Our Denver auto accident lawyer recently learned that a massive project to expand an 18-mile stretch of I-25 that spans from Castle Rock to Monument is coming with a corresponding push to limit accidents between cars and wild animals.
The Colorado Department of Transportation is in the midst of a $350 million project to expand “The Gap,” from two to six lanes. The stretch of road is popular for commuters and other motorists but is also frequented by a wide range of wildlife like deer, sheep, wild turkeys, coyotes, bears, and mountain lions.
Enter a group of government officials, engineers, biologists, and private landowners who have stepped in to try to keep The Gap safe for all walks of life. Led by Douglas County Open Space and Natural Resources, the group is spending about $20 million on efforts to limit car accidents with passing animals.
The plan includes using fencing to keep animals off the road and constructing wildlife underpasses below the interstate. The group is also building escape routes for animals that wind up still wandering onto the road.
The Gap has seen 125 car accidents involving animals over the last two years, according to The Colorado Sun. That includes 76 crashes involving deer, as well as 15 with bears, 10 with mountain lions, and four with hawks, among other species.
“Many people in both local government and the general public questioned why we’d spend money on this,” CDOT environmental manager Chuck Attardo told The Sun. “For the people who were skeptical, we had to phrase this in safety terms. It will pay for itself in 15 years. A lot of people are injured from these crashes. By the end of the environmental assessment, almost everybody supported it.”
Our Denver Auto Accident Lawyer Knows the Legal Rights for People Injured in Car Accidents
Anyone who has been hurt in a car accident in Colorado has the right to seek compensation from those responsible for the crash.
That compensation, which includes money for medical bills and missed wages, is meant to reduce the financial impact of an accident. In the tragic event that a person dies in an accident, his or her loved ones can also seek compensation for wrongful death.
In order to obtain money damages, you generally need to be able to identify those responsible for the accident and use evidence to establish legal liability. You also need to be able to detail the injuries directly caused by the collision and depict the full extent of the financial impact.
Let a Denver Auto Accident Lawyer Help With Your Case
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car crash in Colorado, regardless of whether it involves a wild animal, a Denver auto accident lawyer at Levine Law can help you get the full compensation available.
Our attorneys combine decades of experience helping people injured in accidents get the money they deserve. We have dedicated our careers to helping our neighbors in the community get back on their feet after an accident.
Our firm is pleased to serve clients throughout Colorado, including in Denver, Colorado Springs, Ft. Collins, and Loveland. Call us at 303-333-8000 or contact us online to speak with a Denver auto accident lawyer.
