Of all of the various ways in which a car accident can occur, few tend to be more deadly than those involving a collision with a vehicle on the shoulder of the road. Generally this is because cars are only on the shoulders of freeways, expressways, and interstates which all have high speed limits, meaning the forces involved in a collision tend to be high.
When these crashes are not deadly, they often result in serious injuries, especially if a pedestrian is hit outside of a vehicle. Fortunately, though, it appears that a shoulder of the road accident happened this morning without leaving anyone hurt.
Police say that an officer had pulled over his vehicle onto the shoulder of the northbound Loop 101 to respond to a prior collision. As the officer was investigating, another vehicle came up from behind and collided with the police car which was located near U.S. 60. Amazingly, the officer may not have been hurt in this collision.
Being a police officer is very dangerous and can involve the risk of auto accidents among other injury-causing incidents. Over the years, the lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. have represented many police officers hurt while both on and off the job and we currently represent an Arizona officer who was injured in a car accident that was caused by negligent driving.
Though this crash involved a police car, other vehicles are just as likely to be involved in an accident while stopped on the side of the road. Many factors lead to these accidents including the fact that drivers may not anticipate seeing a vehicle stopped on the shoulder, the stopped vehicle may be hard to see, a portion of the stopped vehicle may still be on the road’s driving surface, or even that others in traffic may see a stopped car but think it is properly within a lane designated for travel.
These collisions can be the fault of the stopped driver or of the oncoming driver traveling in traffic depending on all the facts that are involved, but if one driver is negligent, that individual may be held liable for all resulting damages, including all injuries that occur from the crash.
Often, the injuries caused in these crashes may include broken or fractured bones, head injuries and contusions, cuts and abrasions, neck and back injuries, and in the worst cases, death.
The laws in Phoenix allow accident victims to bring a claim for their damages against an at-fault driver. At Abels & Annes, P.C., we have experience doing just that. We make it our job to protect the rights of our clients and to help them receive the maximum award possible in each case. We believe in the rights of accident victims so strongly that we offer a free case consultation to all injury victims who call us at (855) PHX-LAWYER or locally at (602) 819-5191. If you have been injured, make sure you have someone on your side to fight for you. Call us now and let us help you towards the path of recovery.
Prior Blog Entry:
Motorcyclist Hit and Killed while Trying to Avoid Crash; At-Fault Driver Flees Scene, Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, published December 18, 2013.
Resource:
Driver hits DPS officer’s vehicle on Loop 101, Fox 10 News, published December 20, 2013.