Memorial Day is traditionally known as the official summer kickoff. It is also in the middle of the annual Click It or Ticket campaign sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It has been well documented for decades that seat belts save lives in the event of a vehicle accident. While at one time, wearing a seat belt was up to the individual, today, every state has some form of seat belt law in place.

In Colorado, all front-seat occupants must wear a seat belt. Passengers 15 years or younger must be secured with an appropriate safety restraint system no matter where they are sitting in the vehicle. Yet, despite the overwhelming evidence they save lives and the fact that it is the law, there are still many people who refuse to buckle up.

Seat Belt Usage

According to national statistics, at least 27 million people admit to not wearing a seat belt. In 2019, almost 18,000 fatal car crash victims were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. It is estimated that over 15,000 lives are saved because of the use of seat belts.

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. According to national statistics, more than 700 people are injured every day in accidents caused by distracted drivers. More than 3,000 of those victims die every year, and despite all of the education and warnings about how dangerous engaging in distracted driving behaviors is, these numbers continue to increase each year.

In Colorado, distracted driving is responsible for more than 40 car accidents every day, resulting in thousands of injuries and death each year. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is joining the nationwide campaign, announcing its own Distraction Reactions campaign.

Colorado Distracted Driving Statistics

While the COVID-19 pandemic forced many people to stay home and off the roads, vaccine rollouts are easing restrictions, meaning more drivers will be back on the roads. And, many of those drivers will be on their smartphones or doing some other activity that takes their focus off the road. In a 2020 survey conducted by the CDOT, 92 percent of drivers admitted to engaging in distracted driving. This was up by two percentage points from the 2019 survey.

Rear-end collisions are often considered just fender benders, but any car accident can cause significant damage to a vehicle and the people inside. Rear-end crashes are the most common motor vehicle accident in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Knowing what factors lead to a rear-end collision is not only a way to avoid causing an accident, but it can also help you determine your best options for seeking compensation after such an incident. Not every car accident leads to permanent disability or wrongful death, but if you are faced with difficult circumstances following an accident, you may be able to collect damages. In the state of Colorado, fault in an accident contributes to how much damage can be recovered. 

Factors That Lead to Rear-End Crashes

A rear-end collision occurs when a car hits the back of another car. Sometimes, this just results in some scratches or minor damage to a vehicle, but hitting a car from behind can also cause serious injuries like whiplash or traumatic brain injuries. A rear-end crash can start a chain reaction of accidents by pushing one car into another vehicle or into the opposite lane of traffic. The following are some of the factors that can lead to rear-end collisions: 

By this time of year, most schools are out of session for summer vacation. For a teenager with a brand-new driver’s license, this newfound freedom is exciting. Operating a car is a privilege and a responsibility that may be overlooked with the long summer nights and lack of supervision. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control, car accidents are the leading cause of the deaths of teenagers in the United States.

Colorado Driving Laws for Teenagers

In Colorado, the minimum age for a teenager to have an initial driver’s license is 16 years old. This is only after taking a drivers' education course, having a permit for at least 12 months, and completing a minimum number of hours on the road driving with an adult over the age of 21 who has a valid driver's license. During this time, there are restrictions for new drivers under the age of 18, but a teenager may choose to ignore these rules.

Walking is an easy and inexpensive way to get places, and it provides the added benefit of physical activity. However, a pedestrian may be involved in a collision with a car or truck, and these types of accidents can be incredibly dangerous. In 2017, 5,977 pedestrians were killed throughout the United States as a result of being hit by a vehicle. Although this is down 1.7 percent from the year prior, the large number of pedestrian fatalities and injuries continues to be a serious concern.

In this type of accident, a person on foot is likely to suffer a serious injury or even death. In a car, the driver and passengers have seat belts and airbags, while a pedestrian has no protection. Pedestrians who are hit by a car may experience injuries such as broken bones, head trauma, spinal cord damage, nerve damage, amputated limbs, and lacerations.   

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the number of accidents involving a large truck or bus increased by 40 percent from 2009 to 2017. An 18-wheeler truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and can cause massive destruction in an instant. Driving on the road next to a semi-truck can give anyone anxiety. Knowing what circumstances can lead to a truck accident may make you a more mindful driver. Being knowledgeable about truck accidents may also help you determine if a truck driver or trucking company was liable for your accident.

Contributing Factors

There is more at stake during a truck accident due to the size and weight of trucks versus passenger cars. It takes an experienced truck driver to know how to properly handle safe road conditions, let alone poor weather. When a truck driver or company is at fault for a severe or fatal accident, passenger car occupants are the most vulnerable. Even with a seat belt, the force of a truck and its impact can change a person's life forever. To know your rights after a truck accident, it is important to consider the following factors that contribute to truck accidents:

Car accidents have the potential to cause physical and emotional trauma. Cars are large machines that can reach high speeds, and upon impact, create havoc for the people inside. Physical trauma to the body has the potential to change a person's life, but mental recovery is also critical. Surviving a car crash can lead to mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or depression. 

Severe car accidents often cause an emotional response, but a person facing mental trauma after an accident may feel extreme feelings that do not go away quickly. In fact, they may worsen. In this case, a person may have developed PTSD or another mental illness. PTSD symptoms may include:

Throughout the United States, there are approximately 288,000 people living with some type of permanent spinal cord injury. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), an average of 17,700 spinal cord injuries occur each year in the U.S. In many of these cases, victims suffer from tetraplegia or paraplegia. 

Complete and Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries 

Spinal cord injuries come in two types of injury: a complete spinal cord injury, and an incomplete spinal injury. An incomplete spinal injury is an injury to the spine that results in partial damage to the spinal cord. Whether a person suffers a change in mobility depends on the extent of the injury and where the spine was injured. A complete spinal injury is an injury that ultimately results in permanent damage to the affected area. In many of these cases, victims suffer from tetraplegia or paraplegia.

On April 8, a speeding driver hit a pedestrian on Colfax Avenue in Aurora, fatally injuring the pedestrian. Aurora Fire and Rescue rushed the individual to University Hospital, where he was ultimately pronounced dead. Police now believe the driver was intoxicated at the time of the accident. 

Drunk driving continues to be one of the largest traffic safety threats nationwide. Thousands of Americans are fatally injured each year due to the recklessness of inebriated drivers. If you or a loved one were injured in a collision involving a drunk driver, you are likely entitled to substantial injury compensation.  

While temperatures are beginning to rise, and Coloradans are gearing up for spring, hazardous weather is not gone yet. On March 14, drivers throughout the state were reminded of that when a winter storm brought blizzard conditions. Unfortunately, the impact was disastrous, as what initially began as a collision involving six vehicles on I-25 resulted in a pileup of 100 automobiles. The accident, which occurred near Wellington, left hundreds of passengers stranded on the interstate for hours. 

As temperatures dropped, and gusts of wind became more severe, those stranded were fearful for their lives. If your family is involved in a car accident during winter months, the failure to prepare can be a life-threatening omission. 

On February 14, a woman was fatally injured in a motor vehicle collision on Interstate 70. The crash occurred outside of Glenwood Springs, and when law enforcement arrived at the scene, the vehicle that caused the fatality had fled. The woman killed was a pedestrian and was found fatally injured on the roadway when emergency personnel arrived. 

According to a recent study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, approximately 65 percent of people killed in hit-and-run collisions are either pedestrians or bicyclists. In the aftermath of a hit-and-run collision, it is important to know how to react. If you or a loved one are involved in a motor vehicle collision, seek experienced legal help as soon as possible. 

On February 3, an SUV driver was fatally injured near Colorado Springs when they lost control of their vehicle, crashed into an oncoming car, and ultimately collided with a concrete barrier. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision after being ejected from the vehicle. A female passenger was in stable condition after suffering injuries in the accident. 

For drivers throughout the state of Colorado, the accident served as a reminder of the importance of wearing a seat belt. Ejection from a vehicle significantly increases the chance of fatal injuries. If you or a loved one are involved in a motor vehicle collision, the use of a seat belt could save a life. 

On January 16, an elderly man was seriously injured when he crashed his vehicle into several homes in a small housing community south of Denver. According to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the collision was ultimately caused by a medical condition that prompted the 86-year-old driver to lose control of his vehicle. 

While not all elderly drivers face an increased risk of motor vehicle collisions, many suffer from pre-existing medical conditions or face a decline in motor skills and vision. These issues can create danger whenever they operate a car, especially during bad weather.

On January 6, a car crash on Interstate 25 outside Colorado Springs sent three people to the hospital with severe injuries. The accident occurred when the car flipped on the roadway and ultimately crashed into a light pole. Of the passengers injured, one was a young child. For parents in Colorado, this accident serves as a reminder of the serious injuries young children can suffer in motor vehicle collisions. 

In 2016, 730 children under 13 were fatally injured in car crashes in the United States. That number is around half of the total number of children killed in car crashes in 1975, thanks largely to improved vehicle safety measures. Listed below are a few simple steps you can take to lower their risk of severe car accident injury. 

Every year, thousands of Americans are hurt in motor vehicle collisions. The most common car accident is when one vehicle hits another from behind. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 28 percent of all car accidents in the United States are rear-end collisions. Studies conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found an average of 1.7 million rear-end accidents occur each year, with a staggering 500,000 serious injuries. 

Despite the fact only 6 percent of rear-end crashes result in fatalities, these collisions can result in severe injuries with long-lasting symptoms. If you or a loved one were injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact a legal team you can believe in and seek medical attention even if injury symptoms are not immediately present. 

On December 27, 2018, two Colorado teens were fatally injured on Highway 105 when they lost control of their vehicle and collided with a semi-truck. Colorado State Patrol officers believe that the collision was caused in part by winter driving conditions. For parents throughout Colorado, the fatal car crash served as a sobering reminder of the dangers of teenage driving.

Teenage Collisions Nationwide

Throughout the United States, teenage drivers are among the most commonly injured in motor vehicle collisions. It should come as no surprise that 16 year old drivers are more likely to crash than drivers of any other age. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2016, over 290,000 American teens between the ages of 16 and 19 were hospitalized due to injuries suffered in motor vehicle collisions. Of those injured, 2,433 teens suffered injuries that proved to be fatal. 

Preventing Teenage Driving Accidents 

When children reach a certain age, parents have to accept that they will begin to drive unsupervised. While many motor vehicle collisions are unavoidable, there are a few steps you can take to help educate your teen driver on how to remain safe: 

In 2012, voters passed Colorado Amendment 64, which legalized marijuana for medicinal and recreational use throughout the state. Officially implemented in 2014, Amendment 64 has brought in millions in tax revenue for the state. Much of that revenue has gone toward creating low-income housing programs, increasing mental health programs in Colorado prisons, and further developing health education programs in schools throughout the state. 

However, while many of the benefits of legalized cannabis have been well documented across the country, one substantial negative that has not been discussed is the marked increase in motor vehicle collisions within states that have legalized recreational marijuana. With increased collisions comes the increased risk of serious, or even fatal, injuries. Those who have been injured in a motor vehicle accident should contact a legal team to learn about their options for pursuing compensation from a negligent driver. 

Accidents on the Rise

In 2017, legal marijuana sales hit a record number of $9.7 billion nationwide. However, a recent study suggests that legal marijuana may be leading to an increase in car accidents. The study, which was conducted by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), used crash statistics from three states with legalized recreational marijuana (Colorado, Washington, and Oregon), and compared those numbers to surrounding states that have not legalized marijuana. The conclusions were striking: motor vehicle collisions have risen by 6% since marijuana legalization in the three states used in the study. 

As the snow and ice begin to make their way onto Colorado roadways, it should come as no surprise that the accidents are beginning to pile up. On Saturday, November 24th, 2018, Colorado highway patrolmen responded to a collision outside Denver. What started as a one-car crash ultimately ended in a 20-vehicle pileup. According to Colorado State Patrol, heavy winds and snow were the main causes of the dangerous accident. 

The increase in inclement weather has prompted Colorado law enforcement to establish roadside shelters for passengers injured in winter car accidents. If you or a loved one are involved in a motor vehicle collision this winter, seek out medical attention and speak with a legal representative. 

Winter Driving Accidents in the United States 

Inclement weather is one of the leading causes of automobile accidents throughout the United States. According to the Federal Highway Administration, approximately 116,000 Americans are injured each year in accidents during snowfall. While the vast majority of these accidents do not result in death, over 1,200 people are killed annually in accidents caused by inclement weather. Studies conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that an alarming 17% of all annual motor vehicle collisions occur while snow is present.