Auto Accident « McDivitt Law Firm

Archive for the ‘ Auto Accident ’ Category

Jun

Project Aims to Reduce Colorado Car Accidents Involving Wildlife

June 14, 2013

Wildlife crossing busy highways can be serious safety hazards to motorists in Colorado. In fact, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) reports that almost 600 Colorado Car Accidents have occurred during the last 20 years along a single 10.6-mile stretch of Colorado’s Highway 9.

The crashes resulted in 16 deaths and approximately 200 others sustaining serious injuries, not to mention 450 animal deaths. In an effort to reduce the safety hazard wildlife can present in the region, Colorado Parks and Wildlife have partnered with CDOT to construct a $46 million infrastructure update project.

An article from Sky-Hi Daily News explains the job will consist of building wildlife underpasses and overpasses to allow animals to safely get across the highway. Special fencing also will be installed along the road to guide animals towards the safe crossing locations.

The only stipulation to the project breaking ground is funding. CDOT requires local governments provide 20 percent of the money needed. Currently, this leaves a $4.3 million deficit that must be met by Monday in order for the project to begin.

The Denver Personal Injury Lawyers with McDivitt law Firm recognize there are numerous hazards that motorists face when traveling. That’s why the firm is hopeful the project is successful in reducing the number of motor vehicle accidents in the region.

Jun

One Killed and Three Others Injured in Denver Car Accident

June 5, 2013

A 17-year-old boy was killed and three others sustained serious Denver Car Accident Injuries as the result of a four vehicle collision this weekend. Reports indicate the crash happened at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Saturday morning at the corner of West Jewell Avenue and South Sheridan Boulevard on the southwest side of town.

A story released by ABC 7 News explained the teen was a passenger in a van being driven by his uncle and carrying three other people. A speeding vehicle that may have been involved in an illegal street race suddenly struck the van. The impact of the collision forced the van to smash into another vehicle and roll. The secondary impact caused the teen passenger in the van to be ejected and killed.

The driver of the speeding vehicle then exited his car and was hit by a fourth vehicle, also believed to have been involved in the possible race.

The crash resulted in a female passenger of the van sustaining a torn liver. The driver of the second vehicle struck fractured his knee and suffered whiplash, while the 24-year-old driver of the speeding vehicle suffered critical injuries.

Police arrested the speeding driver on charges of negligent homicide and are investigating the van’s driver for driving under the influence.

The Denver Personal Injury Lawyers with McDivitt Law Firm wish the innocent victims of this crash a full and speedy recovery.

May

Two Head-On Colorado Car Crashes Occur in Glenwood Springs

May 24, 2013

A woman was killed and three others were seriously injured in a head-on Colorado Car Crash earlier this week. Sources say the collision was the second fatal accident of its kind in the area within the last two months.

According to a story from Colorado’s 9 News, the incident occurred on Wednesday inside of a construction zone along Interstate-70, near the town of Glenwood Springs. A spokesperson with the Colorado State Patrol explained that a tractor-trailer and a car slammed into one another when one of the vehicles traveled the wrong direction on the highway. The driver died at the scene, while two adults and a child sustained serious injuries. Paramedics took the victims to a local trauma center to receive care for their wounds.

This wasn’t the first construction zone crash in the region lately. In April, another head-on collision between a big rig and a car occurred in a construction zone approximately two miles from the site of the most recent collision. A test result showed the driver of the car involved had a blood-alcohol level was three times the legal limit.

The Denver Injury Attorneys with McDivitt Law Firm points out that with Memorial Day weekend beginning today, many may be tempted to drink and drive. The firm asks citizens to refrain from getting behind the wheel if they have consumed any amount of alcohol.

May

Distracted Driving Safety Course Coming to Stapleton

May 16, 2013

Distracted driving is a problem on today’s roadways, but teens are especially prone to its risks. In fact, studies show distracted driving is 23 times more dangerous that drinking and driving. Furthermore, a total of 40 percent of teens reported being in a vehicle when a driver’s distraction put them at risk of being in an accident.

Most experts attribute teens’ higher risk of distracted driving accidents to their lack of experience behind the wheel. In an effort to help prevent Colorado Distracted Driving Accidents involving teens, the Toyota Motor Company will be holding a program at the Bass Pro Shop in Stapleton, Colorado, called the “Driving Expectations Distracted Driving Course”.

According to a story form Colorado’s 9 News, participants will be asked to maneuver a vehicle through a track of cones and obstacles, all while operating a handheld device. The course is designed to show drivers just how difficult it is to properly maneuver a vehicle while texting or talking on a phone. This allows teens to experience these risks in a closed environment with professional instructors on hand to ensure safety at all times.

The Colorado Personal Injury Lawyers with McDivitt Law Firm recognize just how dangerous distracted driving can be. That’s why the firm suggests anyone with free time over Memorial Day weekend participate in the program.

May

Lower Blood Alcohol Limits Suggested to Reduce Drunken Driving

May 15, 2013

Controversy is swirling after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) suggested yesterday that the legal blood alcohol limit for drivers should be lowered.

According to CBS-Denver, reports indicate officials with the NTSB have called for every state in the nation to lower the legal blood alcohol limit from .08 percent to .05 percent. Data has shown that under the proposed limits a woman who weighs less than 120 pounds could reach the .05 limit after consuming just one drink of alcohol. A man weighing no more than 160 pounds could also be considered legally intoxicated after less than two drinks.

Supporters of the law here in Colorado say lowering the limit could significantly reduce the number of Colorado Drunk Driving Accident Injuries and fatalities. However, opponents of the law say the state already has a .05 limit in place, even though it is not like the per se limit that is needed in order to charge a motorist with driving under the influence.

All parties agree that a conversation on how to reduce behaviors like drunk driving should take place.

The Colorado Personal Injury Lawyers with McDivitt Law Firm are optimistic that the announcement will help to bring more awareness to the problem of drunk driving. Furthermore, the firm is hopeful this awareness will encourage motorists in Colorado not to drink and drive!

May

Colorado Lawmakers Advance Marijuana DUI Bill

May 8, 2013

Colorado recently legalized marijuana for recreational use, and a hot topic of debate has been how to determine when a person is “too high to drive” and at risk of causing a Colorado Car Accident. A definition was one step closer to being established earlier this week when lawmakers passed House Bill 1325.

9 News reports the Senate approved the bill that establishes a 5-nanogram per milliliter of blood limit on the amount of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) a person can have in their system when behind the wheel of a car. THC is the ingredient in marijuana that is responsible for intoxication.

A driver who is caught in violation of the law can be charged with driving under the influence.

Those in favor of the bill say a standard is needed in order to keep motorists safe from the dangers of intoxicated drivers. Those opposed to the law claimed the blood limit may not be a fair way to determine a person’s intoxication because of how slow the drug breaks down in the body.

The law is similar to limits set in the state of Washington, which is the only other state where the drug has been legalized.

The law is now being sent to the desk of the Governor, who is expected to sign the bill into law.

The Colorado Personal Injury Lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm hope the law is effective in keeping intoxicated drivers off the state’s roadways.

May

Suspected Drunk Driver Accused of Causing Colorado Car Accident

May 3, 2013

Drunk driving is a serious problem in Colorado today. In fact, data from the non-profit organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving shows that a total of 161 lives were lost as a result of Colorado Drunk Driving Accidents in 2011 alone. These fatalities accounted for 36 percent of all traffic related deaths that year.

More recently though, A suspected drunk driver was responsible for causing a crash in Colorado Springs that let himself and two other people seriously injured. According to KKTV 11 News, the collision occurred on Friday, April 26^th, at around 5 p.m., near the intersection of Platte Avenue and Chelton Road.

Reports say the suspected intoxicated driver was heading west along Chelton in a white pickup truck when he failed to come to a halt at a red light at the intersection with Platte. The failure to stop resulted in the truck plowing into the rear end of other vehicles in the road.

The impact of the collision left the driver of the truck and two others seriously injured. Paramedics were called to the scene and rushed the trio to a local hospital for treatment.

An investigation into the crash remains ongoing.

The Colorado Personal Injury Lawyers with McDivitt Law Firm urge all motorists to never get behind the wheel of a vehicle after consuming anything that could inhibit a driver’s ability to make sound judgments.

Apr

Distracted Driver Sentenced for Fatal Colorado Car Accident

April 26, 2013

Distracted drivers are a major hazard on the highways of Colorado. In an effort to curb the growing problem, law enforcement officials across the state have been working vigorously to prosecute offenders.

Just yesterday, a 34-year-old Colorado man was sentenced to two years of probation and 300 hours of community service for causing a Colorado Distracted Driving Accident that claimed the lives of two men and left boy injured. Judge Diana Roybal, who presided over the case, stated she would have handed down a much stricter punishment had it not been for the forgiveness shown by the victims’ families.

According to an article from Colorado’s 9 News, the collision occurred on March 31, 2012, along 168^th Avenue in the town of Thornton, Colorado. The driver responsible for the crash was heading eastbound along the road when he began to careen towards the right shoulder of the road while he was attempting to read a text message he received. When the vehicle left the road though, it struck three pedestrians who were walking. The lives of the two older victims were claimed upon impact, while a 14-year-old boy sustained injuries.

The Denver Personal Injury Lawyers with McDivitt Law Firm are aware of how devastating an injury or loss of life at the hands of a distracted driver can be. The firm is hopeful the verdict brings a sense of closure to the surviving victim and the families of those that died.

Apr

Law Enforcement Numbers Plummet as Colorado Car Accidents Increase

April 17, 2013

Data from the Colorado State Patrol shows that the number of Colorado Car Accidents increased during the last two years, but enforcement by troopers has decreased. An article from KUNC News discusses the cause of the fluctuations and what state officials are doing to solve the problem.

Data indicates that in 2010, a total of 439 people were killed as the result of motor vehicle collisions in Colorado. This established a low in a nine-year trend of decreases in the number of these crashes. The following year though, an additional seven lives were claimed on the state’s highways, mounting a total of 446 deaths for the year. Last year saw an even larger increase, with the number of accident fatalities swelling to 468.

During the two-year period when fatalities rose, troopers issued fewer citation and made less arrests than in previous years. Research shows drunk driving arrests dropped by as much as 21 percent during the two-year period, while the number of speeding tickets declined by around 17 percent.

Many believe the changes can be attributed to a move away from targeted, numbers-driven law enforcement goals to a focus on broader strategies.

The Colorado Personal Injury Attorneys with McDivitt Law Firm would encourage motorists to be extra vigilant of their surroundings when on the road. Also, be sure to take appropriate safety measures, such as always buckling up and obeying the posted speed limit.

Apr

Colorado Accident Victim’s Parents Plea with Motorists to Put Phones Down

April 12, 2013

Last week, a 22-year-old man from Greeley was killed as the result of a Colorado Distracted Driving Accident. Now, his parents are hoping to prevent similar crashes from occurring by releasing their son’s final text message and discussing in a public forum how the crash has affected numerous lives.

An article from Colorado’s 9 News stated the fatal incident occurred just after 5:15 p.m. on April 3 as the victim traveled eastbound in his vehicle along O Street. Witnesses say the victim’s head was down as he veered into the oncoming lane of traffic. Investigators believe that when the man looked up while responding to a text message he had received, he over-corrected his steering. The caused the vehicle to roll several times before coming to rest. The impact claimed the young man’s life.

The victim’s parents publicly released their son’s final text message earlier this week along with a plea to motorists to pledge never to use a cellphone while driving. They added, the short time an individual’s eyes are off the road can lead to accidents that not only drastically affect the distracted driver’s life, but also the lives of family members and other motorists as well.

The Denver Personal Injury Attorneys with McDivitt Law Firm hope this story helps drivers make the choice to put down their phones while driving.

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