Archive for February, 2012

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29
Feb

Denver Crash Survivor Sends Message Against Drunk Driving

February 29, 2012

One of the teenage survivors of a Denver, Colorado, drunk driving accident that occurred last November is hoping to share his story with others in hopes that they will choose not to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.

An article released by 9 News states that the young man feels his life changed the night f November 6 when he and three friends got into a Toyota 4-Runner to drop one of the passengers off. The 18-year-old had reportedly been drinking for hours and was swerving through traffic and running red lights moments before losing control of the vehicle and crashing. The driver and the passenger in the front seat were killed, while the two teens in the back were critically injured.

In the months that followed the accident, the 17-year-old survivor has remained hospitalized. He is now a quadriplegic in rehabilitation, re-learning how to move and use each part of his body.

The teen survivor says, “I want people to see the consequences of drinking and driving. All kids say ‘I would never do that’ and they wind up doing it. And maybe if they see us, it will make at least some kids think before they ever mix cars and alcohol.”

The Denver Car Accident Lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm applaud this young man for sharing his story to help others  and ask that you think twice before you drink and drive.

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27
Feb

Alcohol Blamed For Colorado Car Crash

February 27, 2012

A tragic car accident in Castle Rock, Colorado, that killed one man and injured another is believed to have been caused by a drunk driver. According to a report from Colorado’s 9 News, the crash occurred just after 2:00 AM along the southbound lanes of I-25, south of Founders Park Meadows.

Reports from the Castle Rock police department indicate that a 23-year-old man from Colorado Springs was driving a Ford Expedition with a friend south down the highway when the pair suddenly stopped in the right lane. The driver then got out of the vehicle just yards from the Black Feather Trail overpass. Then, the driver of a Ford Excursion that was following the Expedition slammed into its rear-end. The force of the collision caused the SUV to fly forward and hit the driver that had exited the vehicle. The driver was thrown into the left lane and killed instantly.

The 25-year-old passenger of the Expedition was transported by paramedics to a local hospital, where he was treated and released for minor injuries.

The driver of the Excursion failed a field sobriety test and faces charges of DUI and vehicular homicide pending the outcome of the crash investigation.

The Colorado DUI accident attorneys with the McDivitt Law Firm know that drinking and driving is deadly. that is why they sponsor events every year, such as Safe and Sober, to do their part in helping eliminate the problem.

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24
Feb

Helmets Save Lives On The Slopes Of Colorado

February 24, 2012

We often hear about the importance of wearing a helmet when riding a bike, motorcycle or ATV; however, the very popular sports of skiing and snowboarding here in Colorado are often overlooked when we think of times and places where wearing a helmet should be vital.

One Colorado teen is lucky to have strapped on his helmet and goggles before heading out to the slopes last month. According to an article from Colorado’s 9 News, the safety gear saved the boy’s life when he ran into a tree.

The boy had just gotten off the lift and pushed off for his first run of the day when he lost control and drifted off the course and into a grove of trees. Witnesses say that the 15-year-old was traveling at approximately 20-25 MPH when he hit the timber. The impact sent the boy to the ground where witnesses quickly gathered around.

The boy was airlifted to St. Anthony’s Hospital, where he was treated for numerous injuries including broken bones. Doctors who treated the boy said if it had not been for the teen’s goggles and helmet, he would certainly be dead.

The Colorado traumatic brain injury lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm would like to remind all skiers and snowboarders to strap on a helmet and goggles before hitting the slopes. The decision may save your life when you least expect it.

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22
Feb

OSHA Fines Construction Company For Death Of Worker In Colorado

February 22, 2012

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has fined a Minnesota-based construction company $11,675 for violations surrounding the death of a worker this past August near Aspen, Colorado. Reports from the Aspen Daily News say that accident happened at around 3:30 PM while the worker was drilling near the banks of Maroon Creek behind an apartment complex.

The worker was on a platform suspended by a crane. He was wearing a safety device known as a fall-prevention cord since he was on the elevated risers.

The worker and his team had shut the drill down to repair a malfunction and when they turned it on, the victim’s fall-cord became entangled in the spinning machinery. He was pulled into the equipment and spun repeatedly until other workers could reach the emergency shut-off button.  The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

OSHA’s report on the violations the company committed, including a problem with the emergency shut-off button and an anchor point for the fall-cord, say that the infractions relate to a section of law that states, “A place of employment which [is] free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.”

The Colorado Wrongful Death Attorneys with the McDivitt Law Firm would like to send their thoughts and condolences to the family of the worker who tragically died because in the accident.

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20
Feb

Colorado Springs Plumber Killed,Co-Worker Injured In Chain-Reaction Crash

February 20, 2012

A Colorado Springs plumber was killed and his co-worker was injured when they became pinned between two vehicles last Monday. According to reports from The Gazette, the tragic accident occurred before 9:00 AM along Nevada Avenue, north of downtown.

Reports from the Colorado Springs Police Department say that a woman driving a grey Nissan Pathfinder was heading south on the road when a small black pickup truck pulled out in front of her. In order to avoid hitting the truck, the woman swerved right and collided with the rear end of a two parked vehicles. The collision caused the cars to lurch forward and pin two workers who were unloading equipment from a van between the vehicles.

Both workers were freed by rescue personnel and taken to Penrose Hospital. One of the men later died there due to complications. The other worker’s condition is expected to improve after undergoing surgery to repair several shattered bones later today.

Although no citations were issued at the scene of the crash, investigators say that they are still looking into the incident and charges could be filed against a driver at a later time.

The experienced team of Colorado Springs car accident attorneys with the McDivitt Law Firm send their condolences to the family of the worker who died in the crash.

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17
Feb

Colorado Legislators Hope To Change Hit-And-Run Laws

February 17, 2012

Colorado lawmakers reviewed a bill Thursday that would increase the punishment for fleeing the scene of an accident where injury is inflicted to match the punishment for drunk driving offenses. According to a report from Colorado’s 9 News, a loophole in the current law gives incentive to drunk drivers to flee the scene of such an accident.

As the laws stand now, punishments for hit-and-run offenses are less severe than for drunk driving offenses. A drunk driver who causes an accident that inflicts serious bodily injury to another person can expect a sentence of up to 12 years in prison, while someone convicted of a hit and run offense can expect a sentence of one to three years in jail that can be suspended by the judge.

One victim who testified before the House Judiciary Committee Thursday told his story of spending a longer time in the hospital than the person who hit him spent in jail. He stated that the day the driver who hit him was released from jail, he was still learning to use the bathroom again.

Lawmakers hope to increase the penalties for hit-and-run offenses to at least a class four felony, which carries a sentence of two to six years in state prison.

The Denver car accident lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm are available to talk and answer any questions you may have if you have been involved in an accident that has left you seriously injured.

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15
Feb

Denver Woman’s Recovery A Miracle?

February 15, 2012

Some are calling the recovery of one Denver, Colorado, woman after being hit by a train nothing short of a miracle. An article released by 9 News says that in the two months since her accident, the young lady has overcome two brain surgeries, a tracheotomy, a stroke, and pneumonia.

It was a Friday afternoon in November of last year when the young woman left her house to walk to work. She was listening to music on headphones as she walked past the Denver Center for Performing Arts. She paused to let a train pass and continued across the tracks, as there was no warning signal or cross arms down. She never heard the train coming in the opposite direction and was hit.

She spent the next several months fighting for her life at Denver Health Medical Center. The woman has shown improvements that are stunning doctors and her family. She is now fully conscious, following commands, and moving her own limbs. She can even sit up and read on her own.

Doctors say she will soon be moved to a rehabilitation center to continue the process of recovery.

The Denver personal injury lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm would like to wish this woman the best of luck on her journey to a swift recovery. If you have been injured in a train accident, contact an experienced attorney today for help in getting the compensation you need.

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13
Feb

Paralyzed Man Learns To Move Forward Following Accident

February 13, 2012

If asked what the most important aspect of life after a serious accidental injury is, most survivors will tell you gaining the ability to move forward with life is a primary and vital hurdle to overcome. One man who will testify to this is a 38-year-old tetraplegic from Denver, Colorado.

According to an article by 9 News, the man suffered the spinal injury that left him paralyzed while riding his bike to work last fall. He says that he looked down for a split second during the ride to adjust his coat and hit a garbage truck from behind.

The impact was enough force to shatter the man’s C6 and C7 vertebrae. He was conscious throughout the incident and clearly remembers the moment he was unable to move any limb on his body.

In the months since the accident, the man has undergone several surgeries and visits a rehabilitation center daily. Although he and his family have mounting medical bills and are now tasked with the expense of retrofitting their home to accommodate a wheelchair, he is learning to overcome the challenges of his new disability.

The Colorado personal injury lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm wish this man the best of luck in his recovery process and future endeavors. The firm would also like to remind other accident victims that they are not alone and we are here to help.

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10
Feb

Colorado News Anchor Bitten By Dog During Interview

February 10, 2012

A news anchor that was bitten on the face by a dog on the air while giving a report has been released from a hospital after undergoing surgery. According to 9 News, the bite occurred Wednesday morning as the anchor was interviewing two firefighters and the dog they rescued from the icy waters of a Denver pond the day before.

What began as a humanitarian story quickly became a nightmare as an 80-lb Argentine Mastiff named Max pounced the anchor in the middle of the interview and bit her in the face. The anchor was taken to Denver health Medical Center, where over the next two days she would undergo reconstructive surgery.

This was the animal’s first instance of biting a human, so Denver Animal Care and Control (DACC) says that rather than putting the animal down, the dog will be held for a 10-day period. Then, the dog’s owner will be fined for the dog biting someone, not having the dog on a leash, and not having the animal vaccinated for rabies.

The Colorado dog bite attorneys with the McDivitt Law Firm say that you should never approach or pet a stray. Instead, always ask for the owner’s permission before petting any dog. Once you have received permission, pet the dog in a standing position rather than leaning or squatting to the dogs level. This will prevent the dog from being able to lunge towards your face.

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8
Feb

Thornton Man Hit And Killed By RTD Bus In Denver Tuesday

February 8, 2012

A 50-year-old man from Thornton, Colorado, was killed Tuesday after being run over by an RTD passenger bus. According to reports from FOX 31-Denver News, the accident occurred on the corner of W. Colfax Avenue and Mariposa Street at a marked bus stop.

A spokesman for the Denver police department, Sonny Jackson, says that the man was exiting the bus when he tripped and fell under the vehicle. He was run over as the vehicle pulled away from the bus stop. Paramedics declared him dead at the scene.

While police did not cite the bus driver, a statement from RTD, the bus company involved, stated that the driver has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.

Colorado’s 9 News reported a similar incident near the same location last November when another man was run over by a bus leaving a bus stop on Colfax Avenue. Witnesses said that just after the bus took off, the driver stopped the vehicle, saying there was someone beneath the bus. The victim suffered injuries to his legs and stomach, but survived.

The Colorado auto accident lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm handle all kinds of auto accident cases involving different types of vehicles all across the state. If you have questions regarding an accident you were in that was no fault of your own, contact an experienced attorney today.

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