Denver residents who are considering a move to a more “relaxed” rural setting may have serious reasons to take pause. According to the most recent data presented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2010, there were 30,196 fatal crashes resulting in 32,885 fatalities. Rural areas accounted for 54 percent (16,292) of the fatal crashes […]

In a 2011 student survey released by the Centers for Disease Control, one-fifth of all respondents reported that they had been bullied on school property. Bullying undermines a school’s ability to provide a safe, effective learning environment, and incidents of bullying tend to increase school truancy rates, intensify levels and incidents of school violence, and result in […]

Recently, a U.S. district judge ruled that Pfizer was obligated to pay approximately $1.8 million in punitive damages to a woman who developed breast cancer after taking the company’s menopause drug. Despite its widespread recognition, the term punitive damages remains largely misunderstood. What are punitive damages? In Colorado, punitive or exemplary damages are designed to punish wrongdoers for engaging […]

According to data compiled by Merck, brain injuries cause nearly 50,000 U.S. deaths and approximately 230,000 hospitalizations each year. Many victims suffer lifelong effects from these injuries, leading to medical and rehabilitative costs of more than $76 billion every year. Approximately half of all head injuries result from motor vehicle crashes. Brain injury symptoms Mild brain injury may include: Moderate […]

According to the Denver Post, Colorado police apprehend approximately 31,000 drunk drivers each year. Nevertheless, the rate of fatal accidents increased. In 2011, for example, drunk driving resulted in over 160 deaths in Colorado, representing a climb of approximately 28% from the previous year. Whom can you sue? If a drunk driver injures you or a family […]

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 800,000 Americans seek medical attention for dog bites each year. Of this number, approximately 386,000 victims require emergency-room treatment, and approximately 16 victims die. The most commonly injured parties are children between the ages of 5 and 9. Dog bite liability in Colorado In 2005, the […]

In May 2012, Jensen Farms, a southeastern Colorado cantaloupe grower that was the source of a deadly 2011 listeria outbreak, filed for bankruptcy protection. The bankruptcy filing cited lawsuits stemming from the outbreak, which caused at least 32 deaths and many more hospitalizations as a significant factor in its financial collapse. Whom you can sue? In […]

According to studies from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2011, an estimated 3,331 people were killed and an additional 387,000 were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver.  Among drivers between the ages of 15 and 19, who were involved in fatal crashes, approximately 21% were found to be distracted by their cell […]

This past April, a Colorado jury awarded significant damages to a partially paralyzed high school football player who suffered a head injury in practice. The court held that Riddell, the country’s largest football helmet manufacturer, was responsible for $3.1 million of the total $11.5 million in damages because the company failed to provide adequate warnings regarding the […]

In most cases, civil law and criminal law are treated differently. However, there may be certain instances in which the same set of facts will lead to both civil and criminal liability.  For example, if someone punches you in the face during an argument, the person who punches you can be charged with assault and […]

Car accidents cause 46 percent of all spinal cord injuries, but they are also responsible for several types of soft tissue injuries (STI). Even a so-called minor accident, such as a low-impact collision or fender-bender, can seriously damage the muscles, tendons or ligaments in the back or neck. Although STIs are often painful and require […]

Workers compensation provides coverage for workers who are injured while on the job. In return for agreeing not to sue their employers, workers receive coverage that allows them to take the time needed to heal and get back to work. The worker receives coverage regardless of who is at fault in the accident. The system […]