A three-year-old boy is dead following a Saturday afternoon car crash in Phoenix and several other people in the same car were injured. Phoenix police responded to the accident and stated that the boy was not wearing a seat belt or otherwise restrained in the crash and was ejected upon impact.
The three-year-old was riding in a minivan driven by a 26-year-old female. Also in the van were a five-year-old, seven-year-old, and 15-year-old children. Authorities report that the driver of the van ran a red light near Broadway Road and Central Avenue in Phoenix and entered the intersection when cross traffic had the right of way. The minivan entered the path of travel of a pickup truck which struck the minivan and caused it to roll over onto its roof. Upon impact, the three-year-old was ejected from the vehicle through a window and landed on the ground.
Police have reported that the female driver and at least two of the four children in the car were not wearing seat belts in the crash and it is not clear if any other occupants sustained injuries. No one in the truck was hurt in the accident and everyone in the truck was wearing a seat belt. It is also not clear if the driver of the minivan has been charged in connection with the crash but police state that their investigation is ongoing.
One of the most common reasons car accidents occurs is that one driver fails to yield the right of way to another. Whether it occurs at a stop sign, a red light, or while attempting to merge, accidents that occur because one driver failed to yield can be deadly. This is more likely to be the case when both vehicles are traveling at a high rate of speed like at an intersection where neither vehicles slows before impact. The greater the speed, the greater the force of the impact and the more likely that injuries or death will result.
Many times, drivers who are stopped after running a red light claim that the light just turned yellow or just turned red and that the driver thought it was not a big deal. In actuality, the traffic lights in any city are timed with specificity to increase safety at intersections. Failing to abide by the local laws and ignoring these lights is not only a crime but also a serious threat to the safety of everyone on the road.
If you have been hurt in an accident where a driver failed to yield the right of way or if your loved one has been hurt, it is important to know that the law provides you with legal rights that may include a right to a financial recovery. Each case is different and the facts of each accident unique so it is important to speak with a skilled personal injury attorney at soon as possible after your accident.
At Abels & Annes, P.C., we only represent victims of accidents and their families. We never charge a fee unless we make a recovery on your behalf and we have a lawyer standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (602) 819-5191 to take your call. If you have been hurt, call the Phoenix car accident lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. today and let us provide you with a free telephone consultation. There is no obligation, so please call us now.
Prior Blog Entries:
Driver May Have Been on Cell Phone When He Hit a 12-Year-Old Boy, Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, published August 1, 2013.
Authorities Believe Driver Was Drunk When He Caused Fatal Rollover Crash, Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, published July 29, 2013.
Resources:
Police: Unrestrained 3-year-old dies in accident, Fox 10 News, published August 4, 2013.