The Denver Post recently wrote a story about Colorado drunk driving multiple offenders who finally kill someone before they are held accountable for their crimes. One multiple offender was actually picked up for a DUI the day after he was booked and released after he ran a red light and killed a woman.

One of these multiple offenders, Richard Strock, was arrested 18 times for drunken driving, 5 times for hit-and-run charges and served time in prison before he got behind the wheel while intoxicated for the 19th time and killed his ex-wife Phyllis “Patricia” Trujillo Strock.

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More and more motorcycles are on our Colorado roads, and in fact, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), motorcycle registration has jumped from 89,897 in 1994 to 173,873 in 2008. That means that in 14 years the number of motorcycles on our roads has nearly doubled. And with this increase in the number of people who are driving motorcycles comes an increase in the number of fatalities related to motorcycle accidents.

CDOT also advises that last year, 98 passengers and riders were killed in motorcycle accidents in Colorado. This, sadly, is the highest number of reported motorcycle related deaths in Colorado history. Another interesting statistic pointed out by CDOT is that in 2008, motorcycle deaths represent 18 percent of the total 548 traffic deaths in Colorado, but motorcycles only represent 3 percent of the registered vehicles in Colorado.

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It’s summertime, a kid’s favorite time of year. They have all day for fun and outdoor activities. And how many times have we, as parents said, “it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt?” But, what if the toys, we as well-meaning adults are giving our children are unsafe.

Some of their favorite toys, like the Marshmallow Blaster, Aqua Bomb, Toypedo and the HydraPak all made World Against Toys Causing Harm’s (W.A.T.C.H.) 2009 list of unsafe summertime toys.

W.A.T.C.H. held its annual “Safe Fun in the Sun” conference recently to increase awareness about the every day dangers that our children face in their every day outdoor activities. W.A.T.C.H. is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about life-threatening toys and other children’s products, including children’s furniture, clothing and playground equipment.

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Bicycle riding is becoming more popular that ever. Rising gas prices have many leaving their cars at home and riding their bicycles to work and to run errands. Many are turning to bicycles for the health benefits and to reduce pollution. Bicycle riding is easy, relaxing and fun and it’s something everybody can do.

As one of the consequences of the popularity of bike riding, residents of Deer Creek Canyon are frustrated by bicyclists riding through their neighborhood and are trying to block a charity bike race scheduled for this fall. Residents of this scenic canyon south of Morrison are frustrated with the hundreds of cyclists already riding through the canyon and are concerned that this bike race will escalate the problems.

There are safety issues concerning the busy, narrow, winding roads. Neighbors and motorists complain that cyclists are relieving themselves on private property, riding too fast down hills and refusing to ride in single file, making it difficult for cars to pass.

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A new law to make products safer for our children may place them in a different, yet greater danger.

In February of this year the Consumer Protections Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) went into effect to ensure that products manufactured for children 12 years of age and younger are safe from lead contamination. This new law mandates that any product which includes toys, books, clothing, bicycles, off-road youth motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), have a lead content that is no more than 600 parts per million by weight.

While this law seems to make sense and is a positive step in protecting children from lead poisoning, the Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC) may have over-reacted in the case of off-road youth motorcycles and ATVs. The CPSC included the lead levels of all components including the engine, suspension, battery, brakes and other mechanical parts which young riders will never have contact with, let alone put in their mouths.

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Our beautiful state of Colorado offers a ton of great activities for children all summer long. We’ve rounded up 14 free activities for your kids to enjoy that depart from the usual list of parades and summer camps. Many are educational, and several showcase Colorado’s awe-inspiring natural beauty and heritage. You’ll find here information on location, operating hours, a phone number (where applicable) and website for more information. Best of all, they’re free, so your children can have fun in places like Colorado Springs, Beaver Creek, Fort Collins and Boulder without it busting your pocketbook.

1. 1. Beaver Creek Children’s Museum

   Why your kids will like it: Special activities including star gazing and visits from Smokey the Bear, as well as exhibits like “Professor Quackenbush’s Workshop” (an interactive zone filled with building and construction themed activities) and “The Computer Zone” offer options for youngsters and tweens.
   Location: 120 Offerson Road, Beaver Creek, Colorado 81620 (next to the Beaver Creek Hiking Center).
   See map
   Hours: Starting early July through early September: Wednesday-Sunday, 10:00am - 4:00pm
   Contact information: (970) 926-5855 or info@bluecreek.com
   Activity Website: Beaver Creek Children’s Museum

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Sometimes statistics are interesting…how many hours the average person sleeps in their lifetime, how much peanut butter the average American eats, or how many people drink and drive. Some statistics are horrifying, like the number of times some people have been arrested for driving while intoxicated before they kill someone. That statistic for Richard Strock is 18. Richard Strock has been arrested 18 times for driving drunk before he killed his ex-wife in a drunken driving crash in 2006. In 27 years, Strock has collected an astounding 18 drunken driving arrests and five hit-and-run charges.

The Denver Post recently examined 195 DUI crashes that involved a death since 2005 and found that at least 30 percent of the drunk drivers involved had multiple DUI arrests before they finally killed someone. That’s 58 deaths cased by a repeat offender.

Read the rest of A License to Kill? Drunk Drivers Keep On Drinking and Driving.

As a personal injury law firm we’ve seen the consequences of crashes caused by drivers who were distracted either texting or talking on their cell phones (or eating, or putting on their make-up or even reading…yes reading, I’ve seen it with my own eyes!), this law seems like a good idea. But, some feel this law doesn’t go far enough.

The new law which takes effect December 1, 2009 makes it illegal to send text messages, tweets and emails while driving. Those younger than 18 are banned from using a cellphone at all while driving. Your first offense will cost you $50, the second offense will cost you $100.

Read the rest of Governor Ritter Signs Bill Outlawing Texting While Driving in Colorado

Let’s imagine your doctor has diagnosed a serious heart condition that requires a defibrillator to prevent a fatal arrhythmia.

Imagine then, the horror when this life-saving device malfunctions and instead of helping save your life, sends multiple dangerous, life-threatening shocks to your heart and throughout your body. Now your health has been seriously compromised and you face more medical bills due to hospital stays and medications to monitor and repair the damage caused by this malfunctioning medical device.

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Bachus & Schanker has partnered with Guaranteed Recycling Xperts (GRX) in our firm wide, “Third Annual Spring Cleaning E-Waste Recycling Event.”

Beginning Monday, May 11, 2009, Bachus & Schanker will be sponsoring “Electronic Recycling Week” at its Denver and Fort Collins offices. You may bring in your old and non-functioning electronics or “E-waste” and Bachus & Schanker will pay the recycling fee.

You want to be green and think you’re doing the right thing by dropping off your e-waste at a recycling event in your neighborhood. But how do you really know if your old computer monitor, cell phone, blender or TV is truly being recycled in an environmentally safe method? Why can’t you just dump your old electronics in the landfill or put it out with your regular trash?

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