Abels & Annes, P.C. Personal Injury Blog

In Arizona, the laws related to driving on public roads are clear: all motorists must carry automobile insurance that meets minimum standards. There are no exceptions for drivers who do not drive very far or very often. There are no exceptions for motorists who are “extra careful” behind the wheel. Everyone is legally required to have automobile insurance. But despite these requirements, officials estimate that 12 percent of all drivers on Arizona roads are operating illegally because they have no insurance. They are not protected in the event they are involved in a collision nor are those in other vehicles who may be in the same crash. This means that if you are involved in a car accident, there is approximately a one-out-of-eight chance that the other driver is uninsured.

The majority of collisions in the United States are caused by a human error on the part of one or more individuals involved. As a result, it is tempting for the public to blame every collision that takes place on the negligence of people, whether they are drivers, bicyclists, or even pedestrians, but the truth is that not every collision should be blamed like this. Rather, other factors can also lead to an impact that can cause anything from minor property damage to serious, lifelong injuries. In the worst instances, a crash is the cause of death for at least one person and will permanently alter the lives of all those who were involved. One common cause of car accidents that tend to be overlooked is a mechanical failure of one of the vehicles that is involved in the collision. An average modern car has 50 to 100 tiny computers that control everything from steering to acceleration to brakes and with this technology comes the potential for technological failures. Even one incorrect line of code operating a critical feature of a car can lead to a collision that may injure those inside or those in another vehicle, often without any kind of warning.

The population across the nation is aging quickly and with this aging comes many concerns. What will the country look like with more elderly Americans than at any time previously in history? Will there be enough resources to support those individuals as they age? For many who call the Phoenix area home, these questions are not only hypothetical as they contemplate the future of their loved ones and family members. Right now, many are wondering whether to place those they care about in a nursing home or other long-term care facility. This can be one of the most difficult decisions that someone can make in their lifetime as the choices they make directly affect the care that another will obtain. To complicate matters even further, many individuals are not aware of what a nursing home is required to provide and to do and they remain even more confused about what rights their loved ones will have if they are placed in a home.

In 2014, there were 109,554 traffic crashes in the State of Arizona. The collisions happened in every city and involved all types of people from young drivers to older motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, passengers, and motorcyclists. A large number of those crashes took place in Maricopa County, the most heavily-populated county in the state, and caused extreme damages including injuries and loss of life. The Arizona Department of Transportation estimates that collisions in Maricopa County alone in 2014 cost in excess of $1.8 billion in damages. If you live in the Phoenix area, chances are that either you have been involved in a car accident or you know someone who has. With such a widespread impact stemming from these collisions, harm can be felt by the families, loved ones, friends, neighbors, and coworkers of the victims involved in addition to the victims themselves, drawing greater attention to safety concerns related to traffic accidents. But with so many collisions taking place, it may be surprising to realize how little the typical car accident victim understands about their legal rights and legal options when they are hurt.

In most areas of the Valley, children are back in school, learning new things and exploring new subjects. Some schools have been in session for a month already while others only a week or two. Yet regardless of when the first day of classes took place, school is still fresh for most students and the back-to-school atmosphere is still thriving. With kids returning to school across Phoenix, it is a good idea to think about the safety of those children and to be reminded to put safety first. Whether you have school-aged children or not, safety should be a concern for all those in Arizona and therefore all adults and drivers should consider the following:

When you walk in the Phoenix area, when should you feel safe? Should you feel safe when you are on a sidewalk? When you are in a crosswalk marked for pedestrians? When you walk near your home, a school, or your work? As a pedestrian, you should be able to feel safe and secure anytime you walk in a reasonable manner as the laws in Arizona guarantee it. Yet if others near you, including those who drive cars and trucks, fail to follow the law by ignoring your rights, you may be at risk for a collision at any point during your walk. Pedestrian accidents are a significant problem in the greater Phoenix area with nearly a thousand incidents taking place each year. In 2014 alone, there were 944 traffic collisions involving pedestrians in Arizona and 147 of them proved to be fatal. Many, many more caused injuries to the pedestrians or others involved in the crash and still others caused monetary damage to property.

El tráfico es un problema de todos los días para los que viven en o trabajan en el Condado de Maricopa. El área de Phoenix ve tráfico pesado todo el tiempo pero las horas punta de la mañana y las noches son propensos a algunas de las más pesadas cargas vehiculares. Con una gran cantidad de tráfico viene la probabilidad de congestión en las carreteras, calles y las autopistas que tejen su camino en y alrededor del valle. Congestión en sí misma no tiene por qué ser una amenaza para la seguridad pública. Si los conductores están conduciendo a una velocidad adecuada y están atentos a las condiciones cambiantes del tráfico, la congestión puede ser una inconvinencia pequeña. Pero, en realidad, muchos conductores tienen prisa, están distraídos mientras conducen, o de otra manera fallán de tener en cuenta la congestion en las carreteras de Phoenix y por lo tanto terminan causando accidentes automovilísticos. Estos a menudo toman la forma de colisiones traseras o accidentes de lado cuando la gente no son capaces de parar un vehículo en tiempo o que intentan acciones evasivas por cambiar de carril. Por supuesto, muchas otras causas pueden conducir a estos tipos de colisiones, así como con la congestion solamente siendo una de ellas.

Summer is slowing down in the Valley. Most kids are back in school, rain has been falling this week, and cooler temperatures will be on their way before long. With the annual summer wind down in full swing, many parents are turning their attention to what comes next: fall. But summer is not over yet and the warm weather continues in much of the greater Phoenix area. As long as it is hot outside, swimming pools in Arizona get plenty of use by adults and children alike who are looking for a break from the heat. And with so many private, semi-private, and public pools in the Valley, those who want to swim do not need to look hard for relief.

Arizona has some of the strictest laws against driving under the influence of alcohol in the nation. Even first time offenders face the possibility of jail time and/or the loss of their driver’s license if they are apprehended drunk driving in the Phoenix area. Yet despite these laws prohibiting the conduct and despite national campaigns warning against driving drunk, every day in Arizona, drivers get behind the wheel when they are impaired and should not be driving. Impairment comes in many forms and those who drive while impaired may be guilty of breaking the law even if they have no alcohol in their systems. Street drugs, prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and other chemical substances can be intoxicants if they lower a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle in a safe manner. While the incidents of drunk driving accidents have been decreasing across the nation in recent decades, the number of drivers who operate while high on drugs and cause collisions has been increasing substantially.

Large vehicles, including trucks, semis, and 18-wheelers, are a necessary part of life in the Phoenix area. They provide not only jobs to countless residents but also the means necessary to keep things going in the area. From bringing in food and products to shipping across the nation, trucks play a vital role in the local economy. While much about the trucking industry is positive, there are negatives that affect those who reside in or work in Phoenix as well. One of the more dangerous negatives is the risk for truck accidents and for the harm that might result if a truck accident occurs. While collisions with trucks are not as common as collisions involving only cars, the resulting damage tends to be much more severe and is more likely to cause injuries to the drivers and passengers involved.