MADD Colorado Announces Bell & Pollock as 2009-2010 Victim Services Sponsor

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Colorado announced Bell & Pollock as its 2009-2010 Victim Services Sponsor. As the Victim Services Sponsor for Colorado, Bell & Pollock will provide crucial support to all of MADD Colorado's Victim Service programs throughout the state.

"Law firms like Bell & Pollock that fight for the rights of victims are critical to the healing process for the hundreds of victim/survivors impacted by alcohol-related injury and fatal traffic crashes in Colorado each year," said Emily Tompkins, State Executive Director of MADD Colorado. "MADD does not endorse individual law firms; however, without the generous support of Colorado donors and sponsors like Bell & Pollock, MADD's lifesaving programs and victim services wouldn't be possible"

"The law firm of Bell & Pollock is proud to be MADD Colorado's 2009-2010 Victim Services Sponsor," says Gary Bell, founding partner at Bell & Pollock, PC. "As a personal injury law firm we've seen the devastating injuries and trauma to victims and their families as a result of drunk driver crashes. This sponsorship is our commitment to support MADD in its mission to support the victims of this violent crime throughout Colorado."

As part of the 2009-2010 Victim Services Sponsorship, the law firm of Bell & Pollock will also become a sponsor of Walk Like MADD, MADD Colorado's 5K community walk that raises funds to support MADD's work to eliminate drunk driving and to support the victims of drunk driving crashes and their families. More information is available at www.walklikemadd.org.

Unfortunately, thousands of drivers make the deadly decision to drive drunk across the country. In 2008, 11,773 people were killed in crashes where a driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or more. In Colorado, 173 people were killed in drunk driving crashes in 2008.

Through legislative efforts, law enforcement support, public awareness campaigns and underage drinking prevention, MADD Colorado aims to stamp out drunk driving in Colorado and end this 100 percent preventable loss of life. And thanks to the generous support of sponsors and donors, MADD Colorado provides victim services at no cost to almost 1,200 victim/survivors, which includes support from trained Victim Advocates and a network of peers, guidance through the judicial process, one-on-one support, and a 24-hour help line.

MADD believes the tools are now at hand to eliminate drunk driving from the United States. The Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving calls for intensive, high-visibility law enforcement and full implementation of alcohol ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. Currently, eight states require and/or highly incentivize interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers, including Colorado.

Founded in 1980, MADD has helped save more than 330,000 lives since its founding. MADD's mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. The organization has approximately 600 MADD affiliates and two million members and supporters nationwide. Twenty-four hour victim assistance is available by calling 1-877-MADD-HELP. For more information, visit www.madd.org.