Colorado Springs Personal Injury Blog
January is One of the Riskiest Months for House Fires
While you’re making your New Year’s resolutions, consider adding “check our household fire safety” to the list.
January is one of the worst months for house fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). While the number-one cause of house fires year-round is still cooking-related accidents, the addition of various heating methods in the winter months further increases the risk of fire. And when temperatures tend to plummet in January, the risk goes up accordingly. Burn injuries can cause severe pain and result in permanent disabilities, as many experienced Colorado Springs injury lawyers have seen.
Fireplaces, wood stoves, chimneys, and space heaters can all pose a fire risk. You can help reduce this risk for yourself and your family by taking a second look at your household’s fire safety rules this January. Here are some places to start:
Study Finds Girls’ Symptoms After Concussion May Differ From Boys
A study of over 9,000 teenage concussion patients published in the journal PLOS ONE recently suggests that, after a concussion, girls may struggle with symptoms that are different from boys’ symptoms – but no less debilitating.
The study surveyed 9,288 students in grades 7 through 12 who had suffered brain injuries, usually while participating in sports. The results showed that girls were more likely to report lingering problems like anxiety and depression, thoughts of suicide, becoming the targets of bullying, and turning to cigarettes or other substances to deal with their symptoms. Meanwhile, boys were more likely to report “acting out” at school and other events, bullying others, and letting their grades drop.
Choosing the Right Type of Rear-Facing Car Seat For Your Child
Rear-facing car seats offer the best protection for infants and toddlers in case of a Colorado car accident. The design of the seat protects the child’s developing head, neck, and spine in a crash, reducing the chances of a brain or spinal cord injury that causes harm.
Currently, there are several different types of rear-facing car seat on the market. Which is best for your child and your family’s needs? Consider these tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and your experienced Colorado Springs car accident attorney:
NHTSA Aims to Make It Easier to Survive a Bus Rollover Crash
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently proposed new regulations aimed at improving passenger survival when a commercial bus rolls over. Rollover accidents are one of the most deadly types of vehicle crash, as many experienced Colorado bus accident attorneys have seen.
The proposed standards would require new buses to pass certain safety tests. When the bus rolls over, for instance, the roof and sides must not collapse so far that they crush passengers. Equipment attached to the roof, like overhead luggage racks, must not come loose from the roof when the bus rolls. And emergency exits must stay closed during a rollover, but remain operable so that passengers can escape a bus after a crash.
Child Severely Injured in Colorado Springs Car Crash
A child was seriously injured after a three-car crash at a Colorado Springs intersection. Fox 21 News reports that the injury crash occurred at the intersection of Astrozon Boulevard and Academy Boulevard. Police said a PT Cruiser was heading south on Academy when its driver ran a red light at Astrozon. The PT Cruiser hit a Dodge Dakota which in turn slammed into a Ford truck. A 6-year-old passenger in the PT Cruiser was injured. His 22-year-old aunt was the driver. Officials say alcohol and drugs may have been factors in this crash. Criminal charges may also be filed.
Street intersection crashes often result in major injuries or even fatalities. Some of the common causes of such accidents include:
Colorado Springs Woman Critically Injured in Car Crash
A 77-year-old woman suffered critical injuries in a car crash, according to a report in The Gazette. Police say, a vehicle traveling northbound on Powers Boulevard attempted to make a left turn onto westbound Stetson Hills Boulevard, when it collided with another car. The driver of the northbound car, a 77-year-old woman, was listed in critical condition. The driver of the second vehicle suffered relatively minor injuries, officials said. The investigation is ongoing.
In a car crash involving two vehicles at a street intersection, a number of questions must be asked and answered to arrive at the truth. Did one of the vehicles make an illegal turn? Did one of the drivers fail to yield the right of way? Was speed, alcohol, or distracted driving a factor in the collision?
Elementary School Student Injured in Colorado Springs Crash
A Pioneer Elementary School student was struck and injured by a driver near the school. According to a Fox 21 news report, the incident occurred at the intersection of Beechwood Court and Woodland Hills Drive. Police say the student was struck by a Jeep Liberty.
The student was transported to an area hospital, but the severity of the injuries is not known. The investigation is ongoing.
School zones can be extremely dangerous for all pedestrians. There are several tips both children and motorists can and should take in order to prevent tragic collisions:
Rollover Crash in Colorado Springs Proves Fatal
A rollover crash on Highway 9 claimed the life of a passenger, KKTV News reports. Colorado State Patrol officials say the driver, a 43-year-old man, overcorrected when he drifted off the right side of the road. This caused the vehicle to spin out of control, cross over into oncoming lanes of traffic and roll over. The front passenger, a 37-year-old woman, was thrown from the vehicle. She was transported to an area hospital where she died. The driver and two children who were in the back seat were also airlifted to area hospitals. The driver is reported to be in fair condition. An investigation is ongoing.
Rollover crashes are often deadly because of the intensity with which they occur. There are several ways to prevent these types of tragic crashes:
Crosswalk Laws in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs personal injury lawyers understand that the failure on the part of motorists to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in crosswalks is one of the major causes of deadly pedestrian accidents. Under Colorado law, pedestrians are legitimate users of the roadway. To ensure that their right to cross the road is protected, the Colorado Department of Transportation chooses where to provide marked crosswalks and where to leave a location unmarked. If you are attempting to cross the road, you have the right-of-way at marked crosswalks and intersections. Having the right-of-way in a marked crosswalk does not, however, ensure your safety.
According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, marked crosswalks are often more dangerous than unmarked crosswalks because pedestrians expect motorists to stop for them in a marked crosswalk. They are especially hazardous on busy roadways with elevated speed limits. Therefore, to avoid being struck by a car, you should not only obey the law, but also use caution when crossing the street.
Students Killed in Two Separate Colorado Springs Crashes
Within a 14-hour period on the same road, two Calhan students were killed and a third was critically injured. According to a news report in The Gazette, the two crashes occurred on Funk Road east of Calhan Highway about 35 miles northeast of Colorado Springs. The first crash occurred when a 16-year-old boy lost control of a 1994 Saturn. The vehicle spun before colliding with a fence and rolling over. The driver was critically injured and his 14-year-old sister was pronounced dead at the scene.
The second fatal accident occurred when a 16-year-old girl lost control of a 1997 Chrysler. Her vehicle went off the side of the road, rolled twice and hit a fence. She was ejected from her vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.