Abels & Annes, P.C. Personal Injury Blog

If you are not familiar with the Phoenix area, driving in the Valley can be very complex. With its congested highways and unusual layout, visitors to the area often express bewilderment at some of the driving skills needed to navigate with ease. Not only visitors are perplexed though as many who call Phoenix home struggle on the roads – though they often do not have novelty as an excuse. Regardless of your familiarity with the Valley, it is the charged duty of each and every driver to operate safely on the roads and to ensure that his or her conduct does not pose a threat to others. Despite this clear legal requirement, drivers take to the roads every day and engage in dangerous, hazardous, and otherwise threatening actions that far too often lead to car accidents.

In the last two years, it seems that Arizona has experienced more than its fair share of wrong-way car accidents. The majority of these collisions have occurred on highways and expressways as well as other heavily-traveled areas, leading to accidents that too often proved to be fatal. Not only is a driver who operates in the wrong direction in danger of harm should a crash happen but any passengers in that vehicle as well as those in another car are also at risk. The reasons behind these car accidents have been varied though some continuity exists among the majority. In some instances, a driver later claimed that he or she was confused about the layout of a road, leading to the driver operating in the wrong direction. But lately, many collisions that involve a wrong-way operator have been allegedly caused by intoxication – either alcohol or drugs. Some of those drivers have been so impaired that they did not realize they were traveling in the wrong direction or that they were risking a collision by driving against traffic. And yet in other instances, it remains unclear why a driver operated a car improperly and it can be difficult for experts to determine what went wrong.

When riding a motorcycle, the risk of injury exists not only for the person operating the bike but also for any passengers on board. However few people realize that the threat of harm extends beyond those on a motorcycle and reaches those in passenger cars, those on bicycles, and even pedestrians who may be walking on or near a road or other driving surface. Motorcycle accidents produce a high rate of injuries when they occur in Phoenix and the fallout from those collisions can last for years. From the immediate injuries that result to the need for medical and rehabilitative care, the financial toll enacted by a collision can accumulate quickly and can leave a victim in need of help. But injuries cause other damages as well and those who are hurt may be unable to care for their families as they normally do, may be forced to miss time from work, and may endure pain, suffering, and permanency of injuries that affect their lives indefinitely. For these reasons and in recognition of the suffering that many victims experience, state laws are available to help those who are hurt by providing them with the right to seek payment for their damages. Speaking with a personal injury attorney can clarify what rights may exist if you have been involved in a motorcycle crash in the Valley.

Pedestrians and cars do not mix well in the Valley or elsewhere in Arizona. When a collision between these groups occurs, the pedestrian involved is almost always injured and far too often, the pedestrian loses his or her life due to the injuries that are sustained in the crash. In most cases, the term “accident” is a misnomer because it implies that a collision happens by chance and not by fault. Rather, in the majority of car accidents in Phoenix, a crash can be blamed on the actions of one or more drivers involved and often is the result of negligent conduct behind the wheel. Common causes of collisions include speeding, driving while distracted, texting while driving, following too closely, and failing to yield the right-of-way. But perhaps the risky conduct that receives the most attention by the public is driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, approximately one-third of all drivers who are arrested for or convicted of drunk driving are repeat offenders. This may seem logical when you consider the fact that MADD also reports an average drunk driver operates under the influence more than 80 times before he or she is arrested and charged for an infraction. While it remains a crime in Arizona to drive while drunk, countless motorists do so every day and they place the safety of others in jeopardy as a result of their actions. Arizona, including Maricopa County, has some of the strictest drunk driving laws in the nation and many first time offenders are required to serve jail time as a result. That is a lesson that former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb learned after a 2013 arrest for drunk driving outside of Phoenix and a subsequent guilty plea. Now, McNabb is facing similar charges after a traffic accident at a red light in Gilbert.

Most types of car accidents that happen in Phoenix are due to a mistake or negligent conduct on the part of one or more drivers involved. As a result, almost all of these crashes could be avoided if motorists acted with safety as their primary concern while behind the wheel and if they failed to get distracted from that task. Yet unfortunately, preventable accidents happen daily in the Valley and far too often, those involved in the collisions are left with significant injuries and in need of medical care. While crashes garner attention in the media, the totality of their harm is rarely expressed and as a result, many victims are left surprised by the devastation caused by a car accident and they may be unable to recover on their own. The injuries caused by a car crash rarely terminate on the same day as a collision and may last for days, weeks, months, or even years to follow. The worst crashes claim the lives of one or more individuals involved and the loss and suffering experienced by the family members of those victims will never end. Fortunately, the laws in Arizona recognize how traumatic a car accident can be and therefore the laws side with the innocent victims who are hurt in those collisions. Through the use of a civil claim for damages, victims can seek and recover financial compensation for their damages against an at-fault driver or an insurance company, and if a loved one is killed, the right to relief passes to that victim’s surviving family members. Speaking with a personal injury attorney can illuminate any legal options that may exist if you have been the victim of a car accident in Phoenix.

Car accidents can be caused by thousands of different factors and can happen on any road and at any time of day. But unlike popular conceptions, collisions usually result not from a single incident but rather from a combination of factors – a motorist that was distracted and then failed to yield the right-of-way, a speeding driver who followed too closely as a result, or even a motorist who failed to obey construction zone restrictions and then caused a crash with a worker. Regardless of the cause, though, car crashes are serious threats to those who reside in Phoenix as well as those who visit the Valley of the Sun. In many cases, even those involved in a car accident are unaware of the full extent of the legal fallout from a crash because they are not aware of all factors that led to the impact. While an officer might list one cause of a collision, in many cases there are additional contributing incidents and it may take someone with experience to sort through the data to determine all actions that caused a crash. It is important to have a full understanding of a traffic accident because it will determine what rights the victims possess and whether anyone can be held financially liable for the harm that stems from an accident. For these reasons and others, many victims choose to speak with a personal injury attorney to learn about their legal recourse and to determine who may bear the financial burden of their harm.

The 4th of July holiday weekend is approaching rapidly and those in the Valley are getting ready to celebrate. Many have a long weekend off from work and will be able to spend time with family and friends as a result. Children are out of school on summer break and are looking forward to outdoor activities and watching fireworks in Phoenix. For many, 4th of July marks one of the most exciting weekends of the summer. The 4th of July should be a time of fun for all those who wish to participate in celebrations. Whether your tradition entails barbecuing with friends in your backyard, taking the kids to Fabulous Phoenix Fourth downtown and playing on the giant inflatables, or stopping by Tempe Town Lake to take in the music and fireworks, you will find entertainment across the Valley. But if this year is like previous years, tragedy will strike some people who are minding their own business while celebrating and may take the form of a car accident, pedestrian crash, or bicycle collision and may result in victims needing medical care.

Water safety is critically important year-round in the Phoenix area because bodies of water – primarily swimming pools – are so prevalent. With a large number of homes boasting private pools, cities and townships with their own public pools, and swimming and aquatic centers dotting the Valley, adults and children alike have access to water at any time during the year. Swimming can be an excellent way to combat the sweltering heat of the desert in the summertime and can provide endless entertainment for children while they are out of school. Yet every year, tragedy occurs when a child is critically injured or when a child drowns while swimming. In many cases, the child involved should never have been in the water in the first place.

T-bone car accidents pose an unusual risk to the drivers and passengers involved in them in Phoenix. While risks from any collision can be similar, some are more dangerous than others and some have a greater risk of creating serious harm. Among those threatening crashes are T-bone collisions which usually occur at a high rate of speed and most often take place at an intersection. Some collisions allow the people involved a short moment’s warning before an impact happens. During this time, a driver may be able to attempt evasive action which could lessen the blow or possibly reduce the damage done during impact. Yet in the case of a T-bone crash, an innocent driver may never see an oncoming and threatening vehicle until the accident takes place and at best, may only have an opportunity to see the vehicle half of the time.