Abels & Annes, P.C. Personal Injury Blog

Most people in the greater Phoenix area are unaware of how common single-car accidents are in the Valley, instead thinking of crashes involving two or more vehicles. In 2013, the Arizona Department of Transportation noted that 19,053 single-car accidents happened across the state and that many of those resulted in significant injuries to the drivers and passengers involved. Some believe that if a single car accident occurs, blame must fall on the driver of that car because no one else contributed to the impact, but this is a common misunderstanding and one that can have tragic results if victims of these collisions believe it. Instead, while driver error can be one cause of an accident, other circumstances like inclement weather, poor road design, a mechanical failure in the car, or a defect in a tire might lead to an accident and might be beyond even the most skilled driver’s ability to avoid. Instead of assuming what rights may exist following a collision, victim may want to speak with a personal injury lawyer to learn definitively of the laws that apply to their crash and their options to obtain financial payment for their injuries. A single vehicle collision happened in Avondale yesterday and fortunately, left the driver with only minor injuries. Police have confirmed that a female motorist was operating her SUV on 99th Avenue near Thomas Road when the woman lost control for reasons that are not clear. The SUV began to list to one side and the driver attempted to over correct the issue but she was unable to keep the vehicle from leaving the road’s surface and driving down an embankment where it entered a canal running alongside 99th Avenue. The woman was able to exit the vehicle under her own power and she called authorities for assistance. […]

When the rights of motorcyclists are equal to those of the drivers of cars, it would make sense that each group of travelers would be involved in a comparable number of collisions. However, in Phoenix and across Arizona, motorcycle riders disproportionately face the threat of accidents and, as a result, injuries that may occur. In a typical year, nearly 3,000 motorcycle accidents are reported in Arizona and the large majority of those result in injuries to the biker or bikers involved. Some also cause others, like those in cars, pedestrians in the area, or bicyclists, to sustain injuries or to lose their lives. Though the particulars may vary among different collisions, the results too often are the same: devastation to those who are involved and pain and suffering to the friends and family members of the victims. Arizona law is designed to protect and benefit those who are hurt in motorcycle accidents across the state by allowing them to seek relief against anyone who caused them harm. By bringing a civil claim for damages, victims can obtain payment to place them in the position they would have been had they not been hurt as well as providing relief for non-monetary injuries like pain and suffering. These claims can be complicated and must be brought in accordance will all state and local laws so if you have been injured, you may want to speak with a personal injury attorney to learn about your options and your legal rights. On Saturday, police in Peoria were informed of a collision between a vehicle and a motorcycle that left the biker critically injured. When they arrived at the scene near 75th Avenue and Thunderbird Road, they found the motorcyclist and ensured that he was taken to an area hospital for treatment. Unfortunately, the 60-year-old […]

Driving under the influence of alcohol is a crime in Arizona and the vast majority of drivers know that. But alcohol is far from the only substance that can lead to a charge of driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated. Additionally, recreational drugs, street drugs, and even some prescription and over-the-counter drugs may be a violation of state laws if a driver uses them or is under the influence while they drive. If a drug affects a motorist’s ability to operate a car, it might be against the law to use while driving. Many drugs have a long lasting effect and therefore, if taken even hours before driving, they can still affect a driver’s ability to operate. If you have been involved in a collision with a driver who may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol and you sustained injuries, you may be entitled to seek relief for your losses. Speaking with a Phoenix personal injury lawyer can help you realize your options and your possibilities if you have been involved in a crash. A Wednesday pile-up in Tempe involved five vehicles and left several streets closed while authorities removed debris. Now, police report that the suspect admitted that he used marijuana prior to the incident. A 20-year-old man was driving near the intersection of University Drive and McClintock Drive around 5:00 p.m. when he allegedly failed to slow down for traffic and collided with the rear of a second car. The second car struck a third, and that car then struck a fourth car. A fifth vehicle attempted to avoid the fallout from the crashes by leaving the road’s surface but that car was stopped when it struck a utility pole near the intersection. At least one person was injured and was taken by […]

Motorcycle season in Phoenix often depends on the weather. Some riders will take to the roads no matter what – heat, cold, wind, or rain will not stop them. But the largest biker presence is often noticed in times when the weather is more consistent. This time of year, drivers in the Valley of the Sun are likely to see bikers on a regular basis as they travel across the desert. It is the right of the bikers to ride just as it is the right of drivers to drive but too often, the rights of motorcyclists are ignored or discounted by others. The laws in Arizona make it clear that all drivers must respect the rights and safety of others, including motorcyclists. Failing to do so may make a driver liable for a civil infraction, traffic ticket, or even a criminal offense that can lead to punishment ranging from fines and fees to incarceration. Few drivers consider the ramifications of what will happen if they are found to be at-fault for a collision beyond these possibilities though. In Phoenix, an at-fault driver may also be held financially liable to any injured victims for the damages that driver inflicts. In practical terms, this may mean the driver will be forced to pay for things like medical expenses, rehabilitative care, lost wages, and pain and suffering experienced by his or her victims, regardless of how large these damages may be. Victims who wish to learn about their legal options may do so by speaking with a personal injury attorney in Phoenix. Police in Gilbert are still sorting through the facts surrounding a fatal motorcycle accident that happened on Saturday around 9:00 p.m. One motorcycle was involved in an accident for reasons that are not yet clear. The accident left the driver, […]

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that someone in America is injured in a car accident every 10 seconds. These injuries range from minor bumps and bruises to severe, debilitating injuries that will last a lifetime and anyone in or near a vehicle may be a victim. It is common for drivers and passengers in cars to believe that they will be safe while they ride, choosing to ignore the overwhelming statistics of the sheer number of crashes that happen in a given area in a year and instead living in the bliss that accompanies the thoughts that they will not be hurt. But every year, millions of people in America find themselves the victims of car accidents. In Phoenix alone, tens of thousands of crashes occur and in some years, even more, placing the safety of Phoenix’s citizens at risk. Some collisions can occur due to a negligent road design, a faulty part in a car, or even inclement weather but the majority of accident happen when someone makes a mistake. These mistakes may amount to negligent conduct or even reckless behavior and may cause an at-fault driver to be liable for any damage that results. From lost wages to medical and surgical expenses, victims and their families can seek relief for their sufferings caused by an at-fault driver or another individual or entity that is responsible for a collision when it happens in Phoenix. It is important to understand how the laws affect your rights if an accident has happened so you may want to speak with a personal injury lawyer in Arizona to verify the appropriate action is being taken. On Saturday afternoon, two cars collided in Phoenix and left a total of four people injured, according to authorities that responded to the scene. The incident […]

Head-on collisions can happen anywhere that opposing traffic is not divided by a median or other barrier, including many of the roads in the greater Phoenix area. However, simply separating traffic is not a guarantee that a head-on crash will not happen. As recent incidents have shown, drivers that operate their vehicles in the wrong direction on an expressway may cause a crash, drivers that leave a road’s surface and cross a median can be at-fault for a collision, and even drivers that travel the wrong way down a one way street may be to blame for an impact. When these accidents happen, victims may be left behind to deal with the fallout of the crashes which often includes injuries to those involved. The rights that victims possess vary from state to state following a car accident; in Arizona, including the Phoenix area, victims are entitled to seek financial compensation when they are harmed in an accident. Often this can include claims for losses like medical expenses, rehabilitative care, wages missed from work while recovering, and pain and suffering. The unique facts surrounding a particular crash can affect what relief may be available so if you have been injured, you may want to speak with a personal injury lawyer to verify your understanding of your rights and potentially to proceed with a claim. U.S. 93 is a popular highway for those who wish to travel between Phoenix and Las Vegas, Nevada. On any given weekend, the traffic can be heavy with motorists who are seeking a weekend getaway and have nothing but a good time on their minds. Unfortunately, last week, things turned tragic for several motorists on U.S. 93 when a pickup truck allegedly crossed the center line near milepost 181 and collided with a semi-truck and a car, […]

Desde que los teléfonos celulares han existido, los expertos han advertido de que su uso por los motoristas plantea una amenaza a la seguridad pública en y alrededor de las carreteras. Eventualmente legislación fue instituido en varios estados requiriendo que los conductores que usan teléfonos celulares para conversaciones telefónicas los usen con un dispositivo de manos libres; sin embargo, los estudios revelaron que los dispositivos de manos libres hacen poco para reducir la tasa de colisiones entre los usuarios de teléfonos celulares. Más bien, la conversación telefónica actual se creía que era el aspecto de distracción de uso de teléfonos celulares que conducen a colisiones. Después, el auge de los mensajes de texto significaba que algunos conductores comenzaron a quitar los ojos de la carretera para enviar mensajes escritos a otros. Esto demostró ser aún más peligroso y más mortal que hablando mientras conduciendo porque se hizo imposible para que un conductor mantenga sus ojos en las condiciones del tráfico. Con la llegada de los teléfonos inteligentes, estas cuestiones sólo se intensificaron ya que algunos comenzaron a enviar correos electrónicos, navegar por internet, o incluso ver vídeos mientras conducían. Cualquier uso de teléfono celular por un conductor es peligroso y puede resultar trágica si ocurre un accidente. Sin embargo, como se puede ver en el siguiente vídeo, la amenaza puede ser aún más grande si el conductor de un vehículo de alta ocupación, como un autobús, opta por mirar a un teléfono mientras que detrás del volante.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBzl9zmNSXM   Este video muestra a un conductor que mira su teléfono celular por un momento, pero se distrae suficiente para involucrarse en una colisión. El conductor no se dio cuenta de un vehículo parado en el lado derecho de la carretera, conduciendo a un accidente en lo que parece ser una […]

Numerous actions while behind the wheel of a car could be described as aggressive driving. In some cases, a speeding motorist might be aggressive as she operates around the Phoenix area. In others, a tailgating driver may be aggressive as that tailgater looks to hurry up and rush even though other cars are present on the roads. At times, a driver who attempts to pass another in an area with opposing traffic present may also be considered aggressive. The term aggressive driving may be synonymous in the minds of many with road rage but in fact, the two are legally defined actions under the state laws of Arizona. There can be overlap in these categories and in some instances, a driver’s actions may be either aggressive driving or road rage in addition to being another violation of the traffic or criminal code, like running a red light or driving under the influence of alcohol. Police officers in Phoenix have been watching for and identifying these dangerous actions for some time in an effort to stop the offenders and to promote safety on the streets but not every driver is stopped before a collision occurs. When a crash happens and a victim is injured, that victim is guaranteed certain protections under the laws and may be able to obtain a financial settlement for his or her suffering. Speaking with a personal injury attorney in Phoenix is a good place to begin if you have been hurt and you have questions about your legal options and your legal rights. A deadly car accident happened in Gilbert on Sunday and police suspect that street racing may have placed a role in the impact. Two cars collided after one side-swiped the other near the intersection of Higley Road and Ocotillo Road in the afternoon. […]

¿Quién está en el mayor riesgo de estar involucrado en un accidente de carro mientras que en el área de Phoenix? Es una pregunta sin una respuesta simple. Decenas de factores se combinan para causar accidentes todos los días y muchos de ellos involucran conductores que no hicieron nada malo. Sin embargo, algunos automovilistas corren un gran riesgo de estar involucrados en un choque que otros. Los adolescentes se consideran un tipo de conductor de alto riesgo en parte porque les falta el conjunto de habilidades que las personas mayores, motoristas más experimentados tienen mientras detrás del volante. En el otro extremo del espectro, los conductores mayores también son propensos a estar involucrados en accidentes, pero a diferencia de los adolescentes, estas colisiones pueden ser el resultado de dolencias físicas como disminución de la visión o como complicaciones del proceso de envejecimiento. Otros factores que conducen a un gran número de colisiones incluyen los conductores que están distraídos mientras conducen, los que operan un vehículo bajo la influencia del alcohol o las drogas, los que conducen demasiado rápido para las condiciones, y los que fallan en poner la seguridad primero. Cuando se combinan estos factores, los riesgos de una colisión aumentan exponencialmente y no sólo amenazan al conductor infractor sino también cualquier persona en el vehículo de ese conductor. Cuando un accidente de carro sucede en el área de Phoenix, incluyendo Mesa, Chandler, Glendale, Scottsdale y Tempe, aquellas víctimas que fueron heridos en la colisión pueden tener derecho a una compensación financiera por sus pérdidas. Un reclamo típico puede permitirle a una víctima de obtener el pago por gastos de hospital y gastos médicos, salarios perdidos y el dolor y el sufrimiento, pero el alivio real disponible puede variar dependiendo de una colisión específica. Hablando con un abogado de lesiones […]

Driving in Phoenix is governed by local and state rules that regulate the conduct of each and every driver on the road. All drivers must abide by these laws to ensure that the roads are as safe as possible; failing to adhere to the set rules may put motorists at risk for a collision or for another type of incident that can cause damage to vehicles, injuries to those involved, or even death. Most drivers know and follow the basic rules – stopping at stop signs, yielding the right-of-way, and driving within the speed limit. But some drivers ignore even these most basic requirements when they drive, risking not only their safety but the safety of all others in the area. Ignoring or failing to follow a traffic law can lead a motorist to be ticketed by a local police officer and may cause that driver to appear in court. If found guilty, punishments can vary but often include fines and fees, suspension or loss of a driver’s license, community service, and/or incarceration in jail or prison. But the consequences of violating traffic rules does not end here in many cases as at-fault drivers who cause collisions may also be held financially responsible for all the monetary damages that happen due to the crash. Common examples of these damages include medical expenses, damage to a vehicle, wages missed by victims whiles they recover, and non-tangible losses like pain and suffering. It is the right of these victims to seek the relief they deserve and they can have help doing so by working with a personal injury attorney in the Phoenix area. Police in Surprise are still investigating after a Saturday car accident left at least one person injured. The incident happened in the afternoon hours near the intersection of Reems […]