Abels & Annes, P.C. Personal Injury Blog

Arizona, especially the greater Phoenix area, is unique from many other parts of the nation because of its desert weather. While some parts of the country enjoy summertime weather seasonally, Phoenix sees weather that others would deem “summer” nearly year-round. Though it may get cold during the nighttime, it usually warms up during the day and when it actually is summer, the weather can be a scorcher. To deal with this heat and to take advantage of the positive aspects of Phoenix’s weather, numerous houses, towns, clubs, and public areas have swimming pools for the use of children and adults alike. Taking a dip can lead to an instant cool down and can turn a miserably hot day into one of pure enjoyment. But unfortunately, every year, swimming pool accidents happen in the Valley and they leave victims injured or even killed as a result.

Any type of traffic accident poses many risks to those who are involved, but when it comes to the damages that result, some crashes are more likely to cause devastation than others. Among the most serious collisions are truck accidents and semi-truck crashes regardless of whether they occur in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, or elsewhere in the Valley. A typical passenger car is not designed or built to withstand the forces that are involved in a truck accident and any attempt to do so likely will result in substantial damage to the vehicle. When a vehicle is damaged and especially when portions of it crumple on impact, those inside the vehicle are likely to sustain injuries. Though common injuries include whiplash, fractured bones, herniated and damaged spinal discs, and head injuries, nearly any type of trauma-related harm can befall those unlucky enough to be involved in a collision with a truck.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 26 percent of Americans aged 16 and older have been injured in a car accident in their lifetimes. Every year, more than 2 million Americans seek medical treatment due to an automobile accident and the typical driver is involved in a collision every 18 years, according to Forbes. Car accidents occur with such regularity in areas like Phoenix that they seem commonplace, perhaps even uninteresting to passersby. Yet the truth remains that when someone is personally involved in a collision or their loved one is injured or killed, a car accident’s devastating potential may be revealed in the form of physical and financial damages.

Each year, significant construction projects begin along the roads of the Valley of the Sun, leaving residents of Phoenix and other towns with longer commutes, confusing detours, and other issues as they drive. This year is no exception as numerous projects are beginning admit the current record-setting heat. Starting Monday, a massive project will affect many of those who drive to downtown Scottsdale and many others who use the Loop 101 to get around, especially those who drive on weekdays. The ongoing project involves widening the Loop 101 between the Loop 202 and Shea Boulevard and it began in 2014; now, though, the project is focusing on an area leading to Scottsdale and will close all entrance and exit ramps at the Indian School Road interchange.

Fountain Hills is a small town compared to many others that can be found in Maricopa County. With slightly over 22,000 residents as of the 2010 census, it can be shadowed by larger communities to the south with little effort. Yet Fountain Hills is a beautiful area with much to offer those who call it home or who choose to visit the town for a period of time. From the idyllic fountain that provides the area its name to its numerous shops and restaurants and the fairs that occur annually there, a large number of people find time to make the trek to Fountain Hills. Though the town may seem like a quaint getaway to many, unfortunately it can face several of the same issues that seem more common in the greater Phoenix area. Among them, car accidents persist and cause havoc each year in Fountain Hills and can injure both residents of the town as well as tourists. Victims of these accidents may be forced to endure pain and suffering as well as financial harm due to the actions of another and those victims may not know what legal options they possess for relief.

There have been several high-profile car accidents involving a wrong-way driver in Arizona over the last couple of years. Tragically, many of these incidents claimed the lives of people involved and many others resulted in serious, sometimes even permanent injuries. When a motorist drives the wrong way down an Arizona highway, freeway, or local street, that motorist risks not only his or her own safety but the safety of any passengers in that vehicle as well as the drivers and passengers in other cars in the area. Despite the serious risks that accompany wrong-way driving, these incidents continue to happen and they cost millions of dollars in total damages. From medical expenses to lost wages, pain and suffering to scaring, victims of these collisions may spend a lifetime trying to get back on their feet financially. Fortunately, the laws in Phoenix acknowledge that the innocent should not be responsible for their monetary damages when a collision occurs and they are injured. Instead, victims are entitled to seek financial payment from any at-fault drivers and/or insurance companies that may be involved, enabling those victims to recover the monetary payments they need and deserve.

In 2014, more than 31 percent of all the traffic accidents that took place in Arizona caused injuries to at least one person involved. When you consider that nearly 110,000 collisions occurred in the state during that time, it is clear that injuries stemming from a car accident are a real and serious threat to those who call the Valley home. Perhaps most troubling is the fact that it is not always an errant motorist who is hurt but that regularly, innocent victims are left to suffer from the negligence of others when a car accident does result. Though any type of crash can cause damage in its wake, the greater the number of vehicles involved, the greater potential for the number of victims as the number of potential drivers who suffer injuries will increase and the potential for passengers will likely increase. When police are notified of any crash, they always take a serious response but because of the great potential for victims, the response may be heavier in a multi-car collision.

Car accidents are the leading cause of unintentional death among older teenagers who are killed both while drivers and while passengers in vehicles that are involved in a collision. While the dangers that are posed by teen drivers are often touted by the media, the fact remains that collisions and other traffic-related incidents cause injuries and even death to motorists of all ages and in all states in the country. Phoenix is no exception to this as car accidents happen every day in the Valley. These collisions range from relatively minor fender-benders to extreme accidents involving multiple cars. Often, those involved in a crash are unaware that they may possess rights independent of any action taken by local law enforcement officials and that these rights can enable victims to obtain financial compensation.

Every year, the Arizona Department of Transportation gathers accident data from the police and sheriff’s departments around the state. That data is compiled, analyzed, and released to the public so that trends in car accidents, motorcycle collisions, and pedestrian crashes can be reviewed and better understood. Recently, the data from 2014 was released and it provided both good and bad news for those who drive in Arizona and, in particular, the greater Phoenix area. During the year, there were 109,554 traffic-related accidents in the state and of those, 90,882 involved two or more vehicles. Almost 82 percent of all accident happened in urban settings while rural collisions accounted for 18 percent. While the number of car accidents are still high in the state, there was some good news. The number of fatalities associated with those crashes decreased from the numbers of 2013 with fewer people losing their lives as a result. In 2013, 849 people were killed in traffic accidents while only 774 died in 2014. The loss of a life is the most severe of the possible outcomes that can occur due to a car crash in Phoenix or elsewhere in Arizona and any trend towards a decrease in the deaths experienced is a good sign. But motorists should not assume that this means the roads are getting safer or that they do not need to worry about their security while they are on the roads. Rather, the number of fatalities that occurred in 2014 still reflects a serious problem that illustrates harm not only to the victims of these car accidents but also to their family members, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and associates.

When a traffic accident happens in the Phoenix area, several laws are triggered that determine whether those who are hurt in the crash may be entitled to financial compensation for their injuries. In a typical case, one driver acts negligently and makes an error behind the wheel. Those who are injured as the result of the driver’s conduct can bring a civil claim against that motorist and/or the driver automobile insurance company for financial payment which can cover the totality of losses. This is true even if a victim is in the same car as an at-fault driver. But in many cases, some amount of fault may rest on the shoulders of multiple people who are involved in a car accident. When that happens, each at-fault party’s responsibility will be weighed and that weight will play a role in how much money a victim may be able to receive. This means that even if someone makes a small mistake or contributes to an accident, whether that person is a driver, pedestrian, motorcyclist, or bicyclist, that person can still receive the compensation that he or she needs and deserves. Speaking with a personal injury attorney in Phoenix can help you learn about your rights if a crash has altered your life or has harmed someone you love.