0
11
Jan

Poor Auditing At The Heart Of Last Year’s Deadly Listeria Outbreak

January 11, 2012

New information has been released on how the deadly Listeria outbreak that killed 30 people last year spread. According to reports from 9 News, third party auditors who inspected Jensen Farms, where the outbreak originated, ignored government guidance on food safety. Furthermore, they gave the facility a “Superior” rating two months before the outbreak.

The new evidence comes from a report that was released Tuesday by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The document quoted a representative of the auditing company responsible for inspections of the facility as saying that their reports are not meant to help companies improve food safety standards. On the contrary, grocery store chains and food retailers across the country depend on these reports to ensure that the food they buy is safe for consumption.

Congressional investigators and panel committee members are now asking that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tighten regulations that surround the third-party audit companies and how their inspection process is run. Reform of these regulations and their enforcers is pertinent and vital as these are often the only neutral parties to inspect food-processing facilities.

The Colorado personal injury lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm understand the dangers that unsafe food products can present and know that food companies have a responsibility by law to provide products that are safe for consumption. If an unsafe food product has seriously harmed you, get in touch with us today for a free initial consultation of your case.

Popularity: 1% [?]

0
9
Jan

Distracted Driver Responsible For Crash That Killed Commerce City Woman

January 9, 2012

Distracted Driving is dangerous. This is the lesson that was learned when a pillar of the community of Commerce City, Colorado, was killed by a driver who was distracted by his cellphone. Colorado’s 9 News reported yesterday that the accident occurred at around 10:30 in the morning on December 12, in the westbound lanes of I-76.

Witnesses told officers that traffic was at a standstill because of nearby construction. The victim was following a tractor-trailer at about 5 MPH when she was suddenly jarred by the impact from a van that was closing in behind her. Reports show that the 34-year-old driver of the van was distracted by his cell phone before hitting the woman. Investigators determined he never attempted to slow before hitting her.

The Colorado state patrol says charges are will be filed against the driver pending the outcome of toxicology reports. The van’s driver could face a range of charges from reckless driving to vehicular homicide, although it is expected to be the latter as police believe drugs may have been involved.

The Colorado auto accident attorneys with the McDivitt Law Firm ask that all drivers put their phones down until you have arrived at your destination. This way you are able to give your full concentration to the road.

Popularity: 1% [?]

0
6
Jan

CU Student Injured In Crosswalk By Hit-And-Run Driver

January 6, 2012

A 23-year-old University of Colorado student was seriously injured on campus Wednesday evening after a vehicle struck her in a crosswalk. According to the Boulder Daily Camera, the incident took place at a crossing for Baseline Road, near Canyon Creek Drive, at around 5:25 PM.

Authorities with the Boulder Police Department and CU Police responded to the scene to investigate. They found the victim lying in the middle of the street, surrounded by shattered parts of a car, but no vehicle in sight. The student was immediately taken to Boulder Community Hospital to be treated for serious head and internal injuries, where she remains in serious condition.

In the meantime, police used evidence from the scene, including broken off parts of the vehicle, to track down the driver of the hit-and-run vehicle. 9 News reported yesterday that Boulder police believe found a suspect and would be interviewing that individual later in the day.

Deadly Roads, an advocacy group for victims of hit-and-run accidents, say that an average of four people will die in the United States today as a result of a hit-and-run accident. Also, for every one person killed in this type of accident, 72 are injured.

The Colorado auto accident attorneys with the McDivitt Law Firm are not only experienced in helping drivers who have been hit by another vehicle, but pedestrians who have been hurt in accidents at no fault of their own as well. Call us today if you have been injured in an accident.

Popularity: 1% [?]

0
4
Jan

New Social Security Transportation System Plagued By Problems

January 4, 2012

A new transportation system designed to help disabled Medicaid patients get to medical appointments has been a flop thus far. According to Colorado’s 9 News, the Ohio-based company, First Transit, had a rough first day on the job with phone lines shut down and patients receiving busy signals and error messages.

Medicaid pays for patients to be transported to doctors and hospitals if the patient lives in an area without public transportation or if their disabilities are so severe that they are unable to take public transportation. Without this service, these patients have no way to get the care they need.

The problems with the system have made scheduling and getting to appointments a nightmare for patients. A woman from Commerce City, Colorado, was met only with a busy signal when she repeatedly tried to set up a ride with the company to get her to hip surgery at a local hospital.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing said that the government would examine “contract remedies” against the company once the call issues were resolved. The company responded by saying that more staff, hours, and phone lines will be added to handle the flood of calls coming in.

The Colorado Social Security Disability attorneys at the McDivitt Law Firm know and understand the health hazards these stranded patients could face if they are unable to get to their appointments. Contact us today if a company’s negligence to give you proper care has caused you harm.

Popularity: 1% [?]

0
2
Jan

Man Critically Injured at Concert Venue New Years Eve

January 2, 2012

A 20-year-old man is in critical condition in a hospital in Broomfield, Colorado, after falling from the second floor of a venue he was attending a concert at New Years Eve. Colorado’s 9 News reported earlier today that the fall happened at around 1:15 in the morning at the 1st Bank Center.

Officers with the Broomfield police department said the young man was found just as the show was ending behind the main stage. Paramedics were on the scene and determined the man had suffered life-threatening injuries. They immediately transported him to the nearest hospital for treatment.

Detectives investigating the case have released little information about the incident other than interviews have been conducted with staff and security at the venue along with friends and family of the victim. A crime scene unit was called to the scene, suggesting foul play was possibly involved.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that of the hundreds of individuals who suffer form slip and fall accidents every year, 20-30 percent of them will suffer an injury. Also, unintentional falls account for 19,565 deaths every year in the United States.

The Colorado personal injury lawyers at the McDivitt Law Firm often handle cases where victims were injured because of the neglect of another person. If you have been hurt because of someone else’s mistake, contact us today to have your questions answered and discuss your case with an experienced team of attorneys.

Popularity: 1% [?]

0
28
Dec

Free Cab Rides Available New Years Eve In Colorado Cities

December 28, 2011

Since Thanksgiving, more than 1,300 Colorado motorists have been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. To make matters worse, The Denver Post reported earlier that the Colorado state patrol is expecting the number only to rise with New Years Eve right around the corner.

Troopers also noted that 14 of the state’s 35 fatal accidents since Thanksgiving have been alcohol-related. The agency says that more than 90 departments statewide will participate in increased efforts to battle the problem this upcoming weekend by preforming sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols.

Colorado State Patrol Spokesman Colonel James Wolfinbarger said he hopes that the cost of a DUI in Colorado–on average $10,270 in fines and fees–will deter intoxicated drivers from getting behind the wheel.

Others are hoping to combat the problem by offering free cab rides home to those who have had too much to drink.

The Colorado auto accident attorneys with The McDivitt Law Firm are once again sponsoring their Safe and Sober Campaign that will be giving free cab rides home to patrons of bars and restaurants who are intoxicated. Rides are only good to a persons residence, not to another drinking establishment. The list of cab companies can be seen in the firm’s press release for the event.

Popularity: 1% [?]

0
27
Dec

New Technology Blocks Cell Phone Use By Drivers

December 26, 2011

In response to the growing number of supporters behind the push on federal regulators to ban cell phone use while driving, 9 News reported today that a company has created a device that will block cell phones from being used if the owner is driving.

The new technology, called Cell Control, is being marketed to businesses with large fleets of company vehicles and also to parents of teenagers just learning to drive. The device works by plugging it in to your car’s diagnostic system and running a software program installed on the phone itself. Then, when the car turns on, a blocked screen will come up on the phone. Calls are then forwarded to voice mail and a busy message will respond to any incoming text messages. The software also blocks internet usage while activated.

The Cell Control System is fairly cost effective as well at around $25 per unit, plus $8 per month for service. The only drawback now is that it does not currently work with iPhones; a problem Cell Control Vice President Chuck Cox says will be taken care of after the New Year.

The Colorado auto accident attorneys with the McDivitt Law Firm are glad to see technology being used to keep drivers safe and encourage drivers to put their phones down when behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. Eliminating cell phone use while driving significantly decreases your chances of being hurt or killed in a senseless accident.

Popularity: 1% [?]

0
19
Dec

Colorado Woman Pleads Not Guilty To Negligent Homicide Charges

December 19, 2011

Although drugs or alcohol did not paly a part, a woman is still facing nearly 30 years in jail for her part in an accident that killed a family of five. According to Channel 9 News, the 34-year-old woman faces five charges of criminally negligent homicide and child abuse. The woman is facing such a stiff penalty because the accident was allegedly caused by a known medical condition the woman ignored.

Reports show that the woman was driving her car February 17 on East 84th Avenue and Grant Street in Thornton, Colorado. That is when witnesses say her vehicle hit the median, went airborne, and landed on top of an SUV that had the family inside. The woman later told police that she had a history of suffering form seizures, and she had suffered from one behind the wheel at the time of the accident. She claimed to investigators that doctors had told her not to drive until she spoke with a neurologist, but never saw one because she couldn’t afford it.

Dr. Kirsten Bracht, with the Colorado Neurological Institute, stated the accident very well may have been prevented had the woman spoke with a specialist as there are numerous treatments for the condition available.

The Colorado Car Accident Lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm would like to encourage anyone suffering form a known medical condition to check with their doctor before driving. If you have been injured in an auto accident that was not your fault, contact us today.

Popularity: 1% [?]

0
12
Dec

New Distracted Driving Laws In Colorado Difficult To Enforce

December 12, 2011

Although it is a common occurrence, texting and driving is extremely dangerous! New laws were recently enacted to battle the problem, but according to 9 News, officers say they are having a hard time enforcing the new measures.

Right around this time two years ago, the state made it illegal to text and drive at the same time. Since then, Larimer County Sheriff’s office spokesperson, Corporal Nelson Sanderson, says that the department has only written one ticket for an infraction. Fort Collins and Boulder’s Police departments have also had a difficult time enforcing the new laws as well, only writing 41 and 15 tickets respectively. Sanderson blamed the lack of tickets on the difficulty of catching someone in the act while patrolling.

So if new laws and uniformed officers can’t stop the problem, what will? One Fort Collins man has some ideas that may work. He says narrower streets and more bump-outs will cause drivers to concentrate and traffic to slow in the area, thus preventing accidents. He said the idea comes from European streets that create environments where a driver has to be focused and cautious in order to prevent an accident.

The Colorado Auto Accident Attorneys with the McDivitt Law Firm host a contest each year in which students create public service announcements to battle the problems of distracted driving. The videos can be seen on a dedicated YouTube Channel.

Popularity: 1% [?]

0
5
Dec

Colorado Plane Crash Leave Four People Dead

December 5, 2011

Four people have been killed following a plane crash that occurred Saturday afternoon in the area of Silverton, Colorado. According to Channel 9 News, three of the individuals who died were employees of Alpine Banks of Colorado, and the fourth was the husband of one of the employees.

Chairman of the bank, Bob Young, confirmed the deaths Monday, saying the group was flying from Durango, Colorado, to a Snowmass Resort in Aspen for a company holiday party. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesman, Mike Fergus, has not released much information surrounding the cause of the crash, but confirmed the Socata TB-21 aircraft went down in a mountainous region during an onslaught of bad weather that included frigid temperatures and heavy snow.

Numbers show that pilot errors are attributed to only about half of all plane crashes that occur in the United States. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has also acknowledged this finding and added that most crashes occur not at take off or landing, but during the cruise stage of the flight. They say that 57 percent of all airborne fatalities occur during cruising. The NTSB says it recognizes that close to 95 percent of all aviation fatalities occur in the private sector.

The Colorado Personal Injury Lawyers at the McDivitt Law Firm want to help those who have been injured in an accident at no fault of their own. If you have been injured, contact us today by filling out a free initial consultation form to discuss your case with a team of experienced attorneys.

Popularity: 1% [?]