Colorado Springs Personal Injury Blog
Dealing With Insurance Companies After Your Colorado Springs Auto Accident
If you have been injured in a Colorado Springs car accident, you will have to deal with insurance adjusters. It is important to remember that anything you tell an insurance adjuster can be used against you. The insurance company is not your friend. It is the objective of insurance companies to protect their bottom line by denying your claim. Remember, they are a business and need to make a profit. Making sure you get fair compensation for your losses is not their first priority. Therefore, it is in your best interest to have a basic understanding of how to deal with insurance companies if you have just been involved in an auto accident.
It is advisable to prepare yourself before calling your insurance company. Have in front of you information about the accident. Write down when and where the crash occurred. Have the details about those who were involved in the accident and their insurance providers, and about any witnesses of the accident. It is also useful to have any medical bills in front of you that you may have incurred since the crash.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Colorado?
If you have lost an immediate family member because of a negligent or willful act by another, it may be possible to pursue financial compensation for your loss. Colorado’s Wrongful Death Act allows certain family members to file a lawsuit after their loved one has been killed as the result of someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing.
In general, Colorado laws regarding wrongful death primarily serve to protect those who were economically dependent on the deceased. During the first year after death, a spouse has exclusive rights to file a wrongful death action to receive financial compensation for his or her loss. During the second year after the fatal incident, the spouse and heirs of the deceased are allowed to bring a wrongful death action. Heirs protected under Colorado law include children and grandchildren. Siblings, however, cannot typically bring wrongful death lawsuits. When there is no surviving spouse or children, the parents of the deceased may bring a claim.
Mandatory Anti-Lock Brakes may Reduce Colorado Motorcycle Accidents
In an effort to reduce the growing number of motorcycle fatalities in the United States, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Highway Loss Data Institute recently petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to make anti-lock brakes a mandatory feature of all new motorcycles sold in the United States. Studies conducted by the IIHS found that anti-lock brakes could reduce fatal motorcycle accidents by at least 31% because they would allow riders to fully brake in an emergency. Motorcyclists tend to avoid braking with full force when their bike does not have anti-lock brakes because it may cause the front wheel to lock and increase the chance of a serious collision.
Six Ways to Reduce Fireworks Injury Risks
Fireworks are the premier event of Fourth of July celebrations all over Colorado, and for many Coloradoans, they’re also a family tradition. However, fireworks injuries can cause serious harm or even death. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), over 9,600 people suffered injuries that required emergency room care in 2011 after failing to use fireworks carefully or using defective fireworks.
If you’re injured by fireworks this holiday season, the skilled Colorado Springs burn injury lawyers at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. can help you defend your rights. You can help reduce your risk of injury and the risk of injuring those you love by following a few safety tips. Here are six ways to help reduce the risk of fireworks injuries this Fourth of July:
Avoiding a Rear-End Collision While Bicycling
Bicycling is great exercise, and in the Colorado summer, it can also be a great deal of fun and help save on transportation costs and the environment. However, many types of accidents can befall a bicyclist when drivers are careless or distracted.
While most bicyclists fear rear-end collisions from cars, these types of accidents are rare, comprising only about 3.8 percent of all bicycle crashes. There are also several ways a bicyclist can protect himself or herself from a rear-end collision:
How to Prevent Work-Related Heat Illness this Summer
Extreme heat is responsible for more weather-related deaths in the United States than any other environmental conditions, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Since 2011, the organization has made spreading awareness of heat safety a priority, and encourages employers, as well as workers, to take simple precautions to avoid heat illnesses such as cramps, heat rash, excessive sweating, and heat stroke.
Heat illnesses are often caused when a person becomes dehydrated or overheated, typically due to environmental factors or overexertion, which then interferes with the human body’s ability to regulate its core temperature and cool down.
Outdoor workers are particularly at risk during the summer, but even workers that are indoors are susceptible to the dangers of exposure to extreme heat.
Employers are responsible, not only for ensuring that workers have a healthy and safe work environment, but also for providing training to help prevent on-the-job accidents or injuries from happening in the first place.
Education is Key in Colorado Pool Safety
For many Colorado families, summer means hanging out by the pool or relaxing in the hot tub. While poolside fun can mean great family memories, it can also cause serious injuries if an accident occurs or swimmers are not properly supervised.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), about 75 percent of those injured in pool and hot tub accidents each year are children age 15 or younger. Educate kids about the risks of swimming pools and hot tubs, and teach them how to protect themselves and others in order to preventing injuries.
When teaching kids about pool safety, it’s important to cover both the pool rules and the practical skills they need to protect themselves and others when swimming. Teach young children to never approach the pool without supervision and to never go in the water unless a responsible adult is watching them. Also, remind them to stay in shallow water unless they have the swimming skills to handle deeper water.
Four Tips For Boating Safety This Summer
Memorial Day marks the official start of summer for many Colorado residents, and with summer comes the opportunity to engage in summer fun – including boating and swimming. If you’re planning on boating this summer, keep the following safety tips in mind to help you and your loved ones avoid accidents:
- Buy and wear life jackets. Personal flotation devices (PFDs) can help boaters and operators of personal watercraft survive an accident in which they are flung into the water, even if they are knocked unconscious or become otherwise incapable of keeping themselves afloat. Bring the proper life jackets for every member of your boating party and wear them – no matter how strong your swimming skills are.
Kids or Elderly Adults Traveling Alone? Here’s How to Keep Them Safe
Summer is on its way, and with it come plenty of opportunities to travel to visit family, go on vacation, or to tackle other tasks. Many travelers through Colorado and the U.S. each year are children and elderly adults, both of whom may face particular risks when traveling alone.
Children and elderly adults may need to travel alone for several reasons – to visit family, for medical reasons, or for other purposes. If your child or an elderly family member must travel alone by plane, train, or bus this year, consider the following safety tips:
Celebrate North American Occupational Safety and Health Week this May
The first full week of May is North American Occupational Safety and Health Week. This week offers an opportunity for workplaces throughout the U.S. and Canada to re-commit to protecting worker safety and health – not only keeping workers from harm, but also protecting the company’s productivity by ensuring vital employees aren’t laid low by a preventable injury or disease.
In 2011, about 4,609 U.S. workers lost their lives in workplace accidents, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and nearly 3.0 million more workers were injured. About 75 percent of these injuries and illnesses occurred in service industries, while the remainder took place in industries that produce goods.