Preparations for Winter Driving Begin

CDOT Readies Crews, Equipment for Snow Season

Governor John Hickenlooper, in conjunction with the National Weather Service, has designated the final week of October as "Winter Weather Awareness Week." And the Colorado Department of Transportation is ready.

New equipment introduced last year is helping to alleviate the burden of maintaining primary access roads and highways, including the tow-plow trailer which follows behind a traditional plow allowing for a single CDOT driver to plow multiple lanes simultaneously. Another plow follows the rig to clean up any snow left on the road or shoulder.

Though the new plow will undoubtedly be of benefit for CDOT, there are limitations to the equipment that motorists should be made aware of. The unit can only travel at a maximum 35 m.p.h., and because of its' size and structure it takes up both lanes. The vehicles outfitted with tow plow trailers will also have flashing lights to alert drivers of its presence. CDOT has also asked that drivers maintain a healthy distance between their cars and CDOT plowing vehicles, as areas near or next to the large vehicles can be dangerous. 

The tow plow wont be the only weapon CDOT has to combat difficult winter driving conditions. Liquid and solid de-icers, as well as a sand/ice slicer mixture will all be used on Colorado roads this winter.

In 2011, CDOT dispensed approximately 45,000 gallons of liquid de-icer and around 1,300 tons of ice slicer and sand/ice slicer mixture.

Drivers are strongly encouraged to consult cotrip.org before undertaking long winter voyages by car. Road conditions are available to the public 24 hours a day, all 365 days a year.

Additionally, motorists can sign up for text and email alerts at coloradodot.info by clicking the green cell phone image in the upper right hand corner of the site.

If you are injured in a weather related car accident, or any car accident in the Denver area, you need to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. Call The Law Offices of Robert Paysinger, P.C. today for a free initial consultation. We help injured people - it's all we do!

Source: CDOT crews prepared for winter season

Influx of Auto-Pedestrian Deaths in Colorado Springs

Four Pedestrian Deaths in Two Weeks a Cause for Concern

Colorado Springs experienced its' fourth auto-pedestrian death in the past two weeks on Sunday morning. Police responded to a call of a body lying in the road at about 3:40 a.m. on Hancock Expressway near Astrozon Boulevard, the tragic result of an apparent hit and run.

The victim was 23 year-old Nigel Smith, the El Paso County Coroner's Office said. Authorities have indicated that his injuries were consistent with a collision with an automobile. 

The death marks the fourth time in two weeks that a pedestrian was killed by a vehicle in Colorado Springs.

Last Wednesday, 19 year-old Derrick Cantrell was hit and killed by a northbound 2006 Saturn Ion while attempting to cross Academy Boulevard at Maizeland Road. The light on northbound Academy was green at the time, and police do not suspect alcohol or drugs as contributing factors to that crash.

Additionally, two women walking with baby in a stroller were killed October 15. Rose Arcuragi and Rebecca Lynn Robinson were killed crossing an intersection on North Carefree Circle. The baby in the stroller suffered a fractured skull.

The driver of the vehicle that killed Arcuragi and Robinson, Jennifer Eggleston, was ticketed for careless driving resulting in death. Although the women were not crossing the street in a painted crosswalk, the area is still legally considered to be a crosswalk because it is at an intersection.

Police are still searching for the suspects in the other two cases. They have not released descriptions of the vehicles sought in either case. 

If you are injured by no fault of your own in a pedestrian-auto accident, or any accident in the greater Denver metro area, you need to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. Call The Law Offices of Robert Paysinger, P.C. today for a free initial consultation - We help injured people, it's all we do!

Source: Police: Hit-and-run driver kills pedestrian

Semi-Truck Accident Closes Westbound I-70

Four Accidents Shut Down Highway, Cause Unknown

Four separate but related car accidents involving semi-trucks caused a complete shut down of Westbound I-70 early near Limon just after 8:30 a.m. Friday morning. The cause remains under investigation.

Several crews are working to put out a fire that erupted as a result of the crash. Most of the vehicles involved are semis. It was initially reported that one of the semi-trucks was transporting explosive materials, but it is now being reported that the materials are a glue-like adhesive.

Details regarding any injuries resulting from the crash have not been made publicly available.

The cleanup is expected to take several hours, and an estimate as to when Westbound I-70 will reopen has not been given. The closure begins about three miles east of Agate. All eastbound lanes are currently open.

Traffic is currently being rerouted to Highway 71 North to Last Chance, on to US 36 to Byers where drivers can return to Westbound I-70.

If you are injured in a semi-truck accident, or any accident in the greater Denver metro area, you need to contact a skilled personal injury lawyer before calling your insurance company. Call The Law Offices of Robert Paysinger today for a free initial consultation. We help injured people - it's all we do!

Sources: EB I-70 reopens near Agate after multi-semi crash, WB lanes still closed, Westbound I-70 closed near Limon after semi-truck crash

Single Car Crash Near Trinidad Kills 2

Rollover Accident May Be Related to Sleepiness, Inattention

A 2009 Toyota Camry was involved in a one car crash north of Trinidad on Sunday, October 14. A young child and woman were among the deceased following the wreck, which police believe may have been caused by sleepiness or inattentive driving. The vehicle was heading southbound on I-25 when it veered off the left side of the road, made contact with a guardrail, then careened back across the highway while rolling 3 times.

Beatrice Trujillo, 68, and an unnamed 12 year old boy were killed as a result of the crash. The boy was the only person in the vehicle who was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. He died later of his injuries. Trujillo was airlifted to Pueblo hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

The Camry was driven by Shannon Romero, 30, who is also pregnant. She was taken to Mt. San Rafael Hospital in Trinidad, and later airlifted to a Colorado Springs hospital with serious injuries.

It appears the group was returning to their home in Raton, NM from a youth football game in Pueblo when the accident occurred. Drugs and/or alcohol are not being investigated as possible causes for the crash.

Two other children, both boys aged 10 and 12, were injured and taken to the hospital and released with minor to moderate injuries.

If you are injured in an auto accident by no fault of your own, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney before discussing the case with your insurance company. If you are in the greater Denver Metro Area, call The Law Offices of Robert Paysinger, P.C. for a free initial consultation. We help injured people - it's all we do!

Source: Single-car crash results in two fatalities

Pedestrian Killed At DIA

New Shuttle Bus Routes Lead to Confusion, Death

A woman was killed at a DIA by a shuttle bus while walking to the terminal. Construction on the main concourses has caused a rerouting of airport traffic, which is thought to have contributed to the accident, officials say.

Traffic was restricted to traveling in one direction prior to the new construction, and the new routes have admittedly confused taxi cabs and shuttle buses. Investigators are trying to determine what role the construction and new routes played in the incident.

The woman, whose name has not been released pending notification of relatives, was struck by a Budget Rental Car shuttle bus on Saturday, October 13.

Investigators are working to determine if any charges will be filed. The Budget Rental Car employee that was driving the shuttle stayed at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.

Pedestrians in the mean time are encouraged to be extremely cautious when navigating through the crosswalks at D.I.A., as a precautionary measure due to the new changes in traffic.

If you are injured in a shuttle or large truck accident, you should contact an attorney before speaking with your insurance company. Call The Law Offices of Robert Paysinger, P.C. for a free initial consultation to discuss your case. We help injured people - it's all we do!

Source: Woman Struck, Killed By Shuttle Bus At DIA

Denver's Bicycle Challenge

Growing Trend of Bicycle Use Warrants New Research into Road Safety & Conduct

As Denver becomes one of the nation's premier cities for cyclists, a plethora of new challenges and questions arise from a decidedly beneficial and healthy new fad.

With several agencies and campaigns targeting a 10% or more mode share of individuals using bikes as their mode of transportation to get to work, the city's infrastructure is undoubtedly lagging behind. Despite a doubling of roads outfitted with bike lines or sharrows, which are roads that are wide enough to accommodate both cyclists and motorists, a stiff increase in cycling has overwhelmed the roads and bike systems.

Funds allocated for improving pedestrian and cyclist causeways was increased dramatically over the past five years. A 2006 estimate had the city spending 2.1 million on projects related cycling and pedestrians. By 2011, that number had risen to 10.5 million.

Yet despite the growing allocation of funds for cycling-friendly roadways and streets in the city, there are still several problem areas. Misleading signage, confusing markings, and cycling heavy roads and streets without proper accommodation for bikes have contributed to the challenges facing Denver's goal to increase bicycle use in the city. Many observers have commented that Denver has put bike lanes in "all the easy places," but has yet to implement them in more constricted, troublesome locales.

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock notes that much of the problem is still centered around monetary difficulties. "It is certainly a resource issue," Hancock reflected. "This is all going to take time. It's not going to get done overnight."

One of the primary catalysts advancing the initiative to get Denver's residents out of cars and onto bikes is Emily Snyder. A senior planner for Denver Public Works, Snyder has been endearingly labeled "the bike girl" by many of her friends and co-workers.

Snyder admits that creating a totally bike-friendly city in Denver is difficult due to a variety of obstacles. The constrained format of the city and the lack of new roads being built within city limits constitutes an arduous task for city planners such as Snyder. However, "the bike girl" won't back down.

"[...S]omething that I tell advocates a lot: it will all get done, it's just a matter of how fast."

If you have been involved in a bicycle vs. car accident, or any car accident in the greater Denver Metro Area, please call The Law Offices of Robert Paysinger today for a free initial consultation. We help injured people - it's all we do!

Source: As Denver becomes a major bike city, can it put safety first?

Warning: Counterfeit Airbags

NHTSA: Fake Airbags Are Dangerous and Could Explode

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a warning to motorists that counterfeit airbags are being installed in automotive repair shops that could potentially malfunction, or worse, discharge metal shrapnel.

The investigation into the widespread presence of counterfeit airbags initially centered around Dai Zhensong, a Chinese national that was charged with, and pleaded guilty to, trafficking counterfeit airbags. Zhensong traveled to the United States in 2010 to sell counterfeit auto parts.

A list of vehicle makes and models that are potentially affected is available at the government website safercar.gov. The list is expected to evolve as more information about the counterfeit operation becomes available.

Officials indicated that only vehicles that have had an airbag replaced in the last three years at an auto body repair shop are at risk. Repair shops at new car dealerships are not thought to be dangerous, as dealerships are usually required to purchase parts directly from the manufacturer as a result of franchise agreements.

However, many dealerships do not have an auto body repair center, and as a result many insurance companies will refer their clients to auto shops that are not affiliated with automakers. The airbags are frequently advertised as being legitimate, and bear the official-looking emblems of manufacturers such as Honda or BMW.

NHTSA estimates that tens of thousands of drivers may be at risk. Approximately 250,000 cars on the road today can be outfitted with a counterfeit airbag, about 0.1 of the nations vehicles.

A government test conducted last month determined 10 out of the 11 counterfeit airbags tested did not deploy properly or malfunctioned in some way. One test resulted in a shrapnel discharge. NHTSA Administrator David Strickland indicated "It is an extreme safety risk."

If you have been injured in a car accident in the greater Denver area, please call The Law Offices of Robert Paysinger for a free initial consultation. We help injured people - it's all we do!

Sources: Counterfeit air bags could malfunction, explode, regulators warn, Airbag Knockoffs Fail in Crash Test Videos