Arizona Accident Lawyer Blog

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" »

Many dog owners find the habitual act of walking their family pet is relaxing and a great way to clear their mind. Rarely are there instances reported of road-raged pedestrians, but sometimes the stress of the day can push anyone to aggression. As Arizona car and pedestrian accident attorneys, we hope pedestrians and drivers alike keep their patience with each other to prevent putting anyone in danger.

On Tuesday, a Massachusetts woman was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, vandalism to property, and disorderly conduct after she threw a bag of dog feces at a passing driver (Associated Press via AZ Central 10/5/10). The situation seems bizarre, but the woman was walking her dog and reported seeing a near-miss accident with a car and a bike. The next day the driver contacted the police and informed them that she had thrown feces in his face. She later admitted to doing this because she thought he was speeding. It seems as though she may have had a case of pedestrian road rage!

Road rage can be dangerous in any capacity, whether in a pedestrian, bicyclist, or car driver. Some signs of an aggressive driver are someone who is weaving through traffic, tailgating, and honking their horn excessively. Aggressive driving accounts for nearly 1/3 of all accidents and a resulting 2/3 of total fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The dog feces may not seem like a dangerous weapon, but it could have obscured the driver’s view and caused a much worse situation.

To prevent or combat road rage in yourself while you’re on the road, here are a few tips that may help you regain your composure:
1. Avoid listening to loud or “aggressive” music, as this may increase your stress level. Jazz, easy listening, a comedy channel, or an audio book can help calm you.
2. Try faking a smile for 30 seconds. When your muscles communicate this action to your brain, it triggers a release of happy feelings, even though you’re faking it.
3. Be the “bigger person.” Aggressive drivers are not likely to target you personally, they probably have legitimate reasons in their mind for their actions. Allowing them space is good manners and will give you the feeling of being the “bigger person.”

Continue reading "Enraged Pedestrian Throws Dog Feces After Near-Miss Bicyclist Accident" »

Every year the most skilled personal injury lawyers in Phoenix find themselves helping runners who are hit by cars. All too often, the runners were not at fault. Instead, they were out for their run and doing everything that they were supposed to do - they were following the law. However, runners and other pedestrians following the law is not enough – drivers must follow the law as well if accidents are to be prevented.

As we know all too well from helping those who have been seriously injured, a negligent driver can be completely at fault for injuries inflicted in a pedestrian accident in Arizona or auto accident in Phoenix. For the person who is out running or walking and trying to stake that or prepare for races – or whatever their goal may be – the injuries they suffer are no less painful or debilitating. For families suffering the loss of a loved one due to the negligence of a driver, nothing brings their family member back simply because the runner was not at fault.

Therefore, we take this opportunity as experienced personal injury lawyers in Arizona who help pedestrians and runners throughout Arizona, to remind everybody to follow some key safety tips that we have found in an authoritative account.

Some of these safety tips to avoid being seriously injured by a motor vehicle while running include:

1. Wear reflective clothing at dawn, dusk, or nighttime and bright, visible clothing at all other times (this is something that we see even the most responsible runners forget to do sometimes). Although the likelihood of being injured from a percentage basis may not be high on any individual run, for those that run day after day and year after year in the dark, the likelihood of becoming a victim of a serious incident while running without wearing this type of clothing is much greater.

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