Category: Drunk Driving Accidents

The greater Phoenix area experienced a number of wrong way accidents in 2014. Several of these occurred on some of the Valley’s busy highways and freeways and some proved to be fatal. In many others, victims were left with injuries and in need of medical help through no fault of their own. With such a rash outbreak of wrong way car accidents, many began to question the causes behind these collisions and whether some changes in road design or traffic enforcement would reduce them. Many theories have been proposed but it is clear that as long as these accidents continue to occur, victims will continue to pay the price.

Options vary following a car crash in Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, and Scottsdale vary depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding the crash but in many cases, those who are hurt are entitled to relief. Payment can be obtained to cover expenses including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering as well as any other losses you sustained. In the event that your loved one is killed, the right to obtain compensation may belong to you, even though no amount of money can be considered adequate in these cases. Speaking with an injury lawyer can help you understand your rights if a car accident has affected your life or taken your loved one from you.

In May, a wrong way crash took place on the Loop 202 in Gilbert and left two people dead. In response to a police investigation, the suspected at-fault driver surrendered this week and is now facing multiple charges. Authorities allege that the 68-year-old female driver was under the influence of alcohol and prescription drugs when she drove against traffic on the Loop 202 with a 9-year-old child in her vehicle. The suspect collided head-on with a vehicle carrying a 25-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman and claimed both of their lives. Additionally, the 9-year-old child was seriously hurt and the suspected impaired driver was also injured but both survived the crash.

Police have reported that the suspect had a blood alcohol of .180, more than twice the legal limit of .08 in Arizona, and that she had prescription pain killers in her system at the time of the collision. The woman’s family members claim she suffers from lupus and fibromyalgia and that the pain medication was hers lawfully. Current charges against the suspect include two counts of second degree murder, criminal damage, aggravated assault, endangerment, and child abuse.
Continue reading “Arrest Made in Fatal Wrong Way Gilbert Car Accident”

When it comes to driving a vehicle in Phoenix, each motorist’s individual actions directly leads to that driver’s safety and the safety of his or her passengers. But it also leads to the safety of others on the road as car accidents routinely involve multiple vehicles, including those that have made no mistakes or wrong turns. Similarly, the actions of other drivers threaten your safety whenever you are behind the wheel. But what can you do to protect yourself from this constant threat of drivers on the roads? Unfortunately, in Phoenix, there is little you can do to ensure proper conduct by other drivers other than to watch out and take evasive action when needed. This means that any driver can become the victim of a crash with little or no warning and without disobeying any traffic rules.

One of the greatest threats on the interstates of Arizona and in the Valley of the Sun is that posed by drunk drivers or drivers under the influence of drugs. Drunk driving accidents claim the lives of more than 250 victims across the state every year. In addition to those victims, thousands suffer due to these losses as nothing can bring back a life that has been cut short too soon. While these collision can happen at any point in the day, they are most likely to occur on weekends and in the overnight hours as that is the time that many people choose to drink or do drugs. Often, in the aftermath of a crash, there is no one to speak for a victim and make sure that victim’s rights are protected. If a collision has affected your life and you were hurt, speaking with a personal injury lawyer in Phoenix may enable you to seek the relief you deserve.

New reports have surfaced regarding a fatal car accident that occurred on Friday in Tempe and they could lead to additional criminal charges. According to police, the driver involved, a 19-year-old man, allegedly admitted to smoking marijuana just hours before getting behind the wheel. The teen also drove without a valid license in the area of I-10 near U.S. 60 just before 5:00 a.m. when he reportedly lost control of his vehicle.

At least one witness estimates that the driver was traveling 105 miles per hour at the time of the crash which sent the vehicle into a concrete median. The car also struck a light pole as it spun before coming to a rest.

A 16-year-old female in the vehicle was killed in the crash and other passengers sustained serious injuries, including fractured bones. The driver has been arrested and is facing charges including suspicion of second degree murder and aggravated assault and endangerment. Blood tests are pending and could lead to additional charges against the driver, depending on the outcome.
Continue reading “Driver Reportedly High in Fatal Tempe Car Accident”

If you are a driver in Phoenix or in Arizona, you should know that it is against the law to drive while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any other intoxicating substance. Doing so may lead to a traffic citation or a criminal charge that can result in anything from fines and fees to the loss of a driver’s license to incarceration in jail or prison.

Potential punishments become more severe if a driver under the influence causes a collision, and the penalties may increase again if someone involved in that crash is injured. Drunk driving accidents cause Arizona residents millions of dollars in damages every year and cause victims to incur medical expenses. These losses are unnecessary and can always be prevented by drivers who choose to use a designated driver, take a cab, or otherwise refrain from drinking and driving. Once a collision happens, though, victims may not know where to turn or how to get the help they deserve. Under Arizona laws, relief may be possible, so those victims who have been hurt should consider speaking with a personal injury lawyer to learn about their rights.

The University of Arizona has confirmed that one of its football team members was arrested on Saturday for driving under the influence and for possession of marijuana. The student athlete was pulled over after making a wide right turn near the intersection of Third Street and Campbell Avenue in Tucson. After the player stopped his vehicle, the responding officer allegedly noticed a strong smell of marijuana emanating from the vehicle, prompting the officer to ask the student when he last smoked. Allegedly, the athlete replied that he smoked marijuana approximately one hour prior to the traffic stop.

Authorities claimed that marijuana was thrown from the vehicle during the stop, leading to the arrest of the student-athlete, who now faces charges of DUI and possession of a controlled substance. In response, the head coach for the University of Arizona’s football team has confirmed that the athlete in question will not start Friday’s Pac-12 championship game and that further, internal discipline may be possible. Additional reports indicate that the athlete may not have been driving on a valid license at the time of the arrest, and that charges could issue regarding that violation as well.
Continue reading “University of Arizona Football Player Arrested for DUI”

Though three months remain in the 2014 calendar, Arizona has already experienced a number of high-profile car accidents this year, including several that proved to be fatal. Many of these collisions occurred on highways, freeways, and expressways in the Phoenix area and a number of them are believed to have been caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Drunk driving accidents in Phoenix are a serious issue. Alcohol slows a motorist’s ability to make critical decisions, to focus on the road, to notice changing traffic trends and to obey traffic-related rules and laws. Drunk driving collisions affect not only impaired motorists but also those who may be in the same area because drunk drivers risk the safety of everyone when they take to the roads. When a collision occurs, an innocent victim is just as likely as the drunk driver to be injured and too often, the injuries sustained require medical treatment, surgical intervention, and rehabilitative care.

When you are involved in a car accident that is not your fault, it can seem like no one is on your side and that no one is working for your interests. But in Arizona, that does not have to be the case because Arizona laws enable victims to seek financial relief for their losses from a collision, including one caused by a drunk driver. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer may help you understand your accident and your options if you have been injured in a crash.

Michael Phelps, best known for his success as an Olympic swimmer, was arrested early this morning on charges of driving under the influence in Maryland. According to local authorities, Phelps was driving on I-95 in Baltimore when an officer noticed the vehicle speeding and crossing lane lines. Phelps was pulled over and reportedly showed signs of intoxication, leading to his arrest. According to the arresting officer, a radar gun clocked Phelps traveling 84 miles per hour in an area with a 45 mile per hour speed limit. The results of any blood tests performed have not been released at this time.
Continue reading “Olympian Michael Phelps Arrested, Charged with DUI, Speeding”

Numerous drivers in the Phoenix area are unaware of the complex laws that govern drunk driving behavior. Yet all drivers are charged with knowing, understanding, and following the laws and claiming ignorance is never an excuse. It is a criminal offense to drive a motor vehicle in the state of Arizona while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and doing so may lead to significant charges, penalties, and fines.

Drunk driving accidents in Phoenix and across the Valley of the Sun are the cause of thousands of injuries every year. In addition to the injuries they cause, these accidents claim the lives of many and affect families, friends, and loved ones in addition to the victims themselves. In many cases, it is an innocent victim, an unsuspecting mother, or a young student who is hurt through the actions of an impaired motorist.

The medical bills, lost wages, and other financial damages incurred due to a drunk driving accident can be monumental and can be too much for many victims to endure. Fortunately, the laws in Arizona are designed to place that monetary burden on at-fault drivers, including those who drink and choose to drive or those who take drugs and then operate a vehicle. The use of a civil claim for damages can help a victim obtain an adequate recovery to compensate for any losses that occur. A personal injury lawyer who practices in the area of victim’s rights can help you understand your options or bring your claim if you have been hurt in a collision.

Local police have confirmed that NFL receiver Da’Rick Rogers was arrested last night on charges of driving under the influence. The incident reportedly occurred on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. An officer in the area reportedly stopped the vehicle driven by Rogers shortly after 3:30 a.m. when the vehicle crossed the center yellow line. During the stop, the officer suspected that Rogers had been drinking alcohol and allegedly, a breathalyzer confirmed the officer’s suspicions.

Rogers was arrested and charged with driving under the influence. It is unclear at this time whether he remains incarcerated or whether he has been released on some form of bail. According to reports, Loucheiz Purifoy, cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts, was a passenger in Rogers’ vehicle at the time of the arrest.

Hours after the news of the arrest broke, the Indianapolis Colts, for whom Rogers played this season and last, reportedly released Rogers from the team.
Continue reading “NFL Receiver Da’Rick Rogers Arrested for DUI, Released from Colts”

PJ Tucker, small forward for the NBA Phoenix Suns, was arrested in May on suspicion of driving under the influence. Though the arrest was made some time ago, the incident has just become public knowledge.

Tucker was drafted in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors. He played for the Raptors before being sent to the NBA Developmental League and then moving to play in Europe and the Middle East. Since 2012, Tucker has been with the Suns and just last week, he signed a three year contract extension reportedly worth $16.5 million.

But Tucker’s on-the-court play is not the breaking news today. According to Scottsdale police, Tucker was operating a motor vehicle in May when he was pulled over on suspicion of DUI. Blood tests reportedly confirmed that Tucker had a blood alcohol content of 0.222, nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08 in Arizona. Under the state’s laws, a BAC of .222 is considered super extreme driving under the influence and can mean incarceration if a driver is convicted.

The incident reportedly occurred on May 10, shortly after midnight, when an officer noticed Tucker’s vehicle allegedly run a stop sign. When Tucker was pulled over, officers reportedly noted that Tucker had glassy eyes and slurred speech, and, when questioned, he reportedly admitted that he had one beer at a local bar in the Valley.

It is not clear when Tucker is due in court or whether he has had any major appearances up to this point. At this time, the Phoenix Suns have not commented publicly on the arrest. Though no specifics have been made available, Tucker may face fines, fees, loss of a license, or even jail time if he is convicted in this incident.
Continue reading “PJ Tucker of Phoenix Suns Arrested, Charged with DUI”

Statistically, drunk driving accidents are most likely to occur during the nighttime hours on a weekend. Experts believe that weekends bring about a time where many people drink alcohol and then try to drive themselves home or to another location, breaking the law in the process. Though weekends might bring out a large number of drunk or impaired drivers, in truth, an accident with a driver under the influence can happen on any day of the week and at any time of the day.

When a driver operates under the influence of alcohol, that driver places his or her safety at risk and also risks the safety of everyone else in the area. Drunk driving accidents can leave other drivers, passengers in the impaired driver’s car or in another car, and even pedestrians with injuries that may last a lifetime. In the event that you are injured in a crash caused by a drunk driver, the laws in Phoenix ensure you with certain rights. You may be entitled to seek relief for your damages against those responsible so that you can recover for your losses, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Speaking with a lawyer in Phoenix who represents car accident victims may help you determine if you are entitled to relief.

Nearly all freeways and highways in Phoenix are busy and I-10 is no exception. That is why many people experienced long commutes and delays yesterday after a bad accident occurred on I-10 near Warner Road. Police believe that a 36-year-old female was driving her car the wrong way on I-10 and that she initially collided with a car before being hit by a semi-truck. Both the woman and the driver of the other car suffered injuries and needed medical treatment after the crash.

Police are still investigating and trying to determine why the woman was traveling in the wrong direction. Though no conclusive determinations have been made, officers are looking into whether alcohol played a role in the crash.
Continue reading “Wrong Way Crash on I-10 Leaves 2 Injured”

Multiple media outlets have reported that Jim Irsay, the well-known owner of the Indianapolis Colts, was arrested last night on suspicion of driving under the influence and possession of a controlled substance. Reportedly, Irsay was booked into a local jail in Hamilton County early Monday morning.

Police in Carmel, Indiana reportedly saw Irsay driving slowly on a local road and stopping in the middle of the street. He also allegedly failed to signal before turning which led authorities to stop Irsay and administer field sobriety tests, which he reportedly failed. Irsay was arrested and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a crime in Indiana as well as every other state, including Arizona. As part of his arrest, officers searched Irsay’s car and reportedly found prescription drugs that were not associated with any prescription bottles in Irsay’s possession, leading to a second charge of possession of a controlled substance. Bond in Irsay’s case was set at $22,500 and as of early this morning, he remained behind bars and in police custody.

Back in 2002, Irsay admitted he had an addiction to prescription pain killers following multiple surgeries and treatments, referring to his pain at that time as chronic. Twitter posts in late 2013 from Irsay indicate that he has not had an alcoholic drink in 15 years, leading many to speculate as to the intoxicant allegedly in Irsay’s system while he drove last night.

Forbes values the Indianapolis Colts as the 11th most valuable franchise in the National Football League and estimates the team’s worth at $1.6 billion. Irsay is the sole owner of the franchise and is well known for his outspokenness, hands-on approach to ownership, and social media presence. The NFL has stated that if Irsay will face discipline from the league in addition to any punishments or sentences asserted by the courts in this matter.
Continue reading “NFL Owner Jim Irsay Arrested for DUI and Possession”

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal in Phoenix just like it is in every city and in every state across the nation. Despite the illegality of the activity, every year, thousands of drivers in the greater Phoenix area get behind the wheel of a vehicle when they are impaired and they should abstain from driving. Some of these offenders are caught before they can hurt anyone else but too often, a collision occurs first and an innocent victim is left behind to deal with pain, suffering, and medical bills that should never have been necessary.

Few people run out for groceries and think about their personal safety walking into and out of the store, but one valley woman may be thinking differently after an unusual accident left her seriously injured outside of a Tempe Walmart.

Police reported a crash that involved two vehicles at the intersection of South Rural Road and East Southern Avenue in Tempe. The driver believed to have caused that collision fled the scene and drove through a nearby Walmart’s parking lot in an attempt to escape before police responded. The driver, a 31-year-old woman, hit a curb and collided with a Mazda in or near the parking lot. The force of the collision pushed the Mazda into a truck that was waiting to turn into the parking lot and it also caused the Mazda to collide with a female shopper who was leaving the store. The shopper was on foot and suffered serious injuries in the crash.

Police believe the driver was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs at the time of the collisions.

The 31-year-old driver that caused both collisions has been arrested and now faces multiple charges including leaving the scene of an accident, super extreme driving under the influence, aggravated assault, and multiple counts of endangerment.

While it is easy to see the dangers that a drunk driver poses to other motorists on the roads, many people fail to consider the dangers posed to others, including pedestrians. But driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs poses a risk to everyone in the area, whether they are driving, walking, or riding a bicycle or motorcycle. That is one of the reasons that the laws in Phoenix make driving impaired illegal.
Continue reading “Drunk Driver Hits 2 Cars and a Pedestrian near Tempe Walmart”

Drunk driving is a problem across the nation and Arizona is no exception. With a large population spread across the valley and with a sprawl design, Phoenix has its fair share of drunk driving incidents every year. Those individuals who choose to drive drunk are not only violating the law but also are risking the safety of everyone on the roads, whether it is a passenger in their vehicle, a driver in another car, or even a pedestrian crossing the street in a crosswalk. With the serious threat posed by drunk drivers, it is not surprising that so many law enforcement officials seek ways to reduce the number of intoxicated motorists.

Over the past decade, Phoenix has had an increasing number of arrests annually for driving under the influence. Some of the increase may be blamed on the overall population growth while others may be attributed to increased enforcement efforts by police. Yet many believe that there may be an increase in drinking and driving among the general population which is also contributing to these numbers.

But with all the negative news about DUIs comes potentially a small bright spot: for the first time in the last decade, the number of annual DUIs in Arizona has decreased. Police arrested approximately 29,000 drivers for operating under the influence in 2013, which is more than 3,000 fewer arrests than 2012. The time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, traditionally a time with a large number of drunk drivers on the road, also saw a decrease in arrests over 2012 numbers. But these numbers are still drastically higher than they were in 2004 when approximately 5,300 arrests were made.

No one has conclusively determined what is behind the decrease in numbers but enforcement efforts likely played a part. A statewide task force has been utilized to combat intoxicated drivers and has made the detection and apprehension of these individuals a priority.

While it is good news that fewer drunk drivers were found on Arizona streets last year, 29,000 arrests still breaks down to an average of nearly 80 drunk drivers per day being caught and apprehended while behind the wheel. Those drivers are a threat to public safety and a threat to themselves.
Continue reading “DUIs Decreased in 2013 but Drunk Driving Still a Problem”