Arizona Accident Lawyer Blog

While car accidents may be on the rise due to increasingly distracting driving habits, we are happy to hear the news that fatalities in Arizona have decreased in 2009. As drivers on Arizona’s highways ourselves, we encourage all on the road to put down the cell phones and focus on the road ahead.

Arizona’s Department of Transportation did a study that found the number of car accident fatalities to have fallen in 2009 (Associated Press via ABC 15 9/28/10). In 2008, Arizona lost 938 lives to traffic accidents. Last year, there were only 807 deaths due to accidents, which equates to only 1.3 fatalities per million miles traveled, which has decreased from 1.5 in 2008. The study finds that the increasing presence of rumble strips on the sides of the highways to keep people on the roads have helped in this reduction. Traffic education, increased enforcement, and quicker emergency response times have also reduced in the number of fatalities.

Emergency response times are sometimes the difference between a saved life and a lost life. Most metro areas do not track average response times beyond travel time from the dispatch center to the patient’s location. When you are in or you witness an accident, it is important to place the emergency call as soon as possible to get emergency crews en route.

Other important things to do after an accident include:

• Exchanging information—not only insurance but contact information. If you can get a copy of the other driver’s license, that is even better.
• Take pictures—most cell phones, while at fault for causing many accidents themselves, are helpful after an accident because they typically have an embedded camera. Take photos of not only your car, but the other driver’s car, wreckage on the street, skid marks, and all surroundings to pinpoint the location.
• Never leave the scene before having a police officer fill out an accident report. Without a report, there is no record of it ever happening, and you may face difficulty receiving insurance coverage for necessary items such as a rental, repairs, or minor medical bills.

Continue reading " Good News Regarding Arizona Car Accident Fatalities " »

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are injuries that can be sustained in a number of various types of accidents. There are two types of brain injuries which include open head injuries and closed head injuries. Open head injuries occur when the skull is punctured whereas closed head injuries occur when an object hits the head. Both types can have devastating effects on an injured person depending on the severity of the injury.

There are numerous symptoms that can arise and affect the daily lives of the injured individual. Even the most seemingly minor head injury can have long term effects later on. Symptoms of brain injuries include, but are by no means limited to:

• Headaches
• Blurred vision
• Ringing in the ears
• Loss of consciousness and memory
• Lethargy
• Vomiting
• Mood swings
• Sleep disturbances
• Seizures
• Numb extremities

As time progresses, these symptoms can get worse, causing even the most basic daily tasks to become unmanageable. Additionally, those who have sustained an Arizona traumatic brain injury may require long term medical care, rehabilitation and in some severe cases, 24 hour round-the-clock care. Some individuals may not be able to return to work, therefore, the cost of medical treatment can skyrocket very quickly.

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury in Arizona due to the negligence of another person or entity, the skilled Phoenix traumatic brain injury attorneys at Breyer Law Offices, P.C. can help. Depending on the circumstances of your injury, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills and other expenses that resulted from your accident. Mark and Alexis Breyer, “The Husband and Wife Law Team,” have extensive experience in successfully handling a wide variety of Arizona personal injury cases. To learn more about your rights, call us today at (602) 978-6400.

Multitasking may be one of the best advantages to having opposable thumbs. However, while driving, those thumbs should remain on the wheel and not on a Qwerty keyboard. In Arizona, there is no ban on texting while driving except in the city of Phoenix. As Arizona car accident attorneys, we hope all drivers keep 100% of their attention on the road in front of them and around them.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted a study on the effectiveness of texting bans (USA Today via AZ Central 9/28/10). Thirty states and the District of Columbia have a ban on texting while driving. The Insurance Institute found that the bans have not decreased the number of accidents at all; in fact, they found rates had risen in three states. Instead of refraining from texting, drivers now may be focusing more on hiding the fact to evade the police, which lowers their eyes from the road even more, and for longer periods of time.

There are many distractions drivers must juggle while on the road, many of which can not be avoided. One action that can be controlled is cell phone use. While texting bans may not be as effective as many originally thought, the practice is still very dangerous. The No Phone Zone project says 16 people every day are killed due to distracted drivers and encourages drivers to declare their cars “no phone zones” to prevent distracted driving. To take the pledge, visit www.nophonezone.com.

Continue reading " Laws Banning Texting While Driving May Increase Accident Rates " »

One man is dead after the motorcycle he was riding rear-ended a pickup truck that was stopped in traffic, according to a report from KPHO.com. The motorcyclist was traveling eastbound on 1-10 near 59th street when the accident occurred. The 62-year-old rider was thrown from his motorcycle upon impact and sustained fatal injuries. He was taken to an area hospital where he later died. The article states that the man was wearing a helmet at the time of the Phoenix motorcycle collision.

While the reason for the Arizona motorcycle fatality crash is unknown, there are a few possibilities that an investigation may confirm. Because the man hit a stopped truck, it is probable that his brakes may have failed. If this is the case, the manufacturer of the motorcycle or even the manufacturer of the brakes themselves could be held liable for the accident if the brakes are found to be defective. Other possible factors include motorist error, intoxication, or a medical condition. Dangerous roadways and improper signage have also been known to cause serious motor vehicle accidents. In 2008, 5,290 people were killed in motorcycle accidents with 96,000 more injured. In Arizona, motorcycle accidents were responsible for the deaths of 133 residents.

If you or a loved one has been injured or if you have lost a family member in a motorcycle crash, you deserve to know your rights. Mark and Alexis Breyer, “The Husband and Wife Law Team” and founders of Breyer Law Offices, P.C., have extensive experience handling motorcycle accidents as well as other personal injury cases. You should not have to suffer alone, especially if your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence. To learn more about how our Arizona motorcycle accident attorneys can help you, call Breyer Law Offices, P.C. today at (602) 978-6400 for a free consultation.

We can’t imagine how scary it must be to be driving on the highway and spot a car going the wrong way. It just reminds us again of how important it is to commit 100% of your attention to your surroundings when you’re on the road. As Arizona car accident attorneys, we hope everyone drives defensively to avoid accidents and injuries.

Over the weekend, two women were killed when their car was hit head-on by a wrong-way driver (ABC 15 9/25/10). The driver was heading westbound in the I-10 east HOV lane in a pickup truck when he hit the women’s sedan. There were no passengers in the truck, but the driver is in the hospital with serious injuries. The investigation as to the cause of the wreck is still underway, but the authorities are expecting to find impairment as a main cause.

Watching the road and limiting distractions while driving is very important to prevent causing an accident. Offensive driving is easy because you control it. When variables that can not be predicted are involved, like impaired drivers on the road, that is when defensive driving becomes vital.

Most defensive driving strategies are designed to prevent accidents, while some others investigate the thought process behind drivers’ actions. Keeping space is a big part of defensive driving, such as picking a stationary object to keep a two-second gap when you are following a car. Understanding right-of-way and reaction distance is also important to anticipate other drivers’ actions. The National Safety Council runs courses for children and parents as part of their “Alive at 25” program to teach these and more defensive driving techniques. To learn more, you can call (602) 264-2394.

Continue reading " Wrong-Way Driver Kills Two in Head-on Accident " »

With our own children approaching driving age, we are reminded nearly every day of the safe driving practices we want our children to utilize. All too often, car accidents are caused by distracted drivers who are rubbernecking, texting, eating, or talking on the phone. As Arizona car accident attorneys, we hope all drivers minimize their distractions in the car.

This weekend at the Tempe Diablo Stadium, the National Driving Safety Institute and Cricket Communications are hosting a safe driving program for teens (KPHO 9/24/10). The program, the XCD Driving Challenge, is expecting over 100 teens to participate in programs designed to teach teens how to ignore distractions, including activities such as the “Safe Text Driving Challenge.”

Teens are well aware of the dangers of texting and driving, yet surveys show that 86% still do it. As part of the American Lawyer Academy, we are sponsoring a scholarship program to help teach teens about the dangers of distracted driving. There is $25,000 available in scholarships to high school seniors and college students who enter the contest. Full entry rules and requirements are available on our website at www.breyerlaw.com/viral-video-scholarship-contest-southwest-region.html.

Continue reading " Teen Driving Course Warns of Dangers of Distracted Driving " »

As parents expecting another baby in a few months, we want to be sure we give our children the best nutrition we can so they grow healthy. As product liability attorneys, we want to make sure manufacturers are only putting the best products out there to feed the nation’s babies.

Popular infant formula manufacturer, Abbott, producer of Similac, issued a voluntary recall of their powder line of formulas, including some products in plastic containers or 8, 12.4, and 12.9 ounce cans. The products may contain beetles, larvae or insect parts, which may cause gastrointestinal irritation. No liquid formulas are included in the recall.

You may check to see if your product is included in the recall at www.similac.com/recall/lookup or call the consumer hotline at (800) 986-8850, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

It is not known yet if any injuries have been reported. When a product is designed for infants who may be very vulnerable to disease due to being born prematurely, or already having digestive issues, it is unacceptable to allow products containing bacteria and virus-carrying insect parts to be released to the public.

Continue reading " Infant Formula Recall for Potential Internal Injury Risk " »

Across the state this week, police officers will be pushing a new effort to check child safety seats. Drivers whose children who are improperly secured will be ticketed. As parents ourselves as well as Arizona car accident attorneys, we appreciate this increased endeavor to protect our children while they travel.

Arizona law requires the following:
• Infants aged up to at least one year old and weigh 20 pounds should be in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat of your vehicle.
• For children up to five years old or 40 pounds, parents should secure them in a rear-facing seat as long as they will fit, and keep them in a seat with a full harness that faces forward when they outgrow it.

Child advocates also recommend:
• Children older than five should ride in a booster seat until they reach 4 ft 9 in tall. This is when the adult seat belt should fit correctly across the child’s thighs and torso.
• Until they are age 13 and older, children should always ride in the back seat of the vehicle, as front air bags could pose severe injury.

If your child uses a car or booster seat, you can have it inspected for free with the Phoenix Fire department to ensure it is properly installed. You can call for a reservation at 602-495-KIDS.

Continue reading " Increased Child Safety Seat Checks in Arizona During Child Passenger Safety Week " »

Providing and correctly installing an appropriate car seat for your child can mean the difference between life and death in an accident. As parents and Phoenix car accident attorneys, we know parents never want to think about the unthinkable but also want to do all we can to prevent injuries, especially to our children. Up until children are 8 years old, they should be in a booster seat in the car to properly align the seat belt against their body.

A car seat saved one toddler’s life in a Phoenix 5-car accident during mid-day on Sunday. The accident killed one woman, injured 4 other adults, and left the toddler severely injured (AZ Central 9/19/10). The cause of the crash is not yet known. The toddler and woman were in an SUV that had rolled over, sustaining so much damage that the authorities had a difficult time determining how many occupants there were. They found the child suspended upside-down in his car seat and had to cut him out from the bottom of the car. His car seat saved his life, preventing him from being thrown about or out of the vehicle. He is in critical condition. In another vehicle, a man was also seriously injured.

If you have a child who rides in a car or booster seat, you can have the seat inspected for free to ensure it is properly installed. Four out of five car seats are incorrectly installed, which renders them ineffective (City of Phoenix 2009). You can make a reservation for an inspection by calling 602-495-KIDS.

Continue reading " Fatal 5-vehicle accident in Phoenix " »

It is always important to drive carefully, but when children are in the car, you are responsible for their safety as well, so you must be even more conscious of your actions. As parents and car accident attorneys, we hope all children travel safely.

A car driving without headlights on Wednesday night in Mesa alerted the police to a very unsafe situation for one 4-year old girl. They found a 20-year old female driver and her 4-year old sister, sitting in the backseat without a booster seat (AZ Central 9/16/10). The driver had bloodshot eyes and smelled of marijuana. She admitted to having smoked earlier in the day and to having some of the drug on her person. Luckily the girls were not involved in any accidents, but the driver was arrested for driving under the influence.

Driving skills can be impaired by many things. The most common reason for impairment is alcohol usage, but marijuana, prescription drugs, and other illegal drugs can greatly reduce driving skills. Fatigue is a common impairment as well, with effects similar to drunk driving, such as drifting across lanes, tailgating, and speeding. Even over the counter drugs such as allergy, cough and cold medications can impair a driver. When taking an over the counter drug that warns of drowsiness, it helps to take the drug on a full stomach so the fatigue effect is not as potent.

Continue reading " Mesa, Arizona DUI Suspect had 4-year old Sister in Car " »

Defensive driving is touted in car insurance commercials as a practice that can lower your rates, but it can do so much more than that. As Arizona drivers ourselves, we encourage everyone to do all they can to safely avoid accidents. No one purposely gets into a car accident, but you can purposely prevent one.

A Phoenix woman and her daughter luckily walked away without injuries after their car ran into a canal (AZ Family 9/16/10). The woman was trying to avoid a hubcap that had come off another car and heading her way, and the sun was in her eyes. The car plunged into the canal and had to be removed by tow truck. We are happy to hear everyone is okay, thanks to the quick avoidance move by the mother.

Courses teaching defensive driving are available across the valley. Sometimes after getting a ticket, drivers are sent to complete the course, but it is a great program to complete for you to become a safer driver. There are teen-specific programs, parent programs to help you teach your child, and programs for different class drivers. For those of you curious to take the course for your own benefit, the National Safety Council offers the Defensive Driving Course on Attitudinal Dynamics of Driving, which will help you connect your attitudes with your behavior behind the wheel. More information can be found at www.acnsc.org/defensive-driving.html.

Continue reading " Mother and Daughter Crash into Phoenix Canal " »

More and more children’s toys have technology embedded in them. They can light up, make music, and provide hours of entertainment. Sometimes these toys, while effectively keeping the children busy, can be very dangerous. Oftentimes there are many recalls of toys for risks of injury. As parents ourselves and product liability attorneys in Arizona, we advise to check recalls often not only for children’s toys, but any consumer product that may be in use in your home. The best way to prevent injury is to remove the product from use.

Chuck-E-Cheese is a popular family destination for children to play arcade games and win prizes. The prizes aren’t much to adults but to children, they are trophies. Unfortunately, some of the prizes have manufacturing flaws that can cause injury to your child.

Recently, Chuck-E-Cheese recalled 1.2 million toys of two varieties, star light-up glasses and a light-up ring (CBC News 9/15/10). If broken apart, which happens often with children’s toys, a small battery is exposed. The battery is small enough for a child to swallow or put up their nose. If the battery enters the body, it could cause internal damage to the stomach, esophagus, or intestines. Two reports of children ingesting the battery have come in.

Continue reading " Exposed Battery in Popular Toy Poses Serious Internal Injury Threat " »

The National Transportation Safety Board found Arizona to be one of the 21 states whose booster seat laws are not up to the standard set in 1996 (KPHO 9/13/10). As parents and Arizona car accident attorneys, we want to be above and beyond the minimum standard for child passenger safety.

The recommendation from the NTSB in 1996 states that children must ride in booster seats from the time they are 40 pounds up until they are eight years old or 4 ft, 9 in tall. Without a booster seat, children are at risk of more serious injury should there be an accident. The seat is designed to raise a child so the seatbelt fits them properly.

Luckily, there is a wider selection of booster seats available for parents to choose from today. Tests done in 2009 found that children between 4 and 8 in a booster seat were 45% less likely to have serious injuries in a crash than those who rode without (KPHO 9/8/10). The top rated seats are manufactured by: Harmony Juvenile Products and Dorel Juvenile Group. Other seats from Britax, Clek, Combi, Evenflo, and Recaro are also highly rated. The study did not recommend 8 of the evaluated seats. More information on booster seat ratings can be found at www.iihs.org.

Continue reading " Arizona Lacking in Child Safety Seat Laws, Risking Injury to Children " »

An Arizona Public Service employee sustained serious, but non-life threatening injuries when he was attacked by two dogs at a home on Thursday, September 2. According to an article in The Arizona Republic, the man was attempting to turn on the Anthem home’s electricity when an American bulldog and a boxer busted through the fence and attacked him. He sustained a laceration on his head and two to three bites on his arm from the Arizona dog attack.

A spokesman for the APS said that all employees are trained extensively on how to deal with dogs at customers’ homes, but that the risk of being bitten is an unfortunate part of the job.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 4.5 million people are bitten yearly with 1 in 5 victims requiring medical attention. While many bites are non-life threatening, others may require reconstructive surgery and a lifetime of medical care. Children ages 5 to 9 years old are at the highest risk of sustaining serious injury or being wrongfully killed by a dog.

Continue reading " Arizona Public Service Employee Attacked by Dogs at Anthem Home " »

Driving at a slower speed in school zones leads to quicker stopping times in case a child crosses a road unexpectedly. Most intersections house crossing guards during school hours to stop traffic for crossing students. As parents and car accident attorneys, we support the efforts of school crossing guards in helping to make school zones safer for children.

Unfortunately for a nine year old boy in Surprise, his ride home from school Thursday afternoon was a dangerous one. He was not wearing a helmet when he was hit by a car while riding his bike. He was flown to the hospital with head injuries and his status is not known at this time (AZ Central 9/9/10). The cause of the crash is not known yet, but speeding has been ruled out.

We sympathize with parents who find it difficult to convince their children of the importance of wearing a helmet. Some children find them cumbersome or “uncool,” but it is essential to their safety that, as parents, you are persistent in your message. Nothing works better to convince them than your own example. Also try pointing out to your child how common helmets are among professional athletes like hockey players, football players, and racecar drivers. A bike race is also a great place for children to see professional athletes sporting the latest safety gear. If children are taught from early on that wearing helmets are “cool” and safe, they will be more likely to wear them. Just because a child is not wearing a helmet though does not mean the bike accident was the child’s fault. There currently is a law in Arizona; however, that all parents should be aware of that states that all children must wear a bike helmet when riding their bike.

Continue reading " Surprise, Arizona Child Sustains Head Injuries, Hospitalized after Car Accident in School Zone " »

It is never an easy thing to deal with a family member’s death, but when it happens suddenly after a minor dog bite, it is even more difficult. As dog bite attorneys, we are here to help you get through these tough times and cope with the financial and emotional burdens you now face.

The Seattle Times reported that one family is dealing with a difficult situation after a member was bit by a dog in a park. At the time it seemed to be a minor bite, but it drew blood and the next day he went to the hospital with pain in his leg where doctors found he was infected with Capnocytophaga canimorsus sepsis, something commonly carried in the saliva of dogs and cats. He died a little over a week later from the infection, which is said to be very painful.

One can contract Capnocytophaga canimorsus sepsis from dog or cat bites and scratches. Symptoms include fevers, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, and pain in the abdomen or bite/scratch site (American Society for Microbiology 2006). Typically the infection is not fatal unless other aggravators are present, such as history of alcohol abuse or a weakened immune system.

Continue reading " Dog Bite Leads to Man's Wrongful Death " »

The parents of a 19-year old Arizona man who was killed when he lost control of his vehicle while texting and driving are hoping to spread awareness, according to a Fox 10 report. The single car crash occurred when the young man sent a text message and his vehicle hit the curb, rolled and ejected him from the car. Sadly, the man was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.

The teen’s parents are hoping to spread the message about distracted driving so that no other family must endure the pain of losing a loved one due to texting and driving. Utilizing the Internet to help drive awareness, the family has created a Facebook page telling their son’s story.

According a Virginia Tech Institute study, motorists who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident. Triple A stated that more teens are admitting to texting while driving with nearly a third admitting to sending at least 23 text messages in the last 30 days. Currently, Phoenix is the only city in Arizona with a ban on texting and driving. Legislators hope to impose a statewide ban by 2011. Thus far, only a handful of states have bans on cell phone use which includes texting and driving.

Distracted driving, whether it be texting, changing the radio station, eating or other distractions is a leading cause of car accidents in Arizona.

Continue reading " Distracted Driving Awareness Promoted by Victim's Parents " »

As attorneys and parents of seven children and one more on the way, we are big fans of encouraging healthy eating and playing. We are always looking for safe, entertaining, and educational toys for our children. When a toy is recalled, we are alarmed that children are subjected to such dangers due to the negligence of the manufacturer.

Recently, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and manufacturer The Land of Nod have recalled its “Play with your veggies” play set due to exposed wires in the asparagus toy. The exposed wire can cause a puncture or laceration injury, but none have been reported so far. The play sets were sold between October 2007 and February 2010 both in stores and online.

The recall only affects the asparagus in the set, and The Land of Nod is providing free replacements to consumers if they call (800) 933-9904.

We applaud The Land of Nod for being proactive in this recall, but are disappointed that this product was let onto the market in the first place. Children are faced with enough dangers as they grow up, it is unacceptable for them to bear with threats of injury while playing in their home with their own soft toys.

Continue reading " Children’s Toy Recalled due to Threat of Serious Injury " »

As attorneys who deal with dog bite cases, we wanted to bring to your attention something that recently happened in Ohio. A very dangerous situation could have escalated to much more recently in Ohio. WHIO TV reported that two dogs were loose in a park when they bit three people. The owner was retrieving the dogs when an argument and fight ensued with three park-goers, which lead the dogs to the attack. Police suspect the dogs were protecting their owner but they sent three people to the hospital, and the owner had even shot a gun into the air (WHIOTV.com 9/6/10).

There are designated areas where dogs may be off their leashes with their owners’ close supervision, but outside of these areas, dogs must remain tethered. Loose dogs present a danger to other park-goers, as seen in this Ohio story.

Unless an owner grants permission and remains nearby to moderate, it is not safe to approach a loose dog. Their behavior may be unpredictable at times and especially around children, who may also be unpredictable, could attack. Even playful bites can be harmful to small children, and painful for those who may be allergic.

Continue reading " Loose Dogs Cause Aggression in Ohio Park " »

As Arizona personal injury lawyers, it is important to warn that injury can be very serious with propane tanks. Grilling season is in full bloom, and propane tanks are being filled at a fast pace. While it may produce a great flavor in your burgers, propane-fueled grills can also be very dangerous.

At the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds over the weekend, an explosion caused by a propane leak seriously burned two women and caused damage to their trailer (Associated Press via Arizona Republic 9/6/10). One of the women lit a candle in the trailer, which ignited the leaking propane.

It is not known if the tank was properly shut off or if there was a faulty seal, but such an event always brings to mind the dangers of propane tanks.

After using a propane tank, make sure it is turned off tightly. It is possible that there might be a faulty seal that would cause a leak, so it is important to be aware of any strange smells in the area. Propane has a distinct smell to alert those nearby of its presence. If there is ever a propane or gas smell in your home, you should evacuate and notify your nearby fire department to check it out. Never light a fire or make sparks of any kind due to propane’s high inflammability.

Continue reading " Smell-Check for Faulty Propane Tank Leakages " »

A fatal accident occurred on Saturday, August 21 involving a pick-up truck and a 15-passenger van, according to The Arizona Republic. A Buckeye man was driving on I-10 when one of the tires on his Ford pick-up blew out, causing the vehicle to lose control and crash into a Ford van carrying 11 people. The van, which was traveling in the same direction as the truck, swerved into the center median and rolled over, ejecting several passengers. Of the 11 passengers in the van, one victim suffered fatal injuries, with several others being taken to local area hospitals. The driver of the van was injured; however, his condition was not released and the driver of the pick-up was not injured.

It is unclear exactly what caused the pick-up truck’s tire to blow out. The driver could have run over debris in the road, his tire pressure could have been low, or the tire could have been defective. Should the investigation of the Maricopa County auto accident determine the latter, those who were injured, and the family of the deceased victim could be entitled to compensation in an Arizona product liability lawsuit.

Automakers and manufacturers of vehicle components have a responsibility to motorists to provide safe, reliable car parts that will not cause accidents or increase the risk of injury or fatality in the event of an accident. However, when that responsibility is overlooked, defective auto products can be allowed into the market and cause harm to motorists everywhere.

Continue reading " Blown Tire Causes West Valley I-10 Van Accident Involving Pick-up Truck " »

A family of eight was returning home to Los Angeles from a vacation in Mexico when their vehicle lost control and overturned on I-10, a report on ABC15.com stated. The accident occurred in the southeast Valley area of Arizona which left the female vehicle driver dead and the other vehicle occupants seriously injured. Of the eight family members, five were children with one under the age of 2. Investigators say that only the two adults in the front seats were wearing seat belts. According to officers at the scene, four people were thrown from the vehicle as it rolled over, leaving 2 others pinned underneath and one more person trapped inside the SUV.

No other vehicles are said to have been involved in this crash; however, investigators are looking at driver fatigue as a possible cause of this Arizona car accident. Aside from driver fatigue, there are a number of other factors that could have contributed to this unfortunate rollover crash. Perhaps there was debris on the road that the driver swerved to avoid or other factors such as dangerous road conditions or defective vehicle parts. If the investigation finds that dangerous road conditions or a defective component contributed to this accident, the family of the driver may be able to hold the city or the car manufacturer liable in an Arizona wrongful death lawsuit.

Continue reading " Fatal Rollover Crash Near Southeast Valley Leaves One Dead, Seven Injured " »

While most dog owners insist their pet is harmless, they may not be aware of the dogs’ behavior in their absence. Unfortunately for one family in Anthem, this resulted in one of their dogs being put down and the other quarantined by the Maricopa County Animal Care & Control after they broke out of their fence and attacked an APS worker, sending him to the hospital (AZ Central 9/2/10).

It is very important to be aware of your surroundings when passing a home with a dog. Dogs are animals, and their behavior can be unpredictable, but there are some signs that you should look for to help you determine the attitude of a dog.

Some signs of dog aggression are growling, showing teeth, snapping, and biting (Humane Society 2009). Never approach a dog with which you are not familiar, even if the dog seems to be affectionate. The Humane Society says dominant dogs typically show more aggression and “can be very friendly when not challenged” (Humane Society 2009).

If you are a dog owner that keeps your dogs outside when you are not home, make sure your fences are impenetrable. Put up signs warning outsiders of the dog’s presence and if you expect anyone to visit your home while you are away, it may be a good idea to consider boarding the dog during that time.

Continue reading " Watch for Signs of Dog Aggression " »

As parents ourselves, a recent story by AZ Central out of San Tan Valley deeply saddened us. A 3-yr old boy drowned in a backyard pool while his family swam and talked nearby. This is an all-too tragic reminder to parents that you can not take your eyes off your child for even a minute. Most tragedies with little children seem to happen with loving families and too often they are when festivities are occurring. Many people can be judgmental about parents in these situations and we urge everyone not to judge the actions of parents.

Most children love the water and may be overconfident in their swimming abilities. Parents must always be careful not to discourage the child but keep a quiet eye nearby should something happen.

To prevent a swimming accident, it is best to try to get your kids to swim at as young age as possible. We advise enrolling your children in basic swimming classes to teach survival skills in the water. Even if a child has completed one of these courses, it is important to still keep watch, as a child may fatigue quickly, creating a dangerous situation. Provide adequate safety floats and always check to make sure they are appropriately inflated to remain effective.

As this sad story has shown us, even though all precautions may be taken, accidents may still happen. Safety floats, pool alarms, and gates sometimes fail, sometimes leading to very unfortunate situations.

Continue reading " Swimming Safety Precautions - Children Must Be Watched At All Times Around Pools and Other Water Areas " »

Recently there have been a few stories in the news regarding accidents involving trucks. One fatal accident involved a victim who was pinched between two delivery trucks. Another involved a jackknifed tractor trailer that hit a car, but luckily there were no injuries to report, only traffic on the I-10 during rush hour.

Always be aware of your surroundings while you are driving. If you are approaching a truck on a highway or side street, be sure to stay out of the blind spots, which include the areas to the left and right of the cab, the right front, and directly behind the truck. Be sure to leave several car lengths between your own automobile and the truck.

Unfortunately accidents may still happen even if a driver follows these regulations consistently. Faulty equipment, low air pressure, road conditions, or impaired drivers may lead to a dangerous situation.

Continue reading " Be Cautious on the Highways, Especially Around Trucks " »