Boulder, Colorado Personal Injury Law Blog

Why you should never say "sorry" after a car accident

On behalf of Purvis Gray Thomson, LLP on Saturday, November 2, 2019.

Car accidents are stressful events. You will not be in a good state of mind following a collision, even if it was relatively minor. It is for this reason that many people develop phobias and even post-traumatic stress disorder following an auto accident.

In this flustered state of mind, you may step out of your car and say something you regret. No matter how bad the accident was, you never want to say, "I'm sorry" following a traffic collision. It may seem innocuous, but it could do more harm than good in the long run.

Top causes of car accidents not a surprise

On behalf of Purvis Gray Thomson, LLP on Monday, October 28, 2019.

Driving the streets of Boulder and the surrounding area, it is not surprising to come upon a crash. They happen around the clock and in every situation imaginable.

While cars get safer, drivers do not. Over the years, patterns emerge, and it becomes clear that some driver behavior is more likely to cause a crash than others. It is a good idea to review some of the top causes of accidents across the country, so you can try to do your part in preventing them.

Do your kids use these recalled items?

On behalf of Purvis Gray Thomson, LLP posted in Products Liability on Wednesday, September 18, 2019.

Shopping for children's merchandise is very fun. The products are colorful, whimsical and interesting. They can bring a smile to your kid's face while also serving a practical purpose.

Unfortunately, for some kids, their belongings end up being sources of severe harm and even death. Defective products often do not come to light until something bad has happened. These are a few things that have recently joined the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission list of recalls for 2019.

Building a strong accident claim using the law

On behalf of Purvis Gray Thomson, LLP posted in Personal Injury on Wednesday, August 21, 2019.

Accidents can be quite traumatizing for various individuals. Not only do people have to deal with physical trauma, but many also stand to face financial tribulations as well.

Thankfully, an accident claim can aid in helping parties get the assistance they deserve. For those who choose to pursue that route, there are a couple of laws to understand and utilize to build a strong claim.

Be careful with what you say after a car crash

On behalf of Purvis Gray Thomson, LLP posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Wednesday, July 17, 2019.

The aftermath of a car accident is often chaotic and confusing. Aside from dealing with your injuries and property damage, you need to communicate with multiple people. You may need to talk to other drivers, witnesses, police officers, insurance adjusters and doctors.

What you say to any of these parties may impact your chances of getting compensation. Be careful with the words you use, because you may inadvertently admit fault or say something another person may misinterpret.

Flammable children's sleepwear recalls

On behalf of Purvis Gray Thomson, LLP posted in Products Liability on Friday, July 12, 2019.

One of the best ways to ensure children's products are safe is to regularly check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Recall List. This federal agency reports details about products that have known defects, what the specific hazards are for each product and how the company will correct the problem.

When it comes to children's sleepwear, the agency frequently lists clothing that poses a risk of burn injuries. Manufacturers directly contact all known purchasers to alert them to the hazard. The CPSC's instructions provide a manufacturer's contact information so parents can receive a full refund.

Drowsy driving is a bigger problem in Colorado than you think

On behalf of Purvis Gray Thomson, LLP posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Sunday, June 23, 2019.

Accidents happen for so many reasons, and often multiple factors are at play in the incident. One that has been garnering more attention over the years is drowsy driving. While it is nothing new, it is a growing problem as Americans are lacking sufficient sleep more than ever. From overscheduled calendars to increased screen time, daily life is stealing hours of slumber left and right.

Workers with long shifts or night shifts have a high risk, but no one is exempt from falling asleep at the wheel. In fact, Greeley Tribune reports that a traffic safety contractor fell asleep while driving and sideswiped a school bus full of high school students, many who were injured in the collision.

Breaking down a Boulder man's $6.5 million verdict

On behalf of Purvis Gray Thomson, LLP posted in Products Liability on Tuesday, June 4, 2019.

Have you ever wondered how car crashes can result in multi-million-dollar awards? Car repairs and medical bills rarely reach those figures, but those aren't the only considerations. There are other factors involved, as well.

Many of these factors contributed to the $6.5 million judgment recently awarded to a Boulder man. In 2009, the man had been rear-ended while stopped at an intersection in his 1998 Ford Explorer. Such accidents are typically routine, but in this man's case, a defect in his seat caused it to collapse backward until his head struck the back seat. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and extensive neck damage.

Summer's "100 Deadliest Days" a dangerous time to be on the road

On behalf of Purvis Gray Thomson, LLP posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Friday, May 17, 2019.

When high school classes end for the year and teenagers start making their way to the streets and highways across Colorado, the number of car crashes involving teenage drivers increases as a result. So, too, does the number of fatal car wrecks involving drivers from this age group, which is bad news for you and everyone else on the roadway.

In fact, the influx of teenagers who drive the state's and nation's roads during the stretch of time between Memorial Day and Labor Day makes driving during this time so dangerous that it became known as summer's "100 Deadliest Days." Regardless of when they are on the road, teenagers lack experience, making them more prone to crashes than older drivers. However, with so many inexperienced teenagers traveling the roads at the same time during the summer months, this period becomes a particularly dangerous one for all drivers and passengers. Just how much more dangerous is it to drive during summer's 100 Deadliest Days?

Brake failure a frequent cause of commercial truck crashes

On behalf of Purvis Gray Thomson, LLP posted in Products Liability on Friday, May 17, 2019.

As someone who travels Colorado's roadways with regularity, you have probably spotted those runaway truck ramps along the sides of some highways that are supposed to give truck drivers a place to go in the event that their brakes fail. These truck ramps should undergo use by truckers only as a last resort, however, and today's truck drivers should typically know that they may need to rely on more than just brakes in order to navigate downhill trips safely.

Regrettably, Transport Topics reports that many wrecks involving commercial trucks result from brake failure. In fact, one study involving 967 commercial truck crashes revealed that brake failure was a factor in nearly 30% of them. While many such incidents are preventable, inexperience is a common factor in crashes involving brake failure, indicating that increased training could potentially help reduce the number of them occurring across Colorado and the rest of the United States.