Arizona Accident Lawyer Blog

In 2009, traffic accidents resulted in the deaths of 33,808 Americans. Of these fatalities, 807 were Arizonians. There are many types of Arizonan traffic accidents, some involving pedestrians, others may involve fixed objects, or animals. However, in Arizona, 31.3% of the total fatal crashes are vehicle to vehicle.

In North Phoenix, a collision involving two police officers and a woman resulted in the hospitalization of all parties involved. The officers were travelling in a SUV, going south on 7th Street near Northern Avenue. The female driver, driving a silver sedan, made a turn in front of them. One of the officers said the turn caused their SUV to crash straight into a palm tree.

Luckily, the Arizona SUV collision resulted in no fatal injuries, however the front end of the woman’s car was heavily damaged after smashing into the rear end of the police SUV. The minor injuries of the two officers and the woman were then treated at a hospital close by.

Car accidents claim the lives of many Americans, and the importance of safe driving can never be stressed enough. Although the number of fatalities due to traffic accidents in Arizona has decreased from 2008 to 2009 by 14%, the fact still remains that in 2009, 807 Arizonians lost their lives from car crashes that left incurable wounds in the hearts of their friends and family who remain.

If you have been affected by such incidents, simply call (602) 267-1280. We would be more than willing to give you a free consultation.

Did you know that 4,092 lives were lost because of pedestrian or motor vehicle crashes in 2009? The National Center of Health Statistics also revealed that motor vehicle crashes are the major cause of deaths for children ages 3 to 14. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also revealed that 1,314 or 4 percent of the total 33,808 traffic fatalities were children under the age of 14 in 2009.

In Arizona, there were 807 fatalities in 2009, and 120 of those were pedestrians. Out of the 807 killed in Arizona 60 of those were children under the age of 15.

On Friday night, a pedestrian was hit by a car near 32nd Street and Yale (AZ Family 3/18/11). The victim, an 8-year old boy, was struck by a Lincoln town car and is currently in critical condition. According to the statements gathered by the police department, the boy was with his mother and brother when he suddenly darted into the busy street and was hit by the car.

Meanwhile, the driver of the Lincoln town car, who was travelling at a normal speed, remained on the scene. As of now no criminal charges have been filed.

Although pedestrian fatalities and injuries have declined over the years, it is vital that we continue to understand the importance of pedestrian safety. Minors who are at a higher risk of injury need to be taught the responsibility of roadway safety.

If you are a victim of a pedestrian accident or any other serious injury, as Phoenix accident lawyers we may be able to help you in getting the payment you deserve for the damages you have acquired. Please call us at 602-978-6400 for your free consultation.

Unsafe driving can almost guarantee an Arizona car accident. Which is the exact reason why Gilbert police had to use their patrol car to stop a man for dangerous driving earlier this week (AZ Central 04/11/2011).

According to police, a vehicle was spotted at around 1 a.m. travelling erratically on Guadalupe Road and also reportedly crossed into opposite lanes on Copper road and ran a red light. One of the officers had to use a PIT maneuver by pushing his car into the suspect to stop him at Cooper and Warner roads to stop the car.

The suspect was identified to be a 26-year-old man from Bapchule whom ignored orders to exit his vehicle thus had to be removed by officers after the chase.

He will be facing charges on suspicion of failure to obey a police officer, unlawful flight and aggravated DUI.

The patrol car suffered minor damage from the PIT maneuver.

It is a relief that the suspect was apprehended before he could have caused a fatal Arizona traffic accident. In a span of 5 years (from 2005 to 2009), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that around 32 percent of fatalities in car crashes involved a driver that exceeded the legal limit of alcohol. This makes alcohol impairment one of the major factors that lead to fatal crashes in the U.S.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of an impaired driver in the Arizona area and would like to seek compensation for a personal injury incurred, call us for a free consultation at (480) 753-4534.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), car accidents have become the leading cause of death for kids five years old and up. Four children aged 15 and below died each day across the U.S. in 2009 because of injuries sustained from car crashes, standing up to its name as one of the greatest threats to human health (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System).

In recent news, two kids, a boy and girl aged 9 and 7, and two adults were hurt in a Mesa auto accident last week (AZ Central 04/08/2011). According to police, the victims were transported to a local hospital after a four-car collision happened on Baseline and Dobson roads Friday morning, with one of the children reportedly bleeding from a head injury.

The two kids were onboard a vehicle going westbound on Baseline when a driver ran a red light and collided with another vehicle driving northbound on Dobson.

The crash caused the intersection to be closed for more than an hour as authorities rushed to the scene.

Car accidents have become a huge threat to people’s lives; so threatening, in fact, that authorities have increased efforts to educate drivers and increase the lookout for traffic law violators through checkpoints, cameras in intersections, and increased police presence. This has resulted in the steady decline of traffic fatalities in recent years.

But their efforts alone will not be enough to push Arizona car accidents to its all time low. Every driver, and pedestrian, should be accountable for keeping the road safe day and night.

Victims of car and other related accidents in the Arizona area may contact us at (602) 267-1280 for their free consultation.

Injuries from car accidents are the country’s leading cause of death among people aged 5 to 34 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). About one in every three of these crashes is alcohol related.

Known to disrupt normal motor coordination when taken in excessive quantities, alcohol kills thousands of people in road accidents each year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 10,839 people died in car crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver in 2009.

Just last weekend, another fatal driving impaired accident in Phoenix was reported. According to police, a man was crossing Indian School Road at 10th Street at around 12:30 a.m. Saturday morning when he was struck by a vehicle (AZ Family 04/02/2011).

The victim was rushed to a local hospital but was later pronounced dead.

The 28-year-old driver was evaluated and found out to be impaired.

No mention as of yet whether the driver will be facing any charges regarding the fatal Arizona pedestrian accident.

Though figures have declined in recent years, fatalities from car crashes attributed to alcohol impairment continue to stay around 33 percent. Both the authorities and numerous non-profit organizations, such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), have highly visible anti-drinking and driving campaigns, yet drunk drivers still hit the streets. If you see a suspected drunk driver, please take action and report the behavior to the police. You may save a life!

If you or a loved one has been a victim of an impaired driver, call us at (602) 267-1280 for a free consultation with one of our Arizona accident lawyers. It’s time that these negligent drivers are held responsible for endangering the lives of others.

Two separate incidents involving pit bull attacks were reported earlier this week leaving three people with Phoenix dog bite injuries and another dog so seriously hurt that it had to be put down (AZ Central 03/22/2011).

According to reports, a blind 12-year old Schnauzer-Chihuahua mix was left alone in the front yard of a home in near Interstate 17 and Union Hills Drive for a few minutes when it was attacked by white and brown pit bulls.

After hearing her pet dog bark and yelp, the woman came to check and saw what was happening. Her husband came rushing in to get their pet but was bitten in the face. Their 20-year-old son came to help as well but was also suffered a dog bite to the leg.

The two pit bulls ran away shortly after the scuffle and were later captured by Maricopa County Animal Care and Control within the area.

The 12-year-old dog suffered fatal injuries and it had to be put to sleep as a result. The family was saddened by the loss of their pet.

It was later confirmed that another person fell victim to the same dogs and was sent to the hospital after acquiring minor injuries.

The pit bulls are quarantined for 10 days to find out if they have rabies. If not claimed after, they will have to be put down as well, being too dangerous to be adopted.

Dogs are territorial animals and have the tendency to bite unwelcomed guests. Loose dogs present new threats as they may approach any territory unexpectedly. If you spot a loose dog, do not approach it; contact Animal Control as soon as possible and get to somewhere the dog can not reach you. No matter the age, breed, or size of the dog, if it is unfamiliar to you, let it be.

Dog bites can lead to very serious physical and emotional injuries, especially for children. For victims of Arizona dog attacks, we are available at (480) 753-4534 for a free consultation.

Did you know that one in three deaths in the United States is a teen? Motor vehicle crashes are considered to be the leading cause of death among teens in the country. In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found 8 teens from ages 16 to 19 died every day resulting from injuries from motor vehicle crashes. This means that about 3,000 teens ages 15 to 19 died in 2009 nationwide and more than 350,000 were sent to emergency departments to be treated for injuries suffered from fatal car crashes.

Research has pointed out important factors of why teens are prone to fatal Arizona car accidents. It showed that teens are more likely to underestimate dangerous situations as compared to adults. They are also more likely than older drivers to speed and allow shorter headways. The presence of male teenage passengers increases the likelihood of this risky driving behavior.

In Phoenix, three men in their late teens were injured after their car hit a pole around midnight (KPHO 4/4/11). Phoenix police believed that the car lost control and hit a pole along 16th Street at Earl Drive. They also revealed that two of the three men sustained serious injuries.

Further investigations also revealed that the car was reported to be missing. Police found alcohol inside the car although they are still in the process of knowing if it is a contributing factor. Nevertheless, skid marks found at the scene proved that the car was travelling at a high speed when the wreck happened.

Studies show that GDL or Graduated Driver Licensing Systems can be an effective way to make teens become safer drivers. A comprehensive implementation of this can help decrease fatal and injury crashes among teens. As parents, we all should become familiar with our states' GDL laws to assist our children in becoming safer drivers.

If you or your loved one has been injured in a fatal car crash, our line can be reached at (480) 753-4534. As Phoenix accident attorneys, we are committed to helping victims obtain justice and rightful compensation.

A recent study on distracted driving done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) showed that about 18 percent, or 995 persons, were killed in fatal cell phone car accidents. Reported fatalities due to driver distraction have increased by six percent from 2005 to 2009; whereas the portion of drivers reportedly distracted at the time of fatal crashes increased from seven percent in 2005 to 11 percent in 2009.

Distracted drivers involved in most fatal injuries usually belong to the under-20 age group and even now, distracted driving among teens continues to increase. This is why, despite the decline of fatal Arizona car accidents as results of alcohol-impaired driving, motor-vehicle crashes are still the number one killer of teen drivers and passengers under-20 years old.

Rubbernecking is the currently the most common cause of distraction-related accidents, accounting for 20 to 50 percent of all police-reported crashes. Cell phone use may range from 1.5 to 5 percent of contributing factors currently, but ranks 8th on the list of most reported causes of distraction-related accidents.

A survey conducted by Nationwide.com, which focused on the use of cell phones while driving, revealed that there is strong public support for legislation to restrict cell phone usage while driving. In fact, due to the increasing number of fatal driving accidents resulting from cell phone use, many countries including the United States have banned or restricted hand-held and/or hands-free devices while driving. Most bans are only applicable to young drivers—usually those under 18—and can be found in about 30 states. However, adult drivers of non-commercial vehicles are not included in the bans.

Being advocates of road safety, we, The Husband and Wife Law Team, are proud to be the Southwest Regional sponsor for the 2010-2011 American Lawyer Academy's Viral Video Scholarship Contest. The contest is awarding $25,000 in scholarships to students nationwide.

Students were instructed to create a web video in a public service announcement style promoting safe driving habits. We received many notable entries from local students throughout the region! Public voting has now begun for the first round of finalists and will end on April 22nd, 2011. The top 3 performing videos at that time will be selected and opened up again for voting until May 7th, when all voting for all regions ends. Regional winners will be announced on May 15th, 2011. Cast your vote today for your favorite video! Good luck to all participants!

Parents play a vital role in protecting their kids from Arizona child injury accidents. In United States, traffic injuries are the leading cause of death of children below 14 years old. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also revealed that every hour, 150 children ages 0-19 are being treated in emergency rooms due to traffic-related injuries. As compared to other injuries, traffic injuries have a higher number of deaths for children from 5-19 years old.

In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 1,538 deaths of children 15-years old and below. In the same year, out of the total fatalities of 807 in Arizona, 50 were children ages 15 and below. As compared to 2008, these numbers have decreased by 100.

In Surprise, a mother was arrested and accused of running over her daughter with her car (KPHO 3/31/11). According to police reports, the driver, a 37-year-old mother, was arguing with her 17-year old daughter inside the car, and at some point, the girl exited the car. The mother then drove towards her daughter and hit her.

Although she was not taken to the hospital, the girl sustained some injuries and was treated by paramedics on the scene. Meanwhile, the mother was arrested; assault and domestic charges were filed against her.

On Tuesday, April 5, the charges were dismissed due to lack of probable cause.

If you or your loved one has been injured in a car crash, we can be reached at (480) 753-4534. As AArizona auto accident attorneys, we are committed to helping victims obtain justice and rightful compensation.

Did you know that distracted driving accounted for 20 percent of injury crashes in 2009? On U.S. roadways, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 5,474 fatalities and about 448,000 of motor vehicle crashes involved distracted driving. NHTSA also revealed that of the total fatalities, 995 or 18 percent reported to have cell phones as their distraction.

Distracted driving can offer a serious and potential deadly threat to everyone. As defined by Distraction.gov, “distracted driving is any non-driving activity a person engages in that has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving and increase the risk of crashing.”

Distracted driving are categorized into three main types:

-Visual or taking your eyes off the road;
-Manual or taking your hands off the wheel;
-And cognitive, taking your mind off what you are doing.

Some common forms of distractions are the use of cell phones, texting while driving, talking with passengers, and in-vehicle technologies and portable electronic devices usage.

Ever notice why motor-vehicle crashes are still considered to be the number one killer of American teens despite the declining number of alcohol-related crashes? This is because distracted driving habits are growing among teens, and resulting accidents are still on the rise. Research shows that about 16 percent of fatal accidents involving distracted drivers are also drivers under-20 years old, according an NHTSA study.

Continue reading " Distracted Driving Threatens Youths " »

The use of cell phones has been rapidly increasing over the years, but unfortunately so are the mobile phone related and distracted driving car accidents. Did you know that cell phone usage is the second major reason for car accidents all over the U.S.? In 2009 alone, there are about 5,474 people who were killed and another 448,000 were injured in the U.S. because of road accidents involving distracted driving.

Just last Monday in San Tan Valley, a 39-year old woman was heavily injured in a rollover car accident. Investigators are now looking into a possibility of cell phone use as the cause of the accident. Evidence suggests that the woman, unidentified until now, was apparently on her phone while on her way east to Hunt Highway when her car drifted to the right of the roadway and rolled. Immediately after, she was flown to Scottsdale Osborne Hospital where her condition has not yet been verified.

Studies have shown that more than about 200 million people in America are cell phone subscribers. Of them, about 85% report using their cell phones while driving their cars. This is quite an alarming statistic as it continually increases every year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Institute, about 448,000 were injured in 2009 in vehicular accidents that involved mobile phone use.

In an effort to help curb distracted driving among the worst demographic, teens and new drivers, we have become the Southwest Regional sponsors for the American Lawyer Academy’s 2010 Viral Video Scholarship Contest. Entrants created viral videos encouraging safe driving habits—we received so many wonderful entries from students all over the region! Public voting has begun, so be sure to cast your vote today to pick our top 3 finalists, whose videos will then be up for voting again in the regional finals starting on april 22nd. Winners will be announced on May 15, 2011.

Continue reading " Cell Phone Usage Suspected for San Tan Car Accident " »

Statistics show that vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among American teens. Most of these fatalities were caused by reckless driving, drunk driving or distracted driving. Teens are unfortunately at a higher risk of being involved in a car accident. The National Young Driver Survey found that 20 percent of 11th graders have had at least one crash for the past year and 3 percent have had about 2. The fatality rate of drivers age 16 to 19 is four times higher than that of drivers age 25 to 69.

Because of this, the Arizona Highway Patrol Association (AHPA) in collaboration with Impact Teen Drivers, arranged a public awareness program that aims to educate teens on the dangers of drunk, reckless, or distracted driving. These sponsors are in charge of giving educational materials not only to teens, but to parents, teachers and members of the community as well. The program also let teens experience real-time driving scenarios. The experience is kept in a controlled, safe environment at a track at Avondale Toyota/Scion.

Indeed this event is helpful in educating teens about the dangers of distracted driving to help reduce these incidents in Arizona. Another effort to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving is the American Lawyer Academy’s Viral Video Scholarship contest, for which the Husband and Wife Law Team is the Southwest regional sponsor. Students were instructed to create a video enforcing safe driving habits to enter for a chance to win up to a $10,000 scholarship. Videos are open to public voting today! Cast your vote every day to help your favorite video!

Continue reading " Preventing Teens from Distracted Driving " »

Did you know that there were 30,797 cases of motor vehicle crashes and 33,808 cases of traffic fatalites in United States for 2009? Based on the research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA-FARS), the United States has witnessed a slight decline in the number of fatal crashes in 2009. Despite the decline, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC, still considers motor vehicle crashes to be the leading cause of death especially among the 5-34 age group. If not prevented, car crashes are expected to become the third most serious threat to human health by 2020.

Meanwhile, an estimated 17,902 light trucks were involved in fatal crashes in 2009, 375 of which occurred in Arizona. This is equivalent to 39.4 percent of the total crashes by vehicle type.

On Thursday morning, an accident occurred on Bell Road near 33rd Avenue (AZ Family 3/24/11). A white sedan and a red pickup truck were involved in an accident which blocked the eastbound lanes of Bell Road during rush hour.

Investigations show that a 50-year old man, who was in the white sedan, suffered non-life threatening injuries. Meanwhile, the driver of the red pick-up was just shaken up. The cause of the crash was not stated.

There are a number of contributing factors which can cause fatal car accidents. Two of which are distracted driving and alcohol-impaired driving. As pointed out earlier, the total number of fatal car accidents has declined over the years. Let us all continue to become more vigilant and preventive when it comes to traffic accidents and safety.

Continue reading " Extrication Needed for Serious Car Accident During Rush Hour " »

Speeding is one of the most common causes of motor vehicle crashes in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2008 11,674 lives were claimed due to speeding-related accidents. Speeding also contributed to 31 percent of fatal crashes in the same year and an estimated $40.4 billion in economic costs. An NHTSA study revealed that alcohol related car accidents also create a high cost for the state.

Meanwhile, out of 45,230 drivers who were involved in fatal crashes, 8,302 had previous speeding convictions from 2009. Arizona had 166 drivers with previous speeding convictions out of 981.

Early Friday morning, a Mesa one-vehicle fatal collision occurred on U.S. 60 East and Greenfield Road (AZ Central 3/25/11). According to authorities, the only occupant of the four-door Dodge sedan was its driver, a 39-year-old man from Superior.

Investigations revealed that the man was driving very fast when he lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle then hit the guardrail, which caved in the driver-side door. Due to the high speeding rate, the driver was thrown into the dashboard. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.

Motor vehicle accident fatalities are often the result of carelessness or distractions. Despite the continuous decline of traffic-related fatalities in the U.S., there are still some who take safety for granted. People have become more aware of the importance of wearing seat belts and following the speed limit. However, reporting suspicious driving is also a very important part of decreasing accidents on the road. If you spot a reckless or speeding driver, please be take your safety into your own hands and report the behavior to the police.

Continue reading " Fatal 1-Vehicle Mesa Accident " »

The United States reported 5.5 million car crashes in 2009 and 32 percent of them were due to impaired drivers. Drunk driving haunts thousands in every nation each year and leaves many people killed or injured. April is Alcohol Awareness Month, so please take a minute to remind yourself and others about the dangers of drunk driving—you could just save a life.

In Phoenix, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and various police agencies arrested 48 people with outstanding warrants regarding drunken driving offenses under the fifth multi-agency driving under the influence warrant roundup last Thursday.

The DPS, Phoenix, Surprise, Scottsdale Police and Maricopa County Adult Probation Department participated in the said event.

The officers went to homes and businesses to arrest the DUI suspects. However, if the DUI suspects don’t want to be arrested, they can submit themselves voluntarily at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix.

Based on the report, Department of Public Safety arrested 33 suspects, Surprise Police Department has 8, Phoenix Police Department has 3, Maricopa County Adult Probation has 3 and Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Constables 1 suspect arrested.

This pursuit of the authorities regarding DUI is such a big thing to do to stop the increasing incidence of fatalities in car crashes. Drunk drivers must not be allowed to drive and drink because it just triples the risk of having a fatal crash which could kill and injure million of innocent people. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has found that the average drunk driver is not caught for the first time until they’ve driven drunk approximately 87 times. The sooner these drivers are taken off the road, the less destruction they can wreak.

Continue reading " 48 DUI Suspects Arrested: April is Alcohol Awareness Month " »