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.
As of Jan. 4, three people lost their lives in traffic accidents in Colorado Springs. The first happened on Jan. 2 when a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and then got pinned underneath it. On Jan. 4, another pedestrian died while crossing one of the city’s streets.
Officials continue to look for commonalities among these tragedies, but that is proving to be a challenge. Police warn drivers to pay attention, slow down and stay sober when driving, but that does not seem to be enough. Even examining the safety of the roadways where the accidents occur is not providing a clear cause.
While officials continue to search for answers, the family members of those who lost their lives may be as well. They will never get their loved ones back, but they may find some closure through filing wrongful death claims in the fatal motor vehicle accidents in which another party’s actions led to the death. Successfully proving that fact to the courts could result in an award of damages that could at least provide some monetary restitution for the unexpected financial losses that accompany a sudden death.
Source: krdo.com, “Colorado Springs police concerned about recent traffic fatalities”, Katie Spencer, Jan. 6, 2018