November 23rd, 2009
On September 30, 2009, the Obama administration ordered a ban on texting for all government employees while driving on the job or driving government-owned vehicles.
Studies show that talking on a cell phone causes almost 25% of all car accidents. Already, seven states have banned any cellphone use while driving, 18 states have banned texting while driving, and 17 states have made it illegal for school bus drivers to use cellphones while driving. This is all great news for U.S. drivers since last year distracted drivers caused nearly 6,000 deaths in this country alone.
The administration is considering additional restrictions on cellphone use by rail, truck and bus drivers.
Posted in Car Accidents, Cell Phone Use While Driving, Commercial Vehicles, In the News, Proposed Laws | No Comments »
October 7th, 2009
October 7, 2009 – This morning I saw a young boy riding his bicycle. He was wearing a helmet, but did not have it buckled under his chin. I casually rolled down my window and reminded him that it was more effective if buckled. He embarrassedly and quickly buckled the helmet under his chin. Parents tell their kids every day to “put on your helmet!” They share with their children the comparison of their heads hitting the street being like a watermelon being dropped onto a sidewalk. So adults and children alike should know the seriousness of wearing a helmet, right?
Studies show that head injuries account for more than 60 percent of bicycle-related deaths. And between 45 to 88 percent of brain injuries could be prevented if cyclists would wear a helmet. And why not wear a helmet? Helmets are cheap and can be purchased at all major national retailers for less than $20, and a small price to pay to keep your noodle intact.
Studies prove that riding a bike without wearing a helmet is a risky proposition. We all know that helmets can reduce injury and prevent death while riding a bicycle, but so many people don’t bother to take the time to strap one on before venturing out.
The Law Firm of Jason Crawford has represented accident victims and their families for more than 14 years. If you or your family needs to talk to an experienced accident lawyer, please call us today at (303) 741-0249.
For more information, please visit our website www.DenversAccidentLawyer.com.
Posted in Bicycle Matters, Motorcycle Matters, Recent Studies | No Comments »
October 7th, 2009
September 22, 2009 – A Greeley man is being held under $250,000 bail for suspicion of vehicular homicide stemming from a crash on April 23rd which left a 26-year old woman dead. The suspect’s refusal to discuss the crash with authorities moved them to test DNA found on the driver and passenger airbags. The DNA tests showed the suspect’s blood was present on the driver’s side airbag, proving that he was driving at the time of the accident.
DNA tests are successfully used to put people behind bars all over the country for crimes ranging from murder to rape, but little did we know it could also be used to prove who was driving at the time of an accident.
The Law Firm of Jason Crawford has represented accident victims and their families for more than 14 years. If you or your family needs to talk to an experienced accident lawyer, please call us today at (303) 741-0249.
For more information, please visit our website www.DenversAccidentLawyer.com.
Posted in Car Accidents, In the News, Technological Advances | No Comments »
October 7th, 2009
September 21, 2009 – 60-year old Casey E. Najera of Boulder was riding his bicycle at the intersection of 28th Street and Violet Avenue in Boulder when he was struck and killed by a vehicle who turned left in front of him. Najera, who was wearing a helmet, hit the car and was thrown from his bike. The driver of the car didn’t see Mr. Najera, and was cited for careless driving resulting in death.
See related article entitled “Helmet or No Helmet?”.
The Law Firm of Jason Crawford has represented accident victims and their families for more than 14 years. If you or your family needs to talk to an experienced accident lawyer, please call us today at (303) 741-0249.
For more information, please visit our website www.DenversAccidentLawyer.com.
Posted in Bicycle Matters, Car Accidents, In the News, Pedestrian Matters | No Comments »
September 30th, 2009
September 20, 2009 – Alcohol is suspected in a two-car accident where a SUV was struck in an intersection in Denver. Four of the five injured were ejected from their vehicle and rushed to Denver Health Medical Center. Their conditions are still unknown. It is unknown whether any charges have been filed against the driver who caused the accident.
Every day we see cases in our office where injuries could have been prevented and lives saved if only people would use their seatbelts. Despite this, up to 20% of motorists still do not use their seatbelts on a regular basis.
Posted in Car Accidents, Children's Safety, In the News | No Comments »
September 30th, 2009
September 23, 2009 – Colorado is one of at least 22 states that have banned texting while driving. So why do they also offer traffic updates via Twitter? The conflict appears to result from two well-intentioned arms of government: transportation departments that want to assist motorists with live traffic issues; and legislatures that are seriously concerned about the implications of distracted driving.
State transportation officials suggest people read their tweets before hitting the road and “know before you go.”
Posted in Car Accidents, Cell Phone Use While Driving, Commercial Vehicles, Proposed Laws | No Comments »
September 30th, 2009
September 25, 2009 – A trucker is far more likely to have a crash due to cell phone use than car drivers. Truckers who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident or near-accident than an undistracted driver. A recent study showed that even when dialing a phone while driving, a truck driver is almost 6 times more likely to have an accident versus 2.8 times more likely for a car driver. Just reaching for an electronic device, a trucker is 6.7 times more likely to have an accident compared to a car driver who is only 1.4 times more likely.
Think of it this way, if a highway driver takes his eyes off the road for even 4.6 seconds it is like traveling the length of a football field going 55 m.p.h. with your eyes closed. The greatest risk of text messaging for truckers and drivers is they are looking at their cell phones and NOT at the road.
Posted in Car Accidents, Cell Phone Use While Driving, Commercial Vehicles, Recent Studies | No Comments »
September 22nd, 2009
September 19, 2009 – Last year in Fort Collins, 9-year old Erica Forney was riding her bicycle and was struck and killed by a driver, who police say was distracted while using a cell phone. The loss of this little girl’s life prompted the proposal and enactment of a new bill in Colorado prohibiting all drivers from texting while driving, which became effective June 1st. Not only does this bill outlaw texting for all drivers, it also prohibits use of cell phones for drivers 18 and under while driving. Additionally, drivers of any age with instruction permits are prohibited from the use of cell phones while driving.
Some say this bill isn’t enough to keep the roads of Colorado safe. In fact, the state legislature is currently reviewing a bill that, if passed, would place stricter parameters on drivers by requiring hands-free accessories for all drivers using cell phones. Furthermore, anyone 18 or under would be prohibited from using a cell phone while driving, even with the use of hands-free accessories. This bill would additionally ban cell phone use by school bus drivers and motor vehicle carriers regulated by the public utilities commission.
The use of a cell phone while driving, whether texting or talking, dramatically reduces the reaction time of drivers, yet over half of U.S. drivers admit to talking on a cell phone while driving and one in seven admit sending text messages while driving. And these numbers dramatically increase for young drivers! Almost half of drivers between 18-24 years old and over one-quarter of drivers between 25-34 years old admit text messaging while driving.
Researchers in a recent study utilized a driving simulator to compare the performance of two types of drivers: (a) drivers using cell phones; and (b) drivers not using cell phones, but intoxicated with a blood alcohol level of 0.08, the legal limit in all 50 states. Researchers concluded that drivers using a cell phone were actually more likely to cause a rear-end collision than a person driving under the influence of alcohol.
Colorado was the 14th state to join others in enacting a bill prohibiting drivers from texting. The U.S. Senate is reviewing a bill that, if passed, would take away 25% of federal highway money from states with no such bill in place.
The Law Firm of Jason Crawford has represented accident victims and their families for more than 14 years. If you or your family needs to talk to an experienced accident lawyer, please call us today at (303) 741-0249.
For more information, please visit our website www.DenversAccidentLawyer.com.
Tags: accident, bicycle accident, cell phone, Colorado, New law, Proposed bill
Posted in Car Accidents, Cell Phone Use While Driving, Commercial Vehicles, In the News, Proposed Laws, Recent Studies, Teen Drivers | No Comments »
September 22nd, 2009
September 22, 2009 – Safety violations, suspended licenses and possible drug use have forced hundreds of bus and tractor-trailer companies to be shut down. However, many of these companies have managed to resume business by reemerging under a different name, often evading fines and avoiding performing the necessary corrective actions.
Between 2007 and 2008, at least 20 of the roughly 220 commercial bus companies and over 1,000 commercial trucking firms that had been fined and ordered out of service by federal regulators reemerged under a new name, often using the same owner name, address, employees and contact numbers.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to track those carriers who have been previously cited for safety issues and ordered “out-of-service”. It is estimated that although the number of these reemerging carriers is small, they pose a significant safety threat to motorists across the country.
In an effort to stem this practice, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) has put in place new oversight measures. One measure includes a computer program, which can compare and match new applicants to poor-performing motor carriers dating back to 2003. However, this program cannot detect minor spelling changes or other deception efforts. Another measure is the requirement that all newly licensed carriers must undergo a safety audit within 18 months of approval.
Once FMCSA has determined the existence of a rogue and reemerged business, they must overcome many legal obstacles, such as proving corporate successorship, to force them out of service.
The Law Firm of Jason Crawford has represented accident victims and their families for more than 14 years. If you or your family needs to talk to an experienced accident lawyer, please call us today at (303) 741-0249.
For more information, please visit our website www.DenversAccidentLawyer.com.
Tags: bus, drug use, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Adminstration, federal regulators, FMCSA, out-of-service, safety issues, safety violation, suspended license, tractor-trailer
Posted in Car Accidents, Commercial Vehicles, In the News, Recent Studies | No Comments »
June 29th, 2009
June 29, 2009 - COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A motorcycle officer sustained a fractured pelvis and other injuries after running into a car Sunday evening while turning left in downtown Colorado Springs. The 39-year-old officer was attempting to make a traffic stop of another motorcycle, however, he did not have his flashing lights enable. Upon impact of a Chevy Cobalt, the officer was thrown several feet. Fortunately, the officer was wearing a helmet, but still sustained several injuries and is now recovering in a local hospital.
Joseph Haymaker, 45, of Kansas was driving the Cobalt and was cited for careless driving.
The Law Firm of Jason Crawford has represented accident victims and their families for more than 14 years. If you or your family needs to talk to an experienced accident lawyer, please call us today at (303) 741-0249.
For more information, please visit our website www.DenversAccidentLawyer.com.
Tags: auto accident, Colorado Springs, denver, motorcycle accident, truck accident
Posted in In the News, Motorcycle Matters | No Comments »