Blog | The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C.

Justice in fatal motor vehicle accidents could take time

On behalf of Kevin S. Mahoney of The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C. posted in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents on Wednesday, October 2, 2019.

When Colorado residents lose a loved one in a violent and sudden act, they ordinarily want answers, closure and justice. Unfortunately, it could take some time to receive what they need in order to move forward -- whether it comes from the criminal justice system, the civil court system or both. This is often the case even in fatal motor vehicle accidents.

A case that started over one year ago recently came to a conclusion. On July 24, 2018, two people died in a car crash on Highway 24 here in Colorado. One driver attempted to pass a vehicle, but ended up moving directly into the path of a dump truck coming from the opposite direction. The dump truck maneuvered to avoid the collision and ended up colliding with a third vehicle.

Speed often contributes to tragic motorcycle accidents

On behalf of Kevin S. Mahoney of The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C. posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Wednesday, September 18, 2019.

There is a saying that has been around for almost as long as the automobile -- "speed kills." This is in reference to a situation where speed can cause a driver to lose control. An out of control vehicle in Colorado can become a very dangerous weapon and cause serious accidents. Often motorcycles are involved and the outcome of such motorcycle accidents is often fatal. Add alcohol to the mix and it is a recipe for disaster.

A motorcycle and a speeding pickup were in the same place at the same time and the outcome was tragic. The motorcycle was headed south when it was struck from behind by a reportedly speeding pickup truck. The truck did not stop immediately following the collision, and the man who had been on the motorcycle was reportedly dragged for at least 600 feet. He was then apparently thrown into the roadway and struck by a passing minivan and was pronounced dead at the scene.

You need to build a case for compensation after a brain injury

On behalf of Kevin S. Mahoney of The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C. on Monday, September 9, 2019.

Different kinds of injuries create different hurdles and complications. If you hurt your brain in an accident, it can be particularly difficult to prove the exact nature and symptoms of the injury. Compared with a fracture or a spinal injury, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) create a much broader range of potential symptoms.

The symptoms that impact the life of someone else may not exist at all for you, despite your injury being severe. The variety of symptoms and difficulty that can come with connecting symptoms to an accident can make it unusually difficult for people with TBIs to connect with the compensation that they need when an injury affects their earning potential and financial stability.

Colorado woman succumbs to injuries in fatal auto accident

On behalf of Kevin S. Mahoney of The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C. posted in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents on Wednesday, September 4, 2019.

Any driver here in Colorado or elsewhere can make a deadly mistake on the road, but younger drivers tend to make them more often. If they are lucky, no one gets seriously hurt when that happens, but there are no guarantees. Unfortunately, the mistake made recently by an 18-year-old driver resulted in a fatal auto accident.

The woman and her 19-year-old passenger were headed north in an SUV when she failed to obey the red traffic signal and began a left-hand turn. A southbound vehicle that had the right of way could not avoid colliding with the passenger side of the vehicle. The woman driving the SUV suffered only minor injuries.

Not all motorcycle accidents are the fault of other drivers

On behalf of Kevin S. Mahoney of The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C. posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Wednesday, August 21, 2019.

A great deal of accidents involving these two-wheeled vehicles result from drivers in other vehicles not seeing them, not paying attention and more. Still more motorcycle accidents result from the actions of their riders. When these drivers have passengers who trust them, they should use the appropriate amount of caution, but that does not always happen. The people who entrusted their lives to them often suffer serious injuries or lose their lives.

According to the Denver Police Department, a passenger on a motorcycle apparently put her trust in the wrong person. Shortly after 11 p.m., the motorcycle slammed into a parked car. The impact was violent enough that the passenger on the vehicle suffered severe injuries to which she succumbed at the scene. The driver survived and was taken to a hospital in the area with unknown injuries.

Pedestrian accidents aren't always fatal, but mostly preventable

On behalf of Kevin S. Mahoney of The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C. posted in Pedestrian Accidents on Wednesday, August 7, 2019.

Paying attention is vital to a driver's ability to react to unexpected situations and obstacles. It is easy to forget that seconds matter when it comes to avoiding crashes and causing unnecessary injuries and deaths. This is particularly the case in pedestrian accidents where the victims do not enjoy the safety of the cabin of a vehicle. Fortunately, not all pedestrians suffer fatal injuries, but in most cases, their lives never should have been in jeopardy in the first place.

Most accidents that occur here in Colorado or elsewhere are preventable if drivers keep their attention on the road. An unlucky pedestrian found this out the hard way recently after suffering serious injuries. Responding officers report that the victim was legally crossing the road at the time of the crash.

Pillows designed for babies recalled over suffocation risk

On behalf of Kevin S. Mahoney of The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C. on Friday, July 26, 2019.

New parents usually get a crash course in just how dangerous the world is for infants while preparing for the birth of their child or after they bring their new infant home. The hospital will probably warn you about letting the kids sleep in your bed, while social workers will be quick to tell you that killer couches are a major concern to.

Parents might go out of their way to search for products that will be safe for their children. It's only natural to assume that a product marketed as an infant pillow would be safe for young children. Unfortunately, as with many other products, just because something gets marketed a certain way doesn't mean it is safe to use.

Some hit-and-run bicycle or pedestrian accidents do get solved

On behalf of Kevin S. Mahoney of The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C. posted in Pedestrian Accidents on Wednesday, July 24, 2019.

When a driver leaves the scene of a crash he or she caused, many unanswered questions remain, especially for families who lose loved ones. Hit-and-run bicycle or pedestrian accidents are no exception whether they take place here in Colorado or elsewhere. Fortunately, with diligent police work, many of the culprits are apprehended, even if they flee to another state.

Back on July 4, a bicyclist lost his life around 6:30 a.m. that day. The driver of the vehicle that struck him fled the scene. Even though police located the vehicle believed to be involved in the tragedy in a nearby apartment complex, the person who drove it on that day was not. Detectives working the case decided to make use of crime stoppers by issuing an alert through that medium on July 9.

Motorcycle riders often pay the price for drivers' recklessness

On behalf of Kevin S. Mahoney of The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C. posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Wednesday, July 10, 2019.

Every driver owes a duty of reasonable care to others on Colorado's roadways, requiring them to act responsibly, pay attention and otherwise adhere to safety regulations. In some ways, those in passenger vehicles owe an enhanced duty to motorcycle riders who navigate the state's highways, byways and streets at the same speeds, but without the same protections. When reckless drivers fail to do so, these individuals often pay the ultimate price.

Few would disagree that driving through Colorado's passes in the summer months can be a breathtaking experience. Beautiful landscapes run through the mountains with winding roads to get travelers from one side of the state to the other. However, even when the passes are not covered in snow, drivers must remain vigilant of their surroundings.

Alcohol impairment suspected in many motorcycle accidents

On behalf of Kevin S. Mahoney of The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C. posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Tuesday, June 25, 2019.

Colorado residents who choose another type of transportation other than a passenger vehicle face numerous risks. The low profile of motorcycles means that those in other, larger vehicles could fail to see them on a good day. When one of those drivers is impaired by alcohol, the potential for motorcycle accidents increases dramatically.

On a recent Monday, police took a 55-year-old man into custody on suspicion of drunk driving. Preliminary reports indicate that the driver, who was heading south at the time, initiated a left turn right into the path of two motorcycles heading in the opposite direction. One of the riders was fortunate enough to escape injury even though the motorcycle hit the pickup truck, but the other was not.