Phoenix Car Accident Attorney Blog

As Tucson pedestrian accident attorneys, we were sorry to learn about a man’s death after he attempted to cross Interstate 10. According to reports in KVOA News, the man ran across the freeway at about 10:30 p.m. on January 17, 2012 and was struck by a pickup truck traveling westbound. The driver of the truck remained at the scene and was uninjured. Our deepest thoughts and condolences go out to the pedestrian’s family.

Avoid Tucson Pedestrian Accidents

As Tucson personal injury lawyers, we want know many times pedestrians are hit by motor vehicles while crossing the street. Many people think that if you are injured by a vehicle hitting you while you are not in the cross walk that it is the fault of the pedestrian, but this is not true under Arizona law. The driver of the vehicle may still be legally at-fault.

Tucson Pedestrian Accident Law

Under ARS 28-793, pedestrians must yield to cars to avoid Tucson pedestrian accidents when they are crossing at places that aren’t marked by a crosswalk. According to ARS 28-792, they have the right-of-way at crosswalks, but must make sure not to dart out in front of traffic, giving drivers little time to slow or stop.

Contact a Tucson Personal Injury Attorney

The Tucson personal injury attorneys at the Breyer Law Offices, P.C. works with victims’ families to investigate and determine whether someone else may have been at-fault for their loved one’s death. We know that even when people obey all traffic rules, they can still be involved in collisions. We work to obtain settlements for the families that pay for the medical and funeral costs involved, and more. We always aim to achieve the best personal injury settlement for victims and their families. Contact us today for a free consultation.

At Breyer Law Offices, P.C., we were happy to learn about seven new high intensity activated crosswalk signals to be built this year and next in the city, according to a news report in the Casa Grande Dispatch. After 17 pedestrians were killed in 2011, and a 13-year-old boy this year, the Tucson task force has been created to improve safety by adding these crosswalks. The city will put in a crosswalk where the boy was killed first before beginning on the others.

Unfortunately, that area had been on the list to receive a crosswalk for at least six months before the boy was hit. A crosswalk at the intersection may have saved his life. The crosswalk lights will flash yellow, then turn to solid yellow, then finally turn to red to give pedestrians warnings as they cross.

Tucson Pedestrian Accident Statistics

There were 17 pedestrian deaths from Tucson car accidents in 2011, according to the city. There were more than 1,400 pedestrian accidents in Arizona in 2010, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). These accidents caused 155 deaths and 1,236 injuries. These incidents can result in serious injuries and death, as cars are very heavy objects that are often traveling at high rates of speed. When people are hit by cars, the results can be deadly.

Tucson Car Accident Tips

We want everyone to travel as safely as possible. Look for crosswalks, wait for crossing signals, and then still remain as aware of your surroundings as possible. Look for cars that aren’t stopping and avoid them. Make eye contact with drivers so you know they see you. Wait for everyone to stop before you begin crossing and then cross quickly. If you are a Tucson driver, always watch for pedestrians, even outside of crossing areas. Still, no matter how safe your actions are, accidents still do happen.

Contact a Tucson Personal Injury Attorney

If you or a loved one is hurt in a Tucson car accident, contact an experienced Tucson auto accident injury attorney immediately. The Husband and Wife Law Team at Breyer Law Offices, P.C. can represent you and your family and help file suit against the party who was responsible for your injuries. We work to obtain settlements for our clients that cover the costs from the accident and more. Contact us today for a free consultation.

As pedestrian accident attorneys in Arizona, we were saddened to hear about the death of a 23-year-old man who was hit by a car on the night of December 17, according to a report in AZ Central. The driver of the car that hit the man made a U-turn and sped away. Witnesses say the truck was white and had a full push bar attached to the front bumper. It sped away northbound on Arizona 73. Anyone with information can call (800) 78-Crime or the White Mountain Apache Police Department at (928) 338-4942. We wish to express our deepest condolences to the man’s family.

Arizona Pedestrian Accident Statistics

There were 366 Arizona pedestrian accidents in 2010 that occurred when it was dark outside but the street or crosswalk was lighted, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). There were 149 Arizona pedestrian accidents that occurred in 2010 in completely dark conditions and 75 that occurred when it was dark with unknown lighting conditions. There were 1,449 total pedestrian accidents in Arizona in 2010.

How a White Mountain Wrongful Death Attorney Can Help

The Husband and Wife Law Team at Breyer Law Offices, P.C. works to obtain a settlement from the at-fault driver that pays for the funeral expenses and other costs the victim’s family incurs due to an Arizona fatal pedestrian accident. Alexis and Mark Breyer have been helping families and injured individuals for years. For a free consultation, call today to have all your legal questions answered.

As Scottsdale pedestrian accident attorneys, we were happy to learn about a new Scottsdale crosswalk scheduled to open November 26, 2011, according to a news report in the Tucson Citizen. The crosswalk will connect Scottsdale Quarter with Kierland Commons and will make crossing Scottsdale Road easier and safer. The crosswalk costs $325,000 and was paid for by Glimcher Realty Trust and the city of Scottsdale. The crosswalk includes simulated paver bricks and stone protective walls in the median.

Scottsdale Pedestrian Accident Statistics

There were two pedestrians involved in fatal Scottsdale pedestrian accidents in 2009, according to a report by City-Data.com. There were seven people killed in total in Scottsdale car accidents in 2009, four of those by drunk drivers.

Avoid Scottsdale Pedestrian Accidents: How to Use a Crosswalk Safely

Here are a few tips to help you avoid being involved in a pedestrian accident in Scottsdale. Most Scottsdale crosswalks have lights that indicate when pedestrians should cross. Wait for these lights to indicate that you should walk, then take a second or two to look both ways. If a car has not completely stopped, don’t assume it will. Wait until all cars have come to a complete stop before walking. Also, make sure to make eye contact with any drivers that may be attempting a right turn during a red light. Wait for the driver to see you and come to a complete stop before entering the roadway. Then, cross the road quickly.

Contact a Scottsdale Pedestrian Accident Injury Lawyer

As Scottsdale pedestrian accident injury lawyers, we know that even when pedestrians obey all crosswalk and traffic signals, pedestrian accidents still occur. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Scottsdale pedestrian accident, contact the Husband and Wife Law Team at the Breyer Law Offices, P.C. We work to represent you, and we hold the at-fault driver responsible for your medical expenses, lost wages, and more. Contact us today for a free consultation at (480) 389-2463. You can also follow us on our Arizona Law Team Twitter account for news and additional helpful information.

The experienced Glendale car crash attorneys at Breyer Law Offices were shocked to learn that pedestrian fatalities in Arizona reached 155 deaths in 2010, increasing from 122 pedestrian fatalities in 2009.

On October 28 in Glendale, a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle around 7 p.m. According to ABC15, the vehicle was travelling eastbound on Bell Road and hit the pedestrian. The pedestrian was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

We are sorry to hear about this incident. We send our prayers to the man and hope he reaches a full recovery soon.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics in Arizona

According to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), pedestrian crashes in Arizona accounted for 1.36% of the total crashes in 2010. These pedestrian crashes reached 1,449 incidents and 155 pedestrian deaths.

Arizona State Pedestrian Laws

According to ARS 28-791, pedestrians are subject to traffic control signals at intersections. At crosswalks, drivers are expected to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians. However, pedestrians should yield the right-of-way to all vehicles if they are crossing at areas other than crosswalks. Experienced accident attorneys, Mark and Alexis Breyer can tell you more about pedestrian laws.

Call an Experienced Glendale Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Experienced Glendale pedestrian accident lawyers can help you examine the facts of the accident and determine what is the best course of action to obtain a successful personal injury settlement. Many people think that determining fault and causation of injuries is simple, but they soon find out when they try to obtain a fair settlement what side the insurance is on. The insurance adjuster is not your friend and those who have been seriously injured or family members of a fatal accident victim should consult with an attorney. Not every case needs a lawyer, but a person is in a better position if they speak to an experienced lawyer. An experienced lawyer can find if the at-fault driver was working at the time or if other parties are at fault for the accident. An experienced lawyer can also help show that those who are deemed at fault were not entirely at fault depending on the circumstances of the accident. For help in your case with a free consultation, call Breyer Law Office, P.C. at (623) 455-6603.

The Mesa pedestrian accident lawyers at Breyer Law Offices are worried after discovering that pedestrian fatalities have increased from 122 deaths in 2009 to 155 in 2010. This is despite a reported decline in the overall number of pedestrian crashes from 1,523 in 2009 to 1,449 in 2010.

On October 18, 2011, ABC15 reported two teens were injured after being struck by a vehicle while crossing a street in Mesa. According to reports, the girls were struck by a vehicle near Gilbert Road around 4:30 pm. They were transported to a Trauma Center. One of the girls was in critical condition, while the other was stable but still incurred serious injuries.

Arizona Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), 88.34% (or 1,280 pedestrian crashes) and 101 ( 65.16%) of pedestrian fatalities in 2010 occurred in urban areas. Of the 155 pedestrian deaths, 87 fatalities were the result of an individual being hit by a vehicle while crossing the road.

Arizona State Pedestrian Law

Pedestrians are subject to traffic rules. According to ARS 28 792, pedestrians have the right-of-way at a crosswalk and drivers are expected to yield the right-of-way, slow down, or stop to give way to pedestrians. However, ARS 28-793 states that pedestrians crossing a roadway other than a crosswalk must yield the right-of-way to a vehicle.

Can a Skilled Mesa Personal Injury Lawyer Help You?

A Mesa personal injury lawyer should look into this accident to see why the girls were hit by the vehicle. It could be that they did not use the cross walk; however, the question may be was there even a cross walk on this road and if so, how far was the cross walk? Also, was the car speeding who hit the teenagers? What were the circumstances behind this accident? These are the things that an experienced personal injury lawyer in Mesa would investigate. Alexis Breyer and Mark Breyer, a certified specialist in injury and wrongful death law by the State Bar of Arizona, can give you straight forward answers about your case. If you have been hurt in a serious accident in Mesa, call today for a free consultation at (480) 389-2463.

Attorneys Alexis and Mark Breyer, experienced Phoenix pedestrian accident injury attorneys, were shocked to learn that in 2010 there were 155 reported pedestrian fatalities and 1,236 reported pedestrian injuries, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). In 2009, although pedestrian injuries declined, pedestrian deaths increased by 33.

Around 4:30 am on October 17, 2011, a man was struck by two vehicles while crossing the street near 7th Avenue and Camelback Road. According to Phoenix Police, the man was not crossing in the designated crosswalk and was probably intoxicated when the incident happened. He suffered non-serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital.

We are glad to hear that the victim did not suffer serious injuries and we hope he has a speedy recovery.

Arizona Pedestrian Accident Statistics

In 2010, ADOT revealed that fatal pedestrian crashes accounted to 17.42% of the overall pedestrian crashes. This is almost 10% higher than 2009 where only 7.94% of all pedestrian crashes were categorized to be fatal. Meanwhile, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) also reported that there were 219 incidents of alcohol-related crashes resulting in pedestrian collisions in 2010. Of these incidents, 58 people were killed and 160 were injured.

Arizona Pedestrian Laws

Just like other road users, pedestrians are subject to traffic rules (ARS 28-791). Pedestrians are also entitled to the right-of-way to cross the street at designated areas.

Contact an Experienced Phoenix Pedestrian Crash Attorney

For victims of pedestrian accidents, a skilled and experienced Phoenix personal injury attorney can efficiently evaluate the accident you were involved in and answer all of your questions. Alexis and Mark Breyer of the Breyer Law Offices, P.C. can review the circumstances of your case and give you honest and straight forward answers about your accident. For a free consultation, call the Breyer Law Offices, P.C. at (602) 457-6222.

Glendale pedestrian accident attorneys, Alexis and Mark Breyer, are happy to report that a 7-year-old girl has survived being recently hit by a car. According to reports by AZ Central, the victim was crossing the street on the 8600 block of North 59th Avenue around 3:15 p.m. when a car struck her.

The young girl, who appears to have been outside the crosswalk when the accident happened, was airlifted to the hospital and is reportedly in stable condition.

It was not clear at that time if the girl was dropped off by another vehicle just before the incident happened. No charges were filed against the driver and neither alcohol nor speeding was involved in the accident.

What May Have Caused This Glendale Pedestrian Accident?
According to investigations, police have cleared out impairment and speeding in this case. Initial reports are indicating that the girl was not walking in the crosswalk at the time of the accident. This could mean many things, but does not necessarily mean from a legal standpoint that she is not entitled to have her medical bills paid by the adverse driver.

Arizona Pedestrian Accidents
Even with authorities constantly reminding motorists and pedestrians about pedestrian safety, Arizona continues to have an alarming number of pedestrian crashes. As reported by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), there were 1,449 pedestrian crashes in 2010. More than 10 percent of these crashes were fatal, resulting in 155 pedestrians killed.

Contact an Experienced Glendale Pedestrian Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has been in a Glendale pedestrian accident, we urge you to file for legal action to help negligent drivers become liable for their actions. In cases such as these, it may be that the little girl was at-fault; however, there may be other extenuating circumstances that only an experienced Glendale pedestrian accident lawyer would know that may allow her and her family to recover a settlement for this accident. Mark Breyer of Breyer Law Offices, P.C. has a specialization in injury and wrongful death law by the State Bar of Arizona. Call today for a free consultation at (623) 455-6603. You may also visit our Husband and Wife Law Team Facebook page for helpful information, news, and other topics of interest.

According to AZ Family, an accident involving a child occurred last Thursday morning in Phoenix. A 5-year-old boy was walking the streets with his mother when he allegedly ran into the street near Chipman Road and 24th Street south of Broadway Road. A car heading east hit the boy. The driver quickly pulled over and stayed at the scene to talk to police as soon as they arrived. The child was brought to Maricopa Medical Center. According to the Phoenix fire official, the child suffered from a cut and bump on his head and a fractured leg. It is reported that the child is now stable.

Based on the police report, speeding, alcohol, or impairment was not a factor in the accident. No matter what caused the accident, a child was injured. We sincerely hope for the speedy recovery of the injured victim.

Arizona Pedestrian Law

Contact an Arizona Child Injury Lawyer

As Phoenix pedestrian accident attorneys, we are sorry to report a pedestrian accident with a little boy and a vehicle. On September 28, 2011, a boy was hit by a car south of Broadway Road as reported by AZ family. The car was traveling eastbound when the incident happened while the 5-year-old boy was walking with his mother along 24th Street and Chipman Road. The driver pulled over after incident and cooperated with Phoenix Police by answering their questions. The 5-year-old boy had a broken bone, a bump and cut on his head. He was transported to a hospital in stable condition. Phoenix fire officials' initial investigation revealed that impairment and speeding on the part of the driver did not appear to be the cause of the accident.

What Caused This Pedestrian Accident?

Based on information reported by AZ Family, the boy was hit by the car when he ran into the street. We do not know for sure if this is what happened but it is a reminder to all to make sure children understand that they cannot run into the street and that those actions can be very dangerous. At the same time, many drivers are speeding through the streets and even if a child runs into the street, the driver still should not be speeding.

Arizona Pedestrian Accident Statistics

As of 2010, The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) reported a total of 31 fatalities and 3,881 children age 14 and younger who were injured as a result of a pedestrian accident. Luckily, pedestrian accidents for children in Arizona has declined from 1,236 pedestrian accidents in 2010 from 1,309 in 2009. Unfortunately, although the number of accidents has decreased from 2009 to 2010, the number of pedestrian fatalities for children in these age ranges has increased. In 2009 there were 122 fatal pedestrian accidents for children and 155 fatal pedestrian accidents in 2010.
Arizona Pedestrian Accident Laws

Pedestrians are subject to traffic-control signals (28-791) just like any other road use. Thus, pedestrians are always expected to follow traffic lights except when there are instances that traffic lights are not functioning or not in place. Pedestrian control signals (ARS 28-646) including “walk,” “don't walk” and “right-of-way” are signals pedestrians and drivers should be paying attention to at all times.

Contact a Phoenix Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Being a victim of an Arizona pedestrian accident, especially when it is a child, can be a frightening experience. Many times the accident happens so fast when a child is involved that the adult does not know who is at fault or if the driver could have contributed to the accident. Other times, liability is clear cut on the part of the driver or the pedestrian. When you have incurred medical expenses as a result of a pedestrian accident, it is important to consult with a Phoenix pedestrian accident attorney to make sure you know all of your legal rights. Attorneys Alexis and Mark Breyer of Breyer Law Offices, P.C. are experienced pedestrian accident lawyers who can help you by answering all of your questions. Call for a free consultation at (602) 457-6222.

Did you know that Phoenix has been ranked as the 8th deadliest area for pedestrians by Transportation for America? The agency has gathered data for the past ten years and they discovered that there were more than 1,400 pedestrian fatalities were recorded n Phoenix, Mesa and Scottsdale.

Pedestrian/motor vehicle crashes has been a growing concern of both public and privates sectors. Pedestrian deaths in Arizona totalled 120 while 4,092 nationwide in 2009. In the same year, pedestrian injuries reached to 59,000 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This means that on the average, there is one pedestrian death every 2 hours and one pedestrian injury every 8 minutes.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), older adults, children, and impaired drivers and pedestrians are mostly at risk to be victims of fatal car crashes.

In Phoenix, one of two high school students was injured after being struck by a vehicle on their way home from school (08/16/11). The two 15 year olds were hit by a car near 16th Street and Thomas road. They were reportedly jaywalking when they were hit by the car.

One of the victims, a boy was taken to a hospital due to injuries he sustained while the other, a girl, was picked up by her parents from school.

Pedestrian injuries and fatalities can be prevented as long as we know how to follow the rules. Sidewalks, pathways, pedestrian lanes were built for pedestrians to use in order to avoid accidents such as this. The role of parents in educating their kids about road safety is vital. As parents, we should be the first to instil this in our children at an early age.

For victims of pedestrian accidents in Phoenix, don’t hesitate to call our free consultation hotline at (602) 457-6222. As Arizona pedestrian injury accident attorneys, we are ready to assist you in getting what you deserve.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of fatal child injuries in the U.S. In 2008 alone 968 victims of fatal crashes are 14 years old or younger and 168,000 more are victims of injury crashes1, numbers which show how big of a threat car accidents are to child safety.

In recent news an 11-year-old boy was struck by a truck Wednesday in Glendale (AZ Central 06/29/2011). According to Glendale Fire Department, the accident happened at 54th Avenue and Glenn Drive in downtown Glendale just before noon.

The boy was transported to a Children’s hospital suffering from non-life threatening injuries.

Authorities say no charges will be filed in the Glendale child injury accident.

As alarming as the figures sound, fatal injuries from motor vehicle crashes can still be prevented. CDC adds that in one year, 618,000 children ages 0-12 rode in vehicles without the use of a child safety seat or a seat belt at least some of the time. .

Furthermore, children 0-12 years old should be riding from the backseat where it is the safest during a crash. This also eliminates the risk of injuries that can be caused by triggered front seat airbags.

Most importantly, driving with precaution is the best way to help prevent child deaths from motor vehicle crashes. Observe proper speed limits and avoid alcohol when driving.

If your child has been the victim of a car accident in the Arizona area and would like to seek a free legal consultation, you may reach our Glendale auto accident injury attorneys at (480) 389-2463.

Traffic accidents are a common cause of death in the United States. In the entire country, 33,808 people were killed on American roads in 2009. Of this number, 807 died due to fatal car accidents in Arizona. And of these fatalities in turn, a staggering 120 of them were pedestrians. That means well over a hundred people died doing things such as crossing the street, walking on the sidewalk to work or the like. Doing the safest thing they thought they could be doing—walking—some of these people, just like that, lost their lives.

While attempting to cross the street in Phoenix, a woman was hit by an SUV and killed on recently. A spokesperson for the Phoenix Police Department reported that at 7 in the evening the woman was struck on McDowell Road, mid-block near 59th Avenue.

The fatal Phoenix pedestrian accident happened in the evening and the woman was not using a pedestrian lane or an assigned crossing location. As she crossed, a Toyota 4Runner was approaching and struck her, killing her on the scene. The driver of the 4Runner was 23 years of age and did not leave the victim, waiting for police to arrive at the scene of the incident. He was detained and officers looked into whether or not impairment was involved in the crash.

With the shocking statistics of pedestrian fatalities available to the public, one is constantly reminded that safety tips are definitely no joke. They are more than the nags of mothers constantly echoed throughout childhood.

Sometimes, simple rules such as crossing the street in the designated area can be the only thing standing between life and death. If you have lost a loved one to a fatal Arizona pedestrian accident, our compassionate pedestrian wrongful death lawyers in Phoenix can help you with a free consultation. Call us at (480) 389-2463.

The story of a child running into the street after a ball and subsequently being hit by a car is used so often as an example of road safety. Because of this, some people might think, as the clip is played in movies and videos that it would never happen in reality anymore. People are just too aware of the danger, they might think. However, it is shocking that 4, 092 people died in pedestrian accidents in 2009 in the United States. Arizona made up 120 of those deaths which was one less death compared to motorcycle fatalities

On Tuesday night in Glendale Arizona, a little boy was struck by a car in the street. He was playing with a ball, it rolled onto the street and he chased after it and was hit by a car. According to the spokesperson of the Glendale police, the boy was only 8 years old. He was walking with his father westward along Olive Avenue. Thankfully the vehicle merely “clipped” the boy. This fortunately left him with only minor injuries to his torso that were not life threatening. He was then brought to a local hospital.

Pedestrian accidents in Glendale occur frequently in every age group. It is important to be alert at all times and stay on the sidewalk to avoid any possible accident.

If you know anyone who is a victim of a car accident in Arizona, you may call our Glendale pedestrian accident lawyers (602) 457-6222 for a free consultation.

Did you know that a total of 4,092 pedestrian were killed in 2009 alone? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s national statistics, pedestrians constituted to 12.1% of 2009 traffic fatalities and 3% in injuries. The accident frequently occurred in a non-intersection, consists the 3,061 fatality and 986 for intersections, but there are 45 pedestrian fatalities that took place in an unknown location. Clearly, non-intersection is far more dangerous for pedestrians if based on this statistics.

A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and died as the result of the I-10 pedestrian accident in Phoenix. This had happened last week at around 2 in the morning. According to the Department of Public Safety, the accident took place at Interstate 10 near 7th street East of the tunnel.

Up to this point, it is not clear why did the pedestrian crossed the freeway. The Department of Public Safety did not release any further details regarding the pedestrian.

The pedestrian was brought to the hospital after the incident because of fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

The Interstate was then later opened approximately before 4:30 am.

It is dangerous to cross a street and not on a pedestrian lane. This is because most of the time, drivers are confident that there are no people going to cross the street there. Worst, don’t cross a freeway because it is not a place for a pedestrian to cross. There are circumstances though that this is inevitable for some people.

If you are a victim of a road accident, give our experienced pedestrian crash lawyers in Phoenix a call so we can help you. Our numbers are (602) 457-6222, or (480) 389-2463 for your free consultation.

Pedestrian fatalities accounted for a significant percentage of deaths involving motor vehicle collisions throughout United States and all over the world. For instance, there were a total of 4,092 pedestrian deaths out of more that 33,000 fatalities involving motor vehicles crashes in 2009. This is equivalent to 12 percent of the number of deaths on that year (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).

Did you know that pedestrians have a higher chance of getting killed in a car accident as compared to vehicle occupants on each trip? In most cases, alcohol impairment on the part of either the driver or the pedestrian is the primary cause of accidents resulting to pedestrian deaths. Speeding also offer’s great risks to pedestrians who might be injured or killed after being hit by a car.

In Arizona, each concerned government sector has been trying to establish a pedestrian-friendly environment. For instance, a pedestrian bridge was built in the dam at Tempe connecting the northern and southern shores of the lake. According to information gathered, the bridge, which is 912 feet long, 34 feet high and weigh more than 660,000 pounds will be completed in August.

The bridge primary aim is to build a way for bicyclists, runners, and walkers where they are safe from motor vehicle accidents. In this case, they do not have to compete with speeding cars on the road.

To avoid you and your loved ones become victims of pedestrian accidents, here are few simple tips to stay safe on the road:

• Always use crosswalks and follow traffic signals when crossing the streets.
• Look both ways before crossing even if it is a one way street.
• Use sidewalks or paths, and walk against the flow of traffic to see incoming vehicles.
• Lastly, always be alert when walking on sidewalks or crossing the street.

For victims of pedestrian accidents, dial (602) 457-6222 for a free consultation with one of our top Arizona pedestrian accident injury attorneys.

Pedestrian fatalities accounted for a significant percentage of deaths involving motor vehicle collisions throughout United States and all over the world. For instance, there were a total of 4,092 pedestrian deaths out of more that 33,000 fatalities involving motor vehicles crashes in 2009. This is equivalent to 12 percent of the number of deaths on that year (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).

Did you know that pedestrians have higher chances of getting killed in an Arizona car accident as compared to vehicle occupants on each trip? In most cases, alcohol impairment on the part of either the driver or the pedestrian is the primary cause of accidents resulting to pedestrian deaths. Meanwhile, speeding also offer great risks to pedestrians who might injured or die after being hit by a car.

In Arizona, each concerned government sectors has been trying to establish a pedestrian-friendly environment. For instance, a pedestrian bridge was built in the dam at Tempe connecting the northern and southern shores of the lake. According to information gathered, the bridge is 912 feet long, 34 feet high, weighs more than 660,000 pounds and will be completed in August.

The bridge primary aim is to build a way for bicyclists, runners, and walkers where they are safe from motor vehicle accidents. In this case, they do not have to compete with speeding cars on the road.

To avoid you and your loved ones become victims of pedestrian accidents, here are few simple tips to stay safe on the road:

• Always use crosswalks and follow traffic signals when crossing the streets.
• Look both ways before crossing even if it is a one way street.
• Use sidewalks or paths, and walk against the flow of traffic to see incoming vehicles.
• Lastly, always be alert when walking on sidewalks or crossing the street.

For victims of pedestrian accidents, dial (602) 267-1280 for a free consultation with one of our top Arizona pedestrian accident lawyers.

The proper way to cross the street is generally instilled in children at a young age. However, it is still a common cause of death for many people, be it young or old. There were 120 pedestrians that died in the year of 2009 due to Arizona pedestrian traffic accidents.

In Peoria Arizona, around 5:30 in the morning a woman was killed while walking from her nearby apartment. She was instantly killed after being hit by a truck, despite the 39-year old truck driver’s attempts to swerve out of the way after seeing her from a distance.

Coming from a Luke Air Force Base in the neighborhood, a passenger stopped and performed CPR on Garcia. However, she unfortunately could not be revived. The victim was 35 years old. The police do not believe alcohol or any other impairment was involved and they do not plan to file charges at the moment.

Collisions in Arizona with non-motorists make up 20.1% of the total fatal crashes; that is 143 people that lost their lives while crossing the street in 2009 (NHSTA). Fatalities like these cannot be ignored, and victims can suffer for prolonged periods of time or perhaps their entire lives.

If you are a victim or a survivor of a pedestrian accident in Arizona, our knowledgeable Peoria pedestrian accident lawyers may be able to help you. We must hold these drivers accountable for their negligence. Please call us for your free consultation at (602) 267-1280.

Arizona pedestrians are more vulnerable to accidents when sharing the road with vehicles. In every pedestrian accident, there is a very high possibility that the victim will suffer serious injuries. There were approximately 59,000 incidents that involved a pedestrian that resulted in injuries in 2009, while there are only 4,092 fatalities that same year (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). Among the pedestrian injury accidents, 49.1 percent or 29,000 of the incidents took place in an intersection. This may be due to the number of vehicles that are crossing an intersection.

Just last month, a pedestrian was injured in a hit-and-run incident in Avondale. The pedestrian was a woman walking her dog at 118th lane. The driver is unknown, but the car was a Toyota Corolla.

The woman was crossing West Coldwater Boulevard at the 118th lane when she was hit by the car. The driver made a right turn onto Coldwater and hit the woman, but still went on and drove away. The woman was then taken to the local hospital as she was treated for her injuries. Though, her injuries were not life threatening, the police are now in search for the Corolla driver.

If you know anything about the identity of this driver or if you have any information that may lead to the identification or location of the driver, please call our free, anonymous hit and run tipline. You could win a reward if your tip leads to the successful felony arrest and conviction of the driver! As a driver, it is not only the right thing to do, but it is the law to not leave the scene after an Arizona auto accident.

If you do not know what to do in case you are involved in a hit and run accident, call us at (602) 267-1280, or (480) 753-4534 so we can advise you what to do with your situation.

Automobile accidents are increasing each year and in 2009, there were 33,808 fatalities from car accidents according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Many die or are seriously injured in these accidents. With just a few minor changes in our driving habits, we can prevent many of these needless accidents.

A few weeks ago at a Phoenix intersection at around 6:45 pm, the collision between a red Mercury car and a black Lincoln SUV caused the death of an unborn baby of the 20-year-old female passenger in the Mercury. A 2-year old girl who sat at the back seat sustained serious injuries as well, while the drivers of both cars only suffered minor injuries (AZCentral 3/1/11).

Police say that an investigation is still underway since the two drivers did not show any impairment. Police are currently waiting for witnesses to come forward, since there were no cameras on Roosevelt Street, the site of the collision.

There are many causes of car accidents. Besides impairment, distracted driving is a common cause of car accidents. Distracted driving is commonly thought of in regards to texting and driving, but a distraction can be many other things besides cell phone use, such as people talking to each other while driving, or playing with the radio. Eating and drinking while driving are also causes for a large percentage of car accidents.

Currently, scientists are studying car safety for pregnant women. They are looking for ways to reduce the possibility of fetal death for expectant mothers who are involved in car accidents (AZfamily 12/25/09).

Continue reading "Expectant Mother and Young Child Seriously Injured" »

Did you know that everyday 32 people in the United States die because of alcohol impaired driving accidents? In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that alcohol-impaired driving reached up to 30,797 cases in 2009. In the same year, NHTSA recorded 10,839 deaths involving drivers with blood alcohol concentration exceeding the legal limit of .08 – .32 percent.

We are aware that alcohol is also the primary reason of fatal car accidents in the United States. Drunk driving is a big concern in the country. Although statistics show that fatal DUI-related accidents have been steadily decreasing over years, the numbers could always be lower.

Every April, we highlight the need to prevent and treat alcohol-related related problems. Alcohol Awareness Month started in 1987 by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. It aims to raise awareness of alcohol abuse and encourage people to make healthy, safe choices. This is also the opportunity for communities to work together in educating everyone especially the children about the importance of being alcohol-free.

This month, let us all work together to further lessen the number of fatal car accidents due to impaired driving. Many of us have lost a friend or a loved one because of a careless and reckless driver. Arizona AAA usually offers a free “Tipsy Tow” during holidays for drivers who cannot avoid drinking and driving. There are also many other services for free or a small charge to get impaired drivers home without having to get behind the wheel. A small ride fee is nothing compared to a priceless life. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is also a very well known group of people fighting to save more lives from drunk drivers every year.

Continue reading "Prevent Serious Injuries: April is Alcohol Awareness Month" »

Bicycling is an excellent outdoor activity for kids. It is not only a recreational activity but a healthy mode of transportation. Bicycling also helps reduce traffic congestion and improve the quality of air and life.

However, bicycling does have the risk of being involved in an accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that more than 51,000 cases of bicycling injuries were reported and 630 people were killed as a result in 2009. Seventy-four of the casualties were children under the age of 14.. In Arizona, 25 bikers were killed in 2009 and bike deaths accounted for 2 percent of the total number of fatal traffic accidents.

A child was involved in an accident after falling off of his bike on Saturday around 3 p.m. (3/26/11). The accident occurred in Maricopa at 36000 block of West Alhambra Street. According to the witnesses, the victim, a 10-year old boy was trying to avoid a van when he fell off his bike and was unconscious for about 45 seconds after hitting the ground.

Fortunately, the boy was wearing a helmet when the incident occurred. He was alert and talking when the fire crews arrived at the scene. The boy was flown to the hospital in a stable condition.

The NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts of 2008 revealed that there was a decline in the number of bicycle related deaths as compared to ten years ago. This means that more and more people have taken safety precautions seriously. As parents, we are responsible for teaching our kids how to stay safe while having fun riding their bikes.

Continue reading "10 Year Old Stable After Bike Accident" »

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" »

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" »

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" »

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" »

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" »

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" »

In an effort to stop pedestrian accidents, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has come up with safety programs that aim to enforce traffic rules and regulations as well as increase safety awareness among pedestrians of all ages. But despite such programs, reports of pedestrian injuries and fatalities continue to stay at an alarming rate, especially in Arizona, with the 8th highest pedestrian fatality rate in the country.

Earlier this week, a pedestrian was seriously injured after a collision that happened along Broadway road in Phoenix (KPHO 1/27/2011). The 17-year-old victim suffered a severe head injury after almost being hit head on.

Police say the driver did not see the girl walking and stayed on the scene after the accident. The driver will not face any charges as the girl was not in a crosswalk at the time. The victim was rushed to a local hospital and continues to be in critical condition.

In 2008, approximately 12 pedestrians died each day due to motor vehicle crashes, while another 189 more suffered from injuries. Though lower than previous years, these numbers can be pushed significantly lower by practicing basic pedestrian safety concepts. While many pedestrians may see cars coming from a distance away, the cars may not spot the pedestrians until it is too late. Utilizing crosswalks and sidewalks at all times helps ensure pedestrians will stay out of harm’s way. Even if a pedestrian believes he or she is seen by an oncoming car, it is best to wait until the traffic signals change to begin to cross.

Continue reading "Teen Pedestrian Critical After Phoenix Car Crash" »

Every year school buses in the United States provide almost nine million trips. Many parents prefer school buses to send their kids to school due to the level of safety and convenience that it offers. In 2002, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that students who ride school buses are actually eight times less likely to be involved in road accidents compared to those driven by their parents or guardians.

But a few recent reports about accidents involving school buses has raised concern among some parents, as they realize that school buses are unfortunately still vulnerable to traffic accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that in a span of ten years, there were 1409 fatal crashes involving school buses and other school transport vehicles, resulting in 1564 deaths (2008).

On Thursday, another fatal Phoenix accident involving a school bus occurred when a man walked directly into a school bus' path (KPHO 1/13/11). The Phoenix police said that the victim was an 18-year old man who exited the Valley Metro bus.

The bus was on its way to school and was carrying around twelve very young students. Police said that fortunately, no students were hurt and none of them saw the actual accident.

Alarmed parents who want to take a stronger stand for child transportation safety can make a difference. Talking to the school board about school bus safety or suggesting even more stringent procedures in hiring school bus drivers are ways parents can be heard. Making the bus driver’s job easier by reminding children to stay seated while the bus is moving can also help since children are likely to fall and get hurt if they are not seated properly, and curbing children’s misbehavior can help by eliminating yet another distraction for bus drivers.

Continue reading "Fatal Phoenix School Bus Accident" »

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" »

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" »

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" »

After seeing so many hit and run accidents recently, we started a new statewide hit and run tipline awarding up to $1000 for information leading to the arrest and felony conviction of drivers who flee the scene of an accident. We hope this tipline brings more drivers to justice, especially in situations that do not allow for the victims to report any information themselves.

On Friday in Scottsdale, a hit and run driver fled the scene of a pedestrian accident (KPHO 11/19/10). Luckily the pedestrian was not seriously injured, just seriously upset. He and a few other witnesses quickly jumped in their own cars and followed the hit and run driver to the Loop 101. The police were called to both scenes, but it is not known yet if any arrests have been made.

Not all hit and run victims are lucky enough to be in a condition to catch their own suspects. Most victims are left seriously injured and without witnesses around for immediate help.

We established the Hit and Run tipline in Arizona because we are ranked 8th in the nation for the worst pedestrian fatality rate—many of these deaths are caused by hit and run drivers. Hopefully with the increased chance of being caught will encourage drivers to remain at the scene instead of fleeing.

For more information about our hit and run tipline, click the link below:

Continue reading "Pedestrian Fights Back After Scottsdale Hit and Run Accident" »

With all these pedestrian accidents as of late, it sounds like Arizona may be moving up from 8th in its ranking for worst pedestrian fatality rate. A teen was killed on a sidewalk by a hit and run driver, another woman was left for dead in the road, and now yet another pedestrian’s life has been lost. Arizona drivers, please look out for others on the roads and sidewalks!

An elderly man, 96 years old, was hit in a crosswalk and killed on Tuesday morning (ABC 15 11/16/10). The man was in a marked crosswalk when a pick up truck failed to yield the right of way to him and ran him over. Impairment does not seem to be a factor.

For every 100,000 residents, 1.82 will face a wrongful death in a pedestrian accident in Arizona (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2009). Elderly adults aged 65 years and older are the most at risk population, accounting for 18% of all pedestrian deaths, followed by children ages 5 to 9 and pedestrians under the influence of drugs or alcohol (Center for Disease Control and Prevention 6/17/10).

Continue reading "Yuma Pedestrian Killed at Crosswalk" »

In 2009, 630 bicyclists died, and an additional 51,000 were injured due to traffic accidents (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). As Arizona bike accident attorneys, we know this statistic too well.

On Sunday in Phoenix, a 53 year old man lost his life when he was hit by a car while riding his bicycle (AZ Family 11/15/10). The driver then fled the scene but was found about a block from the accident and arrested. She is suspected to have been driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the fatal crash.

Thankfully this woman was apprehended after fleeing this deadly accident or the family of this unidentified older man would be left with no one to hold accountable and no source for compensation of this tragedy unless they had uninsured motorist coverage. We encourage all families and drivers to purchase additional uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage because it will protect you in cases like this, when a driver flees the scene, or if you are hit by a driver without insurance or with inadequate insurance.

We also encourage witnesses to speak up to authorities when they witness a hit and run accident. We have started to sponsor a statewide hit and run tipline and will award up to $1,000 for information leading to a felony arrest and conviction of a hit and run driver. The line is completely confidential. For more information, check out our website:

Continue reading "Bicyclist Killed by Hit and Run Driver in Phoenix" »

On Halloween, twice as many children are killed in pedestrian accidents as compared to any other day of the year (Safe Kids USA 2009). More pedestrians populate the sidewalks during the dusk and evening hours of 5:30-9:30pm, and children are more excited, so they may move unpredictably.

To protect children this Halloween holiday, there will be more officers patrolling the streets in the valley looking for impaired drivers (ABC 15 10/29/10). Drivers are reminded never to drink and drive and to avoid distractions like texting. It is even more important this weekend with the increased number of pedestrians on the roads to be 100% attentive to the road.

Parents are encouraged to also speak with their children before going out to trick or treat about pedestrian safety. Safe Kids USA has also compiled a list of tips for parents and trick-or-treaters this holiday:
• Try to wear light-colored costumes and clothing, and attach reflective tape or other materials to improve visibility in the dark.
• Walk with flashlights or glowsticks so they can see better and avoid tripping hazards as well as be more visible to motorists.
• Only cross the street at corners and always use crosswalks. Look both ways before and while you cross the street.
• Stay on sidewalks, where available, or walk facing traffic as far to the right as possible. Try to stick to residential streets where there may be less traffic.
• Use makeup, face paint, and wigs instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.

We wish all families a safe and happy Halloween!

Continue reading "Pedestrian Accidents Twice as Likely on Halloween" »

Probably one of the worst nightmares a parent could have is the one where their child is hit by a car. As parents and Arizona bike accident attorneys, we worry about the safety of our children when they are playing outside. Despite constant supervision, education, and preparedness, unfortunately accidents still seem to happen.

On Wednesday in Maricopa, an 11 year old boy was hit by an SUV as he was riding his bike (ABC 15 10/21/10). He was trying to cross a residential street when the car hit him. He suffered a serious head injury requiring emergency surgery to stop major bleeding in his head, and he remains in critical condition. Our thoughts are with this family during this difficult time and we wish him a speedy recovery. It is not known if he was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

What do you know about bike safety and kids? Take a look at these facts from Safe Kids USA (2009).
• Every year, there are about 140 child bicyclist deaths, and another 275,000 nonfatal injuries—14,000 of which were hit by cars.
• Only about 15-25% of child bicycle riders wear helmets, even though they could prevent 135-155 deaths and 39,000-45,000 head injuries annually.
• If at least 85% of children wore bike helmets while riding for one year, the U.S. could save $134-$174 million in lifetime medical costs.

Continue reading "Maricopa Boy Critically Injured in Bicycle Accident" »

What would you do? You are walking down the street with your friends or family and you see a car or motorcycle heading your way, fast.

For one Mesa teen, the answer was to push his friends out of the way and take the hit, leading to several injuries.

The fourteen year old suffered broken ribs, dislocated and broken jaw, missing teeth, and missing some of his tongue when he was hit by an out of control motorcycle on Tuesday afternoon (KPHO 10/21/10). He and his friends had been walking down the street when he spotted the motorcycle speeding out of control, so he pushed his friends out of the way and was hit by the bike, sending him seven feet into the air. It is not known yet if there are any citations for the motorcycle rider. The teen is recovering at Maricopa medical center and we wish this hometown hero a speedy recovery.

Children ages 14 and under and adults aged 65 and older are the two most at-risk groups for pedestrian accidents (Center for Disease Control and Prevention 6/17/10). Surprisingly, about 83% of child pedestrian fatalities are not at intersections, even though as parents, we stress the importance of crosswalk safety more than most other safety messages to our kids (Safe Kids USA 2009). Safe Kids USA has created a helpful video to share with children about the importance of pedestrian safety, you can check it out at: http://youtu.be/GPxZKI1mfpo.

Continue reading "Mesa Teen Injured after Saving Friends from Motorcycle’s Path" »

“Go play outside” is the message I was always given as a child, but as a parent in today’s world, this message has more than one caveat. There are many precautions we take before going outside to prevent injury or accidents, such as putting on sunscreen or a helmet, and always keeping a cell phone in your pocket. Parents fear phone calls from a police officer or hospital, but unfortunately the parents of one Glendale teen got that call Wednesday night.

A 14-year old boy was hit by an SUV as he and his friends crossed a Glendale street, sustaining serious upper body injuries (Arizona Republic via AZ Central 10/13/10). Witnesses say the four boys were carrying their skateboards across the street, not in a crosswalk. The female driver of the SUV did not show any signs of impairment, admitting that she didn’t see the boy. The teen was airlifted to the hospital from the accident scene.

This accident served as a scary reminder to us as parents to remind our children how to enjoy sports safely. Skateboarding has been growing in popularity for many years now among children, but it remains a very dangerous sport. In 2004, 18,743 head injuries were reported due to skateboarding accidents (Safe Kids USA 2009). Wearing a helmet can prevent many of these serious injuries. It can reduce the risk of head injury by 85% and save 135-150 deaths of children between 4 and 15 every year (Safe Kids USA 2009). Some state counties require helmets on skateboarders, but Arizona’s do not. Arizona only requires helmets are worn by bicycle riders under 18. Set an example for your family by wearing a helmet, it could save a life.

Continue reading "Skateboarding Child Seriously Injured in Glendale, Arizona Car Accident" »

Every parent will do all they can to keep their children safe and healthy. Unfortunately there are sometimes situations that can be unforeseen and an injury accident may happen. It always seems to occur in the few seconds that a parent glances away from the child and exactly what a parent fears happens.

On Wednesday in Glendale, a toddler was run over by his grandmother’s car and sent to the hospital in serious condition (KPHO 10/6/10). His grandmother was backing out of the garage, planning on manually shutting it behind her, and in the process, ran over the boy. There was no speeding or impairment involved but the accident is under investigation.

This story is a scary reminder to parents of the extra cautions they must take to keep their children safe. Children often play outside in their home’s driveway using their bike, chalk, or jump ropes, and while the driveway keeps them some distance from the road, it doesn’t mean they are safe from traffic. Because of their short stature, children are often more difficult to spot when driving a car, and because they are often pre-occupied with playing, children may not spot an oncoming car in time to avoid an accident.

Safe Kids USA advises drivers to take precautions before taking off in a car:
• Walk all the way around your car to check for children or anything nearby that may attract a child like toys or animals and remove them before getting in the car.
• Accompany children by holding their hand tightly when walking around cars or getting in and out of them.
• Designate safe play areas for children to play in the driveway as well as a stationary spot for children to wait if cars are coming in or out of the driveway.

Continue reading "Glendale, Arizona Toddler Seriously Injured After Car Accident" »

Now that fall seems to finally be arriving in Arizona, more residents are coming outside to enjoy the cooler temperatures by riding bikes and walking around their neighborhoods. Evening time is not only a beautiful time of day in which the temperatures start to drop and the sun is setting, but it is also one of the most dangerous times for cycling and pedestrian accidents.

In Mesa this past weekend, a man on a yellow BMX-style bike was hit by two cars (Arizona Republic via AZ Central 10/5/10). The bicyclist has not yet gained consciousness and the police are having a difficult time identifying him. He is described as an 18-25 year old white male with dark medium-length hair, 5’10” and 185-190 lbs, wearing tan shorts and dark shoes. If you have any information regarding this victim, you can call Mesa police at (480) 644-2211.

When riding a bike, there are traffic laws to follow just as in driving a car. In Arizona, there are a few important statutes even casual riders should be aware of (Courtesy of Pima Association of Governments 10/5/10):
• Riders must always travel the same direction as traffic.
• For bicyclists that have no turn signals on their bikes, riders should always use their left hand to make the hand and arm movements to signal their turns. Extend your arm parallel to the ground for a left turn. Bend your elbow to a 90 degree angle upwards to signal right. While stopping, make a right angle pointing downwards.
• Every rider must have a regular seat to sit on.
• While riding on the road, stay as far to the right as possible and only ride in a single or double line with other riders, except on bicycle-only routes.
• Always maintain at least one hand on the handlebars.
• For nighttime riding, equip your bike with at least one white headlight that illuminates up to 500 feet and a red rear reflector visible up to 300 feet.

Continue reading "Police Seek Help in Identifying Critically Injured Mesa, Arizona Bicyclist" »

As parents and car accident attorneys, we are always saddened when we hear about children being involved in accidents, especially when they are pedestrians. Injuries are typically amplified for pedestrians because there is no barrier to take the impact.

On Monday night, a 17 year old boy sustained a serious head injury after he was hit by a car while crossing the road (ABC15 9/28/10). He and a friend were trying to catch a bus when they ran in front of the vehicle. Police have determined that speed or impairment were not likely factors in the accident.

Traveling at night can be very dangerous for pedestrians, and running into the street without looking can lead to disastrous situations, as shown by Monday night’s accident. The first step to walking safety is to always use sidewalks and crosswalks. At night time, increase visibility by wearing light and/or reflective clothing. Carrying a flashlight also helps both the pedestrian see their path and drivers to see the pedestrian. Driveways or alleyways are typically where visibility is most difficult for drivers, so pedestrians should be extra cautious in those areas.

Continue reading "Car Accident Injures 17-year Old Boy" »

Trying to travel more “greenly” by walking or riding a bike saves gas and lessens the environmental impact we leave on the planet, but it also leaves us more vulnerable in the event of an accident. As Arizona accident attorneys, we have seen how devastating the results of a car-pedestrian or car-bicycle accident can be, and we encourage everyone, both drivers and walkers alike, to share the road safely with those using other modes of transportation.

A Phoenix car-bicycle accident sent five people to the hospital on Saturday night (KPHO 9/27/10). The cyclist was crossing the road at a red light when a car filled with two adults and two children, ages 5 and 8, hit him. He got stuck in the windshield while the car traveled another 100 feet into a light post, then he was ejected to the ground. This accident serves as a scary reminder of the dangers of traveling at night.

Walking or riding a bike at night can be very enjoyable due to the cooler air and lit-up storefronts. However, it is important to upgrade your safety equipment if you plan to ride your bike at night. The stock reflectors that come on most bikes are not sufficient to make you visible to drivers, as they only become visible at certain angles, at which point it may be too late. Even if you feel you can see adequately due to the ambient light in the area, you should get a helmet or handlebar lamp so others can see you. Wearing light and/or reflective clothing also helps you be more visible at night.

Continue reading "Five People Critically Injured in Car-Bicycle Accident" »

One of a parent’s worst nightmares is to see their child be hit by a car. As Arizona car accident attorneys and parents ourselves, we hope all parents have the pleasure of watching their children live their lives to the fullest.

While crossing the road with his father, a 7-year old boy was hit by a car that then fled the scene (ABC 15 9/14/10). He was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries and is expected to go home soon. The police have still not found the suspect.

Any mode of transportation could pose danger for the participants, but it is usually thought that walking may be one of the safest ways to travel. Pedestrian fatalities only accounted for 12% of all traffic fatalities in Arizona in 2008 (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis 2008). However, injuries sustained were disproportionately those ages 65 and older or 16 and younger. Time of day also plays a factor in pedestrian accidents. Evening, night time, and weekends are the times during which most pedestrian accidents happen.

Pedestrian accidents are very dangerous because there is no protection to take any of the force from impact. A car or bike accident at least has the vehicle to take some of the hit but with pedestrians, there is no barrier.

Continue reading "Hit and Run Accident in Scottsdale Injures 7-Yr Old Boy" »

As Arizona car accident attorneys, we are thrilled to hear this latest information from the U.S. Transportation Department via the Associated Press, who reported that the number of highway deaths has dropped to the “lowest level since 1950” (AP via AZ Central 9/8/10).

The decrease is amazing especially considering the increase in miles traveled in 2009. Numerous factors have contributed to this statistic, including more standardized safety features in cars, widespread and consistent use of seatbelts, and a stronger police presence to enforce impaired driving laws (AP via AZ Central 9/8/10).

The Associated Press says the new focus of the Transportation Department is to reduce the number of distractions while driving, such as prohibiting texting while driving or other habits that take a drivers’ attention from the road.

We are excited to hear that the roads are becoming safer, but realize there is a long road ahead of continued improvement. Distractions while driving can be even more dangerous than driving impaired.

A Car and Driver report was conducted on reaction times and distances using two test subjects, comparing their abilities while texting and while driving drunk. At 70 miles an hour, while driving drunk, it took an average of 4-11 feet more to start braking than they did with no impairment (LeBeau 2009). The same test subjects, while texting at 70 miles an hour, took 70 and 9 feet more to brake (LeBeau 2009). That’s enough time to cause a serious wreck. Bottom line is, if you must use your phone while driving, use a hands-free device or pull over to complete your task. It keeps us all safer.

Continue reading "Fatalities from Highway Car Accidents Fall Nationally in 2009" »

As Arizona motorcycle accident attorneys and sports fanatics ourselves, we were relieved to hear that Iowa Hawkeyes football player, Josh Koeppel, was not seriously injured in a recent accident he had with a truck. The Associated Press reported that Koeppel with struck by a truck while riding his scooter on his way to class (Meredith 2010). A viral video of the accident has spread across the internet showing Koeppel unharmed after the sudden incident.

Koeppel was lucky, especially because he wasn’t wearing a helmet. Many motorcyclists do not face such a harmless outcome after an accident. Helmets prevent serious brain injuries in the event of an accident. Wearing body armor also lessens the extent of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident, but many riders do not wear such protective devices.

Although helmets are not technically required in the state of Arizona, having one and choosing not to wear it may reduce the amount of compensation you would receive should you have an accident. If the injuries could have been prevented if the rider wore an available helmet, the other driver may have less responsibility to pay resulting medical bills. It is more beneficial to the rider to wear a helmet than to not.

Continue reading "Truck Accident Leaves Football Player Unharmed" »

In Arizona over this past Labor Day weekend, an amplified effort by state officers arrested over 1,700 people for driving under the influence (Arizona Republic 9/6/10). As Arizona personal injury lawyers, we thank the officers for their hard work to make the roads safer for us all this past weekend and appreciate their continued efforts.

Driving under the influence is a very serious offense as it puts all others on the road in danger. It is important as a safe driver to always be aware of the signs of impaired driving, such as excessive speeding, impulsive braking, and exaggerated turns.

Drivers who are impaired are potentially subject to punitive damages as well. Punitive damages allow victims to collect damages against the negligent party above and beyond compensatory damages. Punitive damages are meant to punish the wrongdoer. To collect for punitive damages there are certain elements that must be met in a court of law including showing that the wrongdoer acted with an "evil hand and evil mind."

Continue reading "Labor Day Brings Increased Number of DUI Arrests" »

In Arizona, crosswalks give pedestrians the right-of-way, but oftentimes there will still be traffic turning right or left into the crosswalk space. It is important to cross as quickly as possible and always look both ways as you walk.

Recently in California, a mother was walking her two children in a stroller when she was hit in a crosswalk by a tow truck, and her children dragged under the truck for ¼ mile (Ventura County Star via KPHO 9/3/10). The children suffered critical injuries and the mother had moderate injuries.

As parents ourselves, this story is very scary to us. Especially with the Arizona weather cooling, it is more comfortable and enjoyable to take our children out for a walk.

Always stay on the sidewalk and keep children close when walking. If there is no sidewalk, stay to the right of the road at all times. When crossing the road with your children walking with you or in a stroller, it is even more important to be aware of your surroundings, not only immediately but also in the distance. Cars driving at excessive speeds will approach more quickly than you anticipate. While walking at dusk or in the evening, be sure to carry a flashlight and/or reflective clothing so you are visible to cars driving past. Visit SafeKids USA for more tips to share with your children on pedestrian safety.

Continue reading "Pedestrian Crosswalk Caution" »

As car accident lawyers we received many calls each day seeking advice regarding auto accidents. Many times we are told that the caller asked the insurance adjuster what they should do in terms of handling the case on their own or if they should contact a lawyer. It is the job of the insurance adjuster to give out as little as money as possible. Everyone should remember this. This is not to say that all cases do need a lawyer just it is our advice that all people should consult with a lawyer. Or, I should say that you should not be looking to an insurance adjuster for legal advice.

Insurance companies deter people from seeking help from a lawyer and many times scold them for thinking about hiring a lawyer. Think about it why would an insurance adjuster be so adamant in a claimant not hiring a lawyer. The insurance adjuster wants to prolong as long as possible for the claimant to hire a lawyer.

Insurance companies use every strategy to make sure you don’t receive the fair settlement that you deserve. It has been statistically documented from an insurance company investigation that you have a higher chance of reaching a higher settlement when you hire an attorney. For these reasons, it is important to hire an Arizona personal injury lawyer to advice you in the steps you need to take to receive your full compensation from your insurance company. Investigations by insurance companies have shown that claimants with a lawyer receive higher than a third more than claimants who are not represented. Typically attorneys charge a one third contingency fee agreement. That means that attorneys earn more than their fee and that ultimately the client ends up with more money. This does not even include the liens that attorneys negotiate for clients which puts even more money in their pocket.

If you have been hurt in an Arizona car accident, you can feel free to call us for a free consultation or you can read our Arizona car accident book, The 13 Biggest Mistakes Than Can Destroy Your Injury Claim. We detail the 13 ways that you must be careful not to destroy your claim. We do all the work for you by providing the do’s and don’ts for tackling your accident claim. And best of all, it’s free! Remember, Mark is a certified specialist in injury and wrongful death law and there are only 2% of attorneys in the Valley who are considered experts by the State Bar of Arizona. It is important not only to talk to an attorney but to choose someone who is knowledgeable and will have the correct answers for you.

In many Mesa motorcycle accidents, motorcycle riders typically sustain terrible permanent injuries and many times they sustain fatal injuries. Although most witnesses do not agree, the fact is that many times in car accidents, it isn’t the motorcyclists’ fault that the crash even occurred.

Mesa motorcycle accidents as well as motorcycle accidents all over the worlds usually occur because the other involved driver was not paying attention to the roadway. In many instances, the adverse driver was not paying attention to the roadway, including examples such as texting while driving, talking on their cell phone, looking down and going through documents, looking at the radio, or the cd player, among other things other than looking at the roadway. It can even be for a split second that the car driver is not looking at the roadway and then they collide with the motorcycle rider.

The problem for motorcycle riders is that when the other driver is at fault and collides with the motorcycle, the motorcycle rider has limited protection and usually gets seriously injured. The most careful rider can be severely injured because they are completely exposed. For what may be a minimal impact between two cars, between a motorcycle rider and a car it is a total different situation, much more likely to result in serious injury for the motorcycle rider compared to the person riding in the vehicle. If you are a motorcyclist who was hit by a car in a Mesa accident, there are several necessary steps you must take to make your case have the best chances of settling for the maximum value.

First, do not speak to any investigation firms, especially any investigator from an insurance company. A representative from an insurance company may call you to try to get a recorded statement. This is very typical. Do not let them convince you that you have to give a recorded statement. You do not have to give a recorded statement.

Second, avoid any solicitors at the hospital or ambulance who try to get you to consult a law firm, especially if that person comes to your hospital or home. Often these solicitors are not lawyers and are investigators or people who are paid by lawyers who are looking for new clients. This is not a good way to choose an attorney.

Third, go ahead and take the time to find an attorney and go through the internet. You can check the State Bar of Arizona to search for advice on what law offices are best qualified to handle your serious injury claim. We suggest to look on the internet and research whether the lawyer you are thinking about hiring has tried similar cases to yours. Also, check if the attorney you are thinking about choosing has a good reputation your community.

Fourth, you should to take pictures of all your injuries or bruises that were caused by the motorcycle accident. Of course after a serious collision and significant injuries, it may be impossible for you to take pictures of the scene of the accident yourself. You can have family members take photos or the police will often take photos of the scene and any other vehicles involved in the accident. Pictures you take of your personal injuries and bruises can be used as essential evidence to prove the seriousness of your injuries.

Fifth, talk to an experienced Mesa car accident attorney as soon as possible. As qualified lawyers who have worked with many motorcycle accident victims, many with very serious injuries and many who have sustained fatal injuries we are ready to help you and answer any of your questions.

Feel free to give us a call anytime and we can give you honest answers to your questions.

Continue reading "Mesa personal injury lawyers - Mesa Arizona - 3707 E. Southern Avenue, Mesa Arizona 85206" »

Mesa car accidents and truck accidents require very different follow up when you have been an injured victim. One of the differences between a car accident and a truck accident, is that it is absolutely necessary for the victim or their attorney to submit to the trucking company a spoliation letter. A spoliation letter tells the trucking company that they have to hold onto the evidence and are unable to destroy anything. In many cases, trucking companies destroy the actual truck involved in the accident, or any other pertinent evidence, to get rid of any proof that they know would show that they were at fault for causing the accident. Therefore, sending the trucking company a spoliation letter would thereafter hold the trucking company accountable for keeping the evidence. A spoliation letter also requires the representatives for the trucking company to hold all necessary documents that prove that the truck driver was responsible for the accident. We have had many cases where spoliation letters made the entire different in the case. Many times when we send spoliation letters the trucking company will still destroy the evidence however when we are able to show that the trucking company received the spoliation letter we are then able to get evidence into the courtroom that we may have otherwise not been able to.

The question becomes why do trucking companies want to go as far as destroying evidence from a car crash when they know that it will come back to haunt them. Many times, the trucking companies will get away with destroying the evidence because they do not receive a spoliation letter or because the spoliation letter is not effective and complete. Many times trucking companies destroy the evidence because they bank on the fact that juries often times will not believe or be persuaded that the trucking company deliberately destroyed the evidence. Having the spoliation letter though signed by a trucking representative that they received it further helps to show that the trucking company on purpose destroyed the evidence.

After a car crash, especially when someone is seriously injured, it is important to have a complete and legally valid spoliation letter sent to the trucking company. Every case is different and typically each spoliation letter will be different as well.

Do you have an experienced Mesa Arizona car accident lawyer on your side? It is vital if you are seriously injured in a trucking accident to make sure you at least speak to an experienced injury lawyer in Arizona. If you do hire an attorney, make sure to ask the lawyer for a copy of the spoliation letter so you can review it to make sure that all the details are accurate. Some attorneys who take trucking accident cases are unfamiliar with the important or legalities for spoliation letters. If you have been seriously injured it is important to make sure you are hiring someone with the experience necessary to handle your serious injury claim.

When a minor is involved in a Arizona car accident in Arizona, the procedures are entirely different. During the negotiation stage, it is important to always make sure to account for the future injuries that may occur with a minor. Many times, it is unknown what will occur exactly. That is OK but a minor can recover damages for personal injuries that are likely to occur. People think many times that the threshold is that you have to absolutely know and predict the future. In fact that is not the case. When proving and collecting upon a personal injury claim for future damages, and this is true whether it is a minor or not, a person can collect for future damages by showing that it is more likely than not that the future damages or future medical care or future medical bills will be incurred. Thus, the standard is more likely than not. In criminal cases, the standard is beyond a reasonable doubt. When it comes to a car accident the standard is not as high a threshold as with a criminal case.

Fast forwarding to the settlement process. Typically, a minor’s settlement will have to be approved by a Judge. The Judge will listed to the lawyer, the guardian and the minor. Sometimes the minor does not have to appear for the Court hearing but if the minor is above 10 we encourage the parents to have the minor attend. Both parents must have notice that the court hearing will take place.

The Judge will listen to the fact and will either approve or disapprove the settlement and the disbursement of the settlement. At that time, it should be very clear to the minor and the parents what the minor will receive. Usually, either a restricted account is set up at a bank account or an annuity is purchased for the minor. The minor cannot touch the money until the minor reaches age 18. At that time the minor will have to petition the court to release the funds. This is an easy process to have the funds released but it is necessary to have a court hearing.

If you have any questions on a settlement regarding a minor’s injury or if your minor child has been injured, contact the husband and wife law team to help with your claim.

Mesa car accidents happen every day but they do not happen every day where they are intentional. Today I got a call from a man who sits on a homeowners association board and a homeowner ran him over with his vehicle. This type of behavior is astonishing. The caller wanted to know what was the best way that he could proceed.

Under motor vehicle law in Arizona, there is a big difference between intentional acts and criminal acts. In fact this is probably true with most civil cases in terms of whether or not insurance will cover. Of course, you can pursue the negligent person whether or not there is insurance, but typically when an Arizona lawyer is involved it is because they are going after an insurance policy.

A lot of what an attorney does is find different policies when someone is seriously injured from a motor vehicle accident in Arizona. Above that, attorneys also negotiates liens, talks with doctors, requests specific reports, preserves evidence, and deals with insurance companies who treat people unfairly.

Many people do not realize as well that the prosecutor actually has the say so in whether or not a person gets pursued criminally. The victim has no say in whether or not the prosecutor initiates criminal charges against the perpetrator. With that being said, we still always recommend that the injured person call the prosecutor to let the prosecutor know that they were injured.

You do have to remember though as a victim person if the person who hurt you is found to be criminally negligent that may void out any liability on the part of their insurance company paying. Most insurance policies say that they will only pay for negligent acts not purposeful and intentional acts. Therefore, when you are injured you will have to decide whether their act was negligent or whether it was intentional. Typically the cases that we deal with, the acts are negligent and therefore we can recover the monies from the insurance. Even when it has to do with an assault many times, the act is still negligent even though the person might have swung a fist or something like that. The reason it is still considered negligent under the law is that someone might swing a fist to hit another person, for example, but they do not intend to hurt the person seriously. That is, it is all about the person’s intent.

In this particular case it does appear that the person who hit the man with their vehicle was doing so with intent to hurt but even then it is hard to say without getting more evidence.
Our office serves all of Arizona.

We are known as The Husband And Wife Law team and we handle car accidents in Mesa and are motor vehicle accident attorneys in Arizona. We also handle motorcycle accidents throughout the Valley as well. We have an office located in Mesa for motor vehicle auto accident victims so that they have easy access to come to our office.

We also have an office located in the east valley in the Chandler, Ahwatukee, Tempe, area that is closer for people who have been in an accident in these areas in the easy valley, such as Ahwatukee, Chandler, Tempe, Maricopa. We started as Ahwatukee car accident lawyers in 1996. Our first office was in Ahwatukee.

We still have an office currently in Ahwatukee as well. Insurance adjusters know that we are car accident lawyers in Chandler and car accident lawyers in Tempe as well. Our Ahwatukee office is just a few minutes from Chandler and Tempe Arizona. If one of our offices is not close to you or near you and you are seriously injured, we are able to visit you in the hospital or come to your home as we understand that when you are seriously injured because of an accident it is difficult to come see a lawyer.

Many of the cases we accept are in the Glendale area as well. As Glendale car accident lawyers, we receive many calls each day from people on the west side who have been injured. As lawyers in Avondale who handle car accidents in Avondale Arizona we have help a lot of people in this part of the west side as well. We do have an office in Avondale Arizona and can meet people there if they live close to this area and this is more convenient. Peoria car accident lawyers and Sun City car accident lawyers we are available as well to help people who live in this area of Arizona. Recognized through out the Valley as Arizona car accident lawyers, we also help people in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Paradise Valley and Fountain Hills.

Although there are a lot of Arizona car accident lawyers, Mark has received recognition for Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Arizona and has received top ranking from Martindale-Hubbell which is a renowned legal source for more than 100 years. There are also many Scottsdale car accident lawyers and we are available to help those who have been injured in an auto accident in Scottsdale as well as all the other cities listed above. We are not near Bullhead City, but we still consider ourselves Bullhead City car accident lawyers, as we have clients who have been injured in Bullhead City.

Many clients who are injured in Bullhead city are brought to Vegas Hospitals. We have visited clients in the Vegas hospitals before. If you believe that you need an accident attorney to protect you, give us a call even if you have been hurt in Bullhead City. Do not let the distance from Phoenix scare you as we can still come to you. There are many car accidents in Gilbert as well. Our Mesa office is located near Gilbert so as Gilbert car accident lawyers we are still able to help protect your rights as well.

Remember when you are looking for an attorney, you are not going to spend a lot of time in your attorney’s office regarding your car accident claim. The most time you will spend is the initial visit and then after that you will mostly have telephone appointments. Certainly, for our office we encourage clients to call and come by but it is not necessary.

It is most important you pick an excellent lawyer that you have trust in and know that those Arizona injury lawyers will do a great job for you rather than pick an auto accident attorney just because they are a few minutes from your house. The outcome of a personal injury claim can be life changing so it is very important that you feel very comfortable with your injury lawyer and that you trust that you have made a great decision when you hire the attorney.

Mesa car accidents often result in drivers and passengers being seriously injured in auto accidents. Many car crashes often result in the wrongful death of an innocent person by the negligent of another driver.

When you or your loved one is involved in a serious car accident in Mesa Arizona it is important to consult with an experienced lawyer. Mark Breyer has top rating by Martindale-Hubbell, a renowned lawyer source for more than 100 years. He also has top ranking from AVVO, a legal ranking company. Mark has recently received an award by ATLA for Top Trial Lawyers In Arizona. Mark also is an expert in injury and wrongful death law as certified by the State Bar of Arizona.

The State Bar of Arizona has certified less than 2% of attorneys in the Valley, including auto accident lawyers in Mesa, Arizona. To be certified as an expert in injury and wrongful death law by the State Bar of Arizona you must show high qualifications, pass an exam, receive ratings by Judges and other attorneys in Arizona, as well as show the requisite amount of trial experience and cases handled in injury and wrongful death law.

As The Husband And Wife Law Team and car accident lawyers in Mesa, Arizona, we pride ourselves as giving our clients the Breyer Law Experience. All our clients receive top notch legal service as you would expect from a certified specialist as well as the client service that they deserve. We offer a no fee guarantee for all cases that we accept. We only handle serious injury and wrongful death claims but can help you if you call and set you in the right direction.

Unlike most law offices, even if we cannot help you we will try to find an attorney that can help you or give you a free consultation on your claim. We also have an injury book that we offer free to all Arizona residents. We do not charge a fee unless we settled your claim and we advance all costs. We have the resources necessary to hire the best experts and process all of our cases to the fullest to receive the best settlement. Call us anytime. We are here to help. Call Now!

Mesa auto accidents and motorcycle accidents happen every day. We currently have an office in Mesa, Arizona but we also have offices throughout Arizona. We serve clients Statewide. As Accident lawyers in Mesa and in Arizona, we began our law practice in 1996. We originally began our office in Ahwatukee, Arizona. Our office has grown because of our successes. We however still stay true to our original concept when beginning our office, which is to give the best client service with the best legal service as well.

Whether you are involved in a car accident in Mesa, Arizona or anywhere throughout the Valley, we are able to help you. We do not just hand off your automobile or motorcycle case to an associate or a paralegal, we take the lead in the case and always speak with our clients. Of course, we have excellent experienced paralegals that we work with but when you need to talk to a lawyer, you will speak to us and not have trouble reaching us.

As attorneys who practice injury and wrongful death law in Arizona, Mark Breyer is a certified specialist by the State Bar of Arizona. This signifies that the State Bar of Arizona has certified him as a specialist and expert in Arizona injury and wrongful death law. Auto accident lawyers in Mesa Arizona can help injured victims get their fair compensation. Less than 2% of attorneys in all of Arizona, not just car accident lawyers in Mesa, Arizona are certified specialists in injury and wrongful death law. Therefore, this is an amazing accomplishment by Mark. It shows the success that we have had but more than that it is a testament by Judges and other attorneys around the Valley that Mark is a competent lawyer who has the trial experience and experience to handle injury and wrongful death claims.

If you have been injured in an accident in Mesa, Arizona or just have questions please do not hesitate to give us a call. Although we are selective in the injury and wrongful death cases that we are able to handle, we will give you advice and point you in the right direction.

We serve all of Mesa Arizona and all cities statewide in Arizona. We handle car accident claims in Mesa and if you are unable to come to our office in Mesa we can come to your hospital or to your home. We recognize that when you are seriously injured it is difficult to come to an attorney’s office.

We offer a no fee guarantee and you can reach us 24/7. Feel free to call anytime. We are here to help and you can rely on the "Husband And Wife Law Team."

After an Arizona car accident, whether it be in Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, Maricopa, Apache Junction, Scottsdale, Glendale, Sun City or any other place in Arizona you must file a claim with the adverse party, and I (Alexis) recommend that you file a claim with your own insurance as well.

I have had many people through the years call me after their statute of limitations has run for their Arizona car accident only to learn that filing a claim is not the same as filing a lawsuit. Filing a claim for an auto accident means that you talk to the insurance company, given them all the information, and let them know that you were injured in the auto accident. Usually, the insurance adjuster will call you for status of your medical care or they may discuss your claim with you. As I always say, it is important to remember that the insurance adjuster is not your friend. This is an adversarial relationship. You want what is best for you and the insurance company wants what is best for them. What is best for the insurance company? To settle a case for as little as possible.

Filing a claim is just that – talking to the insurance company. There are many different statutes of limitations. The statute depends on the type of claim. Some car accidents have a 180 day statute of limitation, some a 1 year statute of limitation and some a 2 year statute of limitation. For other injuries the statutes can vary as well. When a minor is involved the statutes can differ also. It is important to always consult with a lawyer to make sure you at least get an evaluation of your deadlines for your case.

If you are simply negotiating with the insurance adjuster and the statute is arising, it does not matter. You have to file a lawsuit or settle the claim before the statute of limitations. If you are negotiating and the statute is coming up, it does not matter. Negotiating with an insurance adjuster on a car accident claim does not stop your obligations from dealing with the statute of limitations.

Under the law, a person who makes an injury claim in Arizona is held to the standard of knowing all the laws. It is not enough to say as someone recently did when they called me that they were not aware of it. The person who called said no one warned her of the statute and she didn’t know. Unfortunately, this is not a defense to missing a statute of limitations.

Technically based on the Department of Insurance, an insurance adjuster is supposed to tell you the statute of limitations, but many times they tell you in a letter immediately following the auto accident in Arizona so people do not really understand what this letter means. Also, the problem is that even if the adjuster or insurance company does not tell the person who was injured in the car accident in Arizona, there really is no recourse against the insurance company as there is no legal punishment for the adjuster. Therefore, the bottom line is do not rely on the insurance adjuster to tell you what your statute of limitations are for your case. The truth is many times the adjusters don’t even know so once they hand the file over to an attorney, the attorney might make a legal argument that the adjuster did not even know about.

Filing a lawsuit is where you actually have papers that are filed with the Court. This is the only way to preserve and protect your claim in regards to the statute of limitations. You can file a lawsuit and not continue with it, but it is necessary to continue negotiations to show the adjuster that you have filed the lawsuit. When filing a lawsuit, it requires a fee, a cover sheet, a summons, and what is called a certificate of compulsory arbitration. These documents all need to be filed with the clerk and when filed the clerk will stamp them and give the case a number. This is the number an adjuster will be looking for once the statute of limitations date passes.

If you have any questions about your statute of limitations and want a deadline review of your case, feel free to call our office.

Mesa Car Accident Lawyers is part of what we are. We actually serve the entire Valley. I focus on Mesa in this blog because I received several calls today asking where our law office was in Arizona. So there you go. The above is our address. We have other offices through out the Valley so if you have any questions just let us know.

Do you know what a certified specialist in injury and wrongful death law means? In short, the State Bar of Arizona awards certain lawyers as being a certified specialist in the area of injury and wrongful death law when they have proven that they have had ample trial experience, recommendations from Judges and other lawyers in Arizona, as well as passing a specialist exam. Also, certified specialists do not maintain there specialist certification forever. They have to reapply and continuously show that they are litigating cases and have an active practice in personal injury law. To find about more about the qualifications of a lawyer being awarded a certified specialist distinction visit the Arizona State Bar. There are only about 2% of Arizona attorneys who are considered specialists by the State Bar of Arizona. In fact, if you are not a specialist you are not considered an expert by the State Bar.

Mark Breyer of the Husband and Wife Law Team is a certified specialist in injury and wrongful death law. It is a great accomplishment and a testament to our successes! If you have been involved in an auto accident in Mesa or anywhere in Arizona do not hesitate to give us a call. We help injured victims and are injury lawyers in Mesa and we also help individuals throughout the State of Arizona. To find out more about our office, call for a free consultation or visit our website.

An Arizona car accident occurred in 2006. It involved a young girl who had just turned 18 years old and another driver, who had run a read light. As car accident lawyers in Mesa, Chandler, Avondale, Peoria, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, Glendale, Sun City, Phoenix, and as you know we serve injured victims through out the Valley - many of the claims we handle deal are with drivers running a red light. Running a red light causes many car accidents in Arizona. In fact I have never done the statistics of our own cases in terms of what types of car accidents cause the most claims in our office, but off the top of my head I would probably say running red lights and failure to yields. Of course, car accidents in Arizona come in all sorts of ways.

So back to the story. A young girl is driving. An innocent driver when all of a sudden she is stuck by a driver who has not only run a red light but is totally drunk. The police come to the scene of the accident. Luckily some witnesses stay, but most of the people who witnessed the car accident in Arizona left the scene. As a side note, if you ever do witness a car accident it is so vital to stop and let the police know. We have had many cases where the driver says he had a green light or did not fail to yield, whatever the case may be, basically where the driver at fault denied liability, and if it were not for a witness the police would not deem anyone at fault. Regardless of what the police determine, as personal injury lawyers in Arizona, it is a lot harder to prove fault when a driver does not admit they are at fault and there are no witnesses. At that point sometimes, it can become a he said-she said dispute in proving who is at fault for the auto accident. That is when accident reconstructionist experts and other experts come into play to prove to a jury or judge that our client was not at fault.

The police are at the scene of the auto crash in Arizona and the young girl is seriously injured. She cannot get out of the vehicle. She is trapped in the vehicle. She is in serious pain. She will face many surgeries and as much as physical pain she will undergo just as much, if not more, emotional pain, from dealing with all the physical injuries. Meanwhile, the drunk driver gets taken away from the scene. He at least admits fault, of course, he is drunk. He is taken into custody. Both vehicles are towed from the scene and the young girl gets taken by ambulance to the hospital to face all her surgeries while the drunk gets taken to prison. Prison, a place he had already been and should have stayed from causing other car accidents in Arizona.

The injured girl’s vehicle is taken care of. Her parents called the insurance company and ultimately the vehicle was totaled. It didn’t really matter because the girl would not be able to walk for many months but at least the vehicle was not sitting in storage and accumulating charges against the injured victim.

The parents talk to their daughter and tell her to hire a lawyer. They explain to her that she needs to be protected. She has a high amount of medical bills and had no surgery. The daughter tells her parents that she is not ready to file a claim. She tells them emotionally it is all just too much and she doesn’t want to deal with it. The parents do everything they can to convince her to hire an injury attorney but since the daughter is 18 it is ultimately her decision as she is not a minor. The daughter says she doesn’t want to talk to an accident lawyer in Arizona because she has already talked to the prosecutor and it is all taken care of so she is set. The parents again plead to have her just consult a lawyer but she refused. Eventually, the parents give up and all through the while they have continued to support their daughter.

Fast forward four years. The girl still cannot walk like she used to. She has been through multiple surgeries. Emotionally she is a mess but much better than she was at the time of the car accident. It just took her a long time to get back to her emotionally stable point. Now she is ready to consult with an Arizona personal injury lawyer. Now she wants justice.

She decides to call an injury and wrongful death lawyer in Phoenix and guess what she reaches our office. She asks can she pursue a claim. She is crying through out the conversation because it is still emotional for her, as would be expected. When I tell her that it is too late she is shocked. How can it be too late? She tells me the prosecutor told her that the prosecutor was pursuing her claim for her. I go over the statute of limitations for car accidents in Arizona with her and try to see if there is any way that the statute could not have passed. There is simply no way. She could have hired a lawyer. She could have got to the Court house to file a claim. She was not a minor. She herself had no insurance so it was not a matter of underinsured just the claim against the adverse driver for causing the collision in Arizona. Such sad news to tell someone that now when they are ready to pursue justice, they cannot because they waited too long. That her parents were right – nothing a daughter wants to hear. I know as a parent myself those are the last words kids want to hear – that their parents were right!

Anyways, as an injury lawyer in Arizona, I bring this scenario to everyone’s attention because it is a perfect example why all injury victims should consult with Arizona personal injury lawyers. This girl has been misled or mistakenly understood that the prosecutor was filing the claim for her. She was unaware of the statute of limitations and now sits with thousands and thousands of dollars of medical bills because she did not simply talk to an injury lawyer. I do commend her for focusing on her emotional pain and doing everything she could to heal and not having that feeling of running out to get a lawyer. The thing is because of the adversary relationship with injured victims and insurance companies, in order to protect yourself as an injured victim of a car crash in Arizona it is necessary to seek a consultation with an injury lawyer. This is my attempt at letting everyone know the important of just consulting with a lawyer, especially after a serious car accident. Also, for all those claimants out there that think the prosecutor is filing your claim – almost always that is not correct. Prosecutors handle criminal investigations and matters, and yes it is true that they will prosecute the drunk driver for the injured victim. When it comes to a civil case against the driver though for pain and suffering that is what a personal injury lawyer in Arizona handles.

Arizona car accidents hurt innocent people every day. Our Arizona Accident Book details the legal system for people who have injury claims in Arizona. As Arizona personal injury lawyers and since our practice is limited to only very serious injury and wrongful death claims we thought we would put information in a book to help others. Even those who need a lawyer, the book helps them understand more about the legal system, the adversarial relationship with the insurance adjuster, and the 13 biggest mistakes that can destroy your Arizona Accident Claim.

Arizona Injury Book - FREE

The reason I bring up our Arizona Injury Book is because I got a call this week from a man who was very seriously injured in a car accident. The car accident had happened about a month ago. Nothing had been done with his vehicle. He was self employed and was unable to go back to work. The adverse insurance company was not calling him back. His daughter had ordered him a copy of our book and had given it to him. It was obvious that he never read it though because he had already given a recorded statement to the adverse insurance company, which is something you shouldn’t do! He had not got a lost wage statement from his doctor, which is necessary to collect lost wages! He had left the car at the tow yard and an abandoned title had been applied for by the tow yard and the tow yard was requesting almost a thousand dollars in storage fees.

If you don't know the answers to these questions think what this means

I asked him some further questions about his own insurance. Did he know if he had medical coverage? Did he know how to handle Medicare? He was on Medicare and with Medicare you need to get a conditional lien amount – and then a final lien amount – to settle your claim. He had no idea about this – Of course, he didn’t he’s not a lawyer. He didn’t know that he could use his underinsured from his two different automobile policies. He had another separate auto policy that did not have underinsured on it and he didn’t know that the insurance company is required to have a person sign off on different documents and that he might be able to get more underinsured coverage. Of course, he didn’t know this either because he’s not a lawyer and knows nothing about insurance coverage.

Lawyers know how to look for additional coverage

Most importantly, the adverse driver was in on a cell phone for what appeared to be a work related call. This means that the company insurance may apply even if the adverse driver was not in his own vehicle.

At the end of the conversation, the man was still convinced that he could handle the Arizona car accident claim on his own. This is what I don’t understand. This man had a life changing very serious injury. He should be protected and will have no idea how to protect himself. Maybe it is that some people still feel bad hiring an attorney for a car accident claim. Maybe that is it. I have talked to some people who have said that they felt bad hiring a lawyer or that it was something that they did not feel comfortable doing. Some people have told me that for religious reasons they felt like they could not file a claim against someone who caused the accident.

I respect everyone’s opinions and it is an individual choice for each auto accident, motorcycle accident, pedestrian accident, trucking accident, whatever the motor vehicle accident or any other injury victim for that matter – it is their individual decision what to do. I just think that when you are seriously injured or have a loved one who has been killed by the negligence of another individual that it is necessary to consult a lawyer in depth to find out all your rights. Some car accident cases do not require a lawyer. But other cases do require a lawyer. We all pay for car insurance. Many of us pay thousands of dollars each year for car insurance. So shouldn’t we all be protected if we are injured to make sure that the car insurance company pays the most that they have to. Why should as a victim if you lose wages you want to give the insurance company an advantage to not have to pay everything that they are entitled to?

As I got off the phone with this man who was confident that he could handle his case on his own, I reminded him to go read the book. At least if he was not going to hire a lawyer, he could get some pointers on what not to do. His son was smart to order the book and his son understands that there are a lot of dynamics to an injury claim that lay people do not know. If you are in a small car crash and the injuries are not too significant then even though you may do better with a lawyer, ultimately it is not a life changing amount of money so it does not have as big of an impact.

Serious injuries from a motor vehicle accident

When you are seriously injured from a car accident though and have injuries that are permanent, or excessive lost wages, or excessive medical bills, there is simply too much to lose by trying to handle a claim on your own. At least that is my opinion. Of course, I see insurance companies day in and day out deny claims to people who tried to handle it on their own so I come from a completely different perspective. I know that insurance adjusters on not on the injured victims side and we try to get this point across to victims, but at least on a positive note many people still have trust in others. I guess in that way these people are to be commended because they trust that others will look out for them and do the right thing even when it is an adversarial position.

Insurance adjusters are not your friend

The simple fact is an insurance adjuster is not going to point out that they have more coverage, is not going to tell you to get a lost wage note, is not going to tell you the ramifications of leaving your car in storage, is not going to tell you that you may have additional underinsured coverage, is not going to inform you that the person driving might have a company policy because they were on the phone and the list goes on. Bottom line, when you are in a car accident it is an adversarial situation and as a victim it is in your best interest to be protected.

Arizona car accidents are happening all over the Valley. I received a call yesterday from a sister whose brother had been seriously hurt in a motor vehicle accident about 15 months prior. The brother had been T-boned by another vehicle and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Since the time of the accident, the brother was not able to work because of the injury. The brother had ordered a copy of our book and was calling for more information.

Our Arizona Accident book was actually written to provide people with information. Many people are unaware as to how the claims process works so we just wanted to give people more information on what happened when you are involved in a personal injury claim in Arizona. The book does not just go over car accidents, but many other injury claims as well. The book is not meant to be in place of a lawyer or a consultation with a lawyer but was just meant to let people know how insurance adjusters process claims and what mistakes to look out for. The book talks about the 13 biggest mistakes that people make in pursuing their claim. When I got off the phone with the sister she told me that her brother had fallen trap to a few of the mistakes we had talked about in the book. Needless to say we may still be able to help the brother, but the brother has to call so we can go over more details.

In any case, the reason I bring this up is what I have noticed more and more is that our book does not just give people information about our legal system and dealing with adjusters but in explaining the legal system it seems to explain to people why it is OK to file a claim. Many people who call our office at first felt guilty about filing a claim for an injury out of a car accident or motorcycle accident in Arizona or any other personal injury claim. After they read our book, even the most religious, tell us that they are really glad they read the book because they have a better understanding of the legal system in Arizona and also understand that it is OK to file a claim and it does not make a person a bad person to file a claim. This is what our legal system is all about. Further, this is why we all buy insurance. Lastly, in filing a claim you let the person or company know that they need to stop the behavior or fix the behavior and make it right so that no one else gets hurt.

Not all claims are legitimate. We certainly recognize this. Not all claims are worth pursuing. Not all injuries are serious. For those people who have sustained serious injury remember that people pay for insurance in case they hurt someone by accident. Also, the only way a person or company will drive safer or put steps in place to hire safe drivers or other reasons that accidents are caused is if the people or families of the injured people stand up for their rights and let the negligent people know that they were hurt and that they need to make whole as much as possible the injured person. If people do not stand up to the person or company who caused the harm then other people will continue to get hurt.

Our recommendation is not that all people file a claim or file a lawsuit, but that all injured people talk to an Arizona personal injury lawyer and go over their options to make sure that their legal rights are protected. Most injury lawyers in Phoenix, and all over the Valley include Ahwatukee, Glendale, Chandler, Tempe, Apache Junction, Scottsdale, Maricopa, Laveen, South Phoenix, Avondale, Sun City – did I miss any where? We get calls from all over the Valley even Tucson so I want to let every one know that most Arizona injury lawyer, certainly our office, offer free consultation and a no fee guarantee where we will review your case – especially it is important to review your deadlines for your case – and let you know what you have to do to make sure your rights are protected. It is my goal by this blog entry to just entice people to review their legal options with a lawyer to make sure their rights are protected. I am not saying you have to go run out and file a lawsuit or file a claim, just make sure your rights are protected.

The sister who called me by speaking to me found out that when a person is injured they have to file a lawsuit or settle their claim within one year – which the brother did not do! If they do not file a lawsuit or settle the injury claim within one year and they have workers compensation, then they need to get a reassignment from worker compensation as in the second year of an injury claim where there is a workers compensation claim as well, the claim becomes that of the workers compensation claim. So now the brother will know that he needs to get a reassignment before going any further and then a lawsuit or settlement can be had with the adverse driver. Further, we discussed that a potential underinsured claim may exist as well and that underinsured claims have different statute of limitations than when dealing with an adverse party. These are just some of the deadlines for the brother’s personal injury claim that we reviewed. At least the brother should know the deadlines and then have the option of deciding whether or not to pursue a claim. Had they not known they could have let the statute go and never have known about the need for a reassignment. In fact, a workers comp carrier does not have to give a reassignment so if the brother does decide to pursue a claim, he will still need to hope that the workers comp carrier gives him the reassignment.

Don't forget to check our more information on our injury book and the mistakes that you can make when pursuing a personal injury claim in Arizona.

Most people are not involved in Arizona car accidents. Most people never have to talk to an Arizona injury and wrongful death lawyer. Most people will never have to know what is involved to make an injury or wrongful death claim with the insurance company. These are the lucky people.

Unfortunately, there are many others who are involved in Arizona car accidents. These people may have either been seriously injured or lost a loved one from a fatal Phoenix, Arizona car accident. Maybe it wasn't in Phoenix, maybe the car accident was outside of Phoenix, such as a car accident in Chandler or Ahwatukee or Tempe, or all the surrounding areas that are in Phoenix, Regardless of where the accident is, these are the unlucky people. It is better to be ignorant of the law and the insurance claims but unfortunately many people are forced to learn about it and forced to seek out an experienced Arizona accident and injury lawyer.

Currently, the insurance companies have been successful in convincing society that people who are injured and seek money damages are greedy. I (Alexis) want to tell everyone about a situation that recently happened with one of our clients and you tell me who is the greedy one!

Our clients were involved in a car accident and let's call him "Joe" who was the driver. Joe was very seriously injured. He was transported by ambulance to the hospital where he remained in ICU for a couple of weeks. During this time, his wife was at home caring for their children and trying to go back and forth between the hospital and tend to all the kids at home. Meanwhile, Joe's vehicle was towed from the scene of the accident while Joe was being taken to the hospital with life threatening injuries. Joe's car was old so he did not have collision coverage on the vehicle. The insurance company of the person who was at fault who hit Joe's vehicle would not do anything because they said they had to get in touch with their insured first and investigate as to whether or not their insured was at fault. Where was their insured? In jail. Their insured had been taken to jail from the accident scene because he was driving drunk and was found to be at fault for the car accident.

The insurance company took 8 weeks to investigate the car accident and talk to their insured. After 8 weeks they admitted liability and said they would pay for Joe's total loss. Sounds fair? I suppose that part is fair. But here is the unfair part. Joe's vehicle sat in storage the entire 8 weeks because the insurance company would not move it out of storage. They told Joe to move it himself. Yes, Joe who was in ICU for part of this time. If not Joe, then his wife they expected to take care of it. Joe and his family could not afford the storage charges, the towing charges, and where would thye have had their totaled vehicle moved to - Joe's family would have had to move their totaled vehicle to another tow yard place that would also have charged for storage charges.

This makes absolutely no sense - does it? But these are the types of things that insurance companies try to get away with it. They won't get away with it here though because Joe hired our office and we sent the insurance company multiple letters indicating that they had to remove the vehicle or they would be responsible for the storage charges. If the insurance company doesn't pay for Joe's storage charges plus Joe's loss of use for his family not having a rental vehicle what will happen and what can you do as an accident victim?

You file a lawsuit. Some Arizona injury lawyers might not want to file a lawsuit but that is exactly what we do. You have to file a lawsuit to show these insurance companies that they cannot bully you and your clients around. We have had some cases where insurance companies try to do this and we have received 3-4 times the value of the vehicle in the end because the insurance company has to pay interest and so many other charges when they are found at fault for their actions.

The bottom line is this is an excellent example of how an innocent person can be taken advantage of by the insurance company. Next time someone tells you a person who pursues an injury claim is greedy tell them this story and let them know that if you've never been involved in an Arizona car accident and been hurt and had to make an Arizona injury claim or had to hire an Arizona injury lawyer to get what is fair then you do not know what our legal system is all about. Remember this story and how the insurance company is the one who is greedy.

When people are involved in an Arizona car accident many times they are seriously injured. When we represent clients who are seriously injured in an Arizona car accident, many times we see that they have trouble paying their mortgage, medical bills, utility bills, etc. This is to be expected because when a person is injured they are unable to work and therefore they have trouble paying all of their expenses. For many, all of these issues are why people look into hiring the best Arizona car accident lawyer.

Getting An Advance on Your Arizona Injury Claim

There are companies out there that will make an advance on an Arizona injury claim. Typically, they require a lot of forms and will only pay a minimal amount compared to the value of the settlement. In order for these companies to decide if a person can qualify for an advance on their settlement claim, they will talk to the injury lawyer, review the police report, ask about liability, request to see the car photos, and any other evidence that the attorney may have. The funding company has to be very conservative in the amount of money that they lend out because they will be lending this money out and it will be totally dependent on the outcome of the settlement. Therefore, the funding company will be taking a great risk when they lend out money to personal injury individuals.

Why as Phoenix Injury Attorneys Do We Recommend Against Injured Victims Getting An Advance On Their injury Claim?

Typically, we recommend against any of our clients getting advances on their injury claims. Why is that? The reason is because funding companies charge an enormous amount of interest when giving out a loan on an injury claim. By a lot of money it can come out to as much or more as 50% in interest and fees. In other words, if you get a loan on an injury claim in the amount of $10,000 you will need to pay back $15,000 out of your personal injury settlement. Also, as the months go by, the interest will continue to increase at a high rate. Many times to make sure you get the best settlement possible it will take longer and you do not want the taking out of a loan to affect whether you can hold out on settlement.

When May A Client Need An Advance on Their Injury Claim

There are some times where we do understand why clients need to get an advance on their settlement. Of course, as lawyers we listen to our clients and do anything needed to address what they would like out of their settlement claim. Therefore even if we do not agree with the client taking out an advance on their settlement, we will still do everything we can to help the client. The times that we understand that the client needs an advance is where they have tried everything possible and are just so behind that the extra interest will not make a difference. We had a client once who was going to lose his home because he could not work and getting an advance on his settlement was the only way he could save his home.

It is important to try to do everything you can to avoid an advance on your claim because of the high interest rates and fees that go along with getting an advancement on a personal injury claim. We do understand why the funding companies have to charge such high rates and that is because if the case is lost they will not get any money so the funding company is taking on a lot of risk.

If you have any questions on an Arizona injury claim, feel free to give us a call. As Arizona personal injury lawyers, we are able to answer all your questions and if we cannot help you, we will point you in the right direction so you get the help and care that you need.

I find it very interesting that people who are involved in an Arizona accident will call our office and say how they don't want a McDonald's case verdict or anything like that but they do want to be compensated. What is interesting about that is 1) many people know nothing about the McDonald's case and 2) it is amazing how influential the insurance industry is to convince everyone how bad it is to file a claim or lawsuit against someone.

McDonald's Coffee Injury Case

With reference to the McDonald's coffee case, most people only know what they have been told by the media which mostly comes from the insurance industry as only their insurance industry has enough money to go on TV and do all sorts of other stuff and alter facts about a case. What really happened in the McDonald's coffee case is that an older woman was burned by hot coffee because of McDonald's choices. You see McDonalds decided that they would create a campaign to let everyone know that their coffee was the hottest. In doing so, they made the coffee so hot that many people were getting burned. All of these people, society never heard of but McDonalds and the others knew that the coffee was too hot - so hot that it would cause injury sooner or later.

Real Facts Of Case

As a result, the woman was severely burned. It was not just a little burn, but very significant burns on her body. When the case went to Court, the Plaintiff's lawyer asked for what we call "punitive damages." Punitive damages is where a company or individual acts such that their conduct is seen with an "evil mind." When a Plaintiff's lawyer ask for punitive damages the jury can award money damages to punish the Defendant for their egregious actions. The way the media portrayed the McDonald's case is that some woman got burned because of her own actions and millions of dollars was awarded to the Plaintiff. That is not what happened at all.

What happened was that McDonalds knew that they should not be serving coffee this hurt because others had complained of the temperature and being hurt... a little. As a result, McDonald's was warned to lower the temperature of their coffee to avoid future injury and McDonald’s chose to not do so and keep the coffee at the hot temperature because they didn't care who got hurt, they only cared about sales.

Injury Case Goes to Court

When the case went to Court, the Judge found that there was enough evidence for the Plaintiff's lawyer to argue that McDonalds acted with an evil mind. The jury found that as well and awarded one day of coffee sales to the woman as a punishment. That is where the millions of dollars comes in.

Did you know that the Judge has the power to reduce the award a jury gives? So when you are on a jury, you actually do not have final say, the Judge does. In this case, the Judge did lower the amount of the award in fact and the woman did not get the amount that the jury awarded her.

Perception of Society When Pursuing An Injury Claim

The perception of society now is that it is bad to make a claim when you are in an auto accident or have received personal injuries from the negligence of another individual. As Arizona lawyers who help individuals everyday who have been hurt by the negligence of another individual we here time and time again that people don't want a McDonald's coffee case verdict or they just want their vacation pay paid back, or they just want their medical bills paid.

Arizona Injury Law

The law is set up so that the only way a person who is hurt by another individual can get back to square one is through making a claim. That doesn't necessarily mean you have to file a lawsuit but you do have to make a claim. We all pay insurance companies thousands of dollars and as a whole billions and billions of dollars to insure us. In my opinion, and of course I (Alexis) am bias as I am a personal injury lawyer, but in my opinion that is exactly why we have insurance. We have insurance so that if an innocent individual is wronged, the insurance company will pay.

Auto Accident and Other Personal Injury Claims

If you are injured in an auto crash in Arizona and you incur medical bills and lost wages, you should be entitled to compensation of your medical bill and lost wages, but also for all your pain and suffering. It is the pain and suffering that makes our system as it is and people should know there is nothing wrong with pursuing what is fair, which includes money for pain and suffering, future medical bills, permanent injuries, and all the other elements that make a person not whole when they have been hurt by another individual. This is why we have insurance and people who are hurt should not be made to feel that making a claim is the wrong thing to do.

Arizona Lawyers Who Can Help

With that being said, not all injuries are worth pursuing and there certainly are some people out there who bring frivolous cases but there are a whole lot more people who are injured because of someone else’s negligence and deserve fair compensation. If you are someone who doesn’t know if you have an injury case and are looking for Arizona personal injury lawyers who can help, feel free to give us a call. We have offices Valleywide and we can come to you. Call us Valleywide at 602-267-1280. You will not be disappointed in Arizona’s Husband and Wife Law Team’s client communication and legal abilities.

If you have been in an accident in Ahwatukee, call the Ahwatukee Car Accident Lawyers who are right in your neighborhood. Although we have other offices throughout the Valley, our first office began in Ahwatukee back in 1996.

Mark is rated Top 100 lawyers in Arizona by ATLA, top ethical and legal ratings by Martindale-Hubbell, Top rankings by AVVO, and he is a certified specialist in injury and wrongful death law by the State Bar of Arizona. Only about 2% of lawyer sin Arizona have been deemed an expert by the State Bar of Arizona.

You can find out more about us in the Ahwatukee newspaper or come by our office which is located near 46th Street and Chandler Blvd - our office in Ahwatukee. If you work in another part of the Valley most likely we have an office near your work as well. If we do not have an office near you, we will come to you.

Feel free to call anytime as well at our East Valley number. As Ahwatukee auto accident lawyers we are here to help. We also handle other areas of personal injury as well. Give us a call and get your free consultation. We are confident you will trust our office and get honest answers to all your questions.

People who are involved in a car accident are often convinced that only personal injury clients who are at fault for the accident have an uphill battle in proving their claim. In fact, in my (Alexis) opinion every personal injury victim in Arizona has an uphill battle? Why is that?

Whether you are at fault for an accident in Arizona or not are an injury victim, you face an uphill battle fighting against the insurance companies. Of course, that doesn't mean we don't win. it just means that the fight against the big goliath insurance companies is always an uphill battle as the insurance company adjuster or opposing counsel will do everything in their power to try to minimize the injuries sustained to a personal injury victim.

We have had rear-end car accidents where the opposing counsel argued liability. We had a case go to trial where our client was parked on the shoulder of the road with his hazard lights on because his car broke down. The opposing counsel argued to the jury that our client was at fault for getting rear ended because he knew his car had some mechanical problems now and again and therefore he should not have driven the car and had he not driven the car he never would have been on the shoulder of the road. These are the arguments that attorneys use when arguing the value of a claim for a car accident victim in Arizona.

When a person is seriously injured in an auto accident in Arizona, they not only face the wrath of being judged by the insurance adjuster and insurance company but also the jury. Currently, the tend of public thinking is that people who are in a personal injury claim are just in it for the money. Some people think that the seriously injured who pursue claims are quitters or just looking for a quick fix. In actuality, it is just the opposite. People who are seriously injured and stand up to the justice system to get a fair settlement or take it to trial to get their day in Court are very strong individuals. Going through a personal injury claim can be quite difficult because of the judgmental opinions brought on by others many times when evaluating the injured person's decisions.

Having the courage to face up to the insurance adjuster or opposing counsel and to continue to fight for a fair settlement is one of the reasons it is important to pick the best car accident lawyer in Phoenix, Arizona. Injured victims needs to take their time in finding an attorney and make the best decision the first time around.

It is so important to hire an attorney that you feel comfortable with to guide you and to give you the continued strength to fight for a fair settlement and to get what is fair. It is important that you hire a lawyer who you can trust and that you know will fight for you.

So the next time someone reads about a personal injury lawsuit, consider the real life experiences of these individuals who have had their lives forever changed by injuries that they did not cause. Rather than thinking about how a person should not pursue an injury claim, think about how hard it must be to stand up to people who are telling you that you should not have been driving because you knew your car had mechanical problems, or you should have gone to the doctor rather than waiting a week, or you should have gone back to work even though you had two broken legs and were on pain medication all day, or you should have lived with the pain rather than getting the surgery that made you feel better. I could go on and on about these stories. Being questioned about the path you took in your medical care, or why you couldn't work are things that are very difficult. Being called a liar when you did nothing wrong is very frustrating and difficult to take and understand why our legal system is such.

This is why though when you have the best Phoenix, Arizona injury and wrongful death lawyers on your side, the lawyers can give you the confidence necessary to pursue your claim and to get a fair settlement. This is why it is important to trust the lawyers that you hire as the best injury lawyers will always make an accident victim know that they are doing the right thing in pursuing their claim. When another driver kills an innocent driver, the right thing is to pursue the at fault driver for what is fair so that the family who lost a loved one is compensated. After all, this is our legal system.

The injured people who pursue a claim or the family who lost a loved one due to the negligence of another individual did not choose for this to be our legal system for car accident victims. This is the system and everyone should honor the system - for good and bad. Further, think about it, we all pay insurance so that in the time of need it is there. If this is our legal system then it would make no sense for injured people to not pursue a claim when they are hurt by the negligence of another individual because this is exactly why people buy insurance.

I am not talking about frivolous claims either. I am talking about claims where people are rear ended and need surgery, or a person drives drunk and kills another individual, or a person fails to yield at an intersection and seriously hurts another individual. These are the types of claims that I am speaking about. Even people who are hurt in a lesser fashion however are still entitled to a fair settlement.

Of course, there are people who lie and I recognize that but I stand by my thinking that most people who pursue a personal injury claim in Arizona are not liars or exaggerators. Sure that is what the insurance industry has made it out to be because they want people t get on the jury and award small numbers. That is why the insurance industry spends so much time and money to make people think that everyone who files a claim is a liar or an exaggerator. The fast majority of claims are real and the people are honest. We never will get rid of liars but they should not ruin the fair settlements for all other individuals.

If you or someone you know has been in an accident that resulted in serious personal injuries and would like to speak with a Phoenix car accident injury lawyer - Phoenix, Arizona personal injury attorney - that has fought for the rights of many others who have also suffered similarly, please give us a call at Breyer Law Offices, P.C. We can provide answers in your fight for justice. We offer free consultations and a no fee guarantee which means we do not get paid unless there is a settlement.

If you are in an Ahwatukee car accident or a car accident in a part of Arizona for that matter, the first thing that you should insist on is the police coming down to the scene of the accident. Typically, the Phoenix Police will come down to an accident scene when the accident occurs in Ahwatukee. Although Ahwatukee is a small community, it is still part of Phoenix, Arizona.

The only time the Phoenix Police will not come down to the scene of an accident when it is in Ahwatukee or another area in Arizona is when the car accident occurred on private property. Even then many times the police will come down and investigate but might not write an actual report. It is very important to have an accident report if you are involved in an accident because it given an opportunity for the police to write down all the details, such as the date of the accident, the time of the accident, the cars involved in the accident, and the people who are involved in an accident. Many times when there is no police report at all, the parties involved can deny that the accident happened at all and it makes it harder to prove on various levels.

Once you have the police report, you should call the insurance company of the other driver. Filing a claim is not difficult, but we do recommend that if you are the injured person that you have your car accident lawyer call in the claim for you or that you have another person, whether it be your friend or a family member call in the details of the claim. Usually a person is startled after a car accident in Arizona and even if they are not seriously hurt they still have a lot of adrenaline going so they may not answer all the insurance company's questions correctly.

When you call in a claim for a car accident, you should have as many details as possible in front of you. The insurance company will ask you the following:

1. the police report number
2. the date of the accident
3. the intersection where the accident occurred
4. how the accident occurred
5. your name, date of birth, address, phone number
6. the other driver's name, address, phone number
7. the cars that were involved, including license plate numbers and vin numbers
8. the insurance company of the other driver and the policy number
9. the phone number of the other insurance company
10. the witness' names
11. if any citations were given at the scene of the accident
12. the amount of damage to each vehicle
13. the injuries
14. the names of all passengers in the vehicle
15. be ready for other questions as well!

If the injured person does call in the claim be ready to answer all of the above questions and more. If the insurance adjuster asked questions about your Ahwatukee car accident be sure to request that the conversation NOT be recorded. Also, you should know that as Ahwatukee car accident attorneys, we always request the 911 tapes right away. Often times when filing a claim the insurance company will ask if 911 was called. 911 tapes typically have to be ordered within 30-90 days otherwise they will be destroyed. In some of our cases, having the 911 tapes played a pivotal role in the car accident claim.

After speaking to an insurance adjuster, we always send a confirmation to the insurance company regarding the whereabouts of the vehicle, especially if the vehicle is in a tow yard. You want to make sure that when filing a claim you let the adjuster know if you think the car is totaled or if it is repairable, and the exact location of the vehicle. At the time the claim is being report, it is a good idea to let them know whether or not you will need a rental vehicle and to even try to gain information about the adverse insurance's policy limits especially if there were serious injuries involved in the car accident.

Continue reading "Ahwatukee Car Accident Lawyers Discuss How To File a Car Accident Claim in Arizona" »

When you have been involved in a Phoenix car accident or any other type of injury claim in Arizona, if the negligent part is a government entity you must file a Notice of Claim within 180 days. It is important to understand that does not mean 6 months but 180 days. I say that because many people have called at the 6 months mark and said they thought they had six months to file the Notice of Claim but actually 180 days is a few days short of six months so it is important to note. There are also certain requirements that must be met in the Notice of Claim for the Notice of Claim to be valid.

The requirements of a Notice of Claim include;

1. Listing the individuals on the Notice who are to receive the Notice - You cannot just put anyone down on the Notice of Claim. The Notice has to be served on the people who are by law required to receive these legal documents on behalf of the person that caused the negligence. So if you are hit by a driver who is driving a bus you do not necessarily serve the bus driver but the people who are responsible for receiving the legal documents. As a lawyer to be safe, I would also serve the bus driver.

The notice of claim is very complex so this paragraph and guide is only to give people an idea of the background of what is required for a Notice of Claim to be valid but not to be relied upon for legal advice. I strongly recommend that no matter what the claim people speak to an attorney when a government entity is involved so they do not miss a deadline or file the notice of claim inaccurately and lose their claim.

2. Claimant information- A notice of claim should include the name of the person who was hurt, the address, phone number and date of birth. It is always better to give more information than not enough information. We recently started giving even the claimant's email address.

3. Details of the accident - By this we mean details of the incident, the location of the crash or injury, the date, the description of all the facts pertaining to the Arizona car accident. Remember Notice of Claims do not just apply to car accidents in Phoenix they also apply to any negligent action caused by a governmental entity/employee that results in a person getting hurt. The notice of claim should include the injuries, the extent of injuries, the future prognosis and medical treatment along with details of the accident itself.

4. Amount of the claim - In the notice of claim an amount must be stated for the notice of claim to be valid. This is usually a very difficult thing to do because many times the injured person is still in the hospital or still undergoing therapy or rehabilitation so the exact amount of the value of the personal injury claim may not be known. The notice must contain as much information about the injuries and the amount of the claim should be a number that is reasonable and can be justified but at the same time is not a number too low that does not take into account all of the unknowns about the injury.

5. Explanation of damages - In this section all medical bills should be detailed so that it is understood the extent of the medical bills. This part is sometimes also difficult because many times there are going to be a lot more medical bills incurred but because of the short time frame of 180 days it may not be possible to have all the medical bills. This section is just to give the entity an idea of what the bills may be.

6. Supporting documentation - As much supporting documentation should be attached to the notice of claim as possible. We attached all medical records and billing statements that we have in our file. It is also a good idea to attach things like the Arizona police report. When it is involving an Arizona fatal accident many times the police report will not even be ready within the 180 days so that a lawyer may not be able to attach this type of supporting documentation.

Conclusion

If you have been involved in a Phoenix car accident claim or any other type of personal injury claim in Arizona where you think the Defendant that is responsible for your injuries was working for a government entity you should strongly consider consulting a lawyer so that you do not ruin your claim because you did not know the requirements of the notice of claim statutes.

Continue reading "A Guide For Phoenix Car Accident Victims To Understand The Requirments Of A Notice Of Claim" »

If you have been in a car accident in Arizona there are a few things you should do before anything. First, if you are hurt you should immediately go to the doctor. Why is that? Many people tell me (Alexis) they are hurt but don't want to go to the doctor. The necessity for going to the doctor after a Phoenix car accident is that if you do not have medical documentation the insurance company will most likely deny your claim. Without showing proof of your injury the insurance company will most likely say that if you were hurt you would have gone to the doctor.

Second, take pictures! Pictures can be of your vehicle, your body, items damaged inside the vehicle, the other vehicle, skid marks in the road, your hospital room, etc. The old saying "a picture is worth 100 words" is probably more true in proving a car accident injury claim than anything else. When a lawyer is explaining to an adjuster the trauma you went through, having a picture to show the trauma makes the claim that much more understandable.

Lastly, if your vehicle is in a tow yard steps must be taken immediately to try to remove it from the storage yard as the facility where the vehicle is being stored will charge storage fees for each day which can get very expensive. Some facilities charge as much as $50.00/day. You can make a claim through your own insurance company is liability is still being investigated. If you do not have collision coverage on your vehicle, specific letters need to be written to the insurance company indicating that you do not have the means to move the vehicle. In Arizona there is a law that says an injured victim has the duty to mitigate their damages. What that means is that an injured person has to take steps to move the vehicle. Therefore, when we represent clients we show all the steps that were taken. Another old saying which is very true for when dealing with insurance companies is "if it isn't written, it didn't happen." We recommend that all communications with insurance companies be in writing. If you are writing to the insurance company then one day those documents can be used as exhibits. Telephone calls cannot be used as exhibits and can be denied.

Continue reading "Your Guide What To Do After Being In A Car Accident In Arizona" »

Do you really need a Phoenix Car Accident Lawyer? Here is a list of 10 items that can help you decide if you really do need a Arizona car accident lawyer. Not all cases require a lawyer and it is important for you to know whether or not you really need a lawyer. Of course, you always can call an attorney for a free consultation as well. So here is my (Alexis) top 10 list as to whether or not you need an injury lawyer for your case.

Top 10 List for if you need an injury lawyer due to a car accident:

1. You were seriously injured: If you are seriously injured in a car accident, you should consult a lawyer. A serious injury for this purpose would include broken bones, being in ICU, needing surgery, having to be off work for a long period of time, having to be on disability, and having a permanent injury. These are the types of elements that should lead a person to consult a lawyer. You may not need a lawyer still but if you have these types of injuries or similar then you should do yourself a favor and talk to an attorney before you destroy your Arizona injury claim by missing an important deadline.

2. Liability: If the insurance company does not put you in a rental right away and admit liability, you should consult a lawyer. If the insurance company tells you that they need to speak to their insured or the accident is still under investigation then that is a sign that they might deny liability. Even if the person who caused the car accident was cited it still may be that the insurance is going to play games and deny the claim.

3. The person who hit you was a government employee: That is they work for the state, city, or any corporation that is a government entity. Why does this matter? This matters because the laws against suing a government employee who causes a car accident are much different than suing a private individual. For example, a "Notice of Claim" must be filed with the Risk Management. The Notice of Claim must be served on the correct people. It must be completed correctly. The Notice of Claim must be served within 180 days. After the Notice of Claim is filed correctly, a lawsuit has to be filed within one year. There are just too many complex law that when your claim is against a government entity the injured victim needs to understand how to protect their rights.

Continue reading "Top Ten List To Decide If You Need a Phoenix Arizona Car Accident Lawyer?" »

As Phoenix car accident lawyers, we see that many people are involved in car accidents throughout the Valley and do not know what to do after they are in an auto accident. This is a brief guide for you if you have been involved in a car accident and are confused as to what to do to protect your rights or if your family member has been in an auto accident, is in the hospital, and you want to help but you do not know what to do.

Most people who have been seriously hurt because of the negligence of another individual really are not able to do much after a car accident because of their injuries. Maybe the most important thing to know is do NOT to talk to anyone. I (Alexis) would advise you to report your claim to your insurance and the adverse insurance, but even then I would recommend that you let someone else report the claim because the adjuster will start to ask you questions and you may be confused due to your discomfort. Never give a recorded statement to any adjuster unless you first speak to a lawyer.

Take pictures of anything you can think of that will pertain to the auto accident. Examples of this are pictures of the car, pictures of the car that hit you, pictures of property in the vehicle that was destroyed, pictures of your injuries or of your family member that is injured and pictures of the hospital. You want to take pictures of anything that could later be destroyed or contested. Another example would be debris in the roadway or skid marks where the Phoenix crash took place.

Sometimes it can be uncomfortable to take pictures of a loved one when in the hospital however these pictures will be invaluable to proving an injury or proving the extent of damages in a car accident claim. Many times you are not able to take pictures at the scene of the accident but someone can go back to the scene to take pictures of the roadway. If a family member is in the hospital, a loved one could go to the tow yard or wherever to take pictures of the vehicle.

Follow your doctor’s advice. Many people who are injured in an accident ignore their doctor and do not seek follow up care. It is important that you follow your doctor’s orders and continue with medical care when you are hurt.

Documentation is the key to a car accident claim. If you can take a picture, take the picture, if you are given doctor’s advice, follow the advice or seek a second opinion. if you are unable to work make sure the doctor gives you a note saying to remain out of work. A note from your employer is going to be needed as well.

Lastly, do not speak to the insurance company, especially do not give a recorded statement, and do not sign a medical authorization from the insurance company or any other documents regarding the insurance company obtaining your medical records. This is a brief guide and is just meant to give you some pointers. If you have questions for Phoenix Personal Injury lawyers, feel free to give us a call.

Ahwatukee is a small part of Phoenix Arizona. Although as Phoenix Car Accident Lawyers, we have offices all over the Valley and even in Tucson, we began our law practice in Ahwatukee.

Ahwatukee is located in the southeast corner of the City of Phoenix. Ahwatukee is a great place to raise a family and is probably most known as a safe and affluent community. As one of Phoenix’s 15 urban villages, Ahwatukee has a population of about 85,000 people in its stretch of 35.8 square miles. For those of you who are not familiar with Ahwatukee, Ahwatukee is bordered on the east by Interstate 10, by South Mountain Park on the north, by the Gila River Indian reservation on the south, and by state owned land on the west. Just like most neighborhoods throughout Arizona, unfortunately Ahwatukee has its share of personal injury incidents. In the last few years, there have been many accidents on Pecos Road, which is a relatively new road. Pecos Road seems to attract more accidents because of the lack of lights at some intersections and because it is a wide open road and drivers are likely to speed. Since first built Pecos Road now has speed limits signs up more frequently, cameras to reduce speeding, and more intersection lights have been installed. Nevertheless, it seems this road is one of the road where most accidents in Ahwatukee take place.

In the event that visitors and inhabitants of Ahwatukee suffer injury as a result of another individual’s negligence, either due to a car accident, truck accident, work accident, or another kind of personal injury accident, a skilled Ahwatukee car accident lawyer can be of assistance.

As I (Alexis) am writing this article, we have had our office in Ahwatukee for 14 years. We are a big part of the Ahwatukee community as it has always been very welcoming to us as people and our office.

As we have many clients from Ahwatukee since I believe we are the only team of injury lawyers in Ahwatukee that practice solely injury and wrongful death law, I believe that the most frequent type of injury claim in Ahwatukee does car from car accident. We have seen first hand what the negligence of drivers can do to our neighbors in Ahwatukee. Remember though as car accident victims, you do have rights. It is important that you speak to a lawyer to make sure that your rights are protected. That does not mean you have to hire a lawyer, it just means that we advise you to speak to an attorney to make sure your rights are protected. In doing so, you will make sure that your rights are protected and you will be holding the negligent people responsible for their actions.

Continue reading "Ahwatukee Car Accident Lawyers - Do you need an Injury Lawyer Close to Your Home in Ahwatukee?" »

Phoenix Car Accidents are happening every day. I read about a car accident last night and this morning I by passed an accident. What occurred to me were several things. First, when someone is involved in a car accident many times you cannot tell the extent of their injury. The girl in the car accident this morning was walking around; however, you could tell the extent of her pain on her face and by the people around her. Of course, I was going by at a fast rate of speed so just caught a fast glipse but it is amazing how many times an adverse lawyer will point to the medical records and argue that the person was not injured because basically they were able to move. My point is just that many times you cannot tell the extent of someone's injuries when they are in an accident and that the medical records or police report many times do not reflect the extent of injury as well.

Second when driving by the accident this morning, I thought to myself that although the general consensus is that we are a society full of litigation, the fact is that our system is generally fair. What is most fair currently is that injured victims have access to lawyers now. It used to be if people who were injured could not afford representation, they were unable to hire a lawyer. Now, Phoenix Car Accident Attorneys offer free consultations and contingency fee agreements. A contingency fee agreement is basically where a client and lawyer engage in an agreement by which a lawyer will be owed a percentage of the settlement. Usually the percentage is 1/3 but we have seen many some attorneys charging more and some attorney, who boast to be discount attorneys, charge less.

Let me warn you about discount attorneys. With all due respect, think about it. Would you go to a discount doctor? A discount surgeon? A discount dentist? Most people when it comes to discount services do not feel comfortable. When it comes to products of course everyone wants a good deal. Services though are different. I don't think anyone would feel comfortable if the discount surgeon were going to do brain surgery on you. Is that the doctor people would really choose. Of course, not.

For some reason though discount attorneys still have clients flocking to them. I think the reason is that people think that isurance companies will offer the same amount to any attorney. This is not true. The value of a claim is based on the documentation and the processed by which the attorney has gone through to "prove" the client's claim. If an attorney does not get a witness statement, does not talk to the doctor, does not advise the client correctly, or any other mistake, the client will not get the settlement deserved. Picking the right attorney does make a difference and generally speaking it is my opinion that discount attorneys do not have the time to work up a case compared to other attorneys. I am not saying this is true for every lawyer but generally speaking I think people should be wary of discount attorneys. Further, look carefully at hte contingency fee agreement. Many attorneys will increase their fee at litigation, Our policy is to keep the fee the same whether the case settled or we have to file a lawsuit. You do not want to be put in a position as a client where the attorney has an incentive not to settle your claim.

If you would like an evaluation on your claim, we are happy to speak to you and give you a free case evaluation. As Phoenix Car Accident lawyers, we give free phone consultations and want to make sure that people have a clear idea as to whether they have a case and how it needs to be pursued.

Mark Breyer, Phoenix Car Accident Lawyer, Receives Honor of Being Named Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona

Just wanted to include in this blog an award/honor that Mark has been given by the American Trial Lawyers Association. Mark has been named Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona. This is a very special award especially considering how many attorneys practice injury and wrongful death law in Arizona.

I understand that this is a little more of a press release than a blog post, but that being said, I think it deserves an entry on the blog especially considering that this is a blog about Phoenix Car Accidents.

So there you have it - Mark is a nationally recognized lawyer for his legal abilities. He has received other accomplishments as well but I think he is particularly proud of this one. Of course, as his wife, I feel that I can boast for him and let everyone know what a great accomplishment this award is for Mark and our whole office.

We have been practicing serious injury and wrongful death attorney together since 1996. It all started when we were in a little office and had just 1 child. Now, we sit with our own office building, long standing staff members, a thriving law practice, lots of awards for Mark and 7 children. What an accomplishment!

Mark has also attained the high distinction from the State Bar of Arizona as a certified specialist in injury and wrongful death law. This honor has been awarded by the State Bar to less than 2% of all Arizona attorneys. While any lawyer can claim they are a personal injury lawyer, less than 1 in 50 lawyers can prove their specialty has been demonstrated to the high degree required to achieve “injury specialist” designation from the Arizona State Bar.

That's all for my boasting... So if you need anything in reference to a personal injury claim, feel free to call our office. All of our consultations are free and we are always happy to help.

As a Phoenix car accident lawyer, I (Alexis Breyer) receive calls every day from injured victims wanting a case evaluation. What is interesting is that almost every day in one of those calls the caller tells me that the insurance adjuster told the caller not to get an attorney. As of this morning, I have already talked to two callers who told me that the insurance adjuster told them that they should not call or hire an attorney. The first caller was told that she shouldn’t hire an attorney because the adjuster would offer the same amount to the caller regardless of whether or not she had an attorney. The second caller was told that he shouldn’t get an attorney because why would he just want to give a third of his case to an attorney.

Do Not Trust An Insurance Adjuster Without Speaking to An Attorney

In talking with these potential clients, I do not blame them at all for not calling an attorney until they did. Basically, they trusted the insurance adjuster and until the adjuster did not return their calls and gave them very low offers they had no reason to really doubt her. Until you have been through this experience as an accident victim or have been told horror stories, you probably would have no reason to believe that you should not trust an insurance adjuster.

Unfortunately, now these people are left with low ball offers and in one case hardly getting the medical bills paid, and will probably not be able to find an attorney. Now, let’s look at this in a little more detail. Is there any proof that lawyers get more money and how do lawyers get more money. What’s the secret?

First, I am not sure whether insurance adjusters really believe what they say to injured victims or if they are just lying. My best guess is that adjusters actually really do believe that they would give the same offer to a victim regardless of whether or not they are represented. So no I don’t think adjusters are liars.

An Insurance Adjuster Is Not Your Friend

In terms of proof that lawyers get better results than unrepresented victims if you use common sense it would seem this would be true. Think about it, as the caller I talked to today said, he answered the adjuster a lot with “I don’t know.” Of course, you don’t know. You are not a lawyer and lucky for you, you have never been through this before. In contrast, the adjuster has been through this before and is trained by someone to know all the ins and outs. In fact, think about it.

An insurance adjuster is trained not to give a victim more money but quite the opposite. Why is an insurance company in business? Not to give victims more money that’s for sure. An insurance company is in business to give out as little money as possible and that is their goal in every case that they handle. So keep that in mind if you know someone who is injured or if you are ever the unfortunate one to get injured. Bottom line, is the insurance adjuster is not your friend and never will be. The insurance adjuster will never have your best interest in his thoughts. His/her only thought will be how do I get this file to a point where I can give out as little money as possible.

Hiring An Experienced Auto Accident Lawyer Means You Have a Trusted and Loyal Guide On Your Side

In contrast, when you hire a lawyer and let’s assume if you are seriously injured you hire an experienced attorney who knows what they are doing not someone who is practicing family law and saying they practice injury law! Assuming you consult with an experienced attorney (of course, like our office!) assuming this, you have an experienced guide on your side. Once you hire a lawyer who is experienced in Arizona injury and wrongful death law, you can be worry free.

I am pretty sure that most experienced lawyers know much more than any insurance adjuster. Lawyers know the law. They won’t get pushed around by the insurance adjuster. Lawyers don’t trust insurance adjusters when they say things as they already know what is true and what is not. Lawyers are going to know how to process a claim to get the best settlement. Lawyers will have the injured victim get the documentation that is necessary to get the best possible settlement.

So maybe the adjuster believes they would give the same settlement, but the fact is with an experienced attorney you would not be comparing apples to apples because an experienced attorney would have at their disposal much more information to prove the claim in comparison to an innocent victim who has never been through the legal system before.

Insurance Industry Study Showed Unrepresented Victims Got Less Money In Their Pocket Than Victims Who Hired A Lawyer

In addition, there has actually been an insurance industry study as to whether or not unrepresented victims get more money by handling their own claim compared to those who hire an attorney. Guess that they study found? The study found that those represented by lawyers had a higher rate of recovery for themselves than those who chose not to hire lawyers. That is, claimants who hired lawyers got more in their pocket than claimants who chose to trust the insurance adjuster.

Handling a personal injury claim is complex. Ask yourself do you know what coverage’s apply, do you know what subrogation means, do you know what balance billing liens are, do you know how to hire an expert, what happens if you get a low ball offer how are you going to file a lawsuit, if you aren’t a lawyer can you even threaten a lawsuit, how do you know how to negotiate your claim, and there are so many more questions. I thought the caller I spoke to earlier made a good point though and that was once I said, “I don’t know” so many times it then occurred to me I should consult a lawyer.

Take Advantage of an Attorney's Free Consultation

The great thing about injury lawyers now is that most of us offer a free consultation. So injury victims have nothing to lose but a few minutes of their time talking to a lawyer. You may think from this article that I think all injury victims should have a lawyer. Actually, that is not true. I am only an advocate that all injury victims should speak to a lawyer before they pursue their injury claim. It is important to know what hidden deadlines to beware of and what to watch out for when speaking to an insurance adjuster. Most seriously injured victims I do think are most better of by hiring a lawyer, but the bottom line is everyone should have a free consultation with an experienced attorney so that they have all the information necessary to decide how to pursue their claim. As Phoenix Car Accident Attorneys, we offer free consultations so if you ever have questions feel free to call our office. What you can expect from our office is honest answers with experience behind every word.

Phoenix car accident lawyers are called every day because car accidents are happening at a high rate in Phoenix and thousands of people are injured each year in the Phoenix metro valley area . In most auto accidents there is someone who has made a mistake that has caused the accident. In legal terms when someone makes a mistake it is called "negligence."

When someone is at fault for a car accident, that is they are "negligent", that means that the injured person is entitled to compensation for their injuries. It can be compensation for more than just their present injuries. For example, an injured person can be compensated for their medical bills, pain and suffering, future lost wages, etc.

When someone is injured due to the fault of another driver, the injured person should seek a consultation from a Phoenix car accident lawyer. It is important to know that just because you decide to have a consultation with a Phoenix car accident lawyer it does not mean that you have to hire them. Many attorneys, like our office, will offer free consultations to evaluate your claim. When individuals call our office, many times, we let them know they don't even need an attorney and explain why we feel this is true. The bottom line is that we recommend all car accident victims speak to a Phoenix car accident lawyer sooner than later just to make sure that their rights are protected and that they are aware of all the statute of limitations and deadlines for their claim.

So how do you decide to hire a Phoenix car accident lawyer? Hiring a car accident lawyer is a very important decision. You don't want to hire someone just because you saw them on a billboard or because you have been hearing their commercials for years. You want to hire a lawyer who is experienced in injury and wrongful death law and has the credentials to get you the best possible settlement for your claim. After all, you only have one chance to settle your injury claim and of course you want to make sure that you get the best settlement possible.

I (Alexis Breyer) have created a brief guide below that addresses how to hire a Phoenix car accident lawyer. If you would like more details you can order our Arizona Injury Book ($15.95 value but we offer it free to all Arizona injury victims) which goes into a lot more details on this Guide to Hiring a Phoenix car accident lawyer.

Step One - Ask questions to make sure you will get top royal treatment

When choosing the Phoenix car accident attorney that you are going to hire, you must remember that you will have a very close relationship with the lawyer you choose. You want to make sure that you feel very comfortable speaking to the lawyer and asking questions. You don't want to have a relationship with the attorney where you feel like you are asking dumb questions.

It is very important to make sure that you will receive what we call top royal treatment from the attorney that you choose to hire. You can know this by paying attention to the person who answers the phone, asking if they offer free consultations, and seeing how long it takes to set up an appointment to speak to the attorney.

When you do meet with the attorney ask them how many cases they take in each year. Ask them if you will be just another number. See what kind of policies they have in place to make sure that all your questions are answered. It is important to have a working relationship with the attorney and to also know the paralegal that you will be working with as well. Make sure that the law firm employs top notch paralegals. Ask what your relationship will be with the paralegal as well as the attorney. Ask about the policies that are implemented throughout the entire case so that you can make sure you can always get your questions answered. For our office, we feel that there are two aspects to every case. There is the legal aspect and the client-attorney relationship. When you come to our office, you will experience "The Breyer Law Difference." That is, you will not only get the best possibly representation but you will also see that client service is a top priority in our office.

Step Two - Suggestions of Questions to ask an attorney you are considering hiring

When you to speak to a Phoenix car accident lawyer, the attorney will ask you many different questions so that they can assess your injury claim. For our office, it is important that we have a clear picture of how the accident happened and the injuries sustained in the accident. We also may ask a lot of questions about prior accidents and prior injuries. The reason for this is that it gives us a better understanding of the whole pictures of your claim. Understanding the whole picture of your claim will lead to better advice for each individual person.

At your initial consultation, you should ask the attorney just as many questions as the attorney ask you! At least you should feel comfortable asking as many questions as you need to ask. Hiring the best Phoenix car accident attorney for your claim is very important and you must ask certain questions to make sure you are hiring an attorney with the best credentials.

Below are the questions that we recommend asking the attorney you are considering hiring:

1. Do you practice only injury and wrongful death law or other areas of law as well?

2. How long have you been practicing injury law?

3. How many Phoenix car accident cases have you handled?

4. How many cases have you handled and what is your success rate?

5. Are you a certified specialist in injury and wrongful death law?

6. What percentage of your cases settle and what percentage goes to trial?

7. Are you successful at trial?

8. Do you have a contingency fee agreement?

9. Have you received any awards based on your legal abilities?

10. Do you have any other accomplishments to prove you are the best - such as speaking at seminars in the community or written a book in injury law?

These are the questions that we think are very important to ask when interviewing an attorney. There are no right or wrong answers but the answers to these questions will give you more of an indication as to the qualifications of the attorney you are interviewing. As said above, you only get one shot at your car accident claim, so it is vital that you hire the right lawyer and that the attorney has the experience necessary to get you the best settlement possible for your claim.

Step Three - Choose an attorney you feel most comfortable with and that you trust

This last step is an individual decision. You will be working closely with your lawyer and it is important that you trust the lawyer you hire. At first, when you contact a Phoenix car accident lawyer listen carefully to the person who answers the phone, are they friendly, do they make an appointment right away for you to speak to the lawyer, do they provide a free consultation, and do they answer all your questions. When you meet the attorney ask yourself if you will be able to trust the advice that the attorney gives to you about your claim. An attorney is going to process your claim and it is vital that when the attorney gives you advice that you respect that attorney and trust their advice. Lastly, when you are seriously injured in a car accident, it is important to consult an attorney right away. It is better to consult a lawyer right away and have it be an instance where you do not need the services of a lawyer rather than down the road finding out that you will missed a deadline or a statute of limitations that you did not know about. After all, especially when you can have a free consultation why not at least speak to an attorney.

If you would like a free case evaluation, you can call Phoenix car accident lawyers at Breyer Law Offices, "The Husband and Wife Law Team" at any time. You can also find out more details about our Phoenix Car Accident Guide by requesting our book, "The 13 Biggest Mistakes that will destroy Your Arizona Personal Injury Claim: The Master Guide to Arizona Injury Claims." The book is free too so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain - which is finding out how to most protect your rights and claim.