For years, the number of traffic fatalities in the State of Colorado has been on the decline. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. 2015 saw the first increase in traffic fatalities in years. Preliminary data shows that across the state of Colorado, 10% more people died in car accidents compared to 2014 – that is a 30% increase over the last 5 years. Sadly, many of these deaths were completely preventable.
In the state of Colorado about 15% of all drivers, routinely do not wear their seatbelts. About half of the 2015 fatalities involved drivers and passengers who weren’t wearing their seatbelts. This means that at least 60 lives could’ve been saved if everyone were seatbelts.
One third of the fatalities were related to drinking and driving.
The Colorado Department of transportation is trying to figure out exactly why there was such an increase in traffic fatalities in 2015 Were more distracted drivers on the road? Are people talking on their cell phones more? Are there more drunk drivers on the road? Those are just some of the questions that CDOT is trying to find the answers to.
The rise in motor vehicle fatalities in 2015 was part of a disturbing national trend. Across the country, 8.1% more drivers were killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2015. This directly reverses a downward trend that had been seen for years.
Last year also saw unprecedented numbers in motorcycle fatalities. In 2015, there were 104 motorcycle deaths throughout the state of Colorado. There has never been a worse year for motorcycle deaths. Were motorcyclists not wearing their helmets? Was the riding season longer last year due to better weather? Are lower gas prices to blame for more motor vehicle traffic and consequently more accidents?
For now, the Colorado Department of Transportation does not have enough answers for the increase in accidents across the state. But in 2016, CDOT awarded $3.5 million to nonprofits and law-enforcement agencies across the state to deal with some of these issues and reduce fatal crashes.
Larimer County experienced an even greater increase in traffic fatalities in 2015. Reports indicate that motor vehicle fatalities increased 37.5% in 2015 in Larimer County alone. In 2014, only 24 people died in motor vehicle crashes in Larimer County. In 2015, that number jumped to 37.
CDOT Executive Director Shailen Bhatt believes that greater education is needed to reduce fatalities on rural Colorado roads were fatality rates are proportionally higher.
“Distracted driving is another one of these fairly new phenomenons for us. It is hard to understand (if it is a cause) when there is a fatal accident … That is a significant part of the investigation. We do know that we need to be doing a lot of education with folks around not using your phone, not texting while driving.”
—Shailen Bhatt, CDOT Executive Director
Further Reading: 8 Insurance Company Secrets You Should Know About
While CDOT examines why the rate of motor vehicle fatalities increased in Colorado this last year, there are some things you can do to protect yourself on the road.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident in Arvada, Northglenn, Broomfield, Westminster, Thornton, or anywhere in Colorado, call our experienced Northglenn wrongful death attorneys as soon as possible. At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., our car accident attorneys are dedicated to the belief that everyone deserves justice. Contact us at (303) 423-1770 or (866) 385-3505.
Our personal injury lawyers have extensive experience representing injured accident victims in Broomfield, Arvada, Superior, Lafayette, Louisville, Erie, Brighton, Commerce City, Northglenn, Westminster, Thornton, Longmont, and throughout Colorado.
At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., we are honored to help accident victims in their time of need, and take our responsibility as personal injury lawyers incredibly seriously. We know how important it is for victims to secure the full and fair compensation they need following a serious accident, and that is why we take a hands-on, personalized approach to every case we handle.
awarded to a woman who was a victim of a car crash. The woman was driving the highway when the other driver approaching from the opposite direction lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line and hit her head on. She suffered multiple broken bones, including her hip, pelvis, leg, and right arm. She missed several years of work as a result of her injuries. Read More
awarded to a woman who was the victim of a t-bone car crash. The client suffered multiple injuries. The most significant of which was a head injury. While she was ultimately able to return to work on a part-time basis, Plaintiff was never able to return to work on a full-time basis. Read More
settlement awarded to a lady who suffered a head injury. She slipped and fell in a slanted parking lot at her place of employment. Evidence demonstrated that the owner of the building had constructed a fence shading the parking lot such that ice was allowed to continuously accumulate during the winter months. Multiple people had fallen on the ice prior to the client’s fall. As a result of her injuries, Plaintiff was forced to take early retirement. Read More
awarded to a man whose vehicle was hit from behind by a semi. The injured party suffered back pain and rotator cuff tears in each shoulder and was forced to retire from his job doing road repair four years earlier. Read More
settlement (policy limits) awarded to a young man who lost his eye when another child shot an arrow into the air. Read More
settlement obtained for a man who was injured in a rear end automobile accident. He suffered a herniated disc in his low back which was not well resolved by surgery forcing him to leave his employment as an apartment maintenance manager. Read More
awarded to a gentleman in association with a workman’s compensation case. He initially sustained a head injury at work when attacked by a patient. Several years later, his condition worsened resulting in his inability to return to work in his usual job. Read More
settlement achieved in a legal malpractice case. The client initially suffered a herniated disc in her neck in association with an automobile accident. The attorney failed to file the lawsuit in a timely manner and the Plaintiff was initially denied her ability to achieve any monies from the original lawsuit. Read More
settlement awarded to a man who was a victim of an automobile accident. Plaintiff was a passenger who was rear-ended by another driver. Following the accident, he suffered a long term back injury. Read More
settlement awarded to a lady who aggravated a pre-existing back condition when she slipped and fell at the entrance to a casino. Read More
awarded to a woman who suffered a rotator cuff tear from an automobile accident. Read More