Phoenix Car Accident Attorney Blog

Did you know that someone gets killed in a vehicular accident involving a drunk driver every 50 minutes (MADD 2010)? This is equivalent to 32 people getting killed every day. In the United States, 11,773 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2008. This amounts to 32 percent of all traffic-related deaths that year.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety reported that alcohol is a factor in more than 26 percent of Arizona's crash cost. In 2009, Arizona was ranked third in terms of the total number of persons killed by state and highest driver blood alcohol concentration in crashes according to the data of NHTSA-FARS.

Another suspected drunk driver was killed in a Scottsdale multi-truck accident. Scottsdale police said that the Phoenix man was driving a four-door Chrysler while travelling westbound when he strike a Ford pickup after swerving from the opposite lane. The Chrysler continued forward and crashed into a large truck.

The driver was removed from his car and was taken to the nearest hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police said that alcohol played a vital role in the collision.

More and more public and non-profit agencies have become advocates to get drunk drivers out of the road. However, such advocacies may become useless if we do not start within ourselves. We hope especially on this New Year’s Eve that everyone makes the responsible decision to have a sober ride home. If you find yourself without a ride, try AAA Arizona’s free tipsy tow service. Just call 1-800-AAA-HELP and ask for a “tipsy tow” to have a tow truck come and pick you and your car up. Your consideration is greatly appreciated by all others on the roads.

Continue reading " Fatal Multi-Truck Accident Kills Drunk Driver in Scottsdale " »

Impaired driving is considered to be one of the most persistent threats to public safety in North America. In 2009, NHTSA – FARS reported that 6,957 drivers involved in fatal crashes were under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication. This alarming situation triggered many public and non-profit agencies to advocate even stronger towards the elimination of impaired driving.

The alarming fatality count due to impaired driving continues to rise as a car hit two pedestrians while crossing a street in Phoenix last Saturday morning (12/25/10). Police authorities reported that the two victims, ages 52 and 53 were crossing McDowell Road when a Chevy Avalanche sport utility vehicle hit them around 2:30 a.m. The impact was so terrible that it killed the 53-year old man and seriously injured the other. The latter was sent to a local hospital and is in serious condition.

The driver was a 34-year old female. As reported by AZ Family (12/25/10) the driver was travelling westbound on McDowell Road when she hit the two victims. She then lost control and crashed into a traffic signal. Investigators believe that the driver was drunk when the incident occurred.

Phoenix authorities have been exerting monumental efforts to increase traffic safety awareness. For drivers on Arizona’s highways, we hope you will take this tragic event as yet another reminder of the importance of being safe and aware drivers. Please remain vigilant in obeying traffic rules and reporting suspected impaired drivers in our vicinity. If you choose to drink please also make the choice to stay off the roads. Appoint a sober driver or call a service to take you home. AAA is offering once again it’s free tipsy tow service that you can use to get home after too much to drink.

Continue reading " 1 Killed, 1 in Serious Condition after SUV hit 2 Pedestrians in Phoenix " »

A special holiday task force has been working hard since the season began at Thanksgiving. There are 4,158 authorities in the Valley participating in this effort statewide. They have already made 2,700 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs out of their 28,592 traffic stops. As Arizona drunk driving victim attorneys, we applaud this effort and hope it continues to remove impaired drivers from the roadways and perhaps deter drivers from getting behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

An Avondale man is in the hospital after he was involved in several hit and run accidents (AZ Family 12/24/10). He caused an accident at the intersection of Dysart and Sage roads, then proceeded to flee the scene. No accounts of any injuries of those other vehicles’ occupants have been reported yet. The driver then hit several vehicles in a community and rode up on the lawns of numerous homes. The police were able to capture him and after he is released from his unspecified injuries, they expect to take him into custody for the hit and runs and for driving while impaired.

Did you know that one in three people will be involved in an alcohol-related accident in their lifetime (MADD 2010)? Or that this year, 10,839 people will die in a drunk driving accident? As lucky as some drivers are to have not been one of these statistics, it is not difficult to find someone who is. Drunk driving is more common and dangerous than many people believe. We hope you will keep these numbers in mind as the New Year approaches, and make safe choices as you celebrate.

Continue reading " Impaired Driver Suspect for Several Avondale Hit and Run Accidents " »

Underage drinking is a serious problem in the United States. Vehicular crashes are considered to be the leading cause of teenager death in America and one out of three is alcohol-related. Based on the data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), teens whose age ranges from 15 to 20 years old are the most prone to injuries and death due to car accidents. Moreover, research showed that behaviors are the primary reason for most teen-related crashes. Speed, drinking and driving, distracted driving, and drugged driving are just some of the things that worsen this problem.

A Chandler car accident occured last week when an SUV crashed into two homes around 8:30 p.m. near 128th Street and Riggs Road (AZ Family 12/16/10). A group of teenagers were seen inside the SUV by the witnesses when the collision happened. Two of the teens were injured and was taken to a local hospital while the other one ran away.

Authorities are still figuring out the reason of the crash, but investigators are considering impairment as one of the major factors. There were reports that the driver lost control of the vehicle, crashed into a house and hit the gas line, and then crashed into the second house. There were no reports of injuries on the part of the homeowners but the area had to be evacuated due to the broken gas line.

During this holiday season, the authorities have been even more aggressive in their enforcement of existing laws such as 0.08% BAC laws, minimum legal drinking age laws, and zero tolerance laws for drivers younger than 21 years old. Since Thanksgiving, over 1,300 people have been arrested for driving under the influence, and over 300 were arrested for extreme DUI, which is driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .15 or higher (AZ Central 12/13/10).

Continue reading " SUV crashed into 2 homes in Chandler " »

While pedestrian deaths in vehicle crashes continue to drop in recent years, the numbers are still very concerning. Last year, 4,092 pedestrian deaths were recorded while an additional 59,000 pedestrian injuries resulted from car accidents (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2009). The numbers in 2008 were a bit higher at 4,414 pedestrian deaths and 69,000 injured.

Adding to the list of pedestrian casualties is an unidentified man involved in a Scottsdale car accident at around 8 pm December 20th (AZ Central 12/20/2010). The police report says the man was hit by a Toyota SUV going west while he was crossing the road just east of the intersection. The Scottsdale police spokesman added that the victim was not in the crosswalk when the collision happened.

The victim was rushed Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead. While initial investigations reveal that there was no alcohol or speeding involved, further inquiries are still being made to pinpoint the cause of the accident.
Back in 2008, Arizona ranked 7th in Pedestrian Fatality Rate per 100,000 Population according to the NHTSA with 121 pedestrian deaths. In 2009, not much has changed with 120 deaths and ranking 8th among all states.

Continue reading " 1 Dead in Scottsdale Pedestrian Accident " »

AAA estimates that almost 3 million people will be traveling between now and January 2nd (ABC 15 12/15/10). That’s a lot of people on the roads! With the roads becoming more crowded and everyone hustling about to get to their gatherings, it is important to always keep safety in mind to avoid serious injury during this busy time of year.

Can you believe travel in Arizona is up 3% from this time last year? Although the weather is fairly pleasant in the valley well into the winter months, sometimes drivers forget while traveling north the drastic decrease in temperature and the increase of precipitation.

For those of you unfamiliar with driving in snowy or icy conditions, we hope you will remember these few tips to stay safe and avoid serious accidents.

• When planning a long distance drive, please check your tire air pressure to avoid blow outs. Changing a tire on the side of the road could lead to a serious injury accident in poor visibility conditions such as snow, or due to a negligent drunk driver.
• Keep at least 500 feet between your vehicle and any snow plows on the road. Not only are they wider, but they have more blind spots than typical trucks, so they require a lot more room around them, also to account for the spraying snow and/or debris.
• Never get out of your car if you get stuck in the snow except to check to make sure the exhaust pipe is clear of snow and debris. If it gets clogged, you and your family could be at risk of deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.

Continue reading " Tips to Avoid Serious Injury during Peak Holiday Travel Times " »

Many are aware of the dangers associated with drunk driving. In 2009, based on the data form the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration- Fatality Analysis Reporting System (NHTSA-FARS), 9,813 vehicular accidents were caused by alcohol impaired driving, 198 cases of which happened in Arizona.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) stated that there is a decline in the number of people getting killed or injured due to drunk driving. This is an uplifting finding that we hope continues. However, in the past years there is a rising concern regarding “drugged driving.” Illicit drugs can alter brain perception, cognition, attention, coordination, reaction time, and other faculties, all required in full capacity for safe driving.

In Mesa, a suspicious vehicle parked along the north side of Glencove Street around 11 a.m., Tuesday (AZ Central 12/14/10) was reported to the police. The vehicle was discovered to be stolen after police officers scanned its plate number. Police arrested the man on suspicion of driving a stolen car and driving under the influence of heroin. According to investigators, the suspect admitted that he stole the car and is a heroin addict. Further investigations showed that the suspect was wanted by the authority. He is now facing charges of aggravated DUI, automobile theft and burglary.

Continue reading " Man Suspect of DUI while Driving a Stolen Car in Mesa " »

Did you know that according to the National Center for Health Statistics in 2006, car accidents are the leading cause of fatalities in children ages 3 to 14? In 2008, 4 percent or 1,347 out of 37,261 traffic fatalities in the United States are children aged 14-and-younger. In addition to the over 1,300 fatalities, 529 children were injured in motor vehicle crashes (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, FARS).

Last Thursday evening (12/9/10), a Phoenix wrong-way car wreck happened on the Loop 101 when a car crashed head-on into an SUV from Surprise driven by a pregnant woman (AZ Family 12/9/10). The driver of the car was a 45-year old woman from Glendale. She was driving with her 6-year old and 4-year old sons when the accident happened.

Investigators said that the mother and her two sons were not wearing seatbelts. She was declared dead at the scene and her 6-year old son, who was riding in the front seat, was pronounced dead at the hospital and the 4-year old boy was seriously injured and remains in critical condition. Although investigators suspect that impairment is involved, they will not be positive until the medical examiner’s results are available. Meanwhile, the pregnant woman was reportedly wearing her seatbelt and acquired only non life-threatening injuries.

This incident which killed two and injured one only proves the importance of wearing seatbelts on every ride. Eighty-eight percent of drivers and passengers use seatbelts on a regular basis (National Safety Council 2010). Wearing one can prevent serious injuries in a crash by 50%, and have saved more than 75,000 lives from 2004 to 2008. Refraining from using your seatbelt could result in a traffic ticket or a serious injury in the event of an accident.

Continue reading " Fatal Glendale Accident Leaves 2 Dead, 1 Injured " »

Impaired driving is one of the main reasons of vehicular accidents in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - FARS, 219 people were killed in Arizona fatal car accidents involving drivers with blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels above the legal limit of .08 (2009).

Did you know that the average alcohol-related fatality in the United States costs $3.5 million (NHTSA)? $1.1 million is for monetary costs and the remaining $2.4 million in quality of life losses. Moreover, the estimated cost per injured survivor of an alcohol-related crash averaged $99,000. This is divided into $49,000 and $50,000 for monetary costs and quality of life losses respectively.

It was early morning of Wednesday when a woman was airlifted to the hospital after being plowing into a mesquite tree in Gilbert (AZ Family 12/1/10). According to authorities, the driver was heading west on Guadalupe Road, into oncoming traffic. Fortunately, her car went directly to the curb and hit the tree instead of another innocent driver. However, the damage of her car was so extensive that the paramedics had to remove the driver from the car as quickly as possible. The driver suffered from serious head and leg injuries.

According to the Gilbert Police Department, there was no sign of impairment or speeding on the part of the driver at the time. Luckily, there were no other vehicles involved and no one was inside the car with the driver when the crash happened. The accident is still under investigation.

Continue reading " Woman Air-lifted After Crashing Car into a Tree in Gilbert " »

Did you know that road traffic collisions are the lead cause of death for people from 15 to 29 years of age? That’s not just a made up statistic to catch your attention. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released this shocking data of 1.3 million global fatalities due to car accidents each year and 20-50 million more individuals left with serious injuries. Furthermore, motor vehicle crashes are expected to rise as the third most serious threat to human health by 2020.

Adding to the alarming numbers above is a Phoenix car accident which occurred this past Sunday, December 5th, causing one vehicle to burst into flames. ABC 15 reports that the car accident left 3 people seriously injured.

Investigations reveal that the first car was on a halt at a red light at 32nd Street and Broadway Road when a second car sped its way and hit the former from behind. The 2 passengers were lucky to get out as the first car caught fire. All three, including the driver of the second car were sent to a local hospital for proper treatment of serious injuries resulting from the crash. Witnesses confirm that the second car was speeding at 70 to 85 mph before hitting the first car.

Continue reading " Fiery Phoenix Car Accident Leaves 3 People Seriously Injured " »

Taking a family bike ride is one of many fond memories of childhood. With these above-normal temperatures this December, many people are flocking outdoors to enjoy the beautiful weather. As Phoenix bike accident attorneys and parents, we love it when our kids are playing outside, but we are constantly reminded of the dangers that threaten serious injury.

Last Thursday a father took three of his children on a bike ride in Phoenix that ended in a very serious and scary situation (Arizona Republic via AZ Central 12/2/10). The family was crossing in a crosswalk, the father towing two small children, ages 3 and 5, and another older child following separately, when an SUV turned into the father’s bike trailer containing the two young children. The driver claimed to have been blinded by the sun and didn’t see the family when he hit them. The children suffered serious injuries and had to be extricated from under the SUV. They were rushed to a pediatric trauma center but thankfully are expected to survive. The accident is still under investigation.

Every year, 275,000 children are injured in bike accidents, and another 140 are killed (Safe Kids USA 2009). Did you know that besides cars, bicycles cause more child injuries than any other consumer product? Although not all injuries can be prevented, there are many ways to use bicycles more safely. Here are some statistics compiled by Safe Kids USA:

• 85% of head injuries and 88% of severe brain injuries could be prevented by wearing a helmet.
• 70% of fatal bike accidents occur between 2pm and 8pm, not only is this rush hour, meaning there are more cars on the roads, but it is also the time of day when pedestrians and bicyclists can be harder to see as the sun sets. This most recent bike accident in Phoenix occurred just after 5pm. Wearing light or reflective clothing and using a head or tail light on your bike can help improve visibility.
• Children under 15 years old are five times more likely to sustain injuries from bicycle accidents. It is important to properly supervise and teach your children appropriate safety precautions while bike riding, like the right way to cross the street, where to ride, and turn signals.

Continue reading " Two Young Children Seriously Injured in Phoenix Bike Accident " »

Seatbelts play a vital role when it comes to surviving a vehicular accident. Some drivers and passengers may forget how important it is. Buckling up is considered to be the most efficient way to shield oneself from serious injuries in a crash. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 75,000 people in the U.S were saved from car accidents because of seatbelt usage from 2004 to 2008. In United States, the percentage of people who are buckling up in 2008 increased from 2007. Although the increase is statistically insignificant, it is still a good sign that more people are wearing seatbelts.

Unfortunately, victims of a two-vehicle collision in Queen Creek were not wearing their seatbelts the morning of Sunday, November 28th (ABC 15 11/18/10). A T-bone collision between a Honda Civic and SUV occurred at the intersection of Power and Riggs. The three passengers of the Civic were a father, a mother, and a 6 year old child, who was wearing a seatbelt. The driver of the SUV was a 28-year old man. The three adults suffered life-threatening injuries while the child is in serious condition.

All of us are aware of the importance of seatbelts. If you don’t already, please try to make it a habit to buckle up as soon as you enter your vehicles, before it is too late. Accidents can happen at any place or time, it is best if we are always prepared. Seatbelts are the best protection against impaired and distracted drivers. Even if your car has airbags, which most do, always remember that the two go hand in hand and not as replacement of each other.

Continue reading " 4 Injured in Queen Creek Sedan-SUV Collision " »

Teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are four times as likely to get into a car accident than older drivers (Center for Disease Control and Prevention 10/18/10). Over 350,000 teens were treated in emergency rooms for serious injuries following a crash, and 3,000 more 15 to 19 year olds died in 2009. As our own children approach driving age, we are reminded even more of the importance of teaching our children safe driving practices as early as we can.

Three teens were seriously injured in a Phoenix roll-over accident on Tuesday night (Arizona Republic via AZ Central 11/30/10). They were speeding recklessly in a four-door sedan when they side-swiped a truck heading in their same direction. The collision caused them to lose control of the car, sending them into oncoming traffic, where they hit a pick up truck head-on. The two 17 year olds and one 16 year old were rushed to trauma centers, two others from the pick up trucks suffered minor injuries, and three other individuals were unharmed.

We want to help prevent future accidents like these, saving families the heartache of dealing with a seriously injured child. That’s why we are the Southwest Regional Sponsors of the American Lawyer Academy’s Viral Video Scholarship Contest. The contest is asking students to create a public service announcement video to post on YouTube about safe driving practices. High school seniors and current college students are encouraged to enter the contest for a chance to win up to $10,000 in scholarship funds. Interested students should visit our website at: http://www.breyerlaw.com/viral-video-scholarship-contest-southwest-region.html for the official rules and regulations. The deadline is approaching quickly, so please spread the word to any interested students!

Continue reading " Serious Roll-Over Accident Leaves 3 Injured in Phoenix " »

Did you know that 11,773 people were killed in car accidents involving drunk drivers in 2008 (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)? Authorities arrested over 1.4 million drivers for impairment last year, yet that is less than one percent of the 159 million self-reported episodes of drunk driving. That means there are still millions of drunk drivers out there on the roads. As Arizona car accident attorneys, we ask all driver to please be careful.

Around 9 p.m. on Saturday, a truck hit a wooden power pole head-on at Sage Brush and Schnepf in San Tan Valley, Arizona. The single-car crash was caused by a man whose blood alcohol concentration was around five times the legal limit which is .08. Although he did not acquire severe injuries, he was taken to a local hospital due to his high intoxication level.

The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office reported that the driver had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.374, 4.5% higher than the legal limit. Prior to the said incident, it was also reported that the man had four prior offenses involving drunk driving or driving under the influence of (DUI). He is currently facing aggravated DUI charges for this most recent accident.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has found that the average drunk driver has driven drunk 87 times before the first arrest (2010). With four prior offenses, this driver has probably endangered himself and others thousands of times by driving impaired. It was very fortunate that no serious injuries were suffered by any party.

Not only should this driver and other drunk drivers be held responsible for any damages resulting from over-consumption of alcoholic beverages, but bartenders, bars, nightclubs, and liquor stores can also be liable if they carelessly sell liquor to minors or visibly over-intoxicated individuals. There are many options available to keep these drunk drivers off the roads; please, if you see or know someone who has been drinking this holiday season, get them a cab, drive them yourself, or call a service to take them home.

Continue reading " Truck Hit Power Pole in San Tan Valley, Driver Suspect for DUI " »