New Trucking Industry Rules Increase Fatigue Among Drivers

The recent rule changes for truckers are causing disruption among drivers.  The new rules, which took effect in July, shorten the average workweek to 70 hours a week from 82, and require an electronic device that caps the vehicles' speed. The time between workweeks now must extend over two nights, including the hours between 1:00 and 5:00 a.m.

Although the new rules were promulgated to reduce fatigue and related crashes, the trucking industry research institute has found that the new rules limiting driving hours have actually increased fatigue for more than 66% of the drivers surveyed.  The findings are the latest salvo in the battle over the hours-of-service rules among safety advocates, regulators and the trucking industry. The industry says the rule is too costly and possibly even dangerous because they put more trucks on the road during rush hour and drivers on the road when they are tired.

Fatalities in large truck crashes declined 26% in the decade ending in 2011, but according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, that is still too high. The agency analysis shows the change should prevent about 560 injuries and save 19 lives a year.  While it seems that the trucking industry has a point, surely we can find a way to reduce trucking accidents

If you have been injured in an accident with a large truck, you need to speak with an experienced auto accident attorney.  Call The Law Offices of Robert Paysinger P.C., at (303) 279-0221 or visit our website at www.paysingerlaw.com. We help injured people, it's all we do!

Source:http://online.wsj.com

Bus Driver Cited in Yuma County

Six people were injured in a crash in south of Wray in Yuma County Monday afternoon.  The accident occurred between a Chevy Silverado and a school bus.  Four students were taken to Wray Community Hospital after the school bus rolled.

One child was retained for a possible head injury, three other boys ages six to eight were treated for minor injuries and released.

The bus driver and the woman who was driving the truck were also taken to the hospital with serious injuries.  The woman driving the truck was still in the hospital on Tuesday in stable condition.  There were no stop lights or signs at the intersection.  After investigation the Colorado State Patrol cited the bus driver, Jennine Witte for careless driving causing injury.

If you have been injured in a car accident, you need to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney.  Call The Law Office of Robert Paysinger, P.C. today or visit our website at www.paysingerlaw.com
Source:  www.denverpost.com

New Marijuana Laws Increase Likelihood of Auto Accidents

Yesterday voters in Colorado approved new taxes on the sale of recreational marijuana.  These taxes are designed to cover expenses for regulation and enforcement of the new laws, as well as education for the health and public safety impact of marijuana use.  Increased public awareness must be expanded on the danger of the combination of alcohol and marijuana use and its effect on impairment.  

There is a growing attitude that marijuana is a safe drug, at least compared to other illegal drugs and alcohol.  A drunk driver is 11 times more likely to be involved in a fatal car accident, while a stoned driver is twice as likely to cause an accident compared to a sober driver  Research indicates that drivers who are high are typically able to compensate by driving more slowly.  However, the combination of alcohol and THC can increase impairment to a greater level than either drug alone. It is anticipated that with greater availability that there may be up to 67.5 million instances of intoxication from marijuana in 2014 in Colorado.

There are no estimates of how many people will get behind the wheel and drive, or how many might combine drugs for a potentially lethal dose.  Because Colorado is on the forefront of the legalization wave, we must be thoughtful and progressive on how we educate the population on this serious issue.

 If you have been injured in a car accident, you should speak to an experienced personal injury attorney. Call The Law Offices of Robert Paysinger, P.C. at (303) 279-0221. We help injured people - it's all we do!

Source: http://www.denverpost.com

90 Year Old Driver Liable, Not Toyota in Wrongful Death Suit

Although many have focused on the culpability of Toyota in the California wrongful death suit, what is also important is the fault of the secondary defendant in the case. Noriko Uno was struck by another driver who ran a stop sign in August of 2009, causing her to swerve out of control and hit a tree at high speed.

Uno's attorney argued that Toyota had failed to address the faulty brake system in the Camry and this was the cause of the accident.  The other defendant,Olga Belo, the driver who struck Noriko Uno,  now 90 years old was found responsible for the accident and the resulting judgement of $10 million.

This verdict highlights how older drivers' assets can be put at risk, as their ability to drive safely becomes impaired. Per mile traveled fatal crash rates increase starting at age 75 and increase significantly after age 80.  Older drivers should protect themselves with higher liability insurance coverage, higher uninsured motorist coverage and  umbrella policies.

If you are an elderly driver or the child of an elderly driver, call an attorney to see how you can protect those assets accumulated over a lifetime from being lost from one mistake on the road.

If you have been injured in an auto accident, you need to speak to an experienced personal injury attorney.

Call The Law Office of Robert Paysinger, P.C. at (303) 279-0221 today or visit www.paysingerlaw.com
Source: http://www.cnn.com

New Study Shows Men More Likely to Text and Drive

120 male and female college students were surveyed on their texting habits in a new study published in the International Journal of Strategic Management.

Four out of five of the students were reported texting while driving. And while the study revealed that women were more impulsive in their texting habits, men were more likely to text and drive because they believed they were skilled drivers.

Though most of the men surveyed believe that texting while driving is dangerous, they believed that they are better at texting and driving than others, demonstrating less awareness of the dangerousness of such beliefs.   Even the state laws forbidding it have little impact. Legislation apparently has little effect on people’s habits.

Other studies have shown that texting slows reaction time more than drinking and driving.

If you have been injured in a car accident, you need to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney.  Call The Law Office of Robert Paysinger at (303) 279-0221 or visit www.paysingerlaw.com today for a free initial consultation.  We help injured - people it’s all we do!

How Parents Can Protect Teen Drivers

 The statistics on teen driver fatalities are shocking.  Car crashes are the number one killer of teenagers.  In Colorado, fatalities were up 10 percent in 2012.  From 2004 to 2011, motor vehicle crash rates for drivers from 15-19 years of age dropped more than 57 percent, according to CDOT.  Statewide education and heightened enforcement likely led to the drop, officials say.  But last year teen fatalities jumped 10 percent from 2011.

  In response, CDOT and the Colorado Teen Driving Alliance are launching an online parent course that provides step-by-step instructions on how parents can learn, and then teach their kids about Colorado's graduated driver's license laws.  Recently, a survey of parents of teens indicated that only 6.4 percent of parents could determine the license laws including curfews, passenger restrictions and seat belt requirements.
  All teen drivers must log 50 hours of practice driving with a parent or legal guardian. The online course guides parents through lesson ideas to help cover different aspects of practice driving.

  No one knows more about the dangers of teen driving than Tim Hollister, an attorney who lives in Hartford, who is an advocate for teen driver laws. After the death of his son in 2006 in a car accident, Tim has worked to change the laws to address key concerns associated with younger drivers, including the risks associated with passengers, their lack of experience, and their propensity to engage in risky behaviors such as texting or cell phone use.  Mr. Hollister is the author of a new book titled, "Not So Fast: Parenting your Teen Through the Dangers of Driving,"  which offers suggestions for parents.

  "Teaching a teen to drive is a daunting process," said Carol Gould, highway safety manager for CDOT. "But the best way to put yourself at ease is to get up to speed on the process of getting a license, understanding the specific restrictions for teen drivers and treat the learning process as a true partnership."

  If you are injured in a car accident, you need to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney.  Call The Law Office of Robert Paysinger, P.C. today at (303) 279-0221 for a free initial consultation, or visit www.paysingerlaw.com.  We help injured people - it's all we do!

Source: www.denverpost.com, www.foxnews.com

Three People Dead and Another Injured in Crash on I-25

Three people died and another is in critical condition after a one-car crash Sunday on I-25 south of Fountain, according to the Colorado State Patrol.

A dark green sedan was traveling southbound and drifted off the left side of the highway into the center median  and struck a guardrail before rolling over.  This occurred about 6:50 AM, according to the State Patrol.

The driver, a 23 year-old woman from Pueblo, wasn't wearing a seat belt and was pinned under the vehicle. She was taken to Memorial Central Hospital with moderate to serious injuries.

The two male and one female passengers, were also unrestrained and thrown from the vehicle when it overturned.  "All three passengers sustained fatal injuries from their ejection.   The vehicle came to rest facing west in the center median against a concrete drainage culvert on it's top," according to a State Patrol release. This is another example of how fatalities may occur when drivers and passengers are not wearing seat belts.
Additionally, only a moments inattention may cause a driver to slip onto the shoulder of the road, and cause the vehicle to roll over.

The Colorado State Patrol is investigating the accident.

If you are injured in a car accident, you need to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney.  Call The Law Offices of Robert Paysinger, P.C. at (303) 279-0221 or visit www.paysingerlaw.com today for a free initial consultation, or visit  We help injured people - it's all we do!

Source: http://www.denverpost.com