In Colorado, we love dogs. This is a cautionary tale about why we should all keep our dogs under control and how not doing so could have tragic consequences.
A guest post from Stanley’s sisters Lennie Aucello and Malinka Nyritray
Our eldest brother Stan moved to Denver 12 years ago. Although a native Floridian, he fell in love with Colorado and was so happy living here. Stan was a gentle, kind, and caring man. He was passionate about health, nature and animals, especially dogs. Colorado seemed to offer these things in great abundance, and that is why he called it “home”. He appreciated the beautiful mountain scenery, and truly enjoyed the outdoor sports. Stan liked to ski and hike, but his favorite sport was bicycling. He was an avid cyclist who trained and participated in numerous races, including the grueling “Triple Bypass”. Cycling brought him great enjoyment, and he rode every chance he could get.
It was a beautiful sunny day on April 03, 2016, when Stan went out for his routine weekend bike ride. While heading back from his ride, just a short distance from home, Stan was thrown from his bike after a sudden unexpected encounter with a large dog that ran into the street off leash. Even though Stan was wearing a bicycle helmet and riding at a safe speed, the crash was so intense that he suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. In a split second, his life had changed. Stan never regained consciousness, and he died in the hospital nine days later on April 12, 2016. He was 58 years old and is missed by his family and friends.
We lost our brother too soon in a senseless, painful way because of a loose dog. Dogs off leash can pose a serious danger to cyclists. Stan was never able to tell his story about what happened that day. We can only hope this never happens to another person, so please keep your dogs under the control of a leash at all times when they are outside. Someone’s life may depend on it.
A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
At Bike Law we love dogs, in fact, there is a dog sitting under my feet right now. This article is to be taken as a reminder that safety of fellow cyclists can start with us. Making safe choices when riding, driving or walking our dogs is the right thing to do, but also sets a great example for others.
Colorado bicycle accident lawyer Brian Weiss is an accomplished trial lawyer with over 26 years of experience, and he has tried over 40 jury trials. Aside from having been in a bike crash himself, Brian has counseled over 200 people who have been in bike crashes.
Download and share Brian’s E-Book: The Rules Of The Road For Colorado Cyclists.
