This series is in support of exchanging the word ‘accident’ with ‘car crash’ when referring to automobile accidents. In the second and final part of the series, attention is paid to ‘accident’ language and why it has created a dismissive approach to the increase in car crash fatalities.
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Grassroots campaigns led by nonprofits and safety advocates have begun efforts aimed at automobile drivers, laws, and reporting in this country to remove the word ‘accident’ from the popular lexicon when describing a car crash. They believe that people have become too complacent and there is a general sense of apathy surrounding car crashes. Last year car crash fatalities rose 8% over 2014, killing 38,000 people.  READ MORE...

As winter comes to an end and spring 2017 commences, a rise in damages to Colorado Springs roadways begins to emerge. Many factors contribute to the poor condition of Colorado Springs roadways. Poor maintenance and extreme weather conditions are two such examples. The damage to your vehicle can run from several hundred dollars to over a thousand dollars. Who is responsible for repairing damages caused by hazardous road conditions? Can you be sued if a hazardous road condition leads to an auto accident between your car and another vehicle?   READ MORE...

Once parental responsibilities are established, a change generally only occurs if there is a material change in circumstance with the children or the custodial parent or with the parents’ consent, and the proposed change is in the best interest of the children. Sometimes, a parent may disavow his or her children, disappear from their lives for a period of time, and then try to reestablish contact to become a parent once more at a later date. Many courts do not like this behavior because of the emotional impact and lasting effect the abandonment has on the children.  READ MORE...

Arson crimes are on the rise in the state of Colorado. Just last year, a body was recovered from a burned RV parked outside of a church in Pueblo. In addition to aggressively prosecuting arson cases, the state of Colorado has created a specialized unit, the Insurance Fraud Unit, which goes after people that commit arson to receive insurance claim proceeds. The following post examines arson crimes in Colorado and why insurance fraud cases are pursued so aggressively in Colorado Springs.  READ MORE...

The use of deadly force by police officers in cities all over the United States has been a hot topic since last year. In 2015 alone, according to The Guardian newspaper, 1,134 people were killed by police. A disproportionate amount of the dead are young, unarmed, African-American males. When the incidents are investigated, many feel the use of deadly force was unnecessary to apprehend the suspect. Others feel the police officer had reason to believe his or her own life was in danger, necessitating the use of deadly force.
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Individuals contemplating divorce often feel it is time to move on but are unable to do so because they may not be able to survive financially. Instead, these couples live separately but remain married, counting on the other party’s benevolence to protect and preserve marital assets. If the objection to the divorce is religion-based (i.e. your faith does not recognize a divorce) some couples feel this voluntary married-but-separated arrangement keeps them within the confines of their religion without addressing the elephant in the room. If money is a concern prior to filing for divorce, it will only grow if the parties separate without legal protections.
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In our last post we explored strategies and tips on how to deal with an ex who takes an extreme position during divorce or family law proceedings. The first tip provided was to have realistic expectations. In this next installment, we will outline additional tips to help you navigate roadblocks to settlements in divorce and family law proceedings. If the parties cannot agree to a settlement of their disagreement among themselves or with their lawyers, the dispute will be decided by a judge in the divorce or family law proceeding. There are many court supported mediation programs available to litigants in Colorado. Consult a divorce or family law attorney for the options available in your situation. The analogy that I often use is that you and your ex can sit down and take things apart with a scalpel, as precise as you’d like; or, you can let the judge take an ax to it.  READ MORE...

The state of Colorado has two alcohol related driving offenses distinguishable and charged by the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of the drunk or impaired driving suspect. They are driving while ability impaired (DWAI) and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI).  READ MORE...

As tempting as it may seem, electronic spousal spying during the pendency of a divorce or separation proceeding is fraught with landmines. It is best to avoid the behavior because the consequences of being caught electronically spying on your spouse is not worth the hassle. Keep in mind that if you are involved in divorce or separation proceedings, financial disclosure rules provide you with legal access to any and all electronic files and data maintained or used by your spouse, in support of your position in the underlying matrimonial action. Even if you suspect your spouse of hiding or destroying electronic evidence, the Court will most often assist you in obtaining the information through legal channels.  READ MORE...