After a car accident occurs, it can be difficult to determine exactly what caused the crash and whether negligence by one or more drivers contributed to the accident. This is particularly true when no witnesses to the accident are available or, tragically, when all involved in an accident lose their lives.
Yet accident investigators are trained to analyze facts and data that are present after an incident and to determine what caused the events to unfold even if there are no witnesses to explain what happened. These experts may be needed to review an accident in Gila County on Tuesday that claimed the life of a 19-year-old man and left his 19-year-old female passenger seriously injured.
The male victim was driving westbound on U.S. 60 southwest of Show Low during the evening hours. Police have reported that the man missed a curve in the road and that his vehicle continued straight, leaving the road’s surface and plunging down into a canyon about 1,000 feet. The car stopped in the Salt River Canyon and it was there when first responders arrived at the scene.
Unfortunately the man was too injured and he died as a result of the crash. His female passenger survived the initial incident and was transported to an area hospital where she was examined and treated for her injuries. Her current condition and the extent of her injuries are not known at this time.
Following an accident of this type, police typically investigate all possible causes of the crash, including whether the driver erred or whether there was a problem with the road or with the car.
Regardless of who is to blame for a collision, the laws in Phoenix allow accident victims to bring a claim for their damages against the responsible individual, company, or public entity. These claims are separate and distinct from any charges that may be assessed by the state related to the collision and they are designed to provide victims with the proper means to compensate them fully for their damages. Often, this includes payment for medical bills and for time missed from work.
If you have been injured in an accident, you may be entitled to relief. It is possible to have a valid claim if you were in a separate car from a negligent driver or even if you were in the same vehicle. Call the lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. today and let us provide you with a free case consultation. We will discuss your accident and your rights with no obligation on your part. The call is always free and we are standing by 24 hours a day for you at (602) 819-5191 or toll free at (855) PHX-LAWYER. If you have been injured, make sure someone is fighting for your rights. Call us now and let us help you get the relief you deserve.
Prior Blog Entry:
Driver Hits Police Car on Shoulder of Road, Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, published December 20, 2013.
Resource:
Driver, 19, killed after car plunges into Ariz. canyon, The Arizona Republic 12 News-Breaking News Team, published December 25, 2013.