Category: Drunk Driving Accidents

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.
Continue reading “Phoenix Suns Broadcaster Arrested for DUI in Scottsdale”

Drunk driving is a problem in Phoenix as well as across the state of Arizona, leading to thousands of accidents and causing thousands of injuries every year. Despite how dangerous it is to operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, it continues to happen with some people admitting to driving drunk on a regular basis.

Police officers have devised a plan to help decrease drunk driving by increasing police presence and ramp up the observations needed to identify drunk drivers. This state-wide initiative has an official start date of December 3 and an end date of January 1, 2014 but some agencies have indicated that they will start the increased patrols this week.

Motorists in these areas may notice a greater number of marked police cars on the streets, at intersections, and in parking lots, monitoring traffic and attempting to identify those under the influence. When a drunk driver is identified, that driver may face a traffic citation or a criminal charge, depending on the circumstances surrounding the incident. These drivers that are cited may be the lucky ones among those driving drunk, though, as drunk drivers who cause accidents are likely to be punished much more harshly, especially if the accident results in serious injury or death. And the punishment leveled by the State of Arizona may just be the beginning as drunk drivers can be held financially liable for the damages they cause as well.

Though there may be an increased attempt to apprehend drunk drivers over the next six weeks, drivers should be aware that police look for and attempt to deter drunk driving every day of the year and that drunk drivers can receive significant penalties and punishments regardless of when they are caught. It is never worth the risk to drive drunk and anyone who consumes alcohol should consider using alternative transportation afterwards, whether that is a designated driver, public transportation, or a taxi cab.
Continue reading “Statewide Crackdown on Drunk Drivers to Start This Week”

When anyone decides to drive a car in Arizona, they agree to follow the state’s driving rules or to be held responsible if they fail to do so. Many of these rules are common sense and are the same across the nation while others are more unique to the valley. Basic rules like stopping at a red light and proceeding on a green light rarely lead to confusion but many drivers are not clear of what constitutes intoxication to the point where it becomes illegal to drive.

Phoenix personal injury lawyers regularly handled cases where an accident was caused by a drunk or impaired driver who should never have been on the road, yet when these people are charged for their actions, often they claim that they did not realize their blood alcohol content or that they felt fine to drive.

Arizona uses an objective and subjective standard to determine alcohol impairment among drivers, which means that impairment can vary among people. In the state, a driver is considered to be under the influence of alcohol if his or her blood alcohol level is 0.08 or greater. However, if alcohol in a driver’s system is lower than that level but the alcohol still impairs the driver’s ability to operate a car, that driver can also be guilty of driving under the influence.

The rules are strict and the consequences severe. Not only is a drunk driver likely to face traffic or criminal charges for driving under the influence but that driver is also more likely to cause an accident. If an accident leaves another with personal injuries, the drunk driver can also be liable for those damages, whether they are for medical bills and expenses or wages that victim was unable to earn while hurt.

Often, drunk drivers think that they won’t be caught and therefore will not face any consequences for their actions, but in truth, thousands of drivers are cited for driving drunk every year. The odds of being caught increase dramatically, though, when the suspected drunk driver crashes into a police officer’s car while the police officer is inside, as happened recently in Casa Grande.

A Pinal County Sheriff’s Officer had pulled over a suspected drunk driver near the intersection of Pearl Road and Cottonwood Lane and called for backup, with a second officer arriving in a second car. As the first deputy prepared to exit his vehicle to speak with the alleged drunk driver, a 22-year-old female in the area crashed her car into the deputy’s vehicle, causing a significant impact.
Continue reading “Suspected Drunk Driver Crashes Into Police Car”

Arizona law makes it very clear: it is illegal to drive under the influence of an intoxicating substance, regardless of what that substance may be. Most often, this emerges in the case where a driver drinks alcohol and then drives or where a driver uses illegal or prescription drugs before getting behind the wheel, but this is not the only way a driver can be guilty of driving while intoxicated. Huffing, or inhaling chemical fumes in an effort to get high, can also lead to a DUI charge as can legally taking drugs or supplements that impair your ability to safely operate a vehicle.

Despite the threats posed by driving while intoxicated, thousands of drivers choose to do so every year, placing not only their own safety but also the safety of everyone on the road at risk. Statistically impaired drivers are more likely to cause accidents and more likely to be involved in accidents with injuries than those drivers who refrain from operating a vehicle under the influence.

After an accident with an impaired driver leaves a personal injury victim with damages, a Phoenix lawyer can help you understand what your rights are and whether you can recover for your losses, including your medical bills. This means that impaired drivers may not only be subject to criminal complaints but also to the financial damages they inflict on others, leaving many to realize that it is never worth the risk to drive impaired.

Local police believe that a man involved in a Chandler hit-and-run crash on Saturday morning was impaired at the time of the impact and they are still investigating the scene at this time. Right now, the 43-year-old man is believed to have been driving a pickup truck in the area of Ray Road and Arrowhead when he lost control and left the road. The man then allegedly drove through some bushes lining the street and into a retention basin before emerging on the other side where the truck went airborne and collided with an SUV driven by a 61-year-old woman.

The driver of the SUV sustained minor injuries as did a 2-year-old girl in her vehicle but two 3-year-old boys were critically injured in the crash. They were taken to an area hospital for treatment where their current conditions are unknown.

The 43-year-old driver of the pickup allegedly fled the scene of the crash and traveled about one half mile before coming to a rest. Witnesses reported following the man from the scene of the crash as he fled so that police could respond. Authorities reported that the man had a female passenger, believed to be his girlfriend, in his truck at the time and that she was also injured in the accident.
Continue reading “Suspected Impaired Driver Causes Rollover Crash that Injures 5, 2 Critically”

When it comes to driving under the influence, police officers, lawyers, and judges have heard every excuse in the book but none of them is a valid reason to drive a car while intoxicated, whether on alcohol, drugs, or another substance. Impaired driving continues to threaten the safety of Arizonans as drivers hit the roads when they should use another form of transportation.

More dangerous than a drunk driver is a dunk driver that causes a collision and then flees the scene of the accident, leaving behind injured victims who may need medical attention and who may be unable to call for help. Because these accidents are so dangerous, Arizona imposes severe penalties on those drivers who are under the influence when they are involved in a crash and then leave the scene of the incident, often including felony charges and the potential for serious jail time.

Yet as car accident lawyers, our office receives numerous calls from victims of these crashes who did nothing wrong but were harmed through the negligence of another.

Glendale police have reported such an accident as occurring on Thursday near Glendale Avenue and 35th Avenue. They believe that a 57-year-old man was driving drunk when he caused a crash in an intersection during a left turn. The at-fault driver allegedly left the scene and was followed by a witness to the crash, leading to the man’s arrest and subsequent charges for his part in the collision. Police have reported that the man refused sobriety tests upon apprehension but that he did admit to drinking that day. As of now, the man has been charged with aggravated assault and leaving the scene of a crash that resulted in an injury; additional charges may be leveled as this investigation continues to unfold.

The driver of the second car in the crash sustained a broken knee cap and a laceration to his leg requiring medical treatment at an area hospital. He is expected to recover.

When any driver’s negligence results in injuries to another, the victim may be able to bring a claim for a financial recovery against the at-fault driver, the at-fault driver’s insurance, or even the victim’s own insurance, depending on the nature of the crash and the facts of the accident. A personal injury attorney can help a victim determine whether or not a claim is possible.
Continue reading “Suspected Drunk Driver Flees Scene After Glendale Crash”

Arizona has some of the strictest laws in the nation when it comes to prohibitions against drunk or impaired driving and the fines and penalties that follow violators are severe. Yet weekly, Arizona drivers cause car accidents because they are drunk or under the influence of another intoxicating substance like drugs or pharmaceuticals.

Drunk drivers span all age ranges and demographics and are much more likely to cause injuries or death in a car crash than others because impaired drivers are more reckless and less cautious than others on the road. Personal injury lawyers know how devastating these accidents can be and it is more distressing since no drunk driving crash need happen; if citizens choose another means of transportation, all drunk driving accidents could be prevented.

As drivers continue to operate their vehicles in reckless conditions, innocent victims will continue to sustain injuries and will be left to wonder how they will pay for their medical bills. Fortunately Arizona law provides injury victims with the means to obtain a financial recovery for their losses in the event of an automobile collision either by collecting against an at-fault driver or by making a claim against their own insurance, depending on the facts of the specific accident.

This important right of victims should not be overlooked as accidents continue daily, like a Saturday morning car crash that claimed a teenager’s life in Tucson. While police are still investigating, it appears that a 20-year-old driver was impaired by alcohol and/or drugs when he struck a median multiple times on West Valencia Road, ejecting a 19-year-old male and causing his death.

In addition to the driver and the young man who was killed, three others were in the vehicle and all sustained injuries that required medical treatment at area hospitals. Authorities anticipate issuing charges against the driver of the vehicle for his role in the accident that led to his passenger’s death as well as the injuries of the others in his car.
Continue reading “Tucson Teen Dies In Car Crash”

Police believe that a driver may have been under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs when he caused a crash on Thursday evening that left two women dead. The crash occurred near the intersection of Indian School Road and 43rd Avenue and involved two vehicles.

Witnesses reported that a red Dodge Charger was traveling at an extremely high rate of speed northbound on 43rd Avenue and approaching Indian School quickly. A green sedan was at the intersection and waiting to make a left hand turn. The driver of the Charger lost control of his vehicle and slammed into the green sedan causing significant damage to the vehicle. Two women reportedly were inside the green sedan and both died as a result of the crash.

The driver of the Charger, reported as an adult male, was transported from the scene of the collision to an area hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries. He is expected to survive and police believe that he may have been impaired at the time of the crash. The same officers have not stated whether the driver will be criminally charged in the crash, and if so, what charges he may face but at this time, the police investigation continues.

Arizona has some of the strictest drunk driving laws in the nation yet every year, thousands of drunk drivers hit the Arizona streets. When these drivers cause accidents, the victims that are injured or the families of those victims killed may be entitled to bring a claim for their losses against the drunk driver. These are civil claims and can be very complicated and difficult because often, a drunk driver not only has to face this monetary claim by a victim but also faces criminal charges and possible jail time.

Arizona requires drivers to carry automobile insurance to provide compensation to the victims in the event of an accident. But the insurance limits required by Arizona are very low and the minimum required amount often cannot fully compensate a victim. This is particularly true where a victim is killed, making the loss experienced by the victim’s family catastrophic.
Continue reading “Suspected Impaired Driver Kills 2 In Phoenix”

Police investigating a crash on Sunday morning believe that drugs may have been a factor. The incident began on westbound Broadway in Mesa when a blue truck collided with another car at the intersection with Stapley. The truck continued on Stapley and collided with another three vehicles by Alma School Road, where the truck came to a stop.

Several adults were injured in the crash and one was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the truck had to be removed from his vehicle and was arrested by police. Witnesses say that before the crash, the driver was swerving and hit at least one curb along the road. Police believe that the driver may have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash but official results of any blood tests have not been released.

Arizona has some of the strictest laws in the nation against drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs, but often it seems like stories of drunk drivers are reported in the local news. Drivers who get behind the wheel while under the influence are a danger to themselves and those around them.

Whether charged with a criminal offense or not, a drunk driver may still find himself liable for any injuries caused in an accident through the use of a civil claim. A civil claim allows a victim to seek compensation for any damages incurred, including any medical bills that a victim received due to needed medical treatment for injuries. If the driver also is charged criminally, the result of that case can affect a civil claim, making it important to contact a personal injury lawyer soon after an accident.

Civil claims are often brought against a driver’s automobile insurance, meaning that a victim deals with an insurance company directly instead of with the other driver. Though it can be helpful to have an insurance company involved, when a victim does not have personal legal representation, the insurance company has a significant advantage and holds most of the power. Often, the insurance company attempts to settle these claims quickly for less than fair value.
Continue reading “Driver May Have Been on Drugs When He Caused Fatal Mesa Crash”

Local police have been busy investigating a fatal collision that occurred on Sunday morning and they now believe that the responsible driver may have been drunk at the time of the crash.

The collision occurred on westbound I-10 near 67th Avenue shortly before 9:00 a.m. Witnesses reported seeing a passenger car that was excessively speeding and swerving in and out of traffic as it traveled westbound. The passenger car pulled behind a pickup truck and struck the rear of the pickup truck at full speed, causing the driver of the pickup truck to lose control.

A 28-year-old woman was behind the wheel of the truck at the time of impact. The truck ran off the road towards the median between west and eastbound traffic on I-10 and rolled over, coming to a rest on its roof. The woman was thrown from the car and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the passenger car was injured in the accident. When authorities responded to the crash, the 27-year-old male driver was taken to an area hospital for evaluation and treatment where he is expected to recover. It is not clear whether the male driver has been charged with any crimes but authorities believe that he was likely impaired at the time of the crash. If medical tests confirm this, the driver could face serious charges, including jail time, for his part in the accident that led to a woman’s death.

Arizona has some of the strictest laws against drunk driving in the nation and some of the harshest penalties for those driver who choose to operate a vehicle under the influence. Nonetheless, thousands in Arizona choose to drink and drive every year. Statistics show that nearly 20 percent of all fatal automobile collisions involve a drunk driver, meaning that driving under the influence is not only illegal but incredibly dangerous.

Yet despite these risks, drivers continue to drive drunk. After an accident, many say that the threat to the safety of others never crossed their minds. While criminal prosecution is often thought of by drunk drivers, causing injury or death to others is considered much less often. But reality shows that not only are these drivers likely to face criminal charges, they are also likely to hurt those around them and subject themselves to civil claims for damages.
Continue reading “Authorities Believe Driver Was Drunk When He Caused Fatal Rollover Crash”

Phoenix Police have stated that a Valley of the Sun resident is behind bars after being arrested for driving under the influence, and according to these same police, it’s the seventh time the man has faced a DUI charge. Three of those arrests have occurred in 2013 alone.

The man is being held in jail without bond, having been denied bond due to his prior arrests this year. Officials believe that some of the seven driving under the influence arrests have been for misdemeanors and therefore would not have subjected the man to jail time; now, though, he is facing a felony because his license was reportedly suspended from a prior proceeding where he was charged with DUI.

Drunk driving claims approximately 10,000 American lives every year. That translates to a fatality from drunk driving every hour of every day of every year. When a victim of a drunk driving accident dies, not only is it a tragic loss of the victim’s life, but the loss extends and affects the victim’s immediate and extended families, friends, and coworkers.

Arizona has very strict laws regarding driving under the influence. The law presumes that any driver with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or greater is influenced by the alcohol in their system and therefore guilty of a violation of the law. But have a BAC below 0.08 does not necessarily mean that you are legally allowed to drive. Any amount of alcohol can be deemed to be too much to legally drive if the alcohol influences a driver’s ability to drive safely. This means even one drink can take a driver from sober and safe to illegal and deadly.

When a drunk driver gets behind the wheel of a car, the driver is risking not only traffic and criminal penalties but also civil claims for nay damages or injuries the driver inflicts on victims of an accident. This means that a driver can be liable for the medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering of anyone hit or injured through the driver’s negligence.
Continue reading “Valley Man Arrested for 7th DUI”