Denver Workers' Compensation Lawyer: Mack Babcock

(303) 683-5033 FREE CONSULT 4600 S Ulster St.
Suite 800, Denver CO 80237
  • Our Firm
    • Our Mission
    • Injury Attorney Profiles
    • How Representation Works
  • Practice Areas
    • Workers’ Compensation / Work Injuries
    • Car Accidents
    • Truck Accidents
    • Motorcycle Accidents
    • Drunk Driving Accidents
    • Pedestrian Accidents
    • Injured Truckers and Cab Drivers
    • Slip and Falls (Premises Liability)
    • Insurance Disputes
    • Wrongful Death
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Resources
    • Legal Library
    • Workers’ Compensation Guide
    • Scholarships
  • Locations
  • Contact
Personal Injury Attorneys (Home) › Attorney Blog › Auto Accidents › Distracted Driving Fueling the Rise in Auto-Pedestrian Accidents, Says Denver Police

Distracted Driving Fueling the Rise in Auto-Pedestrian Accidents, Says Denver Police

August 8, 2013

So far, 2013 has proven to be a bad year for Denver pedestrians.

According to a statistic released by the Denver and Aurora Police Departments, the number of auto-pedestrian accidents in Denver rocketed in the first couple months of this year, jumping from the previous two year average of 31 incidents a month, to an unprecedented 44 a month for January and February each. And not only that, the number of hit and run cases has nearly doubled since 2011.

So why the sudden spike in auto-pedestrian accidents?

Of course there are the usual suspects—drugs and alcohol. But Denver law enforcement also believes the growing problem of distracted driving is putting pedestrians at more risk than ever before.

In a Denver Post article, Lt. Matt Murray, chief of staff to Denver Police Chief Robert White, told reporters, “It’s not just a police problem; it’s a city problem. And the city has to work on a solution.”

And it’s not just inattentive drivers that are being blamed for auto-pedestrian accidents. Walkers, too, are often absorbed in the very same handheld devices that distract drivers. That combination—as the city of Denver is witnessing—can be lethal.

“We have more distracted walkers and drivers checking their text messages and e-mails,” said Lt. Robert Rock, Denver’s head traffic investigator. “People are just not paying attention.”

Yet another hit and run pedestrian incident was added to this year’s already above average count last Wednesday (July 31st) when the driver of a vehicle jumped a curb, striking three people waiting at a bus stop near City Park. The incident report said one of the victims suffered a serious leg injury. Fortunately, there were no fatalities. The identity of the driver is still unknown.

Although this recent spike has traffic safety officials scrambling for a preventative strategy, the danger of car vs. pedestrian encounters has been an ongoing problem for the city of Denver and Colorado in general. For the past decade, an estimated 1,600 walkers and cyclists have been struck by vehicles each year in city limits, and Denver ranks 29th on the list of most dangerous large metro areas for pedestrians in the country, based on a survey by Transportation for America.

Obviously, a change is in order to protect pedestrians from distracted driving.

Jennifer Albo knows all-too-well the dangers of distracted driving. Her brother Timothy was struck by a vehicle near Coors Field, and the driver fled the scene. Two years later, Timothy continues to suffer from brain injury.

“It’s unfathomable what people do behind the wheel every day—they eat, they text, they talk on the phone, they hand sodas to the back seat,” says Jennifer. “Every time they’re not paying attention they’re taking the opportunity to ruin someone’s life.”

Rather than adding to our city’s growing distracted driving problem, become apart of Denver’s solution to auto-pedestrian safety by being attentive behind the wheel. And if you or a loved one have been struck by a vehicle while walking, contact a Colorado pedestrian accident attorney immediately.

Filed Under: Auto Accidents Tagged With: accidents, car accidents, distracted driving, pedestrian accidents, preventing injury

5-star review image
Dedicated; Amazing; Personal; Professional; Law Firm
Workers Compensation  |  Westminster
Retained for representation after injured worker put at maximum medical improvement with no impairment. Pursued a favorable Division Independent Medical Evaluation (DIME) and obtained a financial settlement for client.
2016-07-09
"Professional,dedicated & go above & beyond.Take the time to make sure you understand.Go over the routes you ..."
Beth, Verified Customer
5-star review image
BEST DECISION I EVER MADE.
Workers Compensation  |  Durango
Retained for denied low back injury and negotiated settlement for injured worker.
2018-03-25
"After being turned down by over 25 other law firms, I was referred to Babcock Law. Stephanie Tucker listened ..."
D.wood, Verified Customer
5-star review image
Review
Workers Compensation  |  Aurora
Retained following a Final Admission of Liability with 0% impairment. Negotiated settlement for injured worker.
2017-10-13
"Babcock Law firm settled my case in a very timely manner. The attorney I worked with and the ..."
Barb, Verified Customer
Related Articles From our Knowledge Center
Car Accident
When an Accident Occurs
  • What You Need to Know about Bus Accidents
  • Car Accidents Overview
  • What to Do After a Car Accident
Filing a Claim & Obtaining Compensation
  • How Injured Passengers Can Receive Compensation After a Car Accident
  • Common Arguments Used by Auto Accident Defendants
  • Taxi Cab and Ridesharing Accidents: How You Could End Up with Little to No Compensation
Car Accident Info & Prevention
  • Head Injuries and Car Accidents
  • Don’t Drive Drowsy! Tips for Staying Awake Behind the Wheel
  • Parking Lots – A Magnet for Car Accidents
(PDF) Colorado Car Accident Guide
View All Car Accident Articles

Blog Categories

  • Auto Accidents
  • Community
  • DUI/DWAI
  • Firm News
  • General
  • Insurance Disputes
  • Personal Injury
  • Premises Liability
  • Preventing Injury
  • Product/Safety Recalls
  • Workers' Compensation
  • Wrongful Death

Personal Injury
Practice Areas

Car Accidents Truck Accidents Motorcycle Accidents Drunk Driving Accidents Pedestrian Accidents Workers' Comp / Work Injuries Injured Truckers / Cab Drivers Slip & Falls (Premises Liability) Insurance Disputes Wrongful Death

Resources

Blog Contact Us Legal Library Workers' Compensation Guide Firm News
Association Badges
Association Badges
(303) 683-5033
The Babcock Law Firm
Denver Workers' Compensation Lawyer and Personal Injury Attorney Mack Babcock
4600 S Ulster Street, Suite 800 Denver, CO 80237 United States

Personal injury
practice areas

  • Car Accidents
  • Truck Accidents
  • Motorcycle Accidents
  • Drunk Driving Accidents
  • Pedestrian Accidents
  • Workers' Comp / Work Injuries
  • Injured Truckers / Cab Drivers
  • Slip & Falls (Premises Liability)
  • Insurance Disputes
  • Wrongful Death

Resources

  • Blog
  • Legal Library
  • Workers' Compensation Guide
  • Firm News

Free eBooks

  • Colorado Workers' Comp Guide
  • Colorado Car Accident Guide

Our firm

  • Firm Mission
  • Attorney Profiles
  • Practice Areas
  • Contact
  • Knowledge Center

    Facebook    Twitter    Blog

More
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal Disclaimer & Terms of Use
  • Local & Reviews
© The Babcock Law Firm. Colorado law firm for workers' compensation, car accidents & personal injury. Serving all of Colorado and the Denver metro area from our Denver law office law firm internet marketing by SEO Advantage®