Polito & Associates LLC

Personal Injury Lawyers in Waterford CT

Polito & Associates LLC is a personal injury law firm located in Waterford, Connecticut and serving clients throughout New London, Middlesex, and Windham Counties in Connecticut as well as Newport, Kent, Washington, and Providence Counties in Rhode Island.

Polito & Associates LLC is a well-respected team of attorneys and legal professionals focused exclusively on plaintiffs’ personal injury litigation in Connecticut, Rhode Island and in the tribal courts within Connecticut. We practice personal injury law with integrity, dedication and with the goal of obtaining full and fair compensation for harms and losses suffered by our clients whether by settlement or trial. We have an established and successful track record well recognized by our peers.

Our firm exclusively represents individuals and families harmed by the negligence of others resulting in wrongful death, personal injury, and catastrophic harms and losses. We handle automobile crashes, tribal and casino injuries, slip and falls, dog bite injuries, distracted driving crashes, nursing home negligence, construction site injuries, truck and motorcycle negligence, boating injuries, medical and professional malpractice as well as harms and losses resulting from defective products and drugs.

Polito & Associates LLC regularly receives referrals from and works with other prominent personal injury and other law firms who ask us to handle matters within Connecticut and Rhode Island and in the Connecticut Tribal Courts.

Our goal and commitment is to provide personalized attention to each and every client's case-- no matter how large or small-- because that is each client's only case. We are proud of our firm's reputation of combining integrity and compassion with an unflinching dedication to getting the right result. We will do what we say.

We regularly meet clients at their homes and at other convenient locations at times that best suit an individual or family whose life has been disrupted by the negligence of others. We look forward to working for you.

CONTACT:
Polito & Associates LLC
567 Vauxhall Street Ext. Suite 230
Waterford, CT 06385
Phone: (860) 447-3300
Email: hpolito@politolaw.com

The Dangers of Carbon Monoxide & Safety Tips

Everyone should be aware of the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning at home, however, many people do not understand the scope of the problem. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports the following statistics regarding carbon monoxide poisoning:

About 20,000 people visit an emergency department each year due to possible poisoning

About 4,000 people are admitted to the hospital due to the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning

About 400 people from non-fire-related carbon monoxide poisoning each year in the U.S.

Carbon monoxide (CO) can result from using many different types of everyday tools and appliances. CO is in the fumes from motor vehicles, generators and other small engine-based appliances, gas ranges, furnaces, stoves, fireplaces, grills, and more. Chances are, you have something in your home that presents a risk of carbon monoxide fumes.

Carbon monoxide is particularly dangerous because it has no odor or color. Often, the gas can go undetected until it has caused serious harm or even death. For this reason, it is critical for everyone to understand the risks and take proper precautions to keep you and your family safe from CO poisoning.

Risk Factors

When you breathe too much CO, it replaces the oxygen in your bloodstream and without adequate oxygen, your body will shut down. While carbon monoxide poisoning can happen to anyone, very small children, older adults, and people with breathing issues, anemia, or heart disease may be at a greater risk.

Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and if you notice any possible symptoms in you or your family, immediately get out of the house and head to the emergency department. Symptoms can include:

Dizziness

Nausea

Headaches

Drowsiness

Confusion

Increased heart rate or breathing

Chest pain

Problems with your vision

Seizures

If you seek medical help, you can undergo oxygen therapy to get your blood-oxygen back to normal. On the other hand, if you remain in a home or building with CO fumes, you could become unconscious and poisoning may be fatal. Do not take any chances if anyone is displaying these symptoms – it is always worth getting out of the house as it can often save your lives. Longer exposure can also result in long-term effects.

Have the Right Detectors

One of the best ways to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning is to have detectors throughout your home or office. Make sure they are in working order and never ignore a detector alarm. Additionally, make sure you use all gas-powered vehicles and appliances in accordance with the safety instructions. Properly maintain any fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, chimneys, and other such risks in your home.

Consult with an Experienced Norwich, CT Personal Injury Lawyer for Help

Sometimes, people can suffer CO poisoning due to someone else’s negligence. In such cases, the negligent party should be held liable for all of the losses resulting from the poisoning, including medical expenses, missed work, or even wrongful death. The injury attorneys at Polito & Associates are here for victims of carbon monoxide poisoning and other household injuries.

Humbert J. Polito

Humbert (Bert) J. Polito Jr., is a partner in the law firm of Polito & Associates in Waterford, Connecticut. Bert is a native of Cleveland, Ohio where he attended St. Ignatius High School. Bert is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross (A.B. Religious Studies, 1978) where he was admitted to Phi Beta Kappa. Bert attended the University of Connecticut School of Law (1986) and then served as law clerk to Donald F. Shea of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island. Throughout his career in law, Bert has successfully tried and arbitrated cases in both Connecticut and Rhode Island. As a result, Bert is board certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Bert has also been selected for membership to the American Board of Trial Advocates. Bert has served on the Board of Governors of CTLA since 1993, and has been a member of the Executive Committee since 2003. In June 2009, Bert was elected to serve as President of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association.

Bert taught high school both before and during law school, and continues to be active in teaching. Bert ran the People’s Law School Program in New London for several years, and currently assists middle school students each year in New London to prepare for annual mock trial exercises. Bert also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Connecticut School of Law, where he has taught a semester course in Trial Advocacy each fall since 1998.

Bert has been named Best Lawyers’ 2013 and 2015 New London Area Lawyer of the Year for Plaintiffs’ Personal Injury Litigation. Bert has also been designated as one of the top 50 attorneys in the State of Connecticut by Connecticut Super Lawyers®.

In April of 2016, Bert was honored to be named a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, which limits membership to 500 Fellows from the United States.

Bert has been admitted to practice law in Connecticut since 1986, and in Rhode Island since 1987. His practice has focused exclusively on plaintiff’s personal injury litigation. In his work, Bert seeks to promote consumer and patient safety, and is particularly proud of two of his cases, one by verdict and the other by settlement. The former involved a product liability verdict in favor of a burn victim, wherein the Court ordered that product safety data in the possession of a non-party foreign manufacturer be produced over the objection of a defendant seller here in America.

The latter involved the settlement of a hospital malpractice case on behalf of a family which included the hospital’s implementation of patient safety procedures, as well as the designation of a family member to a working hospital committee seeking to improve patient safety. A number of the cases Bert has resolved have been in excess of one million dollars.

Bert is listed in Best Lawyers in America, in Connecticut and New England Super Lawyers, and admitted to the United States Supreme Court.

EDUCATION:

University of Connecticut School of Law, Hartford, Connecticut, 1986
Honors: Cum Laude
College of the Holy Cross, 1978
Honors: Magna Cum Laude
Honors: Phi Beta Kappa

BAR ADMISSIONS:

Connecticut, 1986
Rhode Island, 1987
U.S. District Court District of Rhode Island, 1987
U.S. District Court District of Connecticut, 1988
U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 1993

CERTIFICATION/SPECIALTIES:

National Board of Trial Advocates, 2000
National Board of Trial Advocates – (Recertified), 2005

CLASSES/SEMINARS TAUGHT:

Speaker, Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association
Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Connecticut School of Law, Trial Advocacy, 1998 – Present

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS:

Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association 2009-2010 (President)
Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, 2008 – 2009 (President Elect)
Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, 1993 – Present (Member, Board of Governors)
Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, 2003 – Present (Present Member, Executive Committee)
Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association (Member, Medical Malpractice Committee)
American Association of Justice (Member)
Connecticut Bar Association (Member)
New London County Bar Association (Member)
Rhode Island Trial Lawyers Association (Member)
Rhode Island Bar Association (Member)
Connecticut Traumatic Brain Injury Association, 1992 – 1998 (Board of Governors)

PAST EMPLOYMENT POSITIONS:

Justice Donald F. Shea, Supreme Court of Rhode Island, Law Clerk, 1986 – 1987

HONORS AND AWARDS:

Martindale Hubbell Preeminent Lawyers (AV Rated), 2004 – Present
New England Super Lawyers, 2007-Present
Connecticut Magazine Super Lawyer, 2006- Present
Best Lawyers in America, 2005- Present
American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), 2000 – Present
Selected as a James W. Cooper Fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation
New London Area Best Lawyers Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiff’s Lawyer of the Year for 2013 as selected by Best Lawyers

Personal Injury Cases (CT & RI):

Car accident injuries
Slip and fall injuries
Injuries caused by dogs and other animals, dog bites
Truck and tractor trailer accident injuries
Motorcycle accident injuries
Traumatic brain injury, mild TBI
Spinal cord injuries
Bicycle accident injuries

Medical Malpractice Cases (CT & RI):

Surgical errors
Birth injuries
Failure to diagnose
Infections, MRSA
Medication errors

Nursing Home Injury & Neglect Cases (CT & RI):

Bed sores
Falls
Infection
Medication errors
Elder abuse
Misconduct with elders

Sexual Misconduct Cases (CT & RI):

Priests and Ministers
School Teachers
School Coaches
Extended Statute of Limitations

Product Liability Cases (CT & RI):

Defective design
Defects in manufacturing
Failure to provide adequate guards
Failure to warn of dangers and defects

Business Litigation Cases (CT & RI):

CUTPA (Connecticut Unfair Trade Practice)
Breach of Contract
Tortious Interference with business and contracts
Connecticut Trade Secrets

CONTACT :
Polito & Associates LLC
567 Vauxhall Street Ext. Suite 230
Waterford, CT 06385
Ph: (860) 447-3300
Email: hpolito@politolaw.com