Arizona Accident Lawyer Blog

Pedestrians are often seen walking on sidewalks where they are safe. However, in 2009, 4,092 pedestrians were killed and an estimated 59,000 were injured in traffic crashes in the United States. On average, a pedestrian was killed every two hours and injured every nine minutes in traffic crashes.

In Mesa, a 28-year-old man has been arrested after he was accused of knocking a 15-year-old skateboarder to the ground (AZCentral 07/13/2011). The incident happened in a neighborhood near Guadalupe and Sossaman roads in Mesa. Police say that the 28-year-old suspect was driving down the street when he saw a group of skateboarders and told them to get out of the street. The 15-year-old teen responded to the man that they were on the bike lane and not on the street, before riding away. The man responded by jumping out of his car and chasing down the teen, saying that he would kill him, while knocking him down on the ground. An adult overheard this and rushed to help the victim, but the man ran away and drove off. Later, police were able to locate the man and arrest him. The teen sustained minor injuries.

Streets in Arizona are usually equipped with a bike lane for skateboarders and bicycle riders. It was good that the teens were using a safe lane. Even though they are in the bike lane, it is still unsafe, and they should still be cautious.

If you or a loved one has been harassed or assaulted by an unknown person for using the bicycle lane, you may call us for a free consultation at (602) 457-6222. We are personal injury lawyers in Mesa and we may be able to help.

Every day, emergency departments treat a lot of people who have been injured in motor vehicle crashes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2009, there were about 2.3 million adult drivers and passengers who were treated in emergency rooms across the United States. The economic impact of such an accident is also notable.

The California Court of Appeals has just recently handed down a very important decision regarding insurance companies. In 2005, an accident occurred when the driver of a truck from Hamilton Meats and Provisions made an illegal U-turn on a coastal highway, which caused him to hit a car. The driver of the car suffered serious injuries and subsequent hospitalization.

The ruling was such that the collateral source rule would still apply, and that the negligent people who caused the injury cannot receive the benefits given by the victim’s insurance. As in the case of Howell v. Hamilton Meats and Provisions, Inc.; when the judge first ruled in favour of the plaintiff, the defendant was asked to pay a large amount to compensate for the medical bills. However, when the defendant’s side later found out that the insurance company of Howell was able to reduce the amount of hospitalization from $189,000 to $59,000, they also appealed to the judge that the amount they would pay to the plaintiff would be reduced as well. However, the judge ruled against this, because it would be unfair to Ms. Howell for having the foresight to get insurance.

If you or a loved one has been injured and need representation, you may call our experienced Arizona personal injury attorneys at Breyer Law Offices P.C. for a free consultation at (602) 457-6222. We may be able to help.

Law enforcement officers are trained in the proper use of force and when it is necessary. In dangerous or unpredictable situations officers have little time to assess and determine the proper response. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has stated "…in diffusing situations, apprehending alleged criminals, and protecting themselves and others, officers are legally entitled to use appropriate means, including force." However, there are times when officers abuse this right and use force in some situations and cause some unwarranted injury.

In Phoenix, a police officer was caught on tape slamming a female teenager against the wall (KPHO 5/4/2011). An Officer is seen running up behind a girl who was walking away, and then suddenly throwing her into the wall. The girl was then handcuffed and then taken to a police cruiser. Prior to that scene, before the officers arrived, the girl was seen with her mother in the parking lot of the Ombudsman Charter School near 40th Street and Thomas Road.

This could be a case of personal injury and child injury in Arizona. Personal injury is when a person’s injury is the result of an incident which is directly caused by the negligence of another person or indirectly by their property.

If you or a loved one has been injured and you are not sure about whether or not a claim should be filed, you may call our personal injury attorneys in Phoenix for a free consultation at (602) 457-6222. We are proud to represent personal or child injury victims throughout the state of Arizona.

Weather conditions can be a probable factor in contributing to car accidents. These are fortuitous events that not everyone can avoid, but must be prepared for. According to the 2009 Arizona Crash Facts Summary, there were 106,767 crashes due to weather conditions: 709 were of fatal crashes and 33,380 were injury related. Weather conditions should not be taken lightly when out of the house.

In recent news, high wind gusts in North Phoenix may have been responsible for uprooting a huge tree causing it to fall on a passing car on the street. It happened Saturday evening on Paradise Village Parkway South, near Tatum Boulevard and Cactus Road. The driver saw a tree coming down, and barely had enough time to slam on the brakes. The roots of the fallen tree were completely exposed and its branches and leaves were scattered all over the street. He came out of the scene uninjured. Wind gusts were estimated to be at 50 mph and took down several power poles between Germany and Thunderbird roads.

Drivers should also be careful if these kinds of natural events happen in Arizona. These types of weather conditions are unavoidable if one is at the wrong place and at the wrong time. Mother Nature is definitely one strong opponent to face.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an injury accident in Arizona area, you may call our Arizona personal injury attorneys for a free consultation at (602) 457-6222.

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" »

More than 1,300 people suffer serious injuries and 16 people are killed every day due to accidents caused by distracted drivers (CDC). Distracted driving is taking one’s attention away from driving due to preoccupation with something else, such as using a mobile phone. In 2009, about 5,500 people were killed due to distracted driving in the U.S. alone (AZfamily 3/7/2011).

In a recent poll conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation and Consumer Reports on distracted driving, it was found that 63% of those aged below 30 were guilty of distracted driving, being on their mobile phones or texting while driving. The rates were lower for those who were 30 and above. Only a small percentage of the younger population felt that driving while using a mobile phone was actually dangerous (AZfamily 3/7/2011).

Being distracted while driving increases the chance of crashing into another vehicle, resulting in injured people, or even death. Teens have the highest proportion of distracted driving (CDC). Researchers say the reasons are the teens’ lack of experience behind the wheel as well as peer pressure. Socialization plays a big role in distracted driving, as teens are becoming more conditioned into the habit of immediate responses to text messages and phone calls, even while driving.

The U.S. government is currently taking steps to halt this rampant problem by enacting laws, which are geared towards reducing this problem. Also, proper education through the family and school is being encouraged by the government.

Continue reading "Distracted Driving Accidents" »

The 2010 statistics for semi truck, tractor-trailer, and commercial vehicle accidents in the U.S. have been released. Over 500,000 large truck and commercial vehicles were involved in accidents; with over 100,000 people getting seriously injured. Over 5,000 people died in these crashes. The numbers for these types of accidents continue to go up today (insurancenewsnet.com). These statistics were compared to only 3,200 deaths involving large trucks in 2009 (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety).

In Glendale, a man was killed when the vehicle he was driving rear-ended a Dodge pick-up truck, then swerved and hit a semi trailer before swerving into the desert (abc15.com 3/3/11). When the police arrived, they declared the driver of the car dead on the scene. The vehicle’s passenger was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Glendale was closed between Dysart and El Mirage due to this accident.

There are thousands of reports of car accidents with fatalities each year. As the number of vehicles increase, the chances of these kinds of accidents will also increase. Drivers need to be more responsible when driving, by driving at a safe speed, avoiding distractions, and staying alert. Vehicle crashes are not only tragic but often result in high costs to the public.

Continue reading "1 Dead in Glendale Truck Accident" »

Teenagers are three times more likely to be involved in fatal car crashes than any other age group. A recent poll about distracted driving from the U.S. Department of Transportation and Consumer Reports Magazine revealed that 9 percent of people over thirty years old have admitted to sending text messages on the road, while this number is 30 percent for people below the age of thirty.

More shockingly, the poll stated that 41 percent of people above thirty years old have made calls as they were driving, while for people below thirty, this number was a staggering 63 percent.

Within quite close time frames of each other, Mountain Pointe High School suffered a traumatic loss from the deaths of two of their most brilliant and remembered graduates. A wonderful student described as exemplary for both her academic achievements and her heart, was killed on February 18 shortly after moving to California. She was a Mountain Pointe High School graduate of 2007 and was killed in a car crash on the 405 freeway near LA.

Almost immediately following this young woman’s death, a second blow was dealt when another former female student, a track and field legend in both her school and the state, was killed in a Maricopa street intersection while riding her bike. She was hit by a pickup truck and died at the age of 27.

Today, teens are killed by car crashes more than any other cause of death. And according to the Department of Transportation in 2009, traffic accidents were responsible for the deaths of 5,500 people in the U.S.

Continue reading "2 Former Mountain Pointe High School Students Killed in Car Wrecks" »

As Arizona accident lawyers, we understand the hardships of losing a loved one in a traffic accident. In 2009, traffic fatalities in the U.S. reached 33,808; averaging out to over 90 people who die every day because of car crashes (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System).

In Maricopa, a life was lost in a tragic bicycle accident last week. The victim, a marathon champion and Olympic hopeful, died after crashing her bike into a pickup truck Tuesday around 1:20 in the afternoon (AZ Family 03/09/2011).

Police say the Maricopa woman was going south into the intersection of White and Parker Road and Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway when she failed to yield and collided with the eastbound vehicle resulting in her immediate death.

According to Maricopa Police Department’s spokesperson, the driver of the pickup truck did not appear to be impaired.

Investigations are still ongoing with regards to the accident.

The victim was well known in the local running scene and has in fact qualified for the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials after winning a recent marathon event.

Cyclists makes up about almost 2 percent of traffic fatalities in 2009 which was 12 percent less of what was reported in 2008.

For safety purposes, it is important for cyclists to stay focused while on the road and to wear proper gear which serves as cushion against fatal injuries. It is also advised to avoid using gadgets that can impair one of the senses while riding such as music players and cell phones.

Continue reading "Maricopa Bike Accident Kills Athlete" »

Over the years, pedestrian fatalities have accounted for a large portion of total traffic-related fatalities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found nearly 175,000 pedestrians were killed in all motor vehicle crashes. Studies also revealed that 90 percent of all pedestrian fatalities were the result of single vehicle crashes.

There were 69,000 pedestrians who suffered injuries in traffic crashes in 2008 and nearly 5,000 were killed. In 2009, the NHTSA reported that 4,092 pedestrians were killed nationwide, 120 of these were from Arizona. In fact, Arizona was ranked 8th highest in terms of Pedestrian Fatality Rate per 100,000 Population among all other states at 1.82.

In Phoenix, a woman was confirmed to be in extreme critical condition after being hit by a car around 6:50 a.m. on Friday (AZ Central 3/11/11). The accident happened at 32nd Street near Indian School Road when the victim ran across the street and a mid-1990’s Nissan struck her. Police believe that the victim crossed the street when the traffic light was red. Further investigation has shown that the driver of the car was not impaired when the accident occurred.

While on the road, we not only have the responsibility for our own safety but also for others. Pedestrians as well as drivers must follow the laws on the road to avoid fatal accidents. One important safety tip for pedestrians is to stay on sidewalks and use crosswalks instead of walking in the road. It is also important to take action by reporting suspected impaired drivers and speeding cars to avoid fatal accidents.

Continue reading "Female Pedestrian Critically Injured in Phoenix Accident" »

Every 50 minutes, a life is lost due to a drunk driving accident in the U.S. (NHTSA, 2009). In Arizona, the Department of Public Safety and police departments reported that 7,756 car crashes every year involve a pedestrian or a drunk driver with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .01 or more (AZfamily, 3/15/11).

While a BAC of .01 may seem insignificant, individuals can react at different levels to alcohol, so even at this low level, some users can actually become significantly impaired.

As the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day approaches tomorrow, the Scottsdale Police Department has placed safety as a top priority during the event. Police officers will be out on DUI inspections at a checkpoint at Palm Lane and Scottsdale Road, from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. The police will be paying special attention to drivers going southbound on Scottsdale Road, heading from Old Town bars and nightlife.

For every impaired driving fatality, Arizonans pay approximately $3.3 million in monetary and quality of life losses. If alcohol-related crashes in Arizona were reduced by even 10%, it would save $50 million annually in insurance costs.

If only to spare the financial implications of a drunk driving accident, please drink responsibly during your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. AAA Arizona is again offering their free “Tipsy Tow” service starting at 6pm Thursday night through 6am on Friday. You don’t even have to be an AAA member—just call 1-800-AAA-HELP and say you need a “Tipsy Tow” and an AAA truck will provide a free one-way ride home within a 10 mile radius of the starting location.

Continue reading "Scottsdale Drunk Driver Checkpoint Planned for St. Patrick's Day" »

Did you know that people over the age of 65 accounted for 15 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2008? Did you also know that 16 year olds are 3 times more likely to die in a motor vehicle crash then any other age group? In 2009 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that the number of traffic fatalities had decreased by 300 due to campaigns such as “Click-it-or-Ticket” and other safe driving initiatives.

Arizona has been known for having a very high number of traffic-related accidents. However, stronger safety regulations have come into effect nationally, which has led to the state of Arizona seeing a decline in the number injuries and fatalities related to motor vehicles.

There was a head-on collision in Peoria last Thursday. The accident happened near a Peoria intersection at 112th and Northern avenues before 5 a.m. (AZ Family 3/3/11). According to reports, emergency crews had to extricate both drivers. The driver, age 65, had to be airlifted to a local hospital and the other victim, age 30, suffered multi-system trauma and was transported by ambulance. Further information has not been released, but it is believed that they both suffered life threatening injuries. Peoria Police revealed that a loose trailer might have caused the wreck. The 65-year old driver might have tried to avoid the trailer and as a result collided into the other car head-on.

Accidents caused by run away trailers are not as common as motor vehicle accidents however, can be just as dangerous. To avoid finding yourself involved in a car accident, it is important to not follow cars or trailers too closely.

Continue reading "2 Injured in a Head-On Collision in Peoria" »

Almost 250,000 people have died in alcohol related accidents in the past 10 years (U.S. Dept of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). Added to that is the 11,773 drunk driving deaths that were recorded by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2008. 41 % of drivers involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.8 and above. Every 20 minutes, one life is lost in a vehicular crash.

The recent forced closure of the Carefree Highway in North Phoenix rooted from the serious head on collision between two cars that happened early this morning. The accident left two injured people.

Accordingly, just before 1 a.m., the 22-year-old female driver of the 2005 Kia Spectra was heading east along the Carefree Highway when suddenly another car hit her head-on.

Police have identified the 39-year-old female driver of the Black 2005 Mitsubishi Montero who hit the Kia, she was traveling the wrong way on the road leading her to crash into the other car. Investigators believe that the driver of the Mitsubishi was under the influence of the alcohol.

The two drivers were immediately brought to Valley Hospital. The driver of Kia was severely injured and in critical condition while the driver of Mitsubishi suffered only non-life threatening injuries.

To gather evidence and investigate properly the accident, the police officers of Phoenix had to close both lanes of Carefree Highway from 7th to 23rd Avenues for about 12 hours.

The high incidence of alcohol-related collisions has been of high concern for many years. Not only does it cost lives, but it also increases the cost of hospitalization. That’s why so many advocacy groups try to keep these drunk drivers off the road. Remember, even one drink is enough to impair your driving skills, so please don’t get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking.

Continue reading "Head on Collision Injured Two People in Carefree Highway, North Phoenix" »

In 2009, there were 3,215 fatal crashes involving large trucks, accounting for 7.1 percent of all fatal accidents in the United States (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). In most cases, fatal truck accidents occurred in rural areas and only 1 percent were DUI-related. On the other hand, truck driver fatigue is a major cause of fatal truck accidents. In fact, research showed that 30% of all truck crashes were a result of truck drivers driving without taking enough rest and getting the required amount of sleep.

In Arizona, only 67 large trucks or 6.6 percent out of 1,008 vehicles were involved in fatal crashes in 2009. From this total number, 8 resulted in roll over and 14 resulted in a fire. Large truck accidents in Arizona are the second most infrequent type of accident, next to buses, according to data from NHTSA-FARS.

A truck accident occurred last Tuesday night in Tempe (KPHO 02/22/11). According to reports, a FedEx truck tipped over near Broadway Road and McClintock Drive in Tempe. Fortunately, the impact of the accident was not intense, so the driver only suffered minor injuries according to the officers.

As per the initial investigation, the load in the truck might be the cause of the accident. Witnesses say the truck was turning slowly before it tipped over. The load likely shifted and threw the truck’s weight distribution off, causing it to tip.

Continue reading "Truck Roll-Over Injures Driver" »

Despite persistent awareness campaigns and advocacy groups, alcohol continues to be a main reason for fatal car accidents. All over the world, fatal car accidents are said to be caused largely by alcohol influenced-drivers. In the U.S. alone, alcohol related car crashes comprise 22% of all major causes of car wrecks. Drivers in these situations are reported to have had the alcohol content of at least 0.8 in their blood stream.

A recent occurrence that attests to this fact happened in Phoenix. Carefree Highway, between Seventh and 23rd avenue, was closed off to westbound drivers last Wednesday morning due to a two-car collision.

At 12:40 a.m. a 39-year old woman was driving her 2005 Mitsubishi west in the eastbound lanes of the divided highway, when it clashed with a 22 year-old woman’s 2005 Kia Spectra.
The woman in the Kia was reported to have been immediately airlifted to a local hospital upon obtaining life-threatening injuries from the collision. She continues to be under extremely critical condition. The woman driving the Mitsubishi also suffered serious injuries, luckily they were not life threatening.

Sgt. Tommy Thompson of the Phoenix Police Department reported that investigators believed alcohol to be a major cause of the collision. Aerial footage of the wreck showed badly smashed cars and scattered debris blocking the roadway.

Did you know that even one drink is enough to impair your driving ability? While the legal blood-alcohol concentration level is .08, even a BAC of .04-.06 can result in impairment of reasoning, memory, and lower your cautiousness (Brad21.org). Behavior is also intensified at this BAC level, resulting in exaggerated actions. When behind the wheel, drivers must have complete control over their reasoning and behaviours—anything less than complete control can result in a deadly mistake.

Continue reading "Drunk Driver Causes Serious Injury Crash on Carefree Highway" »