James L. Finegan, P.C. | Lakewood Colorado Legal Blog

Tips to help prevent drowsy driving on your next summer road trip

On behalf of James L. Finegan, P.C. on Monday, June 24, 2019.

Drowsy driving contributed to about 800 deaths in 2017, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It is not clear how many of those deaths involved people on vacation. However, road trips can involve conditions that may increase your chance of being in a drowsy driving collision.

Road trips often involve much more time behind the wheel than you may be used to. The roads you travel can be boring. You may be tempted to leave early in the morning to avoid traffic. You may also take few breaks and drive through the night to get to your destination sooner. However, these factors can cause fatigue, which can reduce your reaction times, your ability to sustain attention and your awareness of hazards.

Is legal marijuana making the roads more dangerous?

On behalf of James L. Finegan, P.C. posted in auto accidents on Wednesday, June 12, 2019.

Drunk driving has been a major problem on the nation's highways for decades -- although there are signs that the message that drunk driving is dangerous is finally getting through to many. However, motorists may now have to contend with another problem that is distinctly related to the changing legal status of marijuana: drivers who are too stoned to be behind the wheel.

Researchers say that the legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado is directly tied to the rising number of car accidents and injuries in the state. According to the latest studies, your odds of being in a car accident in Colorado have jumped 10% since marijuana became legal.

Contacted by Traffic Investigations in Colorado? Contact us next

On behalf of James L. Finegan, P.C. posted in traffic violations on Friday, May 31, 2019.

Have you received a letter or phone call from a Traffic Investigations Unit or another police department?If so, it's important to understand that this means that you are under investigation -- quite likely regarding a "hit and run."

A hit-and-run accident doesn't have to be dramatic and cause extensive injuries to end up causing you significant legal problems. For example, maybe you accidentally tapped someone's bumper pulling out of a parking lot, and there was no visible damage, so you didn't think anything about driving off. Or, you may have somehow tapped a pedestrian or bicyclist without even realizing that you hit anyone -- especially if it was dark.

Colorado teen faces charges of vehicular homicide, assault

On behalf of James L. Finegan, P.C. posted in dui on Thursday, May 16, 2019.

Colorado is notoriously fierce with its drunk driving laws. Even a first-time conviction can easily lead to a long license suspension and an ignition interlock device on your car. However, one Colorado teen is facing even more serious charges following what police believe is an alcohol-related wreck.

The 18-year-old resident of Carbondale was driving with four passengers in his 2015 Mercedes C-300 when he lost control of the vehicle and rolled it over around 11:45 on May 3. Two teenagers in the car were ejected during the wreck, and one -- a junior at a local high school -- died. The other teen who was ejected suffered serious injuries and was transported to a Glenwood Springs hospital. The teenage driver and his other two passengers were also injured, but their injuries were deemed minor.

Marijuana and driving: Your questions answered

On behalf of James L. Finegan, P.C. on Thursday, May 16, 2019.

We all know that it’s illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol. A DUI conviction carries with it severe penalties. But since the legalization of marijuana in Colorado is more recent, some people might be unsure how the law applies to driving while under the influence on cannabis.

While the laws regarding driving under the influence of marijuana are similar to the laws about driving under the influence of alcohol, there are some specifics you should know.

Drive safely this summer

On behalf of James L. Finegan, P.C. on Thursday, May 16, 2019.

We may think of winter as the only season in which we need to exercise caution while driving – snow, ice and sleet are all obvious hazards. But Americans drive more during the summer months, and there are more motorists on the road. Summer driving comes with its own set of challenges, but following a few easy tips will keep you safe.

How much will a DUI cost me?

On behalf of James L. Finegan, P.C. on Thursday, May 9, 2019.

Although people do not always realize it, there is a great financial expense associated with a driving under the influence offense (DUI). As a penalty for your first DUI conviction, you could be required to pay between $600 and $1,000 in fines in addition to receiving other penalties, such as community service and jail time.

However, you will not receive just one simple fine. Instead, there are numerous hidden fines, fees and surcharges that add up in the five years following your DUI offense.

Hot-car deaths rise in summer months

On behalf of James L. Finegan, P.C. on Tuesday, May 7, 2019.

Early May marked a tragic milestone: 800 children have died in hot cars since 1998. Four-year-old Riley Taylor died on May 4 after his father left him in a parked SUV while he worked an event in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota.

Even though Riley’s father left the window cracked and the temperature never got above 70 degrees, stories like Riley’s are tragically common. In 2018, 52 children died in hot cars, the most of any year on record.

Colorado inmate wins injury suit in excessive force case

On behalf of James L. Finegan, P.C. posted in Personal Injury on Monday, April 29, 2019.

The Colorado Department of Corrections has agreed to pay $200,000 to an inmate who suffered a fractured skull and facial injuries after a prison guard used excessive force on him in a 2014 incident.

The incident was captured on video by a security camera. The prison guard purposefully jerked the prisoner's leg chain, propelling him forward onto a concrete floor inside a cell at the Centennial Correctional Facility. The inmate was being transferred from one location to another at the time.

Be wary of speed traps in Colorado towns

On behalf of James L. Finegan, P.C. posted in traffic violations on Thursday, April 18, 2019.

Have you been pulled over and ticketed for exceeding the speed limit in what you felt like was nothing more than a speed trap in a Colorado town?

You may be right.

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