Phoenix Car Accident Attorney Blog

According to the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), more than 50% of all biking accidents occur on major roadways. 2% of all traffic injuries and deaths involve cyclists. Despite highway precautionary measures and awareness campaigns, it is still quite risky for bicycles to ride alongside larger vehicles on the roads—mostly due to visibility difficulty.

Late last Thursday in Phoenix, a 12-year-old boy collided with a vehicle within the vicinity of 12 Street and Southern Avenue while riding his mini-bike. Now in critical condition, the boy continues to struggle for his survival as of Friday morning.

The boy was riding in the private property of the said vicinity, when the westbound sedan hit him at around 10:30 in the evening. The boy, still unidentified as of late, was immediately taken to the nearby hospital after the accident.

Meanwhile, the driver of the Chevrolet sedan has been cooperative with the officers and is now currently undergoing evaluation for injury at the scene. However, it was found that impairment did not contribute to the collision according to the Phoenix Police Sergeant. The boy was apparently not riding in a crosswalk.

Further investigation and evaluation is are still going on at the scene.

Vehicular crashes involving motorcycle or bicycles account for about 10 percent of all fatal crashes in the United States. Although comparatively little, Arizona accounts for about 130 to 150 of these fatal bicycle and motorcycle deaths of the 5,000 total in 2008 to 2009. Children and older adults are some of the most at-risk groups for bicycle accidents, so please remember to talk to your children about bicycling safety today—we know we will.

Continue reading " Boy Riding Minibike Crashes with Car, Seriously Injured " »

Alcohol has been blamed as one of the major causes of fatal car accidents across the globe. In the United States, alcohol impaired driving takes its toll by taking away thousands of lives on the road each year. In 2009, approximately 22 percent of drivers that were involved in a fatal crash had a blood alcohol content of .08 or greater; this really reflects on how big of a problem impaired driving is despite awareness campaigns by advocacy groups.

A recent Phoenix car accident occurred where police say alcohol might have been a factor. The crash happened near Seventh and 23rd avenues of Carefree Highway at around 12:40 a.m. Wednesday morning (AZ Family 02/23/2011).

According to the Phoenix Police Department, a vehicle was going west in the eastbound lanes and collided with another vehicle.

The 22-year-old driver of the second vehicle, who remains in critical condition, had to be airlifted to a local hospital after suffering life threatening injuries. The driver of the first vehicle, a 39-year-old woman, suffered serious but non fatal injuries.

The wreck blocked portions of the highway and westbound traffic goers were advised to take Seventh Street north to Desert Hills and then Desert Hills to 27th Avenue, where they can get back on the Carefree Highway.

Continue reading " Alcohol Linked to Phoenix Injury Crash " »

Every day, approximately 32 people in the country die as a result of alcohol-related crashes (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). In a survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it was reported that from the total number of 30,797 fatal crash incidents in 2009, 32 percent or 9,813 were due to alcohol-impaired driving.

In Arizona, 28 percent or 196 fatal crashes from 710 were because of alcohol impairment. There were also 219 alcohol-related fatalities, 22 of these fatalities being of those under 21. Moreover, it was revealed that most DUI accidents occurred from 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. and 3 a.m. to 5:59 a.m. in 2009.

On Saturday night, a car driven by a 34-year old woman crashed near 45th Street and Baseline Avenue. Police said that the woman was drunk while driving the car with her children before the crash. She fled the scene with her youngest child but left her 8-year old son at the scene injured.

The woman was later found hiding in an apartment complex. Police also said she was driving on a suspended license. She was booked into jail for four felony counts namely: aggravated DUI, aggravated DUI with a passenger under 15, failure to stay at the scene, and endangerment.

2009 saw a greater amount of DUI arrests in Arizona, equalling over 14,000, as compared to the year before with only 10,500. This is the result of the extensive campaign against alcohol-impaired drivers on the roads who often pose dangers to everyone. While the greater number of arrests may seem like a bad thing, it doesn’t necessarily mean there were more people on the road driving drunk; it means the authorities were able to catch more drivers all together.

Continue reading " Two Children Endangered as Mother Drives Drunk " »

A head-on crash typically occurs when a vehicle crosses a centerline or a median and crashes into an approaching vehicle. Oftentimes, head-on collisions happen when a driver travels the wrong way in a traffic lane. Head-on crashes are considered to be worse than other types of crashes. Unlike other types of collisions where only part of the kinetic energy are turned into mechanical energy, in a head-on crash, all kinetic energy of both vehicles involved are converted into mechanical, doubling the amount of force.

Out of the 9,867 collisions reported with motor vehicle in transport by initial point of impact, 5,865 or 32.0 percent were front or head-on crashes in 2009 (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration FARS). In the same year, Arizona also experienced a decline of the total number of frontal collisions from 135 to 106 passenger cars.

Last Tuesday morning in Mesa, a small SUV driven by a 63-year old woman struck another vehicle near Dobson and Guadalupe roads (AZ Central 02/15/11). Although the unidentified woman had to be manually extricated by the Mesa paramedics from her car, she was lucky enough to only acquire non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the other vehicle was treated on the accident scene by Tempe officials.

Based on statistics, most head-on crashes are usually resulting from a number of reasons such as unintentional maneuver by the motorist, distracted driving, or if the driver falls asleep or travels too fast in a curve. Some other common contributing factors include impaired driving and speeding.

Continue reading " 2 Injured in Head-On Crash in Mesa " »

Did you know that equipment failure is one of the least common factors that could lead to a car accident (Smartmotorist)? Overshadowed by driver related factors which primarily cause vehicle crashes, equipment failure includes brakes that have stopped working, overheating, or any other malfunctions within the car itself that trigger an accident.

In Yuma, a fatal accident occurred earlier this week, wherein the cause of the accident was attributed to a blown out tire (AZ Family 02/15/2011).

Yuma County Sheriff's Office says that the left front tire of a 1978 Ford pickup truck blew out, causing it to veer into the opposite lanes and crash head on into another vehicle. The collision happened on the highway near County 12 1/2 Street.

The 55-year-old driver of the Ford truck died on the scene while three others, the driver and passengers of the other vehicle, were rushed to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Police believe that alcohol was not a factor in the accident.

Rare as they come, equipment failures can still result to fatal accidents. While no one can truly say that this unfortunate incident could have been avoided, it is strongly advised that as a safety precaution, always have your car checked for possible equipment problems and have it undergo routine maintenance procedures to keep it in good shape.

Continue reading " Tire Blow-Out Causes Fatal Accident " »

Drunk driving endangers not only the health but also the lives of drinking drivers, their passengers, and all others on the road. Drinking alcohol and driving is one very dangerous combination. In the United States, one person is killed every 45 minutes as result of motor vehicle crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver. That is equivalent to 32 people everyday. Statistics also show that one out of every three fatal motor vehicle accidents involves an alcohol-impaired driver.

In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System (NHTSA-FARS) has witnessed a decline in the total number of fatal crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers from 10,631 cases in 2008 to 9,813 in 2009. This decline was also perceived in Arizona, which has 209 cases in 2008 and 196 in 2009.

Unfortunately, another suspected drunk driver has injured yet another victim in Phoenix. The incident happened around 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday when the victim’s car was struck by a truck driven by a suspected impaired driver at 27th Avenue and Baseline Road.

According to the emergency crews, the man had to be extricated from his car after the crash. The police on the other hand stated that the driver, a woman, was suspected of driving under the influence.

Drunk driving is one of the major causes of car accidents in the United States and being involved in such is a serious, often felony case. Thus, it is always helpful if you cannot avoid drinking, have a designated driver pick you up instead of driving your car alone. In order not to find yourself as a victim of a car accident, always remember the most common causes that lead to it--impaired driving and distracted driving—and look for the signs of these factors in other drivers. Swerving, speeding, tailgating, and drifting lanes are signs of both distracted driving and impaired driving, so give drivers exhibiting these symptoms lots of space, and if you are suspicious that the driver may actually be impaired, be sure to contact the authorities.

Continue reading " 64-Year Old Man Injured by Suspected Drunk Driver " »

In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System found there were 120 pedestrian fatalities in the state. With this most recent report, Arizona was ranked 8th worst in terms of Pedestrian Fatality Rate per 100,000 Population among all other states at 1.82. Overall, pedestrian casualties composed roughly 12 percent of total traffic fatalities in 2009.

On Tuesday morning, a Mesa Arts Center employee was injured after being struck by a car around 7:30 a.m. (AZ Central 02/08/11). The victim was walking across the street behind the downtown Mesa entertainment venue when the accident happened. She was taken to Scottsdale Healthcare/Osborne Medical Center. It was reported that luckily, the victim was responsive although she suffered injuries--a concussion and possible dislocation or break to her shoulder.

Pedestrian fatality is no stranger to Arizona. The government has come up with safety programs that aim to enforce traffic rules and regulations and as well as increase safety awareness among pedestrians of all ages. But often times, we are responsible with our own safety. For pedestrians, it is always important to follow the simple and basic traffic rules, no matter how calm the street appears. Never assume an oncoming driver sees you; Stay alert when walking and crossing the streets.

Continue reading " Mesa Arts Center Employee Injured after being Struck by Car " »

Did you know that in 2008, older adults accounted for 15 percent of all traffic fatalities and 18 percent of all pedestrian fatalities? For 2008, the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA) reported a mind-boggling 183,000 injuries caused by traffic crashes. In 2009, a total of 5,288 persons, or 16 percent, were killed due to fatal road accidents.

Rollover accidents are quite infamous for trucks and SUVs. Such types of vehicles are prone to roll over due to their design and features. SUVs and trucks have high centers of gravity as compared to other types of vehicles thus, abrupt turns of these vehicles can cause rollovers.

A Glendale roll-over accident occurred on southbound of Loop 101 around noon last Monday involving a sports car ( AZ Central 02/07/11). The Ford Mustang went to the center of the median and destroyed the cable barriers. It then rolled over and landed on its wheels. The driver and the passenger of the Mustang, 65-year old and 60-year old were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. It is not known if speeding was a factor in the accident.

With age comes extensive experience behind the wheel. While there may be some risks associated with older drivers as medical conditions may impair driving ability, often they can be overcome with some preparation and equipment.

Eyeglasses play a vital role in driving. Wearing glasses with a current prescription can improve vision while driving on the road. For 60 years old and above drivers, visiting an eye doctor every year to check for cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and other conditions associated with aging is also important.

Continue reading " Glendale Roll Over Accident Closes Southbound Loop 101 " »

Over the years, we have recognized the dangers associated with drunk driving. In the United States, drunk driving has been one of the major causes of fatal road accidents. In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System reported 9,813 fatal vehicular accidents due to alcohol impaired driving. However, through the efforts of different public and private organizations we have seen a decline in the number of persons injured and killed as a result of drunk driving.

But, as the nation sees this decline, it has also become more aware of the similar threats and dangers that are brought about by drugged driving or driving under the influence of any drug that can affect a person's brain and impair one's motor skills, reaction time, and judgment.

In 2009, a total of 3,952 or 18 percent out of 13,801 fatally injured drivers had drugs reported within their systems after the accident. In Arizona, 82 persons or 19 percent were tested and found to be positive for drugs.

A 14-year old boy was caught driving a vehicle on Interstate 17 on Wednesday evening (KPHO 02/03/11). The Arizona Department of Public Safety officers tried to stop the vehicle but he fled from the officers and exited the interstate on 19th Avenue until the driver lost control of the car and crashed.

Police reported that the boy was extremely defensive and combative when being arrested and was suspected to be under the influence of either alcohol or drugs.

Continue reading " 14-year old Boy Suspected for Drugged Driving in Phoenix " »

Motorcycle crashes are considered to be some of the most fatal accidents in the United States. There is a much higher fatality rate per unit distance travelled as compared to automobiles. While there exists some safety equipment that can reduce the severity of injury, they are often cumbersome and uncomfortable, so not all riders choose to wear it.

In Arizona, riders have a choice to wear a helmet or not. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that helmets are 37 percent effective in preventing head injuries (2006). In fact, 1,829 lives were saved by helmets in 2008 according to NHTSA.

Early morning at the end of January, another motorcycle and three other vehicles were involved in an collision on the westbound I-10 at Baseline Road (KPHO 01/24/2011). There were not many details available about the incident except that the motorcyclist who was part of the collision did not suffer severe or life-threatening injuries. It was not stated in the report if the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet or not.

While helmets do help prevent occurances of serious head injuries, they are unfortunately not foolproof. Actually, 56% of motorcyclists killed in crashes in 2009 were wearing helmets at the time of the collisions (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety).

Continue reading " Motorcycle Accident on I-10 " »

In 2009, 4,092 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This figure has declined by 322 fatalities as compared to 2008. The Pedestrian Roadway Fatalities Report published by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis reported that from 1975 to 2005, almost 180,000 pedestrians died in all motor vehicle crashes with over 162,000 killed in single vehicle crashes.

This means that on the average, one pedestrian is injured every 8 minutes and one gets killed every 11 minutes due to traffic accident. Moreover, 69 percent of these fatalities are male, and male pedestrian injuries are approximately 58 percent higher than females.

In Arizona, pedestrian fatalities seem to be very close from 2008 to 2009. The number only decreased by one fatality. Data also shows that improper crossing of roadways or intersections result in the highest number of pedestrian fatalities.

Early this Monday, around 5:40 a.m. (01/31/11) another pedestrian was seriously injured after being struck by a car in downtown Phoenix. The 35-year old victim was hit by a car along 3rd Street, just north of Van Buren Road. The woman was reportedly unresponsive and the responders on the scene tried to revive her. She was then taken to the nearest trauma center with serious injuries.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention encourages pedestrians to take extra caution when in intersections. While the pedestrian may have the right of way, oncoming drivers may not see him or her, or not recognize the right of way, putting pedestrians in danger. It is important as pedestrians to wait for acknowledgement from drivers before entering the street.

Continue reading " Pedestrian Seriously Injured after Car Accident " »