Blog | The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C.

Serious mistake leads to fatal motor vehicle accident

On behalf of Kevin S. Mahoney of The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C. posted in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents on Tuesday, April 17, 2018.

Most Colorado drivers take steps to be sure they do not make any mistakes while on the road. They pay attention, avoid distraction and make sure they do not get behind the wheel after drinking, but other drivers do not always follow these simple rules that help everyone get to their destinations safely. A driver could easily make a serious mistake that results in a fatal motor vehicle accident.

Recently, a 27-year-old woman mistakenly ended up driving west in the eastbound lanes of U.S. 50. One eastbound vehicle managed to avoid a head-on collision with the wrong-way vehicle, but was still struck in the rear. A second vehicle did not fare as well and was struck head-on by the westbound vehicle.

Victim hopes to reduce pedestrian accidents with awareness

On behalf of Kevin S. Mahoney of The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C. posted in Pedestrian Accidents on Tuesday, April 3, 2018.

How many times have Colorado residents heard that texting and driving is becoming as dangerous as drinking and driving? This form of distracted driving puts the lives of everyone at risk whether they are operating a motor vehicle, riding a bicycle or walking. Many of the crashes involving this activity result in serious and fatal injuries, especially in pedestrian accidents in which the victim lacks the same protections as those in vehicles.

One Colorado woman who survived an accident as a pedestrian decided to take action when the driver involved, a teenager, admitted to texting at the time. The severity of her injuries cost her months of her life as she suffered through pain and physical therapy. She even spent the first week after the accident in the intensive care unit. She feels fortunate that she survived the accident and kept returning to thoughts of raising awareness of the dangers texting and driving present.

Motorcycle accidents can change riders' lives forever

On behalf of Kevin S. Mahoney of The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C. posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.

Riding through Colorado's beautiful mountains and scenery may bring you a sense of peace and joy. You relish the times when you can take to the open road on your motorcycle, but you also know the risks. The chances of you and other riders being severely injured in motorcycle accidents is a very real possibility.

Motorcycle riders often suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and other life-changing injuries. Some riders consider themselves lucky to "only" suffer broken bones, road rash or lacerations, but even they could result in significant impacts on their lives. Every time you get onto your motorcycle, you run the risk of suffering from one or more of these injuries.

Nearly 6,000 pedestrians killed in vehicle collisions in 2017

On behalf of Kevin S. Mahoney of The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C. posted in blog on Monday, March 12, 2018.

In recent years, pedestrian deaths caused by vehicles have been on the rise. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), pedestrian deaths went up 9.5 percent in 2015 and 9 percent in 2016. The most recent statistics from 2017 show a similar rate as that of 2016. Overall, these figures indicate that more people in recent years suffered fatal injuries in collisions with vehicles than in years prior to 2015.

Experts and analysts are concerned about this trend. Pedestrian deaths now appear to be at the highest rates in over two decades. For people who regularly walk on sidewalks or streets, there's a serious risk of injury or death when crossing paths with vehicular traffic. Those driving vehicles face serious liability and the potential for injury if they get into an accident with a pedestrian.

Many fatal motor vehicle accidents involve trucks

On behalf of Kevin S. Mahoney of The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C. posted in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents on Wednesday, March 7, 2018.

As you can imagine, a vehicle weighing upwards of 40 tons probably will not stop on a dime or be maneuvered evasively as well as smaller vehicles could. With all of the big rigs traveling the roads here in Colorado and across the country, it may not come as a surprise that out of every eight fatal motor vehicle accidents, one of them involves one of these massive vehicles. When the size and weight of these vehicles is added to the probability of inclement weather and other potential road hazards here in Colorado, it could turn into a recipe for disaster.

Truck accidents can happen under the best of circumstances, but when you add issues such as driver fatigue, distractions and substance abuse, the number of crashes rises dramatically. With deadlines to meet, drivers often push their trucks and themselves to the limit. Speeding could be dangerous enough, but if mechanical issues with the truck are not taken care of, the brakes could fail or tires could blow, among other things.

In most motorcycle accidents it's the other guy's fault

On behalf of Kevin S. Mahoney of The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C. posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Monday, February 19, 2018.

Thousands of crashes occur here in Colorado every year. Some of them are motorcycle accidents. Many people make the incorrect assumption that it is the rider who is at fault in most of them. In reality, studies show that over half of accidents involving a motorcycle and a passenger or commercial vehicle result from negligence on the part of the other driver, not the biker.

Distracted driving is dangerous enough, but if you ride a motorcycle, a distracted driver could easily cause you injury. Due to the low visibility profile of a motorcycle, many drivers claim they simply failed to see the small, two-wheeled vehicles. It is possible for a motorcycle to stay in another driver's blind spot without realizing it, but it is the responsibility of the other driver to pay attention and check that spot before changing lanes or beginning a turn.

Fatal motor vehicle accidents: Head-on crash leaves 1 dead

On behalf of Kevin S. Mahoney of The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C. posted in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, February 8, 2018.

There are many traffic laws and rules to follow when operating a motor vehicle to ensure the safety of everyone on Colorado roadways. When they are ignored for any reason, fatal motor vehicle accidents can occur. An investigation is currently determining all the factors that may have contributed in a recent tragic car crash.

The initial investigation has led authorities to believe that a 42-year-old woman was driving in the wrong direction on the interstate. At this time authorities do not understand why she may have been traveling in the wrong direction, but the error resulted in a head-on collision with another sports utility vehicle. The impact of the collision resulted in serious damage to both vehicles and one vehicle flipping over to its side.

Could a fall on another person’s property have been prevented?

On behalf of Kevin S. Mahoney of The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C. posted in blog on Wednesday, January 31, 2018.

Imagine shopping at your favorite boutique in downtown Denver. After perusing the second floor, you start to make your way back down the stairs to pay for your items. As you descend, the banister gives way and you fall down the rest of the stairs.

After a trip to the hospital so that a doctor could reset a few bones, you are wondering how you will afford thousands of dollars in medical bills. In addition, you will have to miss work, possibly for several weeks, and you cannot afford to forego that much of your paycheck. Fortunately, you do have options.

Marijuana remains a factor in many fatal motor vehicle accidents

On behalf of Kevin S. Mahoney of The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C. posted in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents on Wednesday, January 24, 2018.

Even though many crashes were attributed to drugs prior to the legalization of marijuana here in Colorado, the number seems to have risen. State law indicates that anything over 5 nanograms of THC (marijuana's psychoactive component) per milliliter of blood constitutes driving under the influence of drugs. Even so, many people continue to drive with this level or higher of marijuana in their systems, and it appears to be contributing to the number of fatal motor vehicle accidents occurring in the state.

For instance, authorities here in Colorado say that on Dec. 14, 2017, a man lost control of his vehicle and careened into the opposing lane of travel on U.S. Highway 160. His vehicle then slammed into not just one, but two other vehicles heading in the opposite direction of his pickup truck. The wrong-way driver died as a result of his injuries.

Counting 2018's fatal motor vehicle accidents has already begun

On behalf of Kevin S. Mahoney of The Mahoney Law Firm, P.C. posted in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, January 11, 2018.

A new year has just begun. Many people here in Colorado and around the country view this time of year as a fresh start and hope that this year will prove to be better than the last. This also goes for those who keep track of data such as the number of fatal motor vehicle accidents that occur around the state.

Apparently, last year's traffic fatalities here in Colorado broke records set in previous years. Law enforcement officials may have hoped that number would drop in 2018, but recent events are not promising. Only days into the new year, three people already lost their lives on the roads of the state's second largest city.