March « 2012 « McDivitt Law Firm

Archive for March, 2012

Mar

Requiring Ignition Interlocks Reduces Repeat DUI Offenses

March 30, 2012

The results of a new study may be pointing the government in the right direction toward lowering the number of accidents in the United States caused by drunk driving. Earlier this month, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released data that showed requiring first time DUI offenders to install ignition interlock devices on their vehicles deterred repeat offenses.

Ignition interlock systems are alcohol-detecting breath tests that are wired to a vehicle’s ignition. The driver must blow into the device before attempting to start the vehicle. If alcohol is detected, the car will not start.

Researchers examined trends of repeat offenses in Washington, one of 15 states that require all DUI offenders to have the devices installed. They found that when all offenders have the devices installed, repeat offenses drop by as much as 12 percent.

There are several pieces of legislation before Congress now that would encourage states to have similar laws to Washington by linking the amount of highway funds a state can receive from the federal government to the regulations.

Anne McCartt, the Institute’s vice president, supported the findings and the new legislation by saying, “Drivers with previous impaired-driving convictions are overrepresented in alcohol-related fatal crashes, so deterring people from reoffending is a good first step to reduce the death toll.”

The Denver Car Accident Lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm support any measure that will keep the motorists of Colorado safe from harm.

Mar

Colorado Has Record Number Of DUI Arrests Over St. Patrick’s Day Weekend

March 28, 2012

With St. Patrick’s Day on a Saturday this year, law enforcement in Colorado knew it was going to be a busy weekend. This turned out to be the case, as the state saw some of the highest reported drinking and driving arrests in recent history.

According to Colorado’s 9 News, 424 people were arrested in Colorado on DUI charges over the holiday weekend. Denver had the highest number of arrests, as troopers with the Colorado State Patrol and Metro Police nabbed 48 suspected drunk drivers. An additional 36 were caught in Colorado Springs, while the city of Aurora netted a total of 29 arrests.

Denver also had the highest number of DUI arrests in the state in 2011 with 3,123 suspected drunk drivers being prosecuted.

Officers say they were able to catch the large number of drunk drivers by utilizing a combination of saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints at key locations. The extra equipment and manpower needed to run these operations was funded by grants from the state’s “The Heat Is On” campaign. The program is sponsored by the Office of Transportation Safety and is aimed at educating motorists about the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol, medications, medical marijuana, and illegal drugs.

The Denver Car Accident Lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm ask that you not drink and drive. Instead, call a cab or loved one to get you home safely.

Mar

Officials Working To Determine Cause Of Longmont Mid-Air Plane Collision

March 26, 2012

Two people were killed and another seriously injured Friday after two planes collided in mid-air and crashed outside Longmont, Colorado. The Denver Post says that the accident happened just before noon above County Line Road.

Witnesses say that they heard an airplane throttling up as if the pilot was practicing stalling, but the altitude of the plan was too low. Suddenly, the plane began spiraling out of control and appeared to be missing a wing. The aircraft then clipped a power pole before slamming into the ground. Five minutes later, another crash was reported just off the grounds of the local airport involving a small, single-engine Cessna that was missing a wheel.

Rescue crews who arrived at the scene of the first crash found the pilot, who is also a flight instructor, and his student unresponsive in the wreckage. They were declared dead at the scene of the crash. The pilot of the other aircraft was taken to Longmont United Hospital where she remains in good condition.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, along with experts from the aircrafts’ manufacturers, are in the area today examining the wreckage to determine the cause of the crash.

The Denver Wrongful Death Lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm send their thoughts to the families of those who tragically died in this accident and would like to wish the surviving victim a speedy recovery from her injuries.

Mar

NHTSA Proposes Rules To Protect Drivers From Dangers Of Keyless Ignitions

March 23, 2012

Keyless ignitions are one of the newest luxury features offered on vehicles today. They have become more popular in recent years because of their convenience and their cost to manufacture has dropped. However, one study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that the ease of the push-button start has led to several close-call accidents.

The report says that a driver had his foot run over while trying to stop a vehicle that was rolling backwards because it wasn’t properly parked. In addition, a couple reported carbon monoxide detectors being set off in their home after a vehicle with a keyless ignition was accidentally started while parked in a garage connected to the home.

To avoid potential catastrophes that could be associated with these devices, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has asked for regulations to be put in place that would make it mandatory for all keyless ignition devices to shut down power to the vehicle with a half-second push of a button, whether or not the vehicle is moving. They also hope to require a loud warning alarm if the vehicle is not put into park after stopping.

The Colorado Auto Accident Lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm ask that all motorists with keyless ignitions be careful to monitor closely where they put the ignition fob in order to avoid an accidental start-up of a vehicle that could result in an accident.

Mar

Speed Blamed For Colorado Springs Accident That Injured One

March 21, 2012

Residents of a Colorado Springs neighborhood are speaking out against speeders after an accident involving a speeding vehicle severely injured a local resident.

Reports from KKTV News say the crash happened Wednesday morning on the 900 block of Walnut Street, directly across from Bristol Elementary School. Witnesses to the crash say that a young woman was speeding in a Jeep Cherokee SUV through one of the neighborhood’s school zones, which have a posted speed limit of 20 MPH, when she blew through a stop sign and lost control of the vehicle.

A woman who was playing with her son nearby had stepped across the street to her grandfather’s house to retrieve a ball for the child when the SUV that had just lost control came crashing through the white picket fence and struck her in the legs. The victim was taken by rescue crews to a local hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

When police asked the driver of the SUV why she ran the stop sign, witnesses stated that she offered no response. While the driver has not been ticketed yet, charges could be pending the outcome of a full investigation.

The Denver Car Accident Lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm say that speed is a contributing factor in more than 30 percent of all fatal crashes. That is why the firm asks for motorists to always obey posted speed limits when driving.

Mar

Aurora Firefighter Killed In Tragic Cycling Accident

March 19, 2012

The town of Aurora, Colorado, is mourning the loss of one of its firefighters after he was tragically killed in a bicycling accident on Friday. An article released by Colorado’s 9 News stated that the crash happened at the corner of East Quincy Avenue near South Uravan Street just after 7:30 a.m.

Reports of the incident filed by officers with the Aurora Police Department say that the firefighter, who had worked at the department for more than nine years and had made the rank of engineer, was riding his bike to work that morning. He attempted to cross the street using a marked crosswalk near Summit Elementary School. That’s when the 49-year-old driver of a 2002 Dodge Ram pickup truck failed to yield the right of way at the crossing and hit the man. The driver later told police he could not see the victim because the bright morning sun was blinding him through his windshield.

The firefighter was rushed by paramedics to a local hospital, but later succumbed to the massive injuries he had suffered. The driver was cited for careless driving resulting in death and failure to provide proof of insurance.

The Colorado Wrongful Death Attorneys with the McDivitt Law Firm understand how devastating this sudden loss must be to the family, friends, and co-workers of the victim. The firm would like to send their thoughts and condolences to everyone who has been impacted by this awful accident.

Mar

Free Cab Rides Offered In Colorado Springs On St. Patrick’s Day

March 16, 2012

In anticipation of St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow and with the NCAA Basketball Tournament running throughout the weekend, more than 114 law enforcement agencies in Colorado will be stepping up their presence to deter drunk drivers from hitting the road.

In an article released by 9 News, the Colorado Department of Transportation stated that the last time St. Patrick’s Day fell on a Saturday was in 2007, and law enforcement across the state arrested 363 people for DUI offenses that night. Since then, the department estimates there has been a 48% increase in the number of drunken driving arrests on that holiday.

So, what should you do if you have had too much to drink and don’t want to drive home? If you live in the Colorado Springs area, you can call a cab free of charge thanks to the Safe and Sober program sponsored by the Colorado Springs DUI Accident Lawyers at the McDivitt Law Firm. The firm says that it will pay for your cab ride home Saturday night if you’ve had too much to drink. Just call one of the following cab companies and tell them your ride home is on McDivitt Law Firm:

Colorado Springs – Call Yellow Cab of Colorado Springs at (719) 777-777.
Pueblo and Pueblo West- Call City Cab Company at (719) 543-2525.

The McDivitt Law Firm would like to wish everyone a safe and happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Mar

Drugged Driving On The Rise On America’s Highways

March 14, 2012

Recent studies have shown that there is a growing problem of drugged driving on America’s highways. The National Institute on Drug Abuse claims that drug use was seven times more common among weekend nighttime drivers in the U.S. than alcohol, as 16 percent of those drivers tested positive for drugs compared to 2 percent who tested at or above the legal limit for alcohol.

For example, police say a 43-year-old Boulder, Colorado, man was under the influence of a narcotic painkiller when he caused a nine-vehicle pile-up Tuesday evening. Reports from 9 News indicated that the accident happened along 19^th Street, between Cedar and Iris.

The driver told police that he had taken the Percocet for a stomach problem before blacking out at the wheel and causing a string of collisions. He was arrested and said he didn’t remember hitting the other vehicles. He faces charges of vehicular assault, DUI, reckless driving, and hit-and-run causing injury.

Surveys have shown that many people believe they can get away with drugged driving because they think police can’t prove they are under the influence if they are pulled over. However, advancements in technology and law enforcement education have given officers the tools they need to determine if a driver is under the influence of drugs.

The Boulder Car Accident Lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm encourage you to take medications only as prescribed and to adhere to all warning labels.

Mar

Colorado-Based Construction Company Fined For Scaffolding Collapse

March 12, 2012

Colorado-based Hensel Phelps Construction Co. was fined $18,000 on Monday by the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (COSHA) for its part in an accident that occurred on September 14, 2011, that injured 11 motorists and two construction workers. Reports from U-T San Diego indicate that the collapse of overloaded scaffolding was to blame for the accident.

The accident occurred at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, a United States-Mexico border site currently undergoing expansion work. Construction workers at the site had loaded demolition debris onto the scaffolding, including large sections of plaster and stucco, causing it to collapse.

COSHA found Hensel responsible for allowing workers to overload the structure and not enforcing safety regulations that limit the amount of weight allowed on scaffolding. One of the company’s subcontractors was given a fine in the same amount for similar charges.

The agency is also blaming a third company, Miller Environmental, for contributing to the accident by alleging that the company failed to properly train workers for their new job assignments, among other faults. Miller was fined a total of $19,120 for three violations.

The Colorado Workers’ Compensation Lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm would like to remind Colorado workers that employers have a responsibility to provide employees with a safe work environment. We are here to help you if you have been seriously hurt in an on-the-job accident that was caused by another person’s negligence.

Mar

Two Injured In Colorado Springs Single-Vehicle Accident

March 9, 2012

Alcohol may be a factor in a Colorado Springs single-vehicle crash Saturday that severely injured the driver and a passenger. Reports from The Gazette indicate that the accident happened at 3:18 a.m. near the intersection of Murray Boulevard and Center Park Drive.

Reports of the incident from officers with the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) say that the 36-year-old Colorado Springs woman was intoxicated and heading south in a 1999 Acura sedan when she hit the curb on the shoulder of the road. The impact caused her to overcorrect and swerve the vehicle across the opposite lane, striking the curb on the other side of the road. The vehicle then spun out of control, stopping only after it wrapped around a tree.

When rescue crews arrived at the scene, they frantically worked to free the driver and her passenger from the twisted wreckage. They were eventually pulled from the wreckage and taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where they are still recuperating from the serious injuries they suffered in the crash.

The CSPD added that the driver will face charges of felony vehicular assault for causing her passenger serious bodily harm in the crash.

The Colorado Springs Auto Accident Attorneys with the McDivitt Law Firm would like to remind Colorado residents that drunk driving kills dozens of people and injures countless others every year in our state. Do your part to prevent these accidents by not drinking and driving.

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