Car Accidents Archives

Phoenix car vs. bike accident leaves rider in critical condition

An Arizona bicycle accident that occurred on Saturday in North Phoenix has resulted in four people being injured, according to ABC news. The injuries to the Phoenix bicyclist are reportedly critical.

A representative the Phoenix Fire Department is stating that the accident occurred when a vehicle was traveling in an easterly direction on Bell Road around 8 PM. At that time a 49-year-old man on a motorized bicycle crossed in front of the vehicle at 21st St. and the car hit the bike. The bicycle rider ended up on the car’s windshield. The car carried the bike rider around hundred yards until the vehicle hit a short brick wall and the bicyclist was thrown off.

The injured Phoenix bike rider was rushed by ambulance to Valley Hospital in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. Three occupants of the car, a 26-year-old woman and children ages 8 and 5, were also seriously injured and taken to John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center.

The Phoenix Police Department is still investigating who was at fault, according to Fox news. However, as a Phoenix bike accident lawyer, I can tell you at first glance that the police will most likely put the bicyclist at fault. At the accident location, E. Bell Rd. has two eastbound and two westbound lanes, plus left turn lanes in each direction and no traffic signal. 21st Street is more of a side street that has a stop sign at E. Bell Rd. The bicyclist likely had a duty to yield to oncoming traffic when crossing Bell Road.

That being said, until the final police report is in, you never know what it is going to say. For example, there could have been independent witnesses at the scene who tell a different story.

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

Céntrese en distraer las tecnologías podrían llevar menos accidentes de tráfico en Phoenix, Arizona

by Dave Abels

El jefe del transporte de La nación abrió el segundo anual Manejar Distraído Cumbre tomando teléfono celular y a fabricantes de carro a la tarea para empujar tecnologías que distraern el público sin un énfasis adecuado en la seguridad, el Poste de Washington informó.

Nuestros abogados del accidente de Phoenix informan con frecuencia los peligros de manejar distraído y el papel que distracción de conductor juega en muchos accidentes de tráfico de Arizona.

El Secretario del transporte Ray LaHood dijo la cantidad creciente de la tecnología de carro, incluyiendo acceso al Internet, debe centrarse en la seguridad. “Juntos, pongamos la seguridad antes de entretenimiento,” dijo el.

Y llamaún para la posibilidad de poner etiquetas de advertencia en teléfonos celulares, en la misma forma que el alcohol y el consume de tabaco usan etiquetas de advertencia para informar a consumidores de los peligros.

Los comentarios vienen como parte de un empujón mayor por el gobierno federal para combatir los peligros de manejar distraído, y especialmente el uso de teléfonos celulares y texto mientras atrás de la rueda. Los nuevos datos revelan que 5,500 automovilistas fueron matados y alrededor a de 500,000 resultaron heridos el año pasado en accidentes causados por manejar distraído. Sólo la conducción exceso de velocidad y manejar borracho son culpados para más muertes del tránsito cada año.

El número de accidentes causados por manejar distraído ha aumentado realmente del 10 por ciento al 16 por ciento desde que 2005 — una subida que partidarios de seguridad culpan por lo menos en parte en la popularidad creciente de dispositivos de móvil y tecnologías de carro. Una inspección el año pasado por Seguro de State Farm encontró que el 62 por ciento de conductores confiesan hablar en su teléfono, 1 en 4 confiesan leer los mensajes de texto al manejar y acerca del 16 por ciento confiesa enviarlos. Mientras tanto, el 37 por ciento dijo que apoyarían una prohibición en el uso de teléfono celular al manejar y el 77 por ciento dijo que apoyarían una prohibición de mensajería de texto.

Focus on distracting technologies could lead to fewer Phoenix, Arizona car accidents

by Dave Abels

The nation’s transportation chief opened up the second annual Distracted Driving Summit by taking cell phone and car makers to task for pushing distracting technologies off on the motoring public without an adequate emphasis on safety, the Washington Post reported.

Our Phoenix accident lawyers frequently report the dangers of distracted driving and the role that driver distraction plays in many Arizona car accidents. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the increasing amount of in-car technology, including access to the Internet, must include a focus on safety. “Together, let’s put safety before entertainment,” he said.

And he even called for the possibility of putting warning labels on cell phones, in much the same way as alcohol and tobacco use warning labels to inform consumers of the dangers.

The comments come as part of a major push by the federal government to combat the dangers of distracted driving, and particularly the use of cell phones and text messaging while behind the wheel. New data shows that 5,500 motorists were killed and about 500,000 were injured last year in accidents caused by distracted driving. Only speeding and drunk driving are blamed for more traffic deaths each year.

The number of accidents caused by distracted driving has actually increased from 10 percent to 16 percent since 2005 — a rise that safety advocates blame at least in part on the increasing popularity of mobile devices and in-car technologies. A survey last year by State Farm Insurance found that 62 percent of drivers admit to talking on their phone, 1 in 4 admit to reading text messages while driving and about 16 percent admit to sending them. Meanwhile, 37 percent said they would support a ban on cell phone use while driving and 77 percent said they would support a text messaging ban.
Continue reading “Focus on distracting technologies could lead to fewer Phoenix, Arizona car accidents”

Phoenix bicycle accident involving SUV results in serious injuries

by Dave Abels

A bike accident in Phoenix has left the 33-year-old woman in critical condition, the Arizona Republic is reporting. The Arizona bike vs. SUV accident took place on September 19, 2010 near the intersection of N. Desert Willow Pkwy. and East Rancho Tierra Drive on the far North Side of Phoenix. The victim of the Phoenix bicycle accident reportedly has sustained “life-threatening brain bleeding”.

The 44-year-old SUV driver the is believed to have been driving while intoxicated at the time of the crash. The Phoenix Police Department is handling the crash investigation. After the accident police arrested the driver and charged him with aggravated assault. They allege that the defendant appeared to be impaired and he further admitted to drinking 1 to 2 beers.

Police state he hit the bicyclist with his Chevy SUV after failing to yield a stop sign. Police further say that the woman was within a marked bicycle lane at the time of the accident, and she also had functioning lights on the bike. The Arizona Republic states that information above is according to documents filed in Maricopa County Superior Court.

It is not been reported if a Phoenix bike accident lawyer is involved in the case yet. At this point, there appears to be a very solid negligence case against the at fault SUV driver.

In the year 2008 there were just under 2000 bicycle accidents in the State of Arizona. In those accidents, 19 bicyclists were killed and 1674 were injured, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Bicycle accident numbers for the year 2009 have not yet been released.

Two-year-old boy seriously injured in Arizona accident

by Dave Abels

A golf cart accident in Prescott Arizona has seriously injured a two-year-old child, according to the Daily Courier. Two other relatives were hurt in the incident as well.

The Arizona golf cart crash occurred when the child’s 62-year-old grandfather who was driving the cart loss control in the 1400 block of Lucky Draw Lane. His wife and three grandchildren were on board with them.

The Prescott Valley Police Department is reporting that after he lost control the golf car flipped over. The boy was airlifted to a Phoenix hospital after the accident. While the injuries are serious, they are not believed to be life-threatening.

The driver’s wife, age 61, and the two other grandchildren, both age 4, were taken to Yavapai Regional Medical Center West Campus. Their injuries were also non-life-threatening.

There was reportedly some indication that the scene that there may have been a mechanical failure on the golf part.

The police department is continuing their investigation, and it is believed that drugs and/or alcohol did not play a role in the accident.

Click here to read about the accident at azcentral.com.

Multiple vehicle Phoenix auto accident kills one and injures five

by Dave Abels

An Arizona car crash that occurred on Sunday afternoon has injured five people and has resulted in the death of one person. Azfamily.com is reporting it was a chain reaction accident that took place on Highland Avenue in the area of the exit ramp of route 51 around 1:30 PM. The cause of the accident is still being investigated, however speed is reportedly a factor in the collision.

The Phoenix car accident may have started when an SUV flipped onto its roof. The female driving the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. There was also a three-year-old boy that was riding as a passenger. He was found in the backseat in critical condition by rescue workers. Paramedics had to cut him out of his car seat, and he was then rushed to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The boy is believed to be the son of the SUV driver.

Another person involved in the accident had to be cut out of a gray Mercedes. Phoenix firefighters literally had to cut off the roof of the vehicle in the rescue. He was also in critical condition and was rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital.

Three others were injured in the collision. They were treated and released at the scene, and did not have to be hospitalized.

The intersection was close for a period of time after the accident. The Phoenix Police Department is handling the crash investigation.

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

Mesa, Arizona car crash injures 2 children

by Dave Abels

A Mesa car accident on Saturday morning has hurt two children, according to the Arizona Republic. A total of 7 people and one police officer were involved.

The accident occurred when a truck hit an SUV that was occupied by two adults and two children at McKellips Road and Country Club Drive around 10 a.m. An 11 year old girl suffered a loss of consciousness and was taken by ambulance to Maricopa Medical Center. The exact cause of the crash was not reported. The truck driver and 2 adults in the SUV were reportedly not injured.

After the accident, Mesa police were called to the scene. An officer responding to the call was rear-ended by another vehicle. There were no injuries reported in that second collision.

Click here to read the story as reported by ABC News.

In my experience as a Phoenix car accident lawyer, sometimes people involved in motor vehicle collisions that are initially reported not injured end up in pain a short time later and seek medical treatment. I have found this most common with back and neck injuries. In an accident like this one, where the impact was significant enough for someone to get knocked out, there is a good possibility that the adults involved were feeling pain the next day.

Phoenix bike accident lawyers sign on to represent nine-year-old injured bicyclist

by Dave Abels

Arizona bicycle accident attorneys at Abels & Annes have entered into an agreement to represent a nine-year-old bicycle rider who was injured in a parking lot when he was struck by a car. The accident happened back on July 19, 2010 Chicago, Illinois in the parking lot small food store at the intersection of Austin and Division.

The child was traveling eastbound when the at fault driver swiftly pulled into the parking lot from the street and did not see the bicyclist. The vehicle struck the bike, knocking the boy to the ground.

The nine-year-old had bilateral leg pain and back pain right after the accident. He was taken by ambulance to an area hospital. At the ER, x-rays did not show any broken bones and he was examined by physicians.

The bicycle rider’s pain did not go away over the next few days. The child’s mother took him for follow-up treatment with a medical doctor. He has had ongoing medical treatment since July.

As the weather starts to slowly cool off in the Phoenix area, there will be more and more bicycle riders on the road. Earlier this year Tucson, Tempe, Scottsdale and Phoenix Arizona were all listed in the 20 most bicycle friendly cities in the United States.

Motorists have to keep a proper lookout for, and be careful around Arizona bicycle riders. Sometimes even low impact bicycle vs. car accidents can cause serious injuries.

If you have been hurt in a Phoenix bike accident, contact the Arizona injury lawyers at Abels & Annes for free consultation. Call (866) 99-ABELS to speak directly to a lawyer now.

Child safety seats one issue that can endanger children involved in Phoenix car accidents

by Dave Abels

CBS 5 reports that Arizona is one of 21 states that do not meet federal guidelines for booster seat safety, which can increase the risk of serious or fatal injury as the result of a Phoenix car accident.

Some 15 years ago, the National Transportation Safety Board called for child restraint laws that protected all children up to eight years old. Current Arizona law only covers children up to the age of 4.

“While we heartily applaud the eight states that enacted or upgraded child restraint laws in the past year,” said Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. “21 states and two territories still lack robust booster seat laws. This means that millions of children remain at risk of injury or fatality every day on our highways.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has declared Sept. 19 to Sept. 25 to be Child Passenger Safety Week, culminating in National Seat Check Saturday on Sept. 25. Our Phoenix injury lawyers encourage parents to make it a point to have their child safety seats inspected; even when you think you are in compliance, issues like the purchase of a new vehicle can change the effectiveness of a child safety seat.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently rated 72 car seats based on how well they fit 4- to 8-year-olds and how well they fit various automobiles. Twenty-one seats rated “Best Bets” while eight seats were not recommended.

“Unlike the top performers, consumers can’t assume boosters in the in-between group will work in every family vehicle,” said the Institute’s Anne McCartt. “Some may be fine, but parents still need to try them out to see if the lap and shoulder belts fit their kids correctly.”

Another danger in Arizona is leaving a child in a hot car. So far this year, 43 children have died as a result of being left inside a hot car, up sharply from the 33 deaths reported during all of 2009, according to San Francisco State University. Two of those deaths have been reported in Arizona, while Florida and Texas have led the nation.

Other dangers posed to children in an around vehicles include backover accidents, power window accidents, vehicle rollaways, seat belt entanglement and trunk entrapment.
Continue reading “Child safety seats one issue that can endanger children involved in Phoenix car accidents”

Woman convicted in deadly Arizona hit-and-run pedestrian accident case

by Dave Abels

A woman from Chandler has been found guilty in federal court of leaving the scene of an Arizona pedestrian accident that caused a death on an Indian reservation, according to the Arizona Republic. The 64-year-old woman now faces sentencing in November 2010.

The accident happened back on March 21, 2007 early in the morning on the Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Reservation, which is located east of Phoenix, Arizona. Evidence showed the defendant hit and killed a 34-year-old Native American pedestrian as she attempted to cross the street. The at fault driver did not stop at the scene of the accident as required by law.

A conviction in federal court for leaving the scene of a fatal accident carries a possible sentence of up to nearly 9 years and a possible $250,000 fine.

It was not reported if a civil lawsuit was ever filed or if an Arizona pedestrian accident attorney is involved in the case.

Phoenix hit-and-run car accidents seem to be more and more common. Many speculate that this is due to the fact that, because of the poor economy, many drivers are on the road without auto insurance. This in turn can lead to drivers fleeing the scene of Arizona accidents. In my experience as a Phoenix car accident lawyer, I have found that most hit-and-run drivers are uninsured.