Archive for the ‘ Wrongful Death ’ Category

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11
May

Colorado Construction Accident Leaves One Worker Dead; Two Others Injured

May 11, 2012

The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that in 2010, hundreds of workers in the construction industry were killed in job-related accidents, making it one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. Slip and fall accidents accounted for a large percentage of those accidents, accounting for 402 fatalities that year.

One such case of a fatal fall accident on a construction site occurred Tuesday afternoon in Boulder, Colorado. According to Colorado’s 9 News, the incident occurred at a construction site on Arapahoe Avenue. Witnesses told Boulder police that the man was walking along a beam in the structure he was working on when it suddenly began to give way. That is when the worker fell to the ground. The falling beam came crashing down on top of him seconds after the fall, pinning him underneath it.

Two nurses from a nearby hospital witnessed the incident and rendered aid to the injured man until paramedics could transport him to a hospital. He died a short time after arrival. Two other workers suffered minor injuries that were treated at the scene.

The Colorado Personal Injury Lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm understand how difficult the dealing with the wrongful death of a loved one can be. That’s why the firm would like to send their deepest sympathies to the families of the worker who was tragically killed and a swift recovery to the injured workers.

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16
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.

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26
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.

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19
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.

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14
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 19th 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.

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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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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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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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