Phoenix Car Accident Attorney Blog

Pedestrian accidents take place in urban places more than in rural areas due to the traffic congestion. From 1975-2005, the amount of pedestrian accidents that took place in urban areas increased from 59% to 72%. Despite the increase in the amount of accidents in urban areas, the annual total of pedestrian accidents dropped from 7,516 in 1975 to 4,409 incidents in 2009. This was based on the statistics gathered by the NHTSA. Although the numbers are getting low, the damages are still devastating.

Earlier this month during the early morning hours, a fatal car accident took place at westbound loop 202 to Interstate 10 in Phoenix, Arizona. The accident happened on a ramp of the westbound loop 202. It happened because the ramp was closed, when suddenly it was reopened for traffic enabling the I-10 traffic to go through.

At the time of the report, the pedestrian's identity was still unknown, but it was reported that the victim had died due to the injuries suffered. The Department of Public Safety officers were on the scene to take actions and investigations are still going on to find out what really happened.

A lot of pedestrian accidents happen because of impaired drivers, failed right of way at intersections, or poor visibility of pedestrians at night. It is best that if you plan on walking at dusk or night time to avoid wearing dark clothes; carry a light with you and stick to the sidewalks. Only cross the road at marked crosswalks and always look both ways, making eye contact with oncoming drivers, even if you have the right of way.

Continue reading " Fatal Pedestrian Accident on 202/I-10 Ramp " »

Did you know that one person dies every minute due to impaired driving? Back in 2008, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that approximately 32 people died every day as a result of drunk driving accidents. In fact, impaired driving is still considered one of the major causes of fatal car crashes in the United States. In 2009, a total of 9813 out of 30,797 were the result of alcohol-impaired driving in the United States.

Arizona, which is quite notorious when it comes to having high numbers of fatal car accidents, had 710 cases of fatal accidents in 2009. From this number, 196 or 28 percent were due to alcohol-impaired driving. Out of those alcohol caused accidents 134 of them involved single car accidents, and 61 involved multiple vehicles.

One such fatal car accident occurred in a busy Peoria intersection, of 83rd Avenue and Union Hills Drive on Saturday afternoon (3/19/11). Police investigations show that the driver of the Lincoln Navigator was impaired when he rear-ended a gold sedan. This collision triggered a series of crashes involving four vehicles. Sadly, the driver of the gold sedan, a woman died in the hospital.

Meanwhile, the driver was also taken to the hospital due to minor injuries and will recover soon. He might face DUI charges. Investigators are still waiting for the result of the blood test for additional charges.

Drinking and driving is a serious offense but despite it's danger, impaired driving is still a prevalent problem in traffic safety. If you have been drinking and are not able to operate your vehicle have a designated driver or cab take you to your destination safely.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of an impaired driver, you can reach us at (480) 753-4534 for a free consultation. As impaired driving accident lawyers, we may be able to help you in getting the payment you deserve for the damages you or your family member has acquired. .

Many car accidents occur every day and oftentimes the vehicles that are involved have passengers in it, aside from the driver. Passengers like children are unfortunately not exempt from injury. Based on the statistics of the NHTSA for 2009, approximately 48,000 children aged five and below were involved in a vehicular accident; Around 0.896% of which died and the rest of 97.917% are injured. This means that every day, 129 children are being seriously injured or dying as a result of vehicular accident.

Last Sunday night, at the intersection of 83rd avenue and Thomas Road in Phoenix, a vehicular accident happened. The real cause of the collision between the two vehicles is still unknown.

There were three adults who suffered minor injuries, but a 3-week-old baby was also involved in the crash. The baby was restrained, but was still brought to the hospital. The baby is now at St. Joseph's Hospital. There were no reports of the baby's status yet.

A large number of children suffer major injuries or even die from the crashes because they were not restrained in a car seat or booster seat. As a parent or an adult driving with a child, always make sure that they are restrained in their seat up to age 8 or 40 pounds, or have their seat-belts on incase you are involved in an accident.

Continue reading " 3-Week Old Baby In Car Collision in Phoenix, 3 Adults Injured " »

According to the texting while driving statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 20% of car crash injuries in 2009 alone involved distracted driving. The same statistics revealed in FARS and GES that 5,474 people were killed and 448,000 were injured in various car crashes in the United States due to distracted driving.
One such unfortunate occurrence happened to a Mesa man’s son. On July 25, 2009, a car hit his son while he was riding a bicycle near Guadalupe Road where he lives.

The driver, who was only in his teens, apparently had been texting while driving. He didn’t see the boy and crashed into him. Police found that distracted driving was to blame after they conducted their investigation into the cause of the accident. Phone records verified that the driver had indeed been texting upon the said crash.

Devastated, this Arizona father now eagerly supports the two bills banning text messaging behind the wheel. Authored by Senator Al Melvin R-Tucson, the bill will ban texting and other types of phone activity that would redirect one’s attention from the road while driving. Representative Steve Farley, D-Tucson, is also pushing for a bill that would ban text messaging while driving.

Car crashes caused by texting while driving are indeed a sad reality today. In 2008, around 28 percent of drivers admitted to having texted while driving. According to the Pew Research Center, 47 percent of adults compared to only 34 percent of teenagers text while they drive. Although teenagers are believed to be prone to this, adults have their fair share in this statistic as well.

Continue reading " Car Crashes Due to Texting While Driving " »

Car accidents can happen to anyone at anytime; unfortunately they are not always preventable. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 5,505,000 vehicle crashes in 2009. Among those, 30,797 were fatal (.56 percent fatality rate) while 1,517,000 (27 percent) were reported as injury crashes.

These figures by the NHTSA show just how vulnerable each and every one of us are to such unfortunate situations.

In recent news, a police officer was involved in a Glendale accident just over 2 weeks ago (KPHO 3/8/2011). According to reports, the officer was heading east on Bethany Home Road near 71st Avenue when he crashed his cruiser at around 5 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.
His vehicle spun around in the process but luckily he only suffered minor injuries as an aftermath of the crash.

No other details were released as of the moment.

Though car crashes continue to come in high numbers, reports for 2009 reflect a significant decrease as opposed to the year before and traffic fatalities were actually at its lowest point in recent years.

Alcohol impairment continues to be a major factor in fatal crashes, being involved in 32 percent of traffic fatalities in 2009. Authorities acknowledge this and just before last year ended, a statewide holiday DUI task force was implemented which resulted in thousands of arrests in just a short span of five weeks.

Continue reading " Officer Involved in Glendale Crash " »

A Phoenix accident occurred earlier this week that almost left a pregnant woman injured. The 21-year-old driver, though unhurt, was a bit shaken up after crashing her car into the principal's office of a local high school she was working for (AZ Family 3/9/2011).

The car crash occurred Wednesday morning when the pregnant driver, working as the school’s registrar, was parking her car and mistakenly stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brakes. The car then went crashing into the school near 33rd Avenue and Thomas Road.

Another person who could have been hurt in the accident was the school’s principal who just got out of the office when the car came crashing in. She recounts hearing the crash and feeling the shattered glass hitting the back of her leg.

The driver was sent to a local hospital for evaluation.

Needless to say, everyone has an important role to play in winning the battle against car accidents as most crashes are attributed to human error. Following traffic rules and avoiding distractions are two big steps a driver can take to make the road a little safer for everyone.

Continue reading " Car ends up in School Office in Phoenix crash " »

Did you know that 8% of the American population admitted to impaired driving at least once in their lifetime? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Statistics (NHTSA) 33,808 people nationwide died in traffic crashes in 2009. Approximately 32% of the fatalities were the result of alcohol-impaired driving. In 2009, about four people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities for every 100,000 Americans.

Also in 2009, 219 lives were lost in Arizona. Twenty two of those fatalities were people under the age of 21. NHTSA also reported that from 2008-2009, alcohol-impaired fatalities declined nationally and in 33 states. Alcohol-impaired fatalities involving drivers under the age of 21 also declined nationally in 25 states.

During the celebration of St. Patrick's Day on March 17th, AAA Arizona will offer free one-way rides for impaired drivers for up to 10 miles. The Tipsy Tow service will start at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 17 and continue until 6 a.m.. Friday, March 18. This is to help keep impaired drivers off the road and also to ensure a safe and fun evening for those that will be celebrating. Motorists will only be entitled for a free tow to their homes. For trips exceeding 10 miles, motorists will be charged with the standard towing rate. Tipsy Tow can be reached at 1-800-AAA-HELP (1-800-222-4357).

Other services such as a vehicle start, flat tire change, gas delivery and/or taxi service will not be provided to the motorists. However, motorists can request for free towing to a hotel only if they plan to become guests. We hope drivers take advantage of this service to help save innocent lives from impaired drivers.

NHTSA has reported that one out of three traffic-related fatalities were due to alcohol-impaired drivers. Since its launch in 2009, Tipsy Tow has aided a number of drivers in getting them to their destination safely.

Continue reading " Keeping Drunk Drivers Off the Road: AAA Tipsy Tow Free Service on St. Patrick's Day " »

Glendale was the scene of a fatal accident last week. Every day, roads are very busy due to overwhelming volume of road vehicles like cars, trucks, motorcycle and bikes. This is also the very reason that there are so many accidents. In 2009, 33,808 fatalities from car accidents were recorded by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The severity of the impact greatly damages properties and millions of innocent lives.

At around 9 pm, last Wednesday evening, a multiple car collision left two people injured and one in critical condition.

A landscaping truck with a trailer was travelling at the intersection of 47th and Olive Avenue when the driver lost control when trying to avoid a pedestrian. With the sudden stop, another silver car, with two women and a young boy, slammed into the truck. Another vehicle then smashed into the silver car.

The impact from the sudden stop of the truck lead its two occupants to be thrown outside the truck. The occupants of the silver car, the driver and the young boy, were immediately taken to the hospital because of the injuries they sustained from the collision. The driver’s injuries were not life threatening but the young boy is in critical condition according to a Glendale police officer.

The alarming census of increasing car crashes leads the authorities to implement the usage of safety equipment like seatbelts strictly. Accordingly, proper use of seatbelts can reduce fatal injuries in about 50 percent of cases. Our sympathies go out to all involved in this serious car accident.

Continue reading " Serious Glendale Car Accident " »

Did you know that rollover accidents are one of the most dangerous types of traffic accidents? Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV’s) and minivans are known to be the most unstable and rollover-prone vehicles on the road. In fact, more than 280,000 rollover accidents are reported every year and have taken the lives of 10,000 people according to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System (NHTSA-FARS).

In 2009, the NHTSA reported that a total of 8,732 vehicles have been involved in fatal crashes nationwide, 5,043 or 28.2 percent of which were light trucks and 3,017 or 16.4 percent were passenger cars. In Arizona, rollover accidents have accounted for 229 of the national total. As always light trucks have the highest number of rollovers and accounted for 142 deaths in Arizona. Passenger cars in Arizona have totaled 52 deaths.

Last Sunday, KPHO reported a crash that occurred in the area of Signal Butte Road and Southern Avenue around 1 a.m. in Mesa. Authorities said that one man was killed in the crash due to the injuries he sustained. According to reports, one vehicle rolled over and the man inside was ejected and died. Until now, investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the crash.

Seat belts are considered to be the most effective way of preventing severe injuries or even death during a fatal crash. NHTSA research on the use of seatbelts in 2008 revealed that although the percentage of seatbelt use has increased it is still not high enough.

As car accident attorneys, we can help you in getting rightful compensation. If you or someone you know has been a victim of a car accident call us at (480) 753-4534 for your free consultation.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that each year an estimated 2.6 million passengers are injured due to traffic accidents. In Arizona alone, 1,008 vehicles have been involved in fatal car crashes this year. The NHTSA has found that passenger cars such as sedans and light trucks have the highest number of fatal crashes.

In 2009 The NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System conducted a study of the most common types of vehicles involved in accidents. They found that in Arizona, 5 percent of compact pick-up trucks and 12.3 percent of standard pick-up trucks were involved in fatal crashes. However, four door sedans have the highest recorded rate of accidents among motor vehicles.

Early Thursday morning, a sedan slammed into a pick-up and then hit a parked semi truck in Glendale (AZ Central 3/3/11). The driver of the Ford Crown Victoria sedan died on impact. He was headed west near 127th Avenue on Glendale Avenue around 2 a.m. when he crashed his car into a Dodge pick-up truck and then into the parked semi truck. Although the driver of the Crown Victoria did not survive the crash, the passenger in the vehicle suffered non-life threatening injuries. Meanwhile, the occupants of the Dodge pickup truck did not suffer any traumatic injuries.

It is important when driving to always remember to wear a seat belt, which is often times the most effective way of preventing serious injuries. Seat belts save close to 2,000 lives per year according to The National Safety Council. Almost all states require the use of seatbelts under the “Click-it-or-Ticket” campaign however only 88 percent of people reported using them. If you are amongst the 12 percent that does not wear a seat belt, we hope you decide that now is the time to start.

Continue reading " Man Killed in Glendale Crash " »

Unfortunately, car accidents are not always avoidable—despite all safety precautions taken and all traffic rules being followed, sometimes accidents still happen. In 2005, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recorded 6,420,000 cases of road accidents; 2.9 million people were injured, and 42,636 people were killed. This means that an average of 115 people die each day due to car crashes.

At around 2pm last Monday afternoon, a four-car crash jammed traffic in Scottsdale, killing 2 people and hospitalizing another 2 (AZ Family 2/28/11).

According to the Scottsdale Police Department, the accident happened near 60th Street and Cactus Road. The fatal head-on collision happened when a beige Toyota sedan car was travelling westbound crossing the center lane and hit an incoming gray Kia sedan. The Toyota car also side-swiped a Toyota SUV and a Pontiac sedan before coming to a stop.

The female driver of the Toyota SUV sustained only minor injuries while the driver of Pontiac sedan was uninjured. However, the two male drivers of Toyota and Kia sedans were seriously injured, so the emergency responders immediately transferred them to a local hospital. Unfortunately, they were not able to survive.

Injuries and death resulting from fatal crashes can be very devastating to the family of the deceased. As Arizona wrongful death attorneys, we help these loved ones get through the most difficult time of their lives. We wrote a book to help the survivors survive, called After Wrongful Death, and you can order this book for free by calling (480) 753-4534. We hope you’ll never need it but that you find it informative if in the tragic case that it applies to you.

Continue reading " 2 lives Claimed Following Multiple Car Collision in Scottsdale " »

When a car accident occurs from a collision with a pedestrian, road debris, animals, objects, or other vehicles, the result can be very serious injury and property damage. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 6 million car accidents happen in the U.S. every year. Excessive speed is the second most common cause of deadly auto accidents, which accounts for about 30% of fatal accidents. More than 3 million people are injured due to car accidents and more than 2 million of these injuries cause permanent disability every year.

At around 2 pm last Sunday afternoon, two vehicles, a snowplow and a passenger car, crashed on a northern Arizona freeway (ABC15 2/27/11). The number of casualties is still unclear.

The crash happened on northbound State Route 87 at milepost 227 according to the spokesperson of the Department of Public Safety who responded to the accident.

The collision of the two vehicles forced authorities to close the road of northbound SR87 for several hours for further investigation on the accident.

There are many variables that may lead to accidents, such as uneven road pavements, unseen barriers, night driving, high alcohol blood content and vision impairment. In northern Arizona where the weather can cause road hazards, it is important for drivers to be extra cautious around snow plows and on icy roads. Plows travel at a slower speed than most vehicles, so many are tempted to pass them; but plows are also much wider than the average vehicle so passing them can be very dangerous. Snow plows also have blind spots that can put surrounding drivers at great risk, so please be careful when you are approaching snow plows on the winter roads.

Continue reading " Snow Plow Roll Over Accident in Northern Arizona " »

A pedestrian accident involving a former NFL player happened last weekend where the victim ended up in a local hospital after suffering non-life threatening injuries (AZ Central 02/22/2011).

According to police report, the 63-year-old former NFL running back, now working as a commentator on a local football radio show, was not using a crosswalk when the Scottsdale accident happened.

The victim is now recovering from sustained injuries while police continue to investigate the accident.

Pedestrian accidents in the U.S. result in thousands of deaths each year at a fatality rate of about 6 percent; pedestrian deaths accounted for 12 percent of the country’s traffic fatalities in 2009 (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). This goes to show that not only vehicle occupants are at great risk when on the road, but pedestrians as well.

The alarming numbers concerning pedestrian accidents serve as a constant reminder for everyone on the street to never let their guard down especially at intersections; always remember to stop, look left, then right, then left again when crossing; wear something brightly colored when walking or crossing at night; kids at all times should be held by an adult; and always cross at designated crosswalks.

Continue reading " Former NFL Player in Scottsdale Pedestrian Accident " »