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December 6, 2011
There are many simple things you can do when snow falls to safely get to your destination.
1. You should make sure your car battery is in good shape.
2. Fill up on windshield-washer fluid.
3. Make sure you have an ice scraper with you.
4. Check the tread on your tires..
If tires are nearing the end of their useful life, usually 40,000 to 60,000 miles, consider an “aggressive all-weather tire. ”
Once you’re on the road, slow down, don’t follow too closely.
Driving instructors suggest a 12-second following distance, meaning you can count to 12 between when the driver ahead and you pass the same point along the road, as opposed to 3 seconds for dry conditions.
If roads are in really bad shape, stay home, if you can. If you must go out, make sure someone at your destination knows you are coming.
So, what should you do to not slide off the road or into the car in front of you?
The loss of control in a slide can be shocking, and many drivers’ first reaction is to slam on the brakes. That is wrong.
That’s the worst thing you can do. Most people make the mistake of slamming their brakes on and your car becomes a huge sled. You have no control of it whatsoever.
If you are sliding, don’t step on the brake or accelerator. Take a deep breath, look in the direction you need to go and steer that direction. Your tires will regain their grip.
If you slide off the road in a snowstorm and get stuck, stay in your car and call for help unless there’s a warm and safe place immediately nearby.
And the most important winter-driving tool: patience.
Understand it’s going to take you a lot longer to get there. Take your time. Don’t be in a hurry.
WINTER WEATHER DRIVING RESOURCES
• cotrip.org: The Colorado Department of Transportation’s website has constantly-updated road conditions for every state and federal highway and numerous webcams.
• 511: Call this number for CDOT’s road conditions phone hotline, which offers general information on conditions and closures.
If you have been injured in an auto accident please call Doehling Law for your free consultation:
(970) 241-9370
September 19, 2010
The Governor’s Highway Safety Administration reports that there were over 4,700 motorcycle accident fatalities in 2009, noting the first time in 12 years that the number of fatalities has declined. In Colorado, the number of deaths decreased as well, down over 10 percent from the 2008 high of 98.
A recent report by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) states that there are nearly 175,000 registered motorcycles in the state. With more and more motorcyclist on the road, it is important for riders and drivers of other vehicles alike to take notice and help the number of accidents and fatalities continue the downward trend.
Staying Safe
Though experts recommend wearing proper protective gear while riding, including gloves, eye protection and a jacket, perhaps the best way to protect yourself is to wear a properly fitting helmet. In Colorado, the CDOT statistics note that two-thirds of those killed in motorcycle accidents during 2009 were not wearing helmets. Nationally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) estimates that wearing a helmet can reduce motorcycle accident fatalities by up to 37 percent.
Though lack of head protection is a major factor in motorcycle related deaths, the use of helmets by riders has been consistently on the rise. The NHTSA estimates that in 2009, 67 percent of riders were wearing a helmet, up from 48 percent in 2005.
The other major contributing factor in motorcycle fatalities is the use of alcohol. As with the operation of any motor vehicle, you should avoid using alcohol if you plan on riding. The CDOT reports that 40 percent of all motorcycle accident deaths involved alcohol use by the operator last year, up 6 percent from 2008.
Increasing Awareness for Drivers of Cars and Other Vehicles
The insurance company Allstate has released a list of motorcycle safety tips for drivers of motor vehicles to keep in mind when sharing the road with motorcycles. The tips note that the main reason motorcyclists crash is because drivers of cars and other vehicles do not see them. Because motorcycles are smaller, they can easily disappear in blind spots and be closer in mirrors than they appear.
Giving motorcyclists enough room is also emphasized by Allstate. Bikers will often slow down by downshifting instead of using their brakes, meaning that drivers behind motorcycles may not see brakes lights as the rider slows down. Also, it is difficult for bikers to slow down or stop quickly on wet roads. Allowing more following distance in wet or slippery conditions can help save lives.
The company notes that 80 percent of motorcycle accidents will result in death or some form of injury, as riders lack the protection of a car and its safety devices like airbags and seat belts. It is important for all riders and drivers to be more aware and safely share the road during the peak riding season.
Article provided by Gary Doehling Personal Injury Law Firm, P.C.
Please visit us at www.doehlinglaw.com
A Mesa woman was killed this morning after rolling her sport-utility vehicle, injuring two others.
The Colorado State Patrol said Courtni J. Bieser, 23, was driving east on County Road 330E, approximately 22 miles east of Collbran, when her 1996 Nissan Pathfinder lost control on a curve, went off the road and rolled multiple times down an embankment about 50 feet from the road. Bieser, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. The accident was reported just after midnight.
A front seat passenger, Joseph Bieser, 22, of Mesa, was wearing a seat belt and was treated at the scene for minor injuries, troopers said. Hannah Etcheverry, 18, of Collbran, was riding unrestrained in the back seat and was ejected. She was taken to Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs reportedly in stable condition.
If you had benn injured in an accident you are welcome to contact Gary Doehling Personal Injury Law Firm, P.C. at (970) 241-9370.
Four people were injured, one seriously, on Friday when a helicopter crashed while filming an Audi test on Pikes Peak, west of Colorado Springs, Colo. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Department and the National Transportation Safety Board were investigating the cause of the accident, which occurred about a mile below the 14,110-foot summit.
An Audi spokesman, Brad Stertz, said, “The film crew was shooting a test run of the ‘Autonomous Audi TTS Pikes Peak,’ a joint program involving Audi, the Electronic Research Laboratory in Palo Alto, Calif., and Stanford University. The goal of the project involves ascending Pikes Peak autonomously without a driver behind the wheel to demonstrate the capabilities of advanced driver assistance systems and GPS.”
In a telephone interview from the summit late Friday, Mr. Stertz said the pilot, whose name was not immediately released, suffered the most serious injuries and was airlifted to a hospital where his condition was stabilized and subsequently listed in “good” condition. The three passengers had mostly minor injuries, and did not require hospitalization, he added.
Audi announced that the research program had been temporarily suspended, but would resume at an undetermined future date. The car was not involved in the incident, which happened “some distance” behind the car, Mr. Stertz said. Although he did not know the cause of the crash, he said weather was not a factor.
The higher the altitude, and the thinner the air, the more difficult it is to operate a helicopter; in most situations, helicopters need special clearance and must carry supplemental oxygen on board to fly above 10,000 feet. Stalling becomes a greater danger when hovering, or attempting to fly at very low speeds, like when filming a car negotiating the mountain’s zig-zag highway.
The summit of Pikes Peak has been the scene of many helicopter accidents, especially in connection with the annual hill climb race held on the mountain each summer.
Audi is a past winner and record-holder in the hill climb event, but Mr. Stertz said the TTS film project did not involve high-speed operation.
If you had been injured in an accident you may contact Gary Doehling Personal Injury Law Firm, P.C. for your free consultation at (970) 241-9370.
July 28, 2010
Gary Doehling P.C. a personal injury law firm will be opening a new office in the Aspen, CO area September 1, 2010. Attorney Gary Doehling has been practicing law for over 27 years and has the experience to help you pursue auto and motorcycle related injuries.
You are invited to call Mr. Doehling at 970-241-9370 for your free consultation.
February 16, 2009
It can be quite nerve racking when driving after hours or knowing that your children are out and about when other people fail to limit their drinking and worse, get behind the steering wheel of a car after doing so. The Gary Doehling Personal Injury Law Firm P.C. encourages all persons to avoid drinking and driving and to prevent others who you know have been drinking from driving.
The newspapers in Grand Junction, Montrose, Durango, Steamboat Springs, Glenwood Springs, Carbondale and Aspen all have endless stories of persons killed or seriously injured because of a drunk driver. Gary Doehling Personal Injury Law Firm sues drunk drivers. Attorney Gary Doehling helps those who have been injured or suffered the death of a loved one because of a drunk driver .
Call Attorney Gary Doehling toll free 866-941-9370 if you have been injured or suffered the loss of a loved one because of a drunk driver.
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The Gary Doehling Personal Injury Law Firm, P.C. handles the following types of cases: Automobile Accidents, Oil Field Accidents, Spinal Cord Injuries, Wrongful Death, Nursing Home Negligence, Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Lead Paint Exposure, Toxic Molds, Medical Malpractice, Insurance Bad Faith Claims, Airplane Accidents, Dog Bites, Drunk Drivers, Large Truck Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, School Bus Accidents, and Slip & Fall Accidents.
The Gary Doehling Personal Injury Law Firm, P.C. serves the following areas: Western Colorado, Eastern Utah, Grand Junction, Montrose, Glenwood Springs, Aspen, Delta, Hermosa, Western Slope, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Garfield, Ouray, San Miguel, Dolores, Montezuma, La Plata, San Juan, Daggett, Uintah, Grand.
The legal information offered by The Gary Doehling Personal Injury Law Firm and contained herein, regarding Colorado or Utah legal statutes and Colorado or Utah claimants' rights, is general in scope. No legal attorney / client relationship with our attorneys is hereby formed nor is the information herein intended as formal legal advice. Please contact a Colorado or Utah lawyer regarding your specific inquiry.See Terms of Use.
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