Denver Personal Injury Lawyer - Driving

Risks of Cell Phone Use While Driving

Margaret Embry — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:14:50 GMT

A year ago, Michelle Smith hit and killed a 9-year-old girl, Erica Forney, riding her bike in the bike lane in Fort Collins. Though she doesn't have a clear memory of the crash, it is believed that Smith was distracted after finishing a cell phone call while driving. As part of her plea agreement, Smith was required to write a letter of apology to the victim's family which was recently published, according to The Denver Channel, ABC 7 News.

The newspaper [Fort Collins Coloradan] reported that Smith wrote in the letter that, if she had appreciated the risks associated with cell-phone use while driving, Erica Forney might still be alive.“My heart and prayers are and will always be with the Forneys,” she concluded in her letter.

Below are some cell phone driving statistics provided by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

Distraction from cell phone use while driving (hand held or hands free) extends a driver's reaction as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08%. (University of Utah)

The No.1 source of driver inattention is use of a wireless device. (Virginia Tech /NHTSA)

Drivers that use cell phones are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (NHTSA, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)

10% of drivers aged 16 to 24 years old are on their phone at any one time.

Driving while distracted is a factor in 25% of police reported crashes.

Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37%. (Carnegie Mellon)

Please see the Governors Highway Safety Association to check your state cell phone driving laws.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Margaret Embry

Drunk Driving Deaths Falls

April Armani — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 12:58:34 GMT

The National Traffic Safety Administration released statistics yesterday which revealed that dunk driving related fatalities fell in 28 states. This newly released data shows that there were 13,470 deaths in 2006 involving drivers and motorcycle operators with blood alcohol levels of .08 or higher, which is the legal limit for adults throughout the country. The number was down slightly from 2005, when 13,582 people died in crashes involving legally drunk drivers. Texas tops the list in the number of drunk driving fatalities.

For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by April Armani

Closure for the Bingham Family

April Armani — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 11:13:46 GMT

A brief update on Lawrence Truijillo, the man who hit and killed three members of the Bingham family last November at 15th and Arapahoe in downtown Denver, has pled guilty to all thirteen charges brought against him. As always, our thoughts and prayers are with the Bingham family. This incident serves as yet another reminder that it NEVER pays to drink and drive. This is why Bachus & Schanker is a proud sponsor of the MADD Strides for Change event this Saturday at Sloan's lake. Come out and show your support for this oh so worthy cause.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by April Armani

6 Face Charges In Drunk Driving Accident That Killed Teen

Chrissie Cole — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 01:09:51 GMT

Six people are facing criminal charges in a drunk driving accident that claimed the life of a teenage girl, 17, in a head-on car crash in March.

Her friend was also seriously injured in the accident. Authorities say, another teen, 17, was driving drunk when she crossed the median into oncoming traffic. Now, charges are being filed against all the teenagers in the vehicle and the liquor store clerk who sold them the alcohol. The girl is being charged as an adult.

Documents claim the girl was drinking vodka, beer and smoking marjuana on the evening of the fatal crash. She is being charged with nine counts including vehicular homicide along with an attempt to influence a public servant by lying to police about who was driving the vehicle.

During the investigation, there were contradictory statements and information about who was driving the vehicle at the tiem of the accident.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole