Denver Personal Injury Law Blog

When Denver residents head to work, the last thing they expect is to be injured on the job and suddenly face the need to receive workers' compensation benefits. Unfortunately, this happens every day across the nation. A workplace accident does not discriminate and can happen to anyone, regardless of what kind of work they do. This is as true for people in dangerous jobs like law enforcement, firefighters and construction workers as it is for those who are employed in jobs that are sedentary and are generally perceived as safe. After a work injury, legal advice is imperative to maximize workers' compensation benefits.

There are many issues that arise after a work injury or a condition that arises because of the work a person was doing. Medical expenses will be a major consideration as the cost can be exorbitant. Lost wages are also a worry because not getting a paycheck makes it impossible to keep up with everyday costs. Workers' compensation is designed to cover these issues. However, there are situations where there is a disagreement as to how injured the worker is and how long they should be off the job. In extreme cases, the employer will deny the worker was injured on the job at all and the case can explode into full-blown conflict. This situation makes it even more vital to have legal help.

Pedestrians in Denver, throughout Colorado and across the United States must be on guard to avoid being injured in a collision with a vehicle. The dangers that pedestrians face goes beyond simply being hit in an auto accident. The litany of issues people face after a pedestrian-auto accident are many and can cause substantial disruptions in a person's life if they are injured. Often, however, a pedestrian crash results in injuries so severe that the victim dies. Researchers are proactive in their attempts to identify the source of the problem and formulate solutions. Recently, a new study was released showing that there was been a statistical worsening in pedestrian fatalities.

The Governors Highway Safety Association says that there were, according to its estimates, more than 6,200 pedestrian fatalities across the nation in 2018. That is the most in 28 years. It is also an increase of around 250 from the year before. The numbers are based on the first half of the year and available information. Since 2008, there has been a 41 percent increase in pedestrian deaths overall. These now come to 16 percent of all deaths in traffic crashes.

Distracted driving accidents continue to rise around the country, and Colorado is definitely no exception to that trend. According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, distracted driving caused 605 fatalities throughout the state in 2016.

While that number is startling, it is likely much higher. Underreporting occurs regularly with distracted driving, mostly because people do not want to admit their fault. Aside from cellphones, what qualifies as distracted driving? Take a look at the everyday tasks you may engage in while driving that could cause an accident.

Law enforcement officers in Denver and throughout Colorado place themselves in harm's way as part of their job. They are the ones who go to the site of an accident to help those in need. In some cases, however, they are involved in an accident themselves as they go about their duties. Like any other job, workplace injuries can cause serious problems in an officer's life. When these accidents happen and an officer is injured on the job, it is important to understand the steps to get workers' compensation benefits.

The dangers inherent to law enforcement were shown in a 24-hour period when three Colorado State Troopers were injured in auto accidents. One accident involved a trooper in the process of investigating another accident. He was taken to the hospital with moderate injuries. In a second accident, a truck spun and crashed into a cruiser. That trooper was also investigating a separate accident.