Arizona Accident Lawyer Blog

Laws have been swirling around the topic of distracted driving recently. It has alarmingly become one of the top causes of motor vehicle accidents because of cell phones and the like. According to 2009 statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of motor vehicle crashes involving driver distraction amounted 448,000 who were injured or 20%. For overall crashes involving distractions, 959,000 out of 5,505,000 occurred or 17%. It is surprisingly much lower than that recorded in the years 2005–2008, which ranged from an amount of 960,000 – 1,300,000 crashes.

This has recently taken center stage in the state of Arizona. There are bills currently sponsored by Steve Farley, Tucson Democrat, banning driving and texting or any cell phone use by drivers under the age of 18. Farley has been wanting to raise awareness through a doctor from California, who also lost a son as a result of texting.

It should be highly noted that statistics show drivers who use cell phones are four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. More to that, texting while driving has shown to have caused to more motor vehicle accidents than drunk driving has. The Phoenix texting while driving ban was initiated in 2007. There have been many concerns coming before the Arizona State Legislature although nothing has actually been passed. A survey by the Behavior Research Center shows that 9 out of 10 Arizona residents actually support a texting while driving ban.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with a distracted driver, there is free consultation. Just call these numbers (602) 267-1280, or (480) 753-4534.

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!

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" »