Lakewood Colorado Legal Blog

Car accident victims suffer many ill effects

On behalf of James L. Finegan, P.C. posted in auto accidents on Friday, January 10, 2020.

If you're a Lakewood resident who was injured in an auto accident with another at-fault driver, you can suffer a great deal. Not all of the losses and damages you endure will necessarily be due to your physical injuries, — although thos may be extensive as well.

For many victims of car wrecks, the economic damage is what wreaks the most havoc in their lives. Not being able to return to work for extended periods of time takes a toll on most people's finances. It can be easy to run through any emergency funds within the first weeks after the accident. That's if there were any rainly-day funds to tap, as many individuals and families live paycheck to paycheck.

How to avoid a drunk driving charge in Colorado on New Year's

On behalf of James L. Finegan, P.C. posted in dui on Friday, December 27, 2019.

2020 is almost here -- and, for many folks, that means celebrating the night away with your friends and family. Wine, beer and liquor will probably be flowing freely wherever you go, however, so plan ahead to avoid a drunk driving charge.

Here are some of your options:

Some kinds of spinal injuries get better, but others don't

On behalf of James L. Finegan, P.C. on Tuesday, December 17, 2019.

The average car accident is nothing more than a fender bender that may produce some minor bruising or soft tissue injuries among the individuals in the vehicles but no lasting medical consequences. Still, every day in Colorado, dozens of people suffer noteworthy injuries in motor vehicle collisions.

Some of the most severe injuries people can suffer in a crash include traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. Given that your brain controls every aspect of who you are and what you do, and that your spine communicates your brain's intentions to the rest of your body, damage to either of these parts of your body can produce lasting symptoms and consequences.

Fighting a DUI charge as a commercial driver

On behalf of James L. Finegan, P.C. posted in CDL DUI Defense on Friday, December 13, 2019.

Driving under the influence (DUI) charges are always serious -- but that goes doubly so if you happen to be a commercial driver. Your commercial driver's license (CDL) and entire career could be over with a conviction.

Drivers with their CDL are held to higher safety standards than drivers with a regular license simply because commercial vehicles can cause devastating accidents so much more easily. If you're driving your rig, you're automatically considered "under the influence" when your blood alcohol content (BAC) is .04% -- or half of what it takes to be officially inebriated if you have a regular license. Refuse to submit to a BAC test, and it's the same as pleading guilty to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Suffered an injury in a crash? Here's why you need an attorney

On behalf of James L. Finegan, P.C. on Wednesday, December 11, 2019.

One thing that people may not understand is just how important it is to work with an attorney after you've been involved in a collision. Why work with an attorney? There are many reasons. Some include:

Having someone on your side who is familiar with the laws regarding personal injury claims in your state
Having someone who can negotiate on your behalf, so you can focus on your recovery instead of fighting with insurance companies or adjusters
Having representation if you have to take your case to court

Your personal injury attorney helps by giving you the best opportunity to settle your case for a fair amount of compensation. They can help you obtain compensation for many losses and impacts such as:

Reasonable medical expenses
Emotional distress
Pain and suffering
Loss of wages/an inability to earn in the future
Loss of consortium or companionship

Driving while tired makes commercial truckers more dangerous

On behalf of James L. Finegan, P.C. on Monday, December 2, 2019.

If you've ever had to get behind the wheel after a long, stressful day, you likely know how difficult it can be to drive safely while feeling fatigued. The best option for everyone's safety is to stay off the road if you aren't capable of your optimal performance. Unfortunately, particularly for people who drive for a living, staying off the streets because they feel tired simply won't be an option.

Commercial truck drivers often have to work incredibly long hours on strict schedules in order to support themselves and their loved ones. Still, truck drivers are human like everyone else, which means that they are as susceptible to exhaustion and the negative consequences fatigue can have on driving skill. Needing to drive while tired could increase the risk a trucker has of causing a crash.

Facial injuries can leave victims with permanent injuries

On behalf of James L. Finegan, P.C. posted in Personal Injury on Thursday, November 28, 2019.

Facial fractures -- broken bones anywhere in the face -- are an unfortunate consequence of serious car accidents. Even if an air bag exploded and kept you from further harm, you can end up with facial fractures from the sudden force.

What are the symptoms of a facial fracture?

Concerning side effects of broken bones that you should watch for

On behalf of James L. Finegan, P.C. on Wednesday, November 20, 2019.

Broken bones, which medical professionals call fractures, can occur for a wide range of reasons. Some people, particularly those at or past retirement age, could break a bone by slipping and falling. Broken bones can also occur in automobile accidents, exercise or sporting incidents and many other kinds of traumatic accidents.

Simple fractures involve a single break in the bone, while compound fractures involve a broken bone ripping the skin, becoming exposed to the air and infection. People can also experience complex fractures, such as spiral fractures, where a bone breaks into many pieces. Modern medicine is capable of rebuilding and reinforcing bones in a variety of break scenarios, although some require surgery.

Responsible drinking during Thanksgiving

On behalf of James L. Finegan, P.C. posted in dui on Thursday, November 14, 2019.

Thanksgiving is, traditionally, a time for celebrating the finer things in life with your friends and family -- including a cup or two of "holiday cheer." If you're not careful, however, the drinking can get a little out of control. That can leave you facing unintended consequences -- including hangovers, regrets about your behavior and even a drunk driving charge.

But being responsible with your drinking doesn't have to be a buzzkill. Here are some tips to follow:

Colorado fertility doctor sued for using his own sperm

On behalf of James L. Finegan, P.C. posted in Personal Injury on Friday, November 1, 2019.

When two Colorado sisters sent their genetic testing materials into a DNA testing company, they had no idea what they were about to discover. When the results came back, they found out that their parents had actually sought help from a fertility doctor and used donor sperm.

However, the news that the man they knew as their father wasn't biologically related was just part of the shock. They had numerous half-siblings out there, identified through similar genetic tests with both that company and a competitor. Worse, the tests indicated that their biological father was someone they had occassionally seen around town -- their mother's former fertility doctor.

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