Fort Collins, Colorado, Personal Injury Law Blog

Your old or urban-style helmet may not be as safe as it should be

On behalf of VanMeveren Law Group, P.C. on Friday, February 14, 2020.

Trends in protective headgear for cyclists tend to follow what is popular, not necessarily what is most effective at keeping people safe. However, the whole point of wearing a helmet is your safety, and fashion should be in a distant second place as far as important considerations go when buying safety gear.

Given that many of the worst injuries and a significant number of fatalities on bicycles each year involve cyclists who did not have protected head coverings, you may think that any helmet is better than no helmet. While that may be true, if you're going through the effort to put on a helmet, don't you want to maximize the amount of protection it offers you?

Emergency treatment of a traumatic brain injury is a must

On behalf of VanMeveren Law Group, P.C. on Thursday, January 30, 2020.

Generally, a traumatic brain injury requires immediate medical attention to minimize damage, provide medical stability and improve the likelihood of survival.

Upon presenting at a hospital with a potential traumatic brain injury, your medical team will take steps to stabilize your condition, such as ensuring that you're getting enough oxygen and that your blood pressure is in the normal range.

How to cycle safely on the road

On behalf of VanMeveren Law Group, P.C. on Thursday, January 16, 2020.

In a perfect cycling world, you'd always have access to a bicycle lane. This gives you peace of mind, as you know you and other cyclists are the only ones who should be traveling in this area.

Unfortunately, there are times when you have no choice but to ride alongside motor vehicles on the road.

What if the other driver doesn’t have insurance coverage?

On behalf of VanMeveren Law Group, P.C. on Thursday, January 2, 2020.

Despite the fact that it's illegal in the state of Colorado to operate a motor vehicle without insurance, many people take the risk. They assume they'll never get caught, so they drive without insurance as a means of saving money.

If you're involved in an accident with a driver who doesn't have insurance, it's critical to understand your legal rights and the steps you can take to obtain compensation for your injuries and damages.

Negotiating with an insurance company post-accident

On behalf of VanMeveren Law Group, P.C. on Sunday, December 15, 2019.

In the aftermath of a car accident, it won't be long before you're negotiating with an insurance company. While you think you have a beat on the steps you can take to protect your legal rights, keep in mind that insurance companies have many years of experience settling cases for less than what the victim is owed.

There are a variety of factors to take into consideration when negotiating a final settlement, including the following:

The amount of money a jury may award in the case
How much money it will take to get the case to trial
The risk of taking the case to trial

Hidden brain injuries are common after a car accident

On behalf of VanMeveren Law Group, P.C. on Wednesday, December 4, 2019.

Whether a car accident is a multi-car pileup or just fender-bender, it may still leave the drivers and passengers involved with injuries they don't realize they have. This is particularly true of head injuries, which may happen so quickly that victims don't remember them happening at all. Any sufficient blow to the head can leave a victim with a brain injury, even if there is not bruising, swelling or bleeding from the injury.

Any time that you or someone you love experiences a car accident, whether it seems big or small, it is always wise to seek out a professional medical examination immediately. Many injuries that can occur during car accidents are not painful for hours or days after the accident, and catching them early on can make a victim's recovery less painful, less expensive and may even prevent a serious injury from growing worse.

Can you really settle an injury case without an attorney?

On behalf of VanMeveren Law Group, P.C. on Saturday, November 16, 2019.

No matter how hard you try to avoid trouble, you're always at risk of injury. For example, you could be sitting at a red light minding your business when another vehicle strikes you from behind.

Regardless of the cause of your accident or the injuries sustained, it's critical to receive immediate medical attention. By doing so, you'll better understand your injuries, timeline for making a recovery and long-term prognosis.

The potential for slip-and-fall accidents lurks everywhere

On behalf of VanMeveren Law Group, P.C. on Thursday, October 31, 2019.

You're walking along, minding your business and boom. You find yourself on the ground and in pain.

Your first thought is to get up and assess the situation, but you soon find that it's difficult to move. You've suffered a serious injury, and now it's time to seek immediate treatment.

Bicycle commuting is safer when you follow these tips

On behalf of VanMeveren Law Group, P.C. on Thursday, October 17, 2019.

You've come to realize that commuting to and from work on your bicycle is advantageous for a variety of reasons. From saving money on gas to avoiding rush hour traffic jams, there is no shortage of benefits of bicycle commuting.

No matter how much you enjoy commuting on your bicycle, there's never a good time to put your safety on the back burner. It's critical that you take steps to avoid trouble on the road, such as the following:

Make eye contact with drivers: When you do this, there's no gray area about whether the driver knows you are there. This will enhance your safety, while giving you some peace of mind.
Watch for opening doors: Once a person parks their vehicle, they're likely to open their door at some point. If they do this without checking their mirror, it could put you in a compromising position. Your only options are stopping, swerving out of the way or hitting the door head on. Unfortunately, there are times when you're left with no option but to strike the door.
Beware of turning vehicles: Many bicycle-car accidents occur at an intersection where a driver is turning. If they don't see you driving through the intersection, they could sideswipe you when making the turn.
Understand that pedestrians are dangerous, too: For example, if a jogger darts in front of your bicycle, it could cause you to swerve into traffic or strike them directly.
Use the bicycle lane when available: Any time you have access to a bicycle lane, you should spend your time here. Since vehicles are not permitted, it's the safest place on the road. If there is no bicycle lane, join the flow of traffic as opposing to riding on the shoulder or sidewalk.

School bus safety tips: Discuss these with your children

On behalf of VanMeveren Law Group, P.C. on Friday, October 4, 2019.

It doesn't matter if your children wait at the school bus stop on their own or by your side, it's critical to follow a variety of safety tips to help prevent a serious accident.

Here are four safety tips that all children, regardless of age, should follow when waiting at a school bus stop:

Remain visible: It's imperative to remain visible to the bus driver at all times. If a bus driver doesn't see a child, they don't know that they're in the area. This greatly increases the risk of an accident. As a general rule of thumb, your child should stand a minimum of three feet away from the road until the bus stops.
Wait for the cue from the bus driver: Even though your children may be excited about hopping on the bus, they shouldn't head for the door until the bus driver gives them the "all clear."
Take caution when crossing the street: Many school bus stop accidents happen when crossing the street, either before getting on the bus or after getting off. For instance, when your child gets off the bus, they should do the following: Make eye contact with the driver, move a minimum of five feet in front of the bus and then wait for the driver to tell them to cross.
Listen to the bus driver: Since you're not on the bus with your children, it's up to them to listen to the bus driver. Neglecting to do so, such as standing up while the bus is in motion increases the likelihood of an accident.