Denver Personal Injury Law Blog

One teenager is tragically dead following a single-vehicle crash local authorities believe may have been predicated on intoxication. The Colorado State Patrol reported the car accident that claimed the life of a 16-year-old high school student. Several other students were injured in the crash, and the 18-year-old driver is currently in custody. As is typical with most fatal car accidents, this incident is still being investigated. 

According to the report, it appears that around 11:45 p.m. on the night of May 3, the driver was transporting four other teenagers in his vehicle on Garfield County Road 102. It appears the driver lost control while trying to negotiate a right curve in the road, striking a large rock and forcing the car to flip over. Two passengers were ejected from the vehicle, one of whom was the 16-year-old who was killed on impact. 

Now that the weather is getting warmer, many are likely taking to the road on their motorcycles to enjoy the spring weather. However, when motorcycle accidents happen, they can cause serious injuries to the bikers and their passengers as well as a significant amount of damage to the bike itself. This appears to be exactly what happened in Colorado Springs when a commercial truck and motorcycle collided.

The accident occurred on Colorado 15 on the morning of Saturday, April 21, near the towns of Capulin and La Jara. According to the Colorado State Patrol, a feed truck had entered the highway from a driveway and was attempting to make a turn onto another driveway. That is when the motorcycle collided with the truck.

As warm weather slowly begins to creep into the area, two types of vehicles start to become increasingly common on Colorado roadways -- motorcycles and RVs. Both are associated with an increased number of accidents. RVs are large, and many drivers who get behind their wheels are not used to the extra care that must be taken when driving a vehicle of that size. Motorcycles are small, so they are often overlooked by other drivers, and they are more affected by adverse road conditions than other vehicles are. The risk factors of the two combined this week when a motorcycle accident involving an RV left the rider in critical condition and the RV driver on the run.

In the early morning hours a motorcycle traveling east on a Colorado roadway was struck by an RV that had been traveling west and was turning left. The motorcycle offered no protection for its rider from the impact with the large vehicle, and the man was severely injured. Fortunately, an off-duty police officer and off-duty firefighter paramedic were nearby and jumped into action to assist the man. The two performed lifesaving measures on the rider until an ambulance arrived. The man was taken to a nearby hospital and was reportedly in critical condition.

Tractor-trailers perform a duty that is critical for the maintenance of the American lifestyle. With so many big rigs on Colorado roads, truck accidents are bound to happen. Due to the enormous size and weight of these vehicles in comparison to passenger vehicles, those accidents are often quite severe. There are several steps one should take when he or she is involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer to promote safety and prepare for dealing with the legal aspects of the accident.

The first thing to do after any accident is to call 911. Depending on the severity of the accident, police, paramedics and firemen may be dispatched to the scene. When police arrive, it is important to relay the details of the accident clearly and precisely. This information will be used to help determine who is at fault. The police will prepare an accident report, and it is essential to obtain a copy.