April « 2012 « McDivitt Law Firm

Archive for April, 2012

Apr

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo the Right Way—Get a Safe Ride Home

Because Cinco de Mayo is widely celebrated in southern Colorado, we’ll be hosting our ongoing Safe and Sober Free Cab Ride Home program in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Pueblo West.

We’ve helped a lot of people whose lives have been impacted by drunk driving, which is why we believe so strongly in our Safe and Sober program and want to keep the roads safe for everyone. In fact, we’ve covered the cost for more than 7,000 rides home since 2007.

One Tequila, Two Tequila, Three Tequila, Cab.
Our Safe and Sober Free Cab Ride Home program is for adults who have been drinking or who don’t have a safe way home. Rides will be available in Colorado Springs from 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 5, through 3 a.m., on Sunday, May 6.

For a free ride home, call one of the following cab companies and tell them your ride home is on McDivitt Law Firm:

Colorado Springs
Call Yellow Cab Company of Colorado Springs at (719) 777-7777.
Pueblo & Pueblo West
Call City Cab of Pueblo at (719) 543-2525.

Remember, rides are provided to your home—not to other drinking locations. Due to the high number of ride requests on Cinco de Mayo, we can’t guarantee rides for everyone who calls; however, every attempt will be made to accommodate all requests.

Did You Know…?
Widely misperceived as Mexico’s Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo is actually the anniversary of when 4,000 Mexican soldiers forced the French out of Puebla, Mexico, in 1862.

Apr

Many Colorado Motorists Ignore Construction Zone Road Signs

April 30, 2012

When asked if road signs placed in construction zones were still in effect if equipment and workers were not present, many Colorado residents said “no.” But according to 9 News, their beliefs are mistaken.

A spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Stacey Stegman, stated that all rules and fines posted by the signs still apply regardless of whether or not work is occurring at the time. She added, “The rules apply as long as the sign is up. If work is not going on, then typically we will turn the signs down.”

Misconceptions by motorists that construction zone signs do not apply if work is not underway lead to thousands of serious accidents per year in the state. In fact, CDOT claims that last year, there were 830 work zone crashes resulting in 96 injuries and 10 fatalities—many of which could have been prevented had drivers followed posted signs.

In an effort to battle the problem, CDOT plans to partner with the Colorado State Patrol beginning in June on a new campaign called “Slow for the Cone Zone”, which will aim to educate motorists on the importance of slowing down in construction zones and following all posted signage.

The Denver Car Accident Lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm ask that Colorado drivers be extra vigilant when passing through construction zones, as the number of projects will begin to increase during the summer months.

Apr

Colorado Lawmakers Working To Compensate Wildfire Victims

April 27, 2012

Victims of the recent Lower North Fork Wildfire may receive little to no compensation for their damages. According to 9 News Now, this is due to a state law that caps the amount the state will pay at $600,000 per incident.

The cap was raised to that amount following an accident in the late 1980s in which a boulder crashed into a bus traveling on a highway that should have been closed. At the time, the raise was significant. With inflation of the dollar and medical costs though, the total amount may not cover the damages suffered by the families of the three people who died and the 27 families with damaged homes.

In response to the funding shortage, Republican lawmakers have pushed for a bill to be passed that would allow a panel to ignore the cap and set the amount of damages as they see fit. The funding would then be pulled from several million dollars of the state budget set aside each year for the purpose of settlements.

Other lawmakers disagree with the bill though, and say that changing the cap for a high profile case is unfair to the numerous other injury victims who have suffered because of an accident the state caused and settled.

The Colorado Personal Injury Lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm hope that the victims of the recent wildfire get what they need to get back on their feet.

Apr

CDOT Holds Ceremony To Remember Fallen Workers

April 25, 2012

In an effort to reduce the number of on-the-job fatalities among highway workers, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) held a vigil Tuesday to remember the 23 men and women who lost their lives while working on road construction projects over the past year.

According to the Denver Post, this is the eighth year that CDOT has hosted the ceremony that’s being held in conjunction with National Work Zone Awareness Week, which began Monday. One man who lost his father to a drunk driver in a construction zone eight years ago told of how the accident had inspired him to create an organization dedicated to promoting construction zone safety.

Statistics show that 600 people are killed and another 37,000 are injured each year in our country in work zone accidents. That includes the 830 work-zone crashes, which injured 96 people and caused 10 deaths in Colorado last year.

A spokesman for the Colorado State Patrol, Captain Jeff Goodwin, added that most construction zone accidents could be eliminated if drivers simply kept their eyes and minds focused on the road. He added that drivers should, “Just slow down, give highway workers and patrol officers a little bit of buffer so we can do our work.”

The Denver Car Accident Lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm would like to remind Colorado’s motorists of the importance of staying vigilant when driving through work zones by slowing down and watching for workers.

Apr

Denver SUV Crash Claims Three Lives, Injures One

April 23, 2012

Speed and alcohol are being blamed for a fatal crash Sunday that claimed three lives in Denver, Colorado. According to Colorado’s 9 News, the accident occurred at around 1:30 a.m. near the intersection of Perry Street and Bayaud Avenue.

Reports from Denver Metro Police Officers who responded to the scene say that the driver of a Lincoln Navigator was heading south along Perry Street at a high rate of speed when he lost control of the vehicle and veered off the road. The large SUV then skidded into the yard of one of the homes lining the road, where the driver’s side of the vehicle slammed into a tree.

A witness stated that it appeared the driver of the SUV never applied the brakes before the collision. Both the driver and two passengers died at the scene, while a fourth victim was taken to Denver Regional Medical Center and remains there in critical condition.

Detectives are investigating whether alcohol was a factor in the crash after a local resident, who rendered aid to the victims before first responders could arrive, told police that he saw a bottle of tequila in the vehicle.

The Denver Car Accident Lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm would like to ask all motorists to help prevent accidents like this in the future by always obeying the posted speed limit of the roads and to never drive after consuming any amount of alcohol.

Apr

Notices Of Claims Filed Against Colorado For Lower North Fork Fire

April 20, 2012

Several families who were devastated by the recent Lower North Fork Fire have filed claims against the state of Colorado. According to 9 News, the notices allege negligence by Colorado for letting a prescribed burn get out of control.

The fire was set by local officials to clear undergrowth, but several sparks caught a breeze of wind and jumped a road, which ignited the blaze. In all, the wildfire killed three people, destroyed or damaged 27 homes, and burned more than 4,000 acres of land in Jefferson County, Colorado.

A total of eight claims notices were filed and served this past week. An insurance company whose policyholders had homes that were damaged filed seven of the notices, while the Intermountain Rural Electric Association filed the other notice.

The latter notice is claiming $1.2 million in damages for loss of equipment after the fire burned two miles of power lines, which had to be replaced to restore power to customers. Even though the state may face more claims in the future, a law which protects it from paying damages for accidents for which it’s held responsible will cap the state’s payout at $600,000 to be split amongst all who were affected.

The Colorado Personal Injury Lawyers with The McDivitt Law Firm would like to remind citizens of the dangers of wildfires and the importance of evacuating immediately if a fire is near you rhome.

Apr

Denver Attorney Seriously Injured In Two-Vehicle Collision

April 18, 2012

A prominent Denver attorney was involved in a two-vehicle accident Sunday that left him seriously injured. According to FOX 31 News, the crash occurred just after 8:00 a.m. at the intersection of West 8th Avenue and Speer Boulevard, which runs parallel with Cherry Creek.

A spokesman for the Denver Fire Department, Lt. Phil Champagne, said the victim had the right of way as he passed through the intersection, but another vehicle ran the red light and T-boned his Acura SUV. Witnesses reported that the SUV was sent airborne before landing on its roof in a shallow creekbed. Luckily, four witnesses were able to reach the vehicle in the creek, pry the driver’s door open, and pull the victim to safety.

The victim was not breathing when he was pulled from the wreckage, but rescuers said he started breathing on his own before being transferred to Denver Health Medical Center to receive treatment for a broken hand and ribs.

Police say that while their investigation is still ongoing, the driver responsible for the accident was cited for careless driving resulting in serious bodily injury.

The Denver Car Accident Lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm would like to wish the victim who was injured in this crash a quick and full recovery from his injuries. The firm also would like to remind drivers of the importance of buckling up every time they get into a motor vehicle.

Apr

Carbon Monoxide Can Be Silent Killer In Colorado Homes

April 16, 2012

Some people are unaware that carbon monoxide is a tasteless, odorless gas that’s capable of causing unconsciousness and death within minutes. Even fewer are aware of how often it may be encountered. In most situations, the gas is ventilated, but if allowed to build up, the results can be disastrous.

The Denver Post reported the story of a Westminster, Colorado, woman who died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning in her home’s garage. The young woman was at home doing laundry on Christmas Eve of last year while using her cell phone. When the phone died and she was unable to find her wall charger, she went out to the garage and plugged the phone into a car charger in her father’s pickup truck. She then started the truck to use its heater to stay warm while waiting for the phone to charge.

Her mother found her dead in the truck the next morning. Carbon monoxide from the engine had slowly built in the garage, causing her to lose consciousness and suffocate. Her mother is using this tragic loss to help educate others about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The Denver Wrongful Death Lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm would like to remind Colorado residents of the Lofgren and Johnson Families Carbon Monoxide Safety Act, which is a state law that requires all residences to have carbon monoxide detectors installed throughout the home or building.

Apr

Denver VA Hospital Operating Rooms Shut Down Due To Contamination

April 13, 2012

Due to the risk of spreading diseases and infection, cleanliness in hospitals and doctors’ offices is vital. Because of this risk, the Denver Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital has announced it has cancelled surgeries in its operating rooms so that the areas can undergo specialized cleaning, according to 9 News.

Officials with the hospital say that the decision was made after a “residue” was found on several surgical instruments in the rooms during a routine inspection that occurred last month. Surgeries proceeded as scheduled after the instruments were removed and sanitized; however, upon further inspection and testing of the residue samples, officials decided that all of the hospital’s surgical instruments should be specially cleaned and sanitized before any other procedures occur.

They have since cancelled all surgeries at the Denver facility until further notice. All elective surgeries were rescheduled, while emergency surgeries were contracted to other facilities. The VA did emphasize that no patient’s care has been compromised due to the incident.

An article released by Infection Control Today states that cross contamination during pre-operational preparation is the most common way in which contaminants are introduced into operating rooms.

The Colorado Personal Injury Lawyers with McDivitt Law Firm are glad to see that the contamination in this case was caught before any patients were harmed. That is not always the case though, and we want to help you if you have suffered an infection caused by surgery.

Apr

Colorado Man Teaches Teens The Importance Of Safe Driving

April 11, 2012

Statistics show that motor vehicle accidents are the number one killer of young people between the ages of 18 and 25 years old. That’s why a 27-year-old Colorado man who survived a devastating car accident when he was a teen is using his story to inspire Denver-area teens to drive safely.

The Denver Post reports that the young man spoke with a group of teens at North High School yesterday. He told them about how on a November night in 1999, he went for a ride with a friend who had just gotten his license. The driver was speeding when he lost control of the Honda Civic and crashed.

The man, who was just 14 years old at the time, spent the next six weeks in a coma. When he awoke, he had to undergo 22 surgeries and face being put on life support twice. He now has only 20 percent of his short-term memory and had to stop several times during his presentation to compose his thoughts.

He says the accident was a life-changing experience, which has led him to help others. “I was reborn to talk to people about this,” he said.

The Denver Car Accident Lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm are glad that this young man is able to live a fulfilling and promising life, and they strive to help other accident victims suffering from similar injuries move on with their lives as well.

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