Thursday, December 17, 2009

Bachus & Schanker, LLC Find a Decrease in Colorado Drunk Driving Fatalities

Despite a short-term increase in DUI fatalities, statewide data for Colorado compiled by law firm, Bachus & Schanker, LLC, shows a long-term decrease in alcohol-related fatalities.

Denver, CO (PRWEB) December 17, 2009 -- Bachus and Shanker, LLC, a Colorado injury law firm, has compiled a report that shows a significant long-term decrease in the number of alcohol-related fatalities in the state of Colorado between 2004-2008. While there has been a short term increase of 5% between 2007 to 2008, the firm hopes the trend will revert back to the previous downward trend with a decrease in 2009 and that the findings will help act as a deterrent to those who may consider driving under the influence during the upcoming holiday season.

The report was created using statistics compiled by the Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The purpose of the project was to create a visual depiction of which Colorado counties suffer the most from alcohol-related crashes and fatalities, both over the long- and short-term. The report breaks alcohol-related fatalities, crashes and arrests down by county and displays the findings in both graph and map-form.

Despite a recent short-term increase in drunk driving fatalities state-wide from 2007 to 2008, we were encouraged by the long-term results.
According to the report:
 
  • Weld County was the deadliest county with 91 alcohol-related fatalities, however drunk-driving deaths decreased by 39% over the period 2004 to 2008.
  • The counties of Otero, Park, Grand, Gunnison, Teller, Archuleta, Bent, Conejos, Huerfano and Lake all saw the greatest decrease in alcohol-related fatalities from 2004-2008.
  • Conversely, Garfield, Arapahoe, Las Animas, Moffat and Chaffee saw the largest percent increase in deaths from the same years.
  • Jackson County had the highest fatality rate per 100,000 in 2004, while Hinsdale County had the highest rate in 2007 and San Juan County had the highest rate of fatalities in 2008.

Although there has been a steady increase in the population of Colorado and the rate of drunk driving fatalities has risen in several counties, most counties within the state have seen either no increase or a decrease in the number of alcohol-related fatalities since 2004.

"As a personal injury law firm, we’ve seen the devastating injuries and trauma victims and their families suffer as a result of drunk driving crashes," says Kyle Bachus, founding partner at Bachus & Schanker, LLC. "Despite a recent short-term increase in drunk driving fatalities state-wide from 2007 to 2008, we were encouraged by the long-term results. As MADD Colorado’s 2009 Statewide Sponsor, we are committed to supporting MADD in its mission to make our roadways safer and to eliminate drunk driving throughout Colorado, especially during the holiday season."

Bachus & Schanker, LLC is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm committed to protecting and enforcing the rights of victims injured by the negligence of others. Bachus & Schanker is listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, has achieved the highest rating from Martindale-Hubbell and its founding partners have been named "Colorado Super Lawyers," by Super Lawyers magazine. For more information about accidents in Colorado and these drunk driving statistics visit: http://www.coloradolaw.net/

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[Via Legal / Law]

Posted by prolink at 9:45 AM

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