Car Accidents Archives

7 injured in north Phoenix auto accident

An Arizona car crash that occurred Tuesday in the northern part of Phoenix has caused injuries to seven people, ABC news is reporting. The collision involved three vehicles and occurred around 10 AM near Cave Creek Road and Sweetwater Avenue.

A representative of the Phoenix Fire Department stated it appeared that two vehicles collided, and then a third car struck the first two vehicles. Video taken from an ABC news helicopter showed a white vehicle on the roadway with heavy damage to its front and back end. Rescue personnel could be seen prying open a door on the vehicle.

There were five people in one of the cars, and one person in each of the two other vehicles. The injuries sustained were reportedly non-life-threatening.

AZCentral.com is reporting that five people had to be pulled from the car and taken by ambulance to an area hospital. They further state that the crash was caused when a car rear-ended an SUV, and then a pickup truck rear-ended the car, pinning the car between the two vehicles.

While it is not been reported if an Arizona injury lawyer is involved, typically in a case like this the injured parties in the rear-ended vehicle will have a good negligence claim against the driver of the car that hit them, and his or her insurance carrier. Further, passengers in any vehicle involved should have a good claim as well.

Click here to read the story at CBS news.

1 seriously injured in Phoenix car crash

by Dave Abels

A person sustained significant injuries in an Arizona auto accident last Saturday night on Interstate 17, ABC news is reporting. The collision involved multiple vehicles and led to the interstate’s southbound lanes being shut down for a period of time.

The incident occurred around 8 PM between Glendale Avenue and Bethany Home Road in Phoenix. All lanes off traffic except for the HOV lane were blocked and vehicles were re-routed off the interstate a short time later.

The person seriously hurt was ejected from one of the vehicles involved. The injured motorist was taken to an area hospital by ambulance for medical attention. It is not known if any others were injured in the crash.

DPS is handling the investigation, and the cause of the accident has not been reported.

2 dead in Arizona auto accident

by Dave Abels

A rollover SUV accident in Tucson has claimed the lives of two Phoenix residents, according to KVOA.com. The single car crash occurred on Sunday, May 15 on Interstate 19 around 10 miles south of the city. Arizona Department of Public Safety officials are stating that just after 1 PM the driver of a Ford Explorer lost control, drove onto a median and rolled over.

Two passengers, a 53-year-old man a 62-year-old woman died in the accident. The 25-year-old driver and a 51-year-old passenger were also injured, but it was not reported if they were hospitalized.

All of the occupants in the vehicle were from Phoenix. DPS officials also stated that everyone was wearing their seatbelts and that the investigation is ongoing.

It has not been reported if an Arizona personal injury lawyer is involved in the case.

Phoenix car crashes, pedestrian collisions, and bicycle accidents down in 2009

by Dave Abels

Arizona injury lawyers are taking note that the City of Phoenix recently released 2009 car crash statistics which showed a 13% drop from 2008, AZCentral is reporting. Further, the total number of accidents were 22,713, the lowest in 20 years. The rate of accidents per every 1000 people went from 17 down to 14.

Injuries from auto accidents: The statistics state that there was an 8.9% drop for the number of people injured in accidents, and 136 deaths, which is down from 143 in the year 2008.

Pedestrian accidents: Phoenix pedestrian accidents went from 589 in 2008 down to 525 in 2009. 36 pedestrians were hit and killed by vehicles in 2009, down from 41 2008. In 2009 pedestrian deaths accounted for 26.3% of all traffic fatalities.

Bicycle collisions: Phoenix bicycle accidents also saw a reduction 2009. There were 467 collisions, down from 478 and 2008. 423 bicycle riders were injured and nine were killed.

Statistics showed April had the greatest amount of accidents, while September was the most deadly. Friday was the worst day for accidents, and 12 PM to 3 PM was the worst time.

Alcohol only played a role in 6% of accidents, but was involved in 44% of crash related deaths, showing again how dangerous drinking and driving can be.

If you’ve been involved in an Arizona car crash , Phoenix bike accident or Mesa pedestrian collision, call the personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes for free consultation. Call 866-99-ABELS to speak directly to an attorney now.

Phoenix car crash attorney obtains $35,000 trial verdict

by Dave Abels

Arizona injury lawyer Gary Annes recently received a $35,000 jury verdict in a case pending in Cook County, Illinois. The lawsuit involved a car versus motorscooter collision took place in June, 2008 in Chicago.

The accident occurred when our client was stopped in traffic on westbound Lawrence Avenue. The plaintiff was behind another car waiting to make a left turn.

At that time an automobile driver who was also westbound, traveling in a Buick Century, failed to observe our client in time and rear-ended him, knocking him to the ground. The plaintiff landed on his back, directly striking the pavement.

Immediately after the crash our client had neck, back, head and left foot pain. Over the next 24 hours his pain increased and he had difficulty sleeping.

The next day the plaintiff was seen at a local trauma center. X-rays were negative for fractures.

The client’s pain remained constant over the next week and he soon sought treatment with a neurologist. The pain was most significant in his low back. The physician ordered a course of physical therapy and an MRI. The MRI was negative.

A lawsuit was filed by our firm due to the fact that defendants auto insurance company was only offering $5000 to settle. The choice to litigate the case paid off for the client, as the verdict was seven times greater than the insurance carrier’s settlement offer.

If you have been injured in a Phoenix area auto accident, contact the Arizona personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes for a free consultation. Call 866-99-ABELS to speak directly to an attorney now.

Deadly Phoenix pedestrian accident leads to felony charges

by Dave Abels

An Arizona car vs. pedestrian accident in July, 2010 has left one person dead and another facing a potential prison sentence, according to AZCentral.com.

The driver accused of causing the accident is a 29-year-old Phoenix man who allegedly lost control of a Cadillac last summer, crashing it into a crowd of pedestrians crossing the street. One of the five injured was killed in the accident that took place near Bell Road, west of Arizona 51. The at fault motorist reportedly left the scene of the Phoenix accident without checking on any of the accident victims, in violation of Arizona law.

Arizona law mandates that any driver of a vehicle involved in an accident that results in injury to or death of a person must stop the car at the scene of the crash and remain at the scene until cleared by officials to leave. A driver who fails to meet these requirements and also caused the crash is guilty of a Class 3 felony.

Witnesses reported seeing the Cadillac speeding down Bell Road around 36th Street where the driver appeared to lose control. After running down a group of pedestrians crossing the street, the car stopped and several occupants of the vehicle fled in different directions.

The Cadillac passengers later turned themselves in to the police, but the driver failed to do so and was later arrested at his girlfriend’s house. He faces several charges, including leaving the scene of the accident. He could face up to 10 years in prison when his case goes to trial in March.

Cases like this usually involve a civil claim in addition to the pending criminal charges. It has not been reported if the pedestrian victim’s family has retained a Phoenix personal injury attorney or if a civil lawsuit has been filed.

Detention officer arrested for role in fatal Arizona motorcycle accident

by Dave Abels

A Maricopa County Sheriff’s employee was taken into custody on Friday by the Goodyear Police Department for his involvement in a Phoenix area car vs. motorcycle crash that killed a woman, according to the Arizona Republic. We previously reported on our Phoenix injury lawyer blog that the collision occurred on October 16 at around 12:30 AM at Indian School and Citrus Roads in Goodyear. The 27-year-old detention officer was driving his Chevy Cobalt when he rear-ended a woman that was stopped at a stop sign on a 2009 Ducati motorcycle.

The motorcycle rider was thrown from her bike and reportedly died instantly. Her foot was also severed in the collision. The victim was riding with her husband next to her at the time of the accident. He was not injured.

The at fault driver reportedly admitted to police that he had been drinking throughout the day and that he felt “buzzed” when he left a tavern shortly before the accident. Goodyear police officers claim he had bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech and smelled of alcohol. A hospital blood test taken around 2 AM show the defendant had a BAC of 0.225%. A subsequent test taken around 4 AM by police showed a 0.14% blood-alcohol level. Both test results are well above the legal limit.

The defendant surrendered to police on Friday at his attorney’s office in Phoenix. The defendant reportedly works at the 4th Avenue Jail as a corrections officer.

There is no word as to whether Arizona motorcycle accident attorneys are involved in the case yet. When injury lawyers do get involved, they will pursue a claim against the intoxicated driver, however they will also look into a possible claim against the tavern that may have served the defendant too much alcohol. Click here to read about Arizona dram shop claims.

Arizona car accidents a leading cause of death among children

by Dave Abels

A Sunrise, Arizona car accident injured two children over the weekend after police say a Camaro ran a red light and struck the Tahoe in which they were riding.

Our Phoenix injury attorneys frequently write about the dangers faced by teenagers on the road. But there is no less risk for younger children: The fact remains that car accidents are the leading cause of death for children ages 3 to 14 nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as well as teenagers of driving age.

CBS5 reported that a woman driving the Camaro may have ran a red light at Cactus and Bullard on Saturday and hit the Chevy Tahoe in the intersection. The woman driving the Tahoe and her two children were injured. Both a 16-year-old girls and an infant boy were ejected from the vehicle.

They were flown to an area hospital with serious injuries. Their mother was transported by ground ambulance. The driver of the Camaro was not injured, according to police.

The federal government reports that 1,314 children under the age of 14 were killed in traffic accidents last year. More than 179,000 were injured. Those statistics mean an average of 4 children are killed and 490 are injured in traffic accidents each day.

Government figures show child safety seats can reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers in passenger cars. Last year, Arizona car accidents killed 44 children under the age of 14. Seventeen of those victims were under the age of 3.

A recent government report also found that SUV’s were more prone to rollover accidents in Arizona and elsewhere, which often leads to the ejection of passengers. Fifty-eight percent of those killed in SUV accidents were involved in rollover accidents, compared to 48 percent for pickups, 35 percent for vans and 25 percent for passenger cars.

Nationwide, about one-third of all traffic fatalities result from rollover accidents.

Vuelco de accidente de auto en Arizona hiere críticamente a dos niños

by Dave Abels

Dos niños han resultadó gravemente heridos en un choque de carro en el área de Phoenix que ocurrió el sábado por la mañana, según las noticias de Fox. Una camioneta se dio vuelta en el accidente y ninguno de los niños heridós llevaba un cinturón de seguridad.

El choque ocurrió en Cactus Road y Bullard Avenue, en Surprise, Arizona. La policía indica que un Chevrolet Camaro o el conductor de la camioneta se pasó una luz roja. El choque todavía esta bajo investigación.

Dos menores de edad, un niño de 18 meses de edad y una chica de16 años de edad, fueron expulsados de un Chevy Tahoe cuando se dio vuelta. Ambos sostuvieron heridas graves en la cabeza y fueron en helicóptero a un hospital del área en condición crítica.

El conductor del SUV, de 35 años, fue trasladado por ambulancia a un hospital con heridas no-amenazantes de vida. El conductor del Camaro, una mujer de 69 años de edad, no resultó gravemente herida y no fue hospitalizada.

Las drogas o el alcohol no tuvierón que ver con el choque.

Una vez que abogados de accidentes en Arizona se meten en el caso, es más probable que ellos traten el caso como una disputa de obligación. En mi experiencia, la mayoria de los casos de luz roja terminan con ambos conductores señalando con el dedo uno al otro. Ojala, haigá testigos independientes al accidente que observó quien corrio la luz roja. De todos modos, los menores fueron pasajeros que resultaron heridos, ellos no causaron el accidente, y ellos tendrán una demanda civil viable.

Arizona rollover auto accident critically injures two children

by Dave Abels

Two kids have been seriously injured in a Phoenix area car crash that occurred on Saturday morning, according to Fox news. An SUV rolled over in the accident and neither injured child was wearing a seatbelt.

The collision occurred in the area Cactus Road and Bullard Avenue in Surprise, Arizona. Police are stating that a Chevrolet Camaro or the driver of the SUV ran a red light. The crash is still under investigation.

Two minors, an 18-month-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, were ejected from a Chevy Tahoe when it rolled over. Both sustained serious head injuries and were helicoptered to an area hospital in critical condition.

The SUV driver, age 35, was taken by ambulance to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Camaro, a 69-year-old woman, was not seriously injured and not hospitalized.

Drugs or alcohol reportedly did not play a role in the crash.

Once Arizona personal injury lawyers get involved in the case, they will most likely be dealing with a disputed liability claim. In my experience, most red light cases end up with both drivers pointing the finger at each other. Hopefully, there will be independent witnesses to the accident that observed who ran a red light. Either way, the injured minors were passengers, they did not cause the accident, and they will have a viable civil claim.

Click here to read the story as reported by ABC news and CBS news.