Author: Dave Abels

Maricopa County is now home to more than four million people. Back in 1970, the population was right around one million people which helps to bolster the commonly understood belief that the population in the Valley has exploded recently, bringing many to our cities, our business, and our schools. With this population growth has come a large increase in the number of motorists that drive on the streets in and around Phoenix, and unfortunately, with more traffic has come more car accidents.

But when it comes to crashes, not all intersections are created equal. In fact, some intersections have been found to be much more troublesome than others as the number of accidents that happen annually are large in certain spots around town. Based on 2013 data, it is bad news for residents of Glendale as an intersection in that portion of the Valley had more collisions than any other intersection.

Continue reading “Greatest Number of Collisions Happening at Glendale Intersection”

The though of the aftermath related to a car accident does not cross the average driver’s mind when she gets into her car. Instead, a driver is thinking about where he needs to go or what errands she may need to run before the end of the day. But if you find yourself the victim of a collision in the Phoenix area, odds are that your perspective will change as a result and you will begin to look at the impact that crash has on your daily life.

Dealing with a car accident can be particularly challenging. Often, the damage done to a vehicle needs to be fixed, traffic tickets may need to be fought, and there is the overall inconvenience of being without a vehicle for some time. But when someone is hurt, the reality is much more extreme as the biggest part of a car accident claim is often the portion related to personal injuries sustained by a victim. Whether a victim was a driver, a passenger, or even a pedestrian who was hurt by a car, the victim may be entitled to compensation for the damages that get caused by the crash.

Continue reading “Broken Bones are a Serious Risk in Phoenix Car Accidents”

The area in the Valley is relatively flat. If you stay in the Phoenix area, you may see a few hills but not much more than that. If you are adventurous, you may try hiking Camelback Mountain or walk around Buckeye Hills for the day.

But if you want to leave Maricopa County, odds are that you will cross some pretty significant hills by road. Many drive north from Phoenix at least once or twice a year towards Sedona, Flagstaff, or even Las Vegas and the topography of the area is a little different that way.

Mountains and hills roll through much of Arizona, adding additional challenges to the normal issues faced by motorists. While these mountains can make driving difficult, many vehicles are equipped with advanced technology designed to make traversing hills both easier and safer. Commonly called hill descent control, vehicles may have the ability to keep a driver’s speed consistent when that driver begins to go down a hill. Without hill descent control, it can be easy for a vehicle to pick up speed continuously as elevation decreases and when a downward path is long, it may mean that a vehicle increases by 20 miles per hour or more. In contrast, those vehicles that have hill descent control will maintain a speed consistent to that which the vehicle was traveling before the hill began to slope downwards. By keeping speed in check, a driver will be able to better control a vehicle and will be less likely to be involved in a car accident.  Continue reading “Advanced Technology Can Making Hilly Driving Safer”

Many people believe that injury claims should be straight forward and to the point. The common thought is that if someone else is to blame for an accident, that at-fault individual should be financially responsible for the damage. This basic principle holds true often in Arizona but the reality is that the unique facts of any car accident make most matters anything but easy.

In some situations, it may not be clear who is to blame. The laws here compare the actions of those involved to determine whether one or more individuals is responsible, and if so, how much responsibility should be assigned to each motorist. Sometimes, police come to one conclusion about the fault of a crash and may or may not issue tickets in response but a different result can be reached in a civil court of law.

And yet in other instances, a victim who is already suffering from physical injuries is involved in a collision which then worsens those preexisting damages. These victims may wonder if they have the same legal rights as healthy victims or if they are out of luck for the damages done to them by another driver.

Continue reading “Is Relief Possible If I Was Hurt Before An Accident?”

This weekend, residents of the Valley were shocked to hear of reports of another road rage incident on Tempe’s roads, claiming the life of a young Arizona State University student and injuring several others. It has sparked a debate about road rage in Arizona as well as what rights victims of these incidents may have but the information available has not been clear.

Road rage in Arizona is defined as an assault against another individual with a vehicle or other deadly weapon. Often, road rage begins with a disagreement among motorists before escalating into something that can be physically threatening or even deadly. Typical actions that may cause road rage among motorists are tailgating, cutting off another car, failing to yield when required, speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, being involved in a car accident, or using a cell phone while driving.

There is a legal distinction between road rage and aggressive driving with road rage being a more serious, and often criminal offense that can lead to incarceration, loss of a license, and fines and fees for anyone convicted.

Continue reading “Road Rage and its Deadly Consequences in Phoenix”