Arizona Accident Lawyer Blog

As Glendale truck accident attorneys, we want to use this December 30 accident to remind drivers what to do if power lines ever come in contact with their vehicles. In this case, a dump truck became entangled in power lines near 67th Avenue and Orangewood. Luckily, the driver did the right thing and stayed inside his vehicle until crews turned off the high voltage power. Police say that he likely would have been shocked had he tried to leave his vehicle.

What to Do In Case of High Voltage

We want to make sure all drivers know what to do in the event that a power line should fall upon their cars. Although it is highly unlikely that it will ever happen, windstorms, earthquakes, and other events have been known to bring down power lines on top of cars. If this should happen to you, remain inside your car. Do not attempt to drive away or drive over any downed lines. Avoid touching metal objects inside your car, such as door handles. According to MesaAZ.gov, the official website of Mesa, Arizona, downed power lines can be deadly. The site advises drivers to assume all lines are energized and dangerous. Never touch a vehicle with power lines on it even if someone is trapped inside and call 911 immediately.

Contact a Glendale Personal Injury Attorney

The Husband and Wife Law Team at Breyer Law Offices, P.C. investigates cases in which downed power lines cause injury and work to obtain settlements from the at-fault party. This could include the power company, local government, other drivers, and more. Victims can use settlements to cover the cost of medical expenses, damages, and more. It is important to remember that in these types of injury claims specifically the statute of limitations can be just 180 days. If you do not act fast, you may lose your claim. This is not to say that you have a minimal statute of limitations, but you should talk to a lawyer to find out your legal rights and your statute of limitations so you don't miss an important deadline and lose your claim. Contact us today for a free consultation.

The skilled Phoenix truck accident lawyers at the Breyer Law Offices are aware that truck accidents in Arizona happen all of the time. Although large trucks only account for 4% of the total registered vehicles in the United States, fatal crashes involving these types of vehicles reached 8%.

The trucking industry is bound by Federal regulations. These regulations aim to reduce injuries and fatalities caused by commercial truck accidents. Meanwhile, commercial truck drivers have one drawback which is that the commercial trucking laws vary from one state to another.

Truck Accident Statistics

According to the statistics compiled by Truckaccident.org, truck collisions every year resulted in 130,000 injured individuals. Injuries caused by truck accidents accounted for 22%, while about 70% of accidents resulted in property damage claims only.

Arizona State Truck Accident Laws

Because trucking laws often vary from one state to another, it is important for those involved in Phoenix truck accidents to know their legal rights.

Truck Accident Settlements

Commercial truck accidents can be a nightmare to truck drivers, especially when the truck driver violates the federal regulations. When a truck driver violates federal regulations, it can mean serious fines and penalties for the truck driver and the truck driver's employer company.

Contact a Skilled Phoenix Truck Accident Lawyer

Phoenix truck accident victims can seek legal assistance from one of Arizona's top lawyers, Mark Breyer. Attorney Mark Breyer was recently named Top 5 Injury Lawyers in Arizona. For a free consultation with the Breyer Law Offices, P.C., call today.

Truck accidents in the United States have slowly been decreasing over the past few years. In 2009, almost 18,000 light trucks were involved in fatal crashes nationwide, a decrease of about 1,200 from 2008. Accidents involving large trucks have also declined to around 1,000 vehicles in the same year.

Based on study, truck accidents, unlike other motor vehicle accidents which are often caused by alcohol, distracted driving, and speeding are primarily caused by lack of sleep and fatigue on the part of truck drivers. In fact, only about 1 percent of truck accidents involved an alcohol-impaired driver.

Although statistics show that truck accident fatalities are not as high as other motor vehicle fatalities, being involved in one can be very dangerous. It can result in serious injuries such as burns, paralysis, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or even death.

On Wednesday evening, just before midnight (08/03/11), a pickup truck slammed head-on into a semi truck. The Glendale truck accident happened near 75th Avenue and Bethany Home Road around 11:30 pm. Police investigation revealed that the pickup crossed the median and slammed into the parked semi truck on the roadside. The driver of the pickup died on the scene.

Being a victim of any kind of fatal car accident can be both emotionally and financially devastating. Many of us suffered because of the loss of a loved one accompanied by the cost of laying him or her to rest.

As one of the top truck accident attorneys in Glendale, we are always ready to assist victims of truck accidents. Call us at (480) 389-2463 for you free consultation.

An early morning truck accident happened recently which caused both lanes of Interstate 17 at Dunlap Avenue to be closed for hours (AZ Family 07/01/2011). According to report, the rollover happened around 1:20 a.m. when a truck heading north lost control, flipping over the median wall and into the opposite lanes.

The truck was carrying 9,000 gallons of fuel and created a potentially explosive situation. Hazardous Materials crews were able to confirm a gas leak but not as much as expected. The leak reached both sides of the median but responding crews had it under control. Another tanker was used to transfer the fuel from the rolled over truck.

The driver sustained minor injuries and was already released from the hospital. No one else was reportedly hurt in the Phoenix truck accident.

It took hours before the lanes were reopened as Hazmat crews had to clean up the area and transfer the remaining fuel to another tanker.

Back in 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 3,215 large trucks were involved in fatal car accidents. Large trucks took up 7.1 percent of total vehicles that ended up in fatal crashes.

With the high fatality rate of rollover accidents, it is fortunate that the driver survived with only minor injuries and that no one else was hurt in the incident. Vehicles that are taller and narrower in size are at a greater risk of ending up in a rollover crash. To protect yourself from a rollover crash, make sure to follow appropriate speed limits as rollovers tend to involve excessive speeding.

For a free consultation with an Arizona truck accident injury lawyer, call (602) 457-6222.

Light trucks that are involved in crashes usually results in devastating damage. This occurred frequently in 2009, where 80.9% of accidents that involved a light truck were a collision with a motor vehicle in a transport by initial point of impact. A total of 3,194,000 people and properties were involved in the accident. The outcome of the incident resulted much on property damages only, next was injuries and the least was fatalities.

Aerial footage of an accident was recorded concerning a white truck and a white van involved in a collision. The video footage was captured in Phoenix last Wednesday.

The truck accident in Phoenix resulted in damages to both vehicles. The accident took place in an intersection at the area of 27th and Glendale Avenue at around 7 in the morning. The cause of the crash is still unknown.

Accidents like this can be avoided by driving slowly and remaining alert every time you approach an intersection.

If ever you have encountered such incident call us at (602) 457-6222, or (480) 389-2463.

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" »

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" »

Safe Kids USA, an organization working towards preventing unintentional child injuries, revealed that motor vehicle crashes ranks first in leading causes of unintentional injury and deaths among children below 14 years old in the United States.

Every year, there are over 3,000 large trucks involved in fatal crashes nationwide (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2009). Arizona alone lost 67 lives to fatal truck accidents in 2009. Out of the 67 fatal accidents, 18 trucks were involved in single-vehicle crashes and 49 were involved in multiple-vehicle crashes.

Two people were seriously injured and hospitalized as a result of an accident in Glendale on Wednesday night (AZ Central 3/2/11). The incident started when the driver of a landscaping truck with a trailer came to a stop near 47th and Olive avenues to avoid hitting a person, who was at that time, crossing the street. Due to the sudden stop, a silver car carrying two women and a young boy struck the trailer. Then another car rear-ended the silver car. The driver of the silver car was critically injured, and the boy who was with her had to be extricated from the car, suffering life-threatening injuries.

Many studies have been done on child fatalities, and sadly, car crashes have been found to be the number one killer of children in the country, over and over again. As parents, we don’t want to see this trend continue. There are many safety precautions to take to protect your children in the car—most important is the appropriate child seat. Children should ride in car or booster seats until they reach 80-100 pounds or 8-12 years of age. Take the time to make sure your child’s seat is properly installed; an incorrect installation renders the seat useless in a crash. Free car seat checks are available all over the valley: Visit www.seatcheck.org to find a location near you.

Continue reading "2 Seriously Injured in Glendale Truck Accident" »

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" »

Did you know that there were 17,902 fatal light truck accidents in 2009? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (NHTSA-FARS), this number is equivalent to 39.4 percent of the total crashes by vehicle type. In Arizona, 395 light trucks or 39.2 percent were involved in fatal crashes.

Such a staggering number of fatalities is not something to be neglected. Despite efforts to avoid or prevent accidents, they unfortunately still happen, just like one incident in Avondale last Wednesday when a 32-year old male pedestrian was struck by a Dodge pickup on Wednesday (AZ Central 01/26/2011). The victim was hit on Avondale Boulevard near Roosevelt Street.

The man was seen standing on the raised median before he stepped into traffic. The first vehicle successfully maneuvered and went around him but, the Dodge hit him.

The woman who was driving the car stated that she did not see the man crossing until he was right in front of her. The impact of the crash was so great that the victim was thrown into the air and landed around 40 feet away.

The man was breathing but unresponsive. He was airlifted to a Phoenix Hospital in critical condition where he remains still. He suffered severe injuries on the right side of his head, right arm, leg, and torso.

Traffic authorities always remind us to follow speed limits, traffic rules, and to refrain from distracted and impaired driving to prevent such tragic accidents. These reminders are not only for drivers but for pedestrians as well. Sometimes pedestrians may feel like oncoming drivers see them and acknowledge them, when in actuality they do not. Please take extra caution when you are both the pedestrian and the driver to watch out for each other.

Continue reading "Man in Critical Condition after being Hit by Pickup Truck in Avondale" »

Did you know that distracted driving is one of the top factors in causing car accidents? In 2009 alone, fatalities in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted driving reached 5,474 (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2009 Traffic Safety Facts). This makes up 16 percent of fatal crashes for that year. Distracted driving is one of the reasons why car accidents are the number one killer of people aged 1 to 34 in the US.

Simply put, distracted driving is engaging in any activity that could affect driving skills therefore increasing the risk of traffic accidents to happen. Among many distractions; sending text messages, calling, or using a cell phone while driving are unfortunately quite common. NHTSA reports that 18 percent of fatalities in distraction-related crashes involved cell phone use as a distraction.

In an effort to stop Arizona car collisions due to distracted driving, an insurance company held an event called "X the TXT: DSGN8 Before You Drive" featuring Arizona Native and 2007 American Idol winner Jordin Sparks earlier this week (via KPHO 01/03/2011).

Sparks led her fans to take the pledge against texting while driving by appearing at Tempe Marketplace last Tuesday afternoon and to help get the word out on driver safety. She is advocating for drivers to designate a texting passenger so drivers are not tempted to respond to text messages that arrive while they are driving.

Continue reading "American Idol Star Comes to Phoenix for Campaign to Reduce Distracted Driving Accidents" »

Did you know that everyday 32 people in the United States die because of alcohol impaired driving accidents according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)? An in depth look into the history of vehicle crashes involving alcohol impaired drivers reveals that although the numbers are steadily decreasing in the recent years, the families that lose their loved ones every year can tell you that they are never low enough. In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety administration recorded a total of 10,839 deaths involving drivers with blood alcohol concentration exceeding the legal limit of .08 – 32 percent of traffic accident fatalities in the US.

Despite being one of the most common causes of car accidents, many people seem to ignore the dangers that go with drunken driving. As reported by KPHO (01/03/2011), more than 3500 DUI arrests were made in Arizona in only a span of several weeks; a clear statement that alcohol involved traffic accidents are still a major problem.

This statewide effort to arrest drivers suspected of DUI began during the Thanksgiving holiday and ended New Year's Day. Exact numbers reached 3,534 DUI arrests, more than a thousand less compared to last year.

Continue reading "Over 3500 Arizona DUI Arrests Made Statewide" »

One of the benefits that a motorcycle has is the freedom it gives to its riders while on the road. But motorcycle riders are also exposed to dangers not met by car drivers. Did you know motorcycles have a higher fatality rate per unit distance travelled as compared to automobiles? In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration- Fatality Analysis Reporting System (NHTSA-FARS) found there were 4,595 motorcycles involved in fatal crashes in the United States. Whereas, a total of 21,117 trucks were involved in accidents in the same year.

In 2008, out of all motorcycles involved in fatal crashes, 47 percent collided with another type of vehicle, though studies also show that motorcycles involved in fatal crashes usually hit fixed objects rather than other vehicles. NHTSA considers speeding the main contributing factor of motorcycle crashes, causing 35 percent of all motorcycle crashes compared to 23 percent for passenger cars.

Death is often the unfortunate outcome of motorcycle accidents, though many lucky riders recover against all odds. In a recent motorcycle accident in Tonopah, Arizona on the night of November 25th, one motorcycle rider was killed when it collided with a commercial truck (ABC 15 11/25/10). According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the reason of the collision was unknown.

Protective gear can save lives. The lack of these while driving on the road can cause severe head injuries or worse, death. Helmets are effective in preventing 37 percent of fatal injuries to motorcycle riders and 41 percent for passengers. In 2008, NHTSA estimated that 1,829 motorcycle riders were saved because of helmets.

Continue reading "1 Killed in Motorcycle-Truck Wreck in Tonopah" »

Researchers from the National Highway Safety Administration reported that there are an increasing number of people driving with drugs in their systems. In fact, 18 percent or 4,000 out of almost 22,000 people killed in car accidents tested positive for drugs in the United States in 2009. The researchers, however, cannot directly link the presence of drugs to being the primary cause of fatal crashes. As Arizona wrongful death attorneys, we try to help the families of these drugged-driver victims by getting them the compensation they deserve. While it will never replace the lost loved one, it helps lessen the financial burden after a death.

The Department of Transportation, on the other hand, published a couple of studies regarding the impact of drugs such as marijuana and cocaine on the performance of drivers. Results showed that marijuana slows down a driver’s perception of time, space, and distance while cocaine causes drivers to speed, change lanes without signaling and puts other innocent people at risk of a deadly accident. (Parents. Anti-Drug, 2003).

One high-profile Phoenix truck accident involving drugs happened in March 2009 when a dump truck driver hit a group of motorcycle riders, killing four people and injuring five others. According to the initial tests conducted, the driver was positive with methamphetamine when the collision happened.

Unlike alcohol which has a legal limit of 0.08 for all 50 states, the authority is still in the process of determining the concentration level at which drugs can impair the judgment of drivers.

Continue reading "1 in 5 Drivers Guilty of Drugged-driving in 2009" »

As parents and Gilbert car accident attorneys, we hate to hear about children suffering injuries in accidents. We take extra precautions as parents to keep them safe and healthy, like securing them in car seats, inspecting all toys for choking hazards, and making them wear helmets or other safety equipment when playing outside. It is the things that are out of our control, however, that typically pose the most risk for injury.

On Sunday in Gilbert, a pick up truck collided with a family of four in a station wagon (Arizona Republic via AZ Central 11/22/10). The mother, 25 years old, and one child, 2 years old, were seriously injured, while the father, 30 years, and second child, 5 years old, had minor injuries.

The accident is still under investigation as to its causes. It is not known yet as to whether or not the children were in car or booster seats.

Did you know that children in a properly installed car or booster seat have an 80% lower risk of fatal injury than unrestrained children (Safe Kids USA 2009)? However, an improperly installed car seat may pose more harm than not having one at all. A study done observing 3,442 car and booster seats found 73% of them to have at least one critical misuse, rendering them useless (Safe Kids USA 2009). There are many free car seat inspection locations, such as fire departments, AAA, and police departments—try to bring yours to be checked if you haven’t already done so recently to ensure your children are as safe as possible.

Continue reading "Serious Accident in Gilbert Injures 4" »

As Cave Creek motorcycle accident attorneys, we hate to hear about tragedy striking innocent riders. In 2008, 5,290 motorcyclists were killed and 96,000 more suffered injuries in traffic accidents (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). Arizona alone saw 133 riders lose their lives (NHTSA 2008).

On Tuesday in Cave Creek, one motorcyclist was killed and three others were critically injured (Arizona Republic via AZ Central 11/16/10). The exact details of the accident are still under investigation, but witnesses say there were two motorcycles involved, each with two riders, and a truck in a serious accident. The truck driver was not injured. None of the motorcycle riders were reported to be wearing helmets, and impairment is believed not to have been a factor.

Did you know that per mile traveled, motorcyclists have a 37% more likely chance of being killed in an accident than someone riding in a car (NHTSA 2007)? Riders can take precautionary actions to avoid becoming one of these devastating statistics. Safety equipment such as helmets, body protectors, gloves, and boots, are common ways to protect a rider in case of an accident. However, how does a rider avoid even needing this secondary protection? Defensive driving is key in being a safe motorcycle rider.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has created these videos to promote motorist awareness with some of the most common locations for motorcycle-car collisions. You can view these videos on their website at: http://online2.msf-usa.org/msf/videos4.aspx. We hope they will be helpful to both drivers and riders alike to be aware of each other while sharing the road.

Continue reading "Cave Creek Truck Accident Kills Motorcyclist" »

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found that Arizona’s pedestrian fatality rate was 1.82 for every 100,000 residents in 2009. This gives Arizona the 8th worst pedestrian fatality rate in the nation.

A Phoenix woman was crossing the street with a shopping cart on Friday when she was hit by a pick up truck (AZ Family 11/6/10). The truck driver fled the scene but later turned himself in. The woman died at the site, only 50 feet from her home. She was not crossing in a crosswalk at the time she was hit.

In 2009, 120 Arizona residents were killed in pedestrian accidents (NHTSA). Most at risk are older adults ages 65 and older, accounting for 18% of all pedestrian deaths, children ages 5 to 9, and impaired pedestrians (Center for Disease Control and Prevention 6/17/10). Fatal pedestrian accidents frequently occur in urban areas and non-intersection locations during the nighttime hours. The Phoenix woman who lost her life on Friday was not at an intersection when she was struck.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention advises pedestrians to be extra cautious at intersections because drivers may not yield the right of way when turning onto another street. They also recommend wearing light-colored or reflective clothing or carrying a flashlight if walking at dusk or nighttime.

Continue reading "Truck Kills Female Pedestrian in Phoenix" »

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" »

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" »