The Law Blog of Ciancio Ciancio Brown, P.C.

We have all heard the public service announcements about distracted driving. Yet despite the focus placed on preventing texting and driving, it appears that people may be on their phones more than ever.

According to a 100-billion mile data study compiled by Zendrive, a data analytics company, approximately 69 million drivers use their cellphone while driving every day. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 660,000 drivers use their cell phone every day.

That's a large discrepancy. It is possible more people are driving distracted than anyone has realized. Keep in mind that even if federal estimates are more accurate, that still poses a terrible risk on the road. 

When many people think of ATVs, they picture an off-road environment. While it is true that these types of vehicles are most frequently used for such purposes, whether the driver is working on a farm, hunting, or exploring the wilderness, there are times when some ATV operators find themselves on the road. Unfortunately, those driving these types of vehicles are especially vulnerable with respect to motor vehicle collisions. When someone driving an ATV is struck by a larger vehicle, they may lose their life or sustain devastating injuries.

Although many people do not associate ATVs with public roads, there are many instances where such a vehicle may be found alongside or directly on a road. For example, someone who lives in a rural area may drive an ATV to make their way down a quiet back road. Or, someone might drive an ATV on the shoulder of a road in a suburban area because their vehicle broke down. Even when ATVs are used in off-road environments, the operator may need to cross a road at some point, which can lead to an accident, especially if they cross in an area with heavy traffic or a bend in the road.

Any type of traffic accident has the potential to cause serious injuries or even the loss of life, but some, such as pedestrian accidents, can be especially devastating. When pedestrians are hit by vehicles traveling at high speeds, they are particularly likely to sustain an injury or pass away. After all, a pedestrian is especially vulnerable with regard to the impact of a vehicle. If you or a loved one regularly walk or jog alongside the road, it is important for you to be aware of some of the times of day and times of the week when a pedestrian accident may be more likely.

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration has provided useful information on pedestrian accidents in 2010. According to the NHTSA, most pedestrians were killed in an accident between 6 PM and 9 PM. Throughout 2010, more than 1,000 pedestrians lost their lives during this time frame, accounting for 24.3 percent of pedestrian fatalities. However, most pedestrian injuries during 2010 took place between the hours of 3 PM and 6 PM. In 2010, 18,000 pedestrians were hurt during this time.

A contentious law passed in 2016 allows grocery stores in Colorado to sell full-strength beer at stores in more than one location beginning in 2019. It also allowed stores that currently only sell 3.2 beer to begin selling full-strength beer at the same time.

Previously, neither grocers nor liquor stores could obtain a license to open more than one location that sold full-strength beer.