Dave Abels, Author at Abels & Annes, P.C.

One Teen Injured, One Teen Killed when Car Falls into Canyon

After a car accident occurs, it can be difficult to determine exactly what caused the crash and whether negligence by one or more drivers contributed to the accident. This is particularly true when no witnesses to the accident are available or, tragically, when all involved in an accident lose their lives.

Yet accident investigators are trained to analyze facts and data that are present after an incident and to determine what caused the events to unfold even if there are no witnesses to explain what happened. These experts may be needed to review an accident in Gila County on Tuesday that claimed the life of a 19-year-old man and left his 19-year-old female passenger seriously injured.

The male victim was driving westbound on U.S. 60 southwest of Show Low during the evening hours. Police have reported that the man missed a curve in the road and that his vehicle continued straight, leaving the road’s surface and plunging down into a canyon about 1,000 feet. The car stopped in the Salt River Canyon and it was there when first responders arrived at the scene.

Unfortunately the man was too injured and he died as a result of the crash. His female passenger survived the initial incident and was transported to an area hospital where she was examined and treated for her injuries. Her current condition and the extent of her injuries are not known at this time.

Following an accident of this type, police typically investigate all possible causes of the crash, including whether the driver erred or whether there was a problem with the road or with the car.
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Driver Hits Police Car on Shoulder of Road

by Dave Abels

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.
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Motorcyclist Hit and Killed while Trying to Avoid Crash, At-Fault Driver Flees Scene

by Dave Abels

People in Phoenix and the surrounding Valley love to ride motorcycles. Riding is so popular that bikers can be seen 12 months a year, in the cool winter months or the blazing heat of summer. Bikers are out and on the roads to commute to work, to run errands, or simply for pleasure riding. Regardless of why a motorcyclist is in the streets, his or her legal rights remain the same. Bikers are permitted users of Phoenix roads and they possess all the same rights as drivers of cars, trucks, and vans.

Yet despite the fact that bikers are entitled to ride, some other motorists fail to recognize these rights and fail to act in a safe and careful manner when a motorcycle is near their vehicle. Too often, this negligent behavior leads to a dangerous situation for the biker and potentially even an accident that can leave one or more people involved with serious, sometimes fatal injuries. A crash of this type may lead a victim to retain an injury lawyer to help seek financial justice against the responsible driver.

Early facts released by local police suggestion that a fatal motorcycle accident may have been the result of one driver failing to respect a motorcyclist’s rights in Glendale on Monday afternoon. It appears that the driver of a car turned left in front of an oncoming motorcycle in the area of Peoria Avenue and North 51st Avenue around 3:00 p.m., which in turn forced the motorcycle to swerve to avoid an imminent impact. When the biker swerved, he missed the turning vehicle but instead was struck by another car, causing a serious accident that left the biker injured. He was transported to a local hospital but his injuries were too severe and the biker was pronounced dead.

The driver of the car that turned left in front of the motorcycle fled the scene of the crash and has not yet been located. Local police are asking anyone with any information to contact the Glendale Police Department immediately.

Drivers flee the scene of accidents for a number of reasons but except in very limited circumstances, none are legally valid and can lead to additional charges asserted against the driver. That is because Phoenix law requires all motorists involved in a crash or incident leading to death like this one to remain at the scene until cleared by police. If early allegations are proven correct, the driver that fled the scene in this incident may be charged with a criminal violation of the law in addition to traffic offenses.
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Elderly Coupled Killed in Glendale when Driver Runs Red Light

by Dave Abels

Over 200,000 people live in Glendale, keeping the city busy and leading to thousands of cars on the roads every day. In addition to the residents, more drivers are in the city for work or pleasure and this time of year, the city swells as many host family members and friends for the holidays.

Police believe that an elderly couple was in Glendale Sunday night in anticipation of the holidays which they planned to spend with some family members in the Valley. What they did not plan was to be involved in a car accident that claimed their lives and likely was due to the negligence of another driver.

It appears that a 71-year-old man and his 70-year-old wife were being driven by a relative in Glendale on Sunday. A man in his 30s was reportedly driving northbound on 75th Avenue, approaching the car carrying the elderly couple. The man allegedly failed to stop at a red light and caused a collision with the victims’ car, seriously injuring all three people in the second car. The elderly husband and wife both died of their injuries and the family member driving them was transported to an area hospital for examination and treatment. Though her current condition is unknown, authorities have reported that she has been discharged from the hospital at this time.

Police are still investigating what caused the male driver to allegedly run a red light. At this time, they do not believe the driver was impaired but police do not have a different explanation for the incident that led to the crash.

Depending on the investigation, the male driver may be cited for his part in the collision that led to the deaths of the two victims. Regardless of whether the driver is cited, though, the family members of the victims who lost their lives may be entitled to relief under the law.
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Phoenix Suns Broadcaster Arrested for DUI in Scottsdale

by Dave Abels

The laws of driving in Phoenix apply to everyone, whether you are a resident of Arizona or just a visitor. They even apply to former NBA players in the area which may be surprising to Tom Chambers, current Phoenix Suns broadcaster who was arrested last Saturday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

Chambers played in the NBA between 1981 and 1997 with much of his playing time spent in Phoenix. His successes on the court for the Suns led to his jersey being retired and opened the door for Chambers to begin a broadcasting career with the Suns, a position he currently holds.

Scottsdale police have reported that Chambers was driving in North Scottsdale last Saturday night when an officer noticed Chambers’ vehicle failing to stay within a lane of traffic, swerving back and forth across the road and entering a lane marked only for bicycle traffic. An officer pulled over Chambers shortly before 10:00 p.m. and noticed that Chambers’ eyes were bloodshot and there were two beer cans in his vehicle. Chambers allegedly admitting drinking beer while watching the football game between Arizona State and Stanford earlier in the evening but reportedly refused any field sobriety tests.

The responding officer described Chambers as belligerent and yelling at the officer, allegedly yelling “After all I do for the Scottsdale PD” at one point during the traffic stop. Chambers was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and taken into custody where officials took a sample of his blood to test for intoxicants. The results of those tests are not yet known.

Fortunately no collision occurred in this case and no one was injured, but when an intoxicated driver is involved, often others on the road are not that lucky. Drunk and high drivers are more likely to be the cause of accidents than other motorists, which means that impaired drivers are a danger to themselves and to all others on the road. This includes other drivers and passengers, but as this reported incident illustrates, can also include bicyclists. If it is proven that Chambers was under the influence and that he drove in a bicycle lane, it is lucky that a collision with a cyclist did not occur. Accidents between a car and bicycle almost always result in injuries to the cyclist and often lead to the cyclist’s death.
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Two Motorcycles Collide in Avondale, 1 Rider Killed

by Dave Abels

Even during the winter months, motorcycling remains popular in Phoenix with thousands of riders on two wheels hitting the road regularly. In fact, the low amount of annual rainfall and warm temperatures make Phoenix one of the more popular cities to ride a motorcycle in the nation. With the large number of riders unfortunately comes a large number of motorcycle crashes and accidents. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, there were over 3,000 motorcycle accidents in 2011 with over 2,500 of those ending in injuries for one or more riders.

When a motorcycle accident occurs, the odds of a rider being injured are very high. This is due to many factors including the lack of protection surrounding a rider from the road, the potentially large size and fast speed of another vehicle that may hit a biker, and the potential for multiple impacts experienced by a rider, generally with the initial contact from another vehicle and then again as a biker strikes the ground. When a motorcycle accident occurs and leaves a rider injured, though, that rider may be entitled to financial compensation from the at-fault driver; a discussion with an injury lawyer can help victims understand whether they have a valid claim.

Some accidents are easy to determine who is at fault and what events led to a crash, but in other cases, these facts can be difficult to uncover or understand. Avondale police officers are dealing with a complicated crash right now that occurred on Monday morning between two motorcycles. The accident was severe and left one rider dead and a second with critical injuries.

The crash occurred in the area of 107th Avenue and Van Buren in Avondale. It is not yet clear whether the riders were traveling in the same direction or against one another when the two bikes collided. The force of the collision resulted in one of the riders being pronounced dead at the scene while emergency crews transported the second rider to an area hospital for examination and treatment of injuries. The condition of the second driver, originally described as critical, is not currently known.
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3-Year-Old in Crosswalk Hit and Killed by Impaired Driver

by Dave Abels

Too often in Phoenix, drivers who are impaired by alcohol or drugs decide to risk the safety of everyone and drive while impaired. This is not only a crime in Arizona but it is a decision that can lead to an accident, many of which result in serious injuries or even death to someone other than the impaired driver.

Injury lawyers hate to hear about any accident that was caused by one person’s negligence or recklessness, especially when another has to suffer the consequences of such a decision. Yet in many cases where a child is involved, the results are catastrophic and devastating.

Accidents that lead to injured children may result in criminal charges against a drunk driver but they may also lead to a civil claim by the child or the child’s family against the responsible driver. These civil claims are separate from any charges levied by the State of Arizona and may provide a victim with a financial recovery to pay for any losses incurred, including medical bills and pain and suffering.

In the worst accidents, though, it is clear that money will never be enough to compensate a family for what they lost. This is the case in a tragic Phoenix accident on Wednesday night involving a family out for a walk and a driver who was possibly under the influence of drugs.

Police have reported that a mother, grandmother, and the mother’s three children were walking near 20th Street and Camelback Road in Phoenix. The group began to cross the intersection with the right of way and within the crosswalk when a 26-year-old individual driving a truck approached the intersection as well. It appears that the truck’s driver failed to yield to the pedestrians and instead began turning left, putting the truck and the family in the same spot at the same time. One of the children, a 3-year-old boy, was in a stroller and was being pushed by his 10-year-old sister. It appears that the truck struck the stroller containing the boy and leaving him with critical injuries.

Two witnesses, one of them a doctor, attempted to perform life saving procedures on the young boy while waiting for an ambulance to arrive but in the end, the 3-year-old’s injuries were too severe and he died.
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Scottsdale Bicyclist Critically Injured After Being Hit by Car

by Dave Abels

Bicycling is becoming increasingly popular among adults in the Valley, yet many motorists continue to ignore the rights of cyclists to ride in the roads. This can lead to dangerous situations where a collision between a cyclist and a vehicle can occur, often resulting in serious or even fatal injuries to the cyclist.

When an accident leaves an injured victim, whether that victim is in a car, on a bicycle, or walking as a pedestrian, the victim may be entitled under Phoenix and Arizona laws to bring a claim against the responsible person for their damages. Often, this includes any medical bills incurred by the victim and any pain and suffering that results from injuries. Lawyers in the Valley can help victims determine whether they may be able to bring a claim after a bicycle accident.

It appears that one such tragic bicycle accident occurred in Scottsdale on Tuesday where a bicyclist and a car collided. Police are still investigating the incident but at this time, it appears that the car and the cyclist were traveling in the same direction on Thomas Road in the area of 58th Street when a collision occurred. Police suspect that the driver of the car may have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of impact in violation of local and state laws.

It is not clear whether the driver of the car was injured but the bicyclist was critically hurt and was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. The accident halted traffic in the area for several hours.
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Actor Paul Walker Killed in Car Crash

by Dave Abels

The forces involved in a car accident do not care if a driver is famous or average, young or old, rich or poor. In fact, accidents do not discriminate in any manner and can kill or injure a passenger at any time and in any place in the nation, including Chicago. Even famous actors and royalty have been the victims of car accidents over the years.

Unfortunately, the list of celebrities killed in car accidents grew by one on Saturday when actor Paul Walker lost his life in a single vehicle crash in California. Walker, best known for his starring role in the Fast & Furious franchise, was a passenger in a Porsche Carrera GT at approximately 3:30 p.m. with a friend behind the wheel. Walker had been participating in a charity event north of Hollywood when the two individuals were riding in the Porche and the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle.

The car carrying Walker left the road surface and struck a light pole, causing a violent collision that led to the car becoming engulfed in flames. Police are still investigating but believe that speed may have been a factor and noted that there were tire marks in the area of the crash that suggested a driver was attempting to turn Figure 8s, though it has not been confirmed that these tire marks were related to Walker’s crash.

Walker’s death by car accident seems ironic to many as his most famous role was that of Brian O’Connor, a cop-turned-outlaw who engaged in street racing and, later, heists involving car racing in the Fast & Furious franchise. Though his character starred in five of the six films and was planned to be a focus of the seventh entry in the franchise, in the end, Walker may have been the victim of a speed-induced accident in real life.
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Bicyclist Killed While Riding in El Tour de Tucson

by Dave Abels

Most people who have spent time in Tucson realize that bicycling is a popular activity and that the town is well-designed to accommodate cycling by those of all ages. Daily ridership makes up a large portion of all rides of the year but special events draw much of the attention. One of these, El Tour de Tucson, has been popular with riders across the state for years.

Annually, El Tour de Tucson draws over 9,000 bicyclists of all ages to participate in the activities. The main race is 107 miles long though shorter routes of 87, 57, and 38 miles are also available. The event requires riders to bike in the street but local police are present at all intersections to make the trip as safe as possible for all cyclists involved and those drivers that happen upon the race.

In the history of El Tour de Tucson, only a few incidents between riders and motorists have occurred and prior to this year, only one was fatal, leading to little need for riders to be concerned about their safety and the need for a bicycle accident lawyer. However this may no longer be the case as another tragic incident occurred that left a cyclist dead in this year’s race.

Authorities believe that a 59-year-old Tucson resident was participating in the race and was riding in a designated bicycle lane marked for El Tour de Tucson on Saturday afternoon when a car driven by an elderly man began to approach. For an unknown reason, the car was traveling in the lane marked for bicycle traffic only and was rapidly gaining on the rider.

The driver collided with the rear of the bicycle ridden by the Tucson man, throwing the bicyclist to the ground and fatally injuring him along a frontage road to Interstate 10 near Sunset. It does not appear that the driver of the car, reported as a Nissan Leaf, was impaired at the time of the collision but there has been no explanation as to why the man was driving in a bicycle lane designated and enclosed by cones.
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