In 2011, more than 32,000 people were killed in car accidents across the country, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. More than 750 of those deaths occurred in the State of Arizona with many of them taking place in the highly populated areas of Phoenix and the surrounding cities. The mix of rural and highly urban in Maricopa County means that a motorist can drive from a highway congested with stop-and-go traffic to a two-lane, dirt road in seconds. The mix of the roads and the traffic that follows means that driving in the Phoenix area can be difficult and may explain some, though not all, of the car accidents that occur.
In most cases, car accidents occur because one or more of the driver’s involved makes a mistake or an error behind the wheel. When negligent action or reckless conduct causes a collision, the laws in Arizona recognize that the innocent victims of these crashes should not be the ones to bear the financial burden. To hold errant drivers liable for their conduct, victims in Phoenix may be able to obtain financial compensation for their losses, including their medical bills, by bringing a civil claim for damages. Many victims do not realize that this type of recovery may be possible and that it is separate and distinct from any traffic or criminal charges brought by local authorities. In many cases, even when an at-fault driver did not receive a ticket, that driver may still be liable in a civil court of law. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer in Maricopa County may help you understand your legal options if you have been involved in a crash and if you were injured.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office received notice of a one-vehicle accident on State Road 238 near Gila Bend on Saturday morning. It appears that the driver of the vehicle approached a curve in the road and lost control of the vehicle, sending it rolling over and causing the vehicle, an SUV, to leave the road’s surface. Officials responded to the scene and evaluated the occupants of the vehicle to determine who was hurt and who needed medical help. The driver of the vehicle and a front seat passenger were both wearing seat belts and were injured. The driver reportedly sustained minor injuries and is expected to recover while the passenger was taken by air ambulance to an area hospital with serious injuries.
Three children reportedly were in the back seat of the vehicle, described as a Suburban, and all were restrained but injured. None were facing life-threatening injuries, though, according to officials, who did not report if the children were related to one another or if they were related to any of the adults in the vehicle. Also in the back were an adult female and a 3-month-old baby. According to officials, neither the woman nor the baby were restrained and both were ejected upon impact. The baby was killed in the ambulance and the woman, believed to be the mother of the baby, remains in critical condition.
Victims of a car crash have legal rights that may entitle them to relief in the event of a car accident. This holds true even if the victims are in the same car as the driver, like in a one-vehicle collision or an accident where a car strikes a fixed object.
At Abels & Annes, P.C., our personal injury lawyers are dedicated to the representation of those who have been hurt by the actions of others, and if you have been involved in a car accident, we want to help you as well. We offer a free case consultation without any obligation to those who contact us toll free at (855) PHX-LAWYER or locally at (602) 819-5191 and everything discussed will be kept confidential.
At Abels & Annes, P.C., we never charge our clients a fee unless we make a recovery in their cases. If you have been involved in a crash, call us today and let us help you seek the relief you deserve.
Prior Blog Entry:
Driver Rear-Ends School Bus in Tempe, Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, published October 3, 2014.
Resource:
Baby killed in highway crash south of Phoenix, by Mike Gertzman, AZFamily.com, published October 4, 2014.