a Connecticut Lead Contamination Lawyer? Determining liability in lead exposure cases can be complex. It often involves proving: The source of the lead contamination The responsible party (government agency, landlord, contractor, etc.) That the exposure directly caused your injuries At Adler Law Group, LLC, we have experience handling toxic exposure and environmental injury cases. Our legal team can investigate your situation, identify liable parties, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Get Legal Help for Lead Water Contamination in Connecticut If you suspect that you or a family member has been exposed to lead-contaminated water in Connecticut, don’t wait. Contact Adler Law Group, LLC today for a free consultation. Our team is here to help you understand your rights and explore your legal options. Call us now or visit our website to schedule your consultation.

On Behalf of Adler Law Group, LLC We have written a lot previously on this blog about the rights people have to seek and possibly be compensated for pain and suffering inflicted by another person’s pet dog, cat or other animal. That such means of recovery are available under the law is only right. The injuries that are caused by such attacks can require long-term medical treatment and result in serious physical disfigurement. There is also the possibility of psychological trauma to the victim. Any way you look at it, animal attacks can be devastating. If they happened because of negligence on the part of pet’s owner or keeper, they should expect to be held accountable. But what about those instances in which a beloved companion pet is left with a keeper and winds up attacked by another animal in the facility? Doesn’t the same notion of strict liability that holds owners and keepers in Connecticut legally responsible for any injury or damage done by animals in their charge apply? The answer is that it well might. It depends on the elements of the case and interpretations of the applicable laws. That’s why it’s always important to speak with an attorney who has a depth of experience in such cases. A case out of Rhode Island may serve as an example. A kennel owner in Providence is under the shadow of an order to close his boarding facility and he could also be required to pay a $15,000 fine. The penalties — the first under a new animal protection law in the state — stem from an incident in which one dog attacked another. The victim dog had to be put down. An investigation of the matter concluded that the animals hadn’t been under proper supervision and that the kennel’s license wasn’t valid because of a change in ownership. The current owner is appealing the closure order and he continues operating pending that appeal. If you’ve been the victim of an animal attack or lost a beloved companion animal due to the negligence by someone you entrusted with its care, you should make sure you know what your rights are for seeking recovery.

On Behalf of Adler Law Group, LLC The mother of two children killed in a deadly car crash last week in Bristol, Connecticut, is said to be working with an attorney, even as she recovers from her own injuries suffered in the wreck. Seeking such help of an experienced personal injury lawyer is always recommended. In this case, it may be crucial in ensuring that the facts of the incident are nailed down and to hold the responsible party fully accountable. At this point, there appears to be some significant confusion over what may have occurred. When police first reported the accident, they told news outlets that the mother of the two little girls, aged seven and four, had crossed over the center yellow line. She was driving a compact car. Her vehicle collided with a Ford Windstar van. But days later, the woman’s family said that police had admitted that they had been mistaken — that it was the van that had crossed over the center lines. The NBC TV affiliate in Bristol says police won’t confirm that their previous information was incorrect. They do say that the investigation is continuing and that more witnesses have been interviewed since the crash. What is not in dispute is that there are two young children dead and four other people injured as a result of this crash. The mother and an adult male passenger from the compact car are reportedly recovering. The Bristol Press reports that the driver and a second person in the van were also seriously hurt in the crash. Meanwhile, the mother’s attorney is asking for the public to respect his client’s privacy at this time of deep loss. He says he is confident that when the police investigation is completed it will show that she was not responsible in any way. Source: NBCConnecticut.com, “ Family of 2 Girls Who Died in Bristol Crash Disputes Police Account,” Catalina Trivino, Dec. 17, 2015

On Behalf of Adler Law Group, LLC Most Connecticut teenagers can’t wait to come of the age when they can get their license to drive. That age is 16. It’s a big moment. It’s also a lot of responsibility to place in the hands of someone who is so young and inexperienced at a task that can have such serious repercussions if something goes wrong. State lawmakers are not unaware of the risks that are involved when young people get behind the wheel. That’s why there are laws on the books that restrict behaviors. Among them is one that states that new young drivers are not supposed to carry any passengers, except a licensed instructor, a licensed person with at least 4 years of safe driving on record or a licensed parent or legal guardian. To reinforce those measures state statute also opens parents to potential liability if a young driver violates restrictions and then is found to be responsible for an accident that leaves a victim injured or killed. This may be something that is on the minds of a 16-year-old Killingworth girl and her parents right now. According to authorities, she was driving an SUV that was involved in a head-on collision with some motorcyclists last month. The crash left one motorcyclist dead and two others injured. While an investigation is apparently still ongoing, state police say the driver of the SUV was in violation of the law related to passengers in that she had two other 16-year-old girls in the vehicle with her at the time of the crash. Some experts in the area of motoring safety say the risk of a crash rises exponentially for teen drivers for every teen passenger being carried. Connecticut law is considered to have some of toughest laws on the books on teenage driving, but as we’ve noted — parents have the potential to be held to account if a young driver gets in an accident that causes property damage or physical injury. Whenever such legal question arise, speaking with an experienced attorney is advisable.