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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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6
Feb

Denver Officials Ticketing For Uncleared Walkways

February 6, 2012

With a second blast of winter weather approaching Denver, Colorado, following last week’s record-setting snow, city officials have said they will be out today making sure sidewalks are properly cleared. According to Colorado’s 9 News, business owners within the city limits will be ticketed if snow is not properly removed from sidewalks in front of their buildings within four hours of the last flake falling.

There are similar rules in place for residential areas within city limits that say homeowners must clear sidewalks in front of their homes within 24-hours of a storm. While the rule is rarely enforced, Carole Walker, an executive director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, says there is a much more important reason to make sure your walkways are clear–slip and fall accidents.

She states that the law allows a person to file lawsuit against a property owner if that person were to slip, fall, and seriously be injured because of an uncleared walkway.

Most homeowners have liability insurance to cover the expenses of accidents such as these, but insurance companies will rarely pay without fighting tooth and nail against it first.

If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, the Colorado slip and fall accident attorneys with the McDivitt Law Firm believe that it’s helpful to have an experienced lawyer on your side to help you get the compensation you need. Contact an experienced attorney today.

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3
Feb

Snow Shoveling Accidents More Common Than You Think

February 3, 2012

The snow overnight has many in the Denver-area out shoveling their driveways for the first time this year. But many people don’t realize how dangerous shoveling snow can be if proper precautions are not made.

In an article released by Colorado’s 9 News this morning, it was stated that as many as 11,500 trips to the emergency room are to blame for snow removal each year in our country.

A new 17-year study published in a recent issue of the American Journal of Emergency Medicine discusses the most common health hazards associated with snow removal. They found that shoveling snow could sometimes lead to bad backs, broken bones, head injuries, and heart problems.

From 1990 to 2006, researchers examined over 195,000 cases of injuries related to snow removal. They found that the most common form of injuries were sprains and pulls in soft tissue, especially in the lower back. Some resulted more in broken hands, arms, hips, or skull bones. Heart complications were also reported in 7 percent of the cases.

While most of the injuries were adult men, more than 700 of those injured were children under the age of 17.

The Colorado Slip and Fall Injury Lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm are here to help if you have been injured in a slip and fall accident at no fault of your own. Contact an experienced attorney today for a free initial consultation.

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1
Feb

Required Ignition Interlock Systems For All DUI Offenders?

February 1, 2012

A new law has been proposed that could possibly create a blanket punishment for all DUI offenders. According to reports from 9 News, the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, introduced by a representative from Florida, would mandate that all DUI offenders have ignition interlock systems installed in their vehicles.

An Ignition interlock system is a device prohibits a car from starting without the driver first blowing into breathalyzer tube. If the driver has been drinking, the car won’t start at all. The driver then has to periodically blow into the device as they drive.

Supporters of the bill say that Colorado, where judges have required the device’s use in sentencing DUI offenders since 2008, is a prime example of the effectiveness of ignition interlock systems. The state has the second highest use of the system in the country with 17,000 devices installed on cars in the state and has seen a dramatic decrease in the number of alcohol-related fatalities in recent years. In 2010, there were only 127 deaths attributed to alcohol on Colorado highways. That’s down from 158 in 2009 and 176 in 2008.

While the device may prevent some drunk driving accidents, what about those that are still hurt in crashes from negligent drunk drivers? The Colorado car accident lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm may be able to help you if you have been injured in a crash that was no fault of your own. Contact an experienced attorney today with questions regarding your case.

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30
Jan

New Research on Kidney Transplant Medications

January 30, 2012

A new study shows that there may be hope in avoiding certain side effects caused by drugs traditionally taken after a kidney transplant. An article on MedPage Today discussed exactly how new transplant recipients who stopped taking immunosuppressant prednisone shortly after the surgery managed to avoid serious side effects the drug can have, while avoiding damage to new organs.

Prior to the last 12 years, a patient undergoing a kidney transplant was placed on high doses of the drug, and the effects were associated with increased instances of diabetes and death. In 1999, researchers began examining if lower doses over a shorter period of time would be as effective. What they found was both a decreased risk of side effects and death.

Researchers performed almost 1,250 kidney transplants over an eleven-year period with patients being taken off of prednisone after only five days. The results were astounding. The risk of patients developing cataracts was cut by nearly two-thirds, and the risk of diabetes was reduced four percent. Survival rates also jumped to as high as 71 percent.

The results have prompted researchers to call for a randomized trial between their methods of stopping use of the medication and methods of tapering patients to maintenance use of the drug.

The Colorado drug injury lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm are here to help you if you have been seriously injured by a medication a doctor prescribed to you.

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27
Jan

Denver Police Arrest Driver Involved In Monday Night Hit And Run

January 27th, 2012

Denver police believe they have captured the driver involved in a hit-and-run accident where two pedestrians were seriously injured Monday night. According to The Denver Post, investigators have not charged the 21-year-old suspect, but are holding the young woman on suspicion of leaving the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury.

The accident happened at the intersection of East Colfax Avenue and Ogden Street at around 10:30 PM. Surveillance camera footage from nearby shows two people walking into the middle of the street just before they being hit by a white 2007 Kia Rio.

The victims were taken to an area hospital where they remain in critical condition. Witnesses were able to gather the license plate number and a description of the vehicle involved.

The Colorado auto accident attorneys with the McDivitt Law Firm say that the law requires drivers to stop after an accident has occurred. Failing to do so is not only a criminal act, but could be used as evidence to hold that party responsible for causing the accident.

If you, or someone you know, has been seriously injured in a car accident that was caused at no fault of your own, our experienced team of attorneys may be able to help you. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.

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25
Jan

Number Of Infections In Colorado Hospitals Under-Reported

January 25, 2012

A new report by the state of Colorado’s Health Department is showing a serious lapse in hospital reporting systems. According to an article released by CBS-Denver yesterday, hospitals in the state may be under-reporting cases of serious infections stemming from nine different procedures by as much as 33 percent.

The report examined thousands of cases of health facility acquired infections (HAI) in four different categories, including:

  • Surgical site infections
  • Central line-associated bloodstream infections
  • Critical care units
  • Dialysis related infections

Each hospital in the state kept track of the number of infections reported at their facility. This number was then compared to a ratio of reported numbers from other facilities across the country in order to determine the number of unreported cases.

In an effort to correct the problem, the department has implemented a new campaign called The Patient Safety Program. The goal of the campaign is to better educate patients and staff on infection prevention and infection trends at facilities across the state. In the coming year, the campaign will add a staff member to analyze hospital’s infection reports and keep the public up to date on the latest trends. The group will continue to conduct studies on the topic of infections in these areas.

The Colorado medical malpractice attorneys with the McDivitt Law Firm may be able to help you if you have been injured by an infection acquired from a hospital’s equipment, staff, or procedures.

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23
Jan

New Colorado Law Created To Fight Traumatic Brain Injuries

January 23, 2012

Legislators in Colorado are looking to protect young athletes from the dangers of traumatic brain injuries by implementing a new law to regulate how this type of injury is handled. According to reports from 9 News, the Jake Snakenberg Act now requires that all coaches in the state for sports teams undergo specialized training to recognize the signs of traumatic brain injury.

The law is named after a young football player who died in September of 2004 from Second Impact Syndrome, a condition in which the brain rapidly swells after a second concussion, before symptoms of an earlier one have healed.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has created the online training program, called Heads Up, and boasts that users will help users:

  • Understand a concussion and the potential consequences of this injury.
  • Recognize concussion signs and symptoms and how to respond.
  • Learn about steps for returning to activity (play and school) after a concussion.
  • Focus on prevention and preparedness to help keep athletes safe season-to-season.

Traumatic brain injuries, like concussions, can be very difficult to recognize for those without this special training, as the symptoms are not obvious to the untrained eye.

This is why the Colorado traumatic brain injury lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm encourage not only coaches, but athletes and parents of athletes to undergo the training as well. Being able to recognize that there is a problem can be the first step in protecting a young athlete’s life.

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