Author: Dave Abels

In national surveys, more than 80 percent of all American drivers consider themselves to be “better than average” when it comes to operating a car. Of course, 80 percent cannot be better than average, meaning that a large number of motorists identify themselves as good drivers even though that might be an inaccurate description. This holds true in Arizona where hundreds of thousands of motorists hit the streets every day. Unfortunately, when some drivers believe they are more skilled or safer than others, they tend to engage in activities that threaten everyone. The most common of these is speeding. Experts opine that speeding is a deadly factor in car accidents in Phoenix because empirical studies reveal it occurs in almost half of all collisions.

But what happens if you are a safe driver and you are still involved in a crash due to the actions of another? Where do you turn if you are hurt or if your family member is injured or killed? In Arizona, lawmakers understand that victims should not be forced to bear this burden but rather negligent drivers should be held responsible for all that results from an accident. In practice, this means a victim can seek relief for any injuries sustained through the use of a civil claim for damages, a type of legal claim that is separate and distinct from any charges brought by local officials or police. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer in Phoenix or across the Valley may help you understand how to obtain the relief you deserve if an accident has affected you or whether you have a valid claim if your loved one was hurt.

Police believe that a fatal accident in Tempe on Friday began by one driver speeding on I-10. The incident took place in the eastbound lanes near US 60 and started when a driver lost control of a speeding car. The car struck a concrete median along I-10 and also collided with a second vehicle in the area, leading to injuries for four people involved. In addition to those who were hurt, one woman was killed. Her name has not been released but officials have confirmed that she was a back seat passenger in the speeding car prior to the crash.

The conditions of the other four victims are not clear at this time.
Continue reading “Speeding a Factor in Fatal Tempe Car Accident”

Every year, the population in the Valley of the Sun continues to increase at a high rate. As the population grows, everything grows, including the number of motorists. A greater number of drivers take to the road every year and with the young population of the Phoenix area, a large number of new motorists are anticipated for years to come. Traffic in Phoenix is heavy as a result and few areas are sparred from the congestion that many drivers loathe.

Car accidents can happen at any point on a road, street, highway, or a parking lot but some situations are more likely than others to lead to a crash. For example, intersections have a large number of collisions because traffic moving in different directions must yield the right-of-way so that only one direction of traffic is in a designated spot at any one time. Failing to yield by running a red light or a stop sign may place multiple vehicles in the intersection simultaneously and lead to a crash.

The cause of an accident can be difficult to determine but the majority of collisions occur when a driver makes a mistake or acts negligently in some way. This negligence can lead to a driver receiving a traffic ticket or other punishment including a criminal charge based on the facts of a specific crash, but that may not be where the penalties end. Arizona law enables victims to obtain the relief they need by bringing a civil claim against the responsible driver or vehicle owner. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer may help you understand your options if an accident has affected your life or left your loved one injured or killed.

A motorist was driving in the area of 69th Street and Shea in Scottsdale on Monday when the driver collided with two other vehicles, according to local authorities. The crash happened in the intersection and the cause of the accident has not been confirmed but police did state that the first vehicle’s driver lost control after the initial impact, sending the vehicle off the road’s surface and into a nearby canal. The canal had several feet of water in it which led to the vehicle becoming partially submerged.

Two people involved in the accident were hurt and were taken to hospitals for treatment of injuries that were not believed to be life threatening. Witnesses likely played a role in helping the occupants of the partially submerged vehicle escape but it is not clear whether that early escape helped prevent any more serious injuries.
Continue reading “3 Car Crash in Scottsdale Sends Vehicle into Canal”

Annually, thousands of people in Phoenix fall victims to car accidents and many more suffer across the state of Arizona. But collisions threaten the safety of motorists and passengers nationwide, not just in Arizona. Though significant advances in automobile construction and manufacture have produced safety innovations, injuries continue to result from accidents and some victims lose their lives.

The losses caused by car crashes can be difficult to measure because the full gravity of the collision may take years to materialize. From property damage done instantly to immediate medical needs to injuries that never fully heal, these incidents can harm a victim, families, friends and neighbors for decades. While these accidents cannot be erased once they occur, the laws in Arizona are designed to protect those who are hurt by allowing them to seek financial compensation for their damages, regardless of the form those damages take. To understand your rights if you have been involved in a collision, you may want to consult with a personal injury lawyer in Phoenix to learn if a crash entitles to you payment or whether you have a valid claim against anyone involved.

Unfortunately, sources have confirmed that Cam Newton, starting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers NFL football team, was involved in a collision earlier today in North Carolina and that he was hurt in the crash. Officials have reported that Newton was driving near the Panther’s stadium in Charlotte when he collided with a sedan in the area. Newton’s truck reportedly flipped onto its side before coming to a rest on a bridge near the scene of the impact.

Emergency crews responded to the scene and evaluated Newton as well as the driver of the sedan. Newton allegedly showed signs of injury and pain, prompting emergency crews to place him on a backboard and transport him by ambulance to an area hospital. Though the nature and extent of his injuries are not known, reports indicate that Newton was conscious at the scene and that his injuries did not appear to be life threatening.

The driver of the sedan likely sustained injuries but conflicting reports have been released at this time so it cannot be confirmed.

There has been no declaration by officials as to the cause of the collision or whether either driver involved acted negligently prior to the impact. As the investigation into this crash continues, tickets may or may not be issued.
Continue reading “NFL Quarterback Cam Newton Hurt in Car Accident”

Thinking about your day-to-day activities, do you encounter traffic in the greater Phoenix area? Do you drive on the Loop 101, 202, or 303? Do you drive on I-10 or I-17? Or do you stick to city roads and surface streets as you get around town? Even if you do not own your own car or drive, chances are that the traffic conditions in Phoenix affect you all the same. Those who travel by foot or by bus know that traffic and collisions have a direct effect on their commute. In fact, more than 100,000 car accidents happen in Arizona every year, according to the Secretary of State, and many of those incidents involve multiple victims. When large vehicles like buses or trucks are involved, the potential number of victims may increase substantially.

If a crash takes place in Phoenix and causes you injuries, the state laws may provide you with certain protections and certain rights, including the right to seek financial compensation for your injuries. A personal injury lawyer may be able to help you understand your options if a collision has affected you or or has injured your loved one. Claims may be possible against an at-fault driver or that driver’s insurance company but can also be available against your own insurance. Many crashes spawn the potential for multiple claims so that a victim can obtain fair and adequate compensation for the damages done, so it is important to lean about all options before you decide the path to recovery to pursue.

Authorities in Chandler were alerted to a car accident near the intersection of Alma School and Chandler Boulevard on Saturday night. The facts of the incident are not clear yet but it has been confirmed that four people, all adults, were injured and in need of medical help. One victim sustained serious injuries and had to be transported by air ambulance to an area hospital.

There has not been a definitive cause of the accident released by the police at this time but the factual review is ongoing. Police plan to speak with the victims to learn about the conditions prior to the impact and to try to sort through all relevant information.
Continue reading “Chandler Car Accident Leaves 4 Hurt”

When you travel around Phoenix, what is your preferred method of transit? If you are like many, driving or riding in a car is the easiest and most convenient means of transit. You may choose to ride with little thought behind it or little concern about driving. In fact, many motorists feel that driving lets them control their own safety and their own destiny while other transit requires them to give up control. Contrary to popular belief, though, driving a car is not the safest means to get around the Valley as more than 100,000 car accidents happen annually in Arizona.

While you may be able to control your own driving habits and actions, you cannot control the conduct of other motorists who share the roads. This means that anyone inside a car, whether a driver or a passenger, is at risk to be involved in a collision. While some crashes are minor and only leave vehicles damaged, thousands occur in Phoenix and the rest of Arizona every year that leave one or more people hurt and in need of medical help. While these collisions cannot always be avoided, prevented, or eliminated, the victims of the crashes may be entitled to seek legal relief if the crash was due to a mistake. Consulting with a lawyer who represents personal injury victims may help you realize your options if a crash has affected your life or has left your loved one hurt.

On Tuesday afternoon, local police in Phoenix were alerted to a collision near the intersection of Pinnacle Peak and Scottsdale Road, close to the border between Phoenix and Scottsdale. When they arrived, officials noticed the collision left four men injured and in serious condition. Three of the victims were males in their 20s while the fourth man was in his 30s. Ambulances and emergency crews were on scene and evaluated all the victims before taking them to a nearby trauma center for treatment. The injuries sustained by the men have not been disclosed but at least one person sustained a neck injury, according to officials.

Early reports have not clarified the facts surrounding the crash and few details are known at this time. It is also unclear whether all the victims were in one vehicle or multiple vehicles prior to the incident or whether anyone involved will receive a citation as a result of the crash.
Continue reading “4 People Hurt after Phoenix Car Accident”

When a driver gets into his or her car and begins to travel on the streets of Phoenix, that driver is not only responsible for his or her personal safety but also for the safety of the passengers inside the vehicle, other motorists on the road, and even pedestrians in the area. The facts are clear that the actions of one driver can threaten the safety of dozens if a driver fails to act in a reasonable manner.

The laws across Arizona are designed to encourage safety and to prevent collisions, but unfortunately, more than 100,000 car accidents happen in the state every year, all the same. Many of these crashes are not necessary and stem from a mistake, a negligent action, or another type of error by a driver involved. In other cases, a mechanical failure or a poor design in a road or a highway may be a factor in a collision. Regardless of the underlying cause, a victim of a car accident who is injured in the greater Phoenix area may be entitled to financial compensation for the damages incurred, including medical expenses that may be needed for treatment of injuries. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer in the Phoenix area who has experience helping car accident victims may help you understand your legal options if you have been hurt or if your loved one has been injured or killed.

Just after 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, witnesses reported a single car collision to area authorities in Tucson, prompting a response to the scene. When they arrived, police confirmed that one vehicle in the area of South Country Club Road and East Missouri Street lost control and left the road’s surface, colliding with a pillar in the area near I-10.

Medical crews assessed two people inside the vehicle and determined that the 39-year-old female driver died in the collision. A 51-year-old male passenger was alive but was in critical condition, prompting officials to transport him to an area hospital. Unfortunately his injuries were too severe and the man died a short time later.

Police are still investigating the crash and at this time, speed is considered to be a factor, though no final determinations have been made.
Continue reading “2 Dead after Car Hits Pillar”