Three Common Causes of Auto Collisions – VIDEO

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:

These are the three most common accidents that I see in my practice in Colorado, and here are some tips on how to avoid it.

Hi, my name is Scott O’Sullivan of the O’Sullivan Law Firm, and we’re a Colorado personal injury law firm here in Denver, Colorado. And here are some of the things that I see on a regular basis in my practice, and by that I mean my clients come in and tell me what’s happened to them.

The first is–and we see this shockingly quite often–people rolling through or just straight up running stop signs. And that means the defendant or the at-fault driver is not paying attention at all, and just blows through a stop sign. My only advice that I can help you with on this is that if you’re driving in an area like in Denver or in the suburbs, and you’re in an area that has lots of stop signs, just as you approach the intersection be prepared for somebody just to just run it. So just look left, look right, left, whatever way you need to look and just be sort of prepared for it.

The next is people just follow too closely. You know this from driving on I-25 or wherever else. Just always be aware that the person behind you is probably distracted on their phone, is not paying attention, looking at the radio. Either way, not looking at you or the road, and so give yourself that cushion in front of your car so that if you need to stop short you’ve given yourself a little bit of a cushion, so that maybe they’re not gonna hit you from behind.

The third is left-hand turns, and so this is advice for you and also advice for how to be situationally aware if you’re in a situation where you’re in a high traffic area, multiple lanes going in each direction, and there’s a left-hand turn signal or just a left-hand turn. People turn left in front of oncoming traffic all the time. It’s a big percentage of my motorcycle cases and my auto cases. If you have a through lane that seems to be going pretty fast but all the elements are slowed down, just kind of pay attention, look out for that person making a left-hand turn. If you’re the person making the left-hand turn and traffic is slowed except for one of the lanes just wait for the next turn signal. It is not worth it. If the thought in your brain comes that says “I think I could make it!” You cannot make it. Do not do it. It is not worth risking your life or the others in your car.

The one major thing that I should have said up front is get off your freaking phones. It is not worth being on your phone at any time while you’re driving. I’m trying to help pass laws against this. I know that makes some people mad, but it is super important.

If you have any questions, contact us today online or call us at 303-388-5304.