Abels & Annes, P.C. Personal Injury Blog

A woman was driving her SUV in Mesa yesterday morning when she was involved in a collision that claimed her life. Police report that the driver was traveling on westbound US 60 in the early morning hours when a pickup truck began approaching her vehicle. At this time, authorities believe that a male driving the pickup truck fell asleep behind the wheel, causing him to lose control of the truck and causing a collision with the SUV. The SUV turned sideways after the impact and was still on the road when a third oncoming vehicle struck the side of the SUV in a t-bone collision. After all the vehicles came to a rest, emergency crews responded to the scene and provided medical assistance to the injured. The driver of the SUV died as a result of her injuries and it is not clear whether the driver of the truck or the driver of the third vehicle were hurt. Automobile accidents continue to pose a significant threat to drivers in Arizona. While a car crash can be caused by any number of factors, in this case it appears that one driver was too tired to drive yet chose to do so anyway. Recent studies have shown that a tired or sleepy driver is just as likely to cause an accident as a drunk driver because tiredness prevents a driver from exercising sound judgment and caution while behind the wheel. It is against Arizona state law to drive without paying proper attention to the road and without exercising due care for others. Driving while being so tired that you fall asleep falls into this category and is not only against the law but also against the public interest. No matter how safe of a driver you are, when you are on a […]

Police believe that a driver may have been under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs when he caused a crash on Thursday evening that left two women dead. The crash occurred near the intersection of Indian School Road and 43rd Avenue and involved two vehicles. Witnesses reported that a red Dodge Charger was traveling at an extremely high rate of speed northbound on 43rd Avenue and approaching Indian School quickly. A green sedan was at the intersection and waiting to make a left hand turn. The driver of the Charger lost control of his vehicle and slammed into the green sedan causing significant damage to the vehicle. Two women reportedly were inside the green sedan and both died as a result of the crash. The driver of the Charger, reported as an adult male, was transported from the scene of the collision to an area hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries. He is expected to survive and police believe that he may have been impaired at the time of the crash. The same officers have not stated whether the driver will be criminally charged in the crash, and if so, what charges he may face but at this time, the police investigation continues. Arizona has some of the strictest drunk driving laws in the nation yet every year, thousands of drunk drivers hit the Arizona streets. When these drivers cause accidents, the victims that are injured or the families of those victims killed may be entitled to bring a claim for their losses against the drunk driver. These are civil claims and can be very complicated and difficult because often, a drunk driver not only has to face this monetary claim by a victim but also faces criminal charges and possible jail time. Arizona requires drivers to carry automobile insurance […]

Tempe police are reporting a crash that occurred on Monday night near the intersection of Apache and Rural. At this early point in the investigation, it appears that the male driver of a passenger vehicle lost control of the car while attempting a turn, causing the car to strike a light pole and a palm tree. After impact, the car burst into flames large enough for at least one bystander to see. Two people were in the vehicle at the time of the crash. Police have reported that the male driver died as a result of his injuries and that a passenger was seriously injured. Fortunately for a passenger, a bystander heard the collision and saw the fire, prompting that bystander to pull the passenger from the burning vehicle. Police believe that if the bystander had not intervened, it may have turned out much worse for the passenger. While police have not definitively determined what caused the crash, at this time they believe that speed may have been a factor and they are trying to determine whether alcohol was involved. The current condition of the passenger is not known nor were the extent of the passenger’s injuries. Automobile collisions are one of the largest causes of death across America. In fact, automobile collisions claim more lives than homicides yet the threat posed by auto crashes if often underplayed. Statistically, most people will never engage in anything more dangerous than driving an automobile during their lives. While behind the wheel, it is each driver’s responsibility to act with due care and caution towards the safety of those within their car and others on the road. Yet it only takes one careless driver to cause a multi-car collision that can lead to serious injuries or even death. Technological advances have made cars […]

Tempe police responded to a Thursday morning crash between a passenger car and a light rail train that left people inside the car and the train injured. The incident occurred near Apache Boulevard and Price Road just before noon. Police and witnesses described a car driven by an elderly man and attempting an illegal u-turn as the cause of the crash. Though it is not clear the speed of either the car or the train at this time, police have stated that the car was pushed approximately 100 feet up the track after impact, suggesting that the train was traveling at a cruising speed before the crash. Two people from the car were taken to area hospitals for treatment. A witness reported that the driver of the car was bleeding from his head and complaining of neck and back pain. The driver’s injuries were believed to be serious but everyone involved in the accident is expected to survive. In addition to those in the car, several people on board the light rail suffered injuries. Some were treated at the scene by emergency medical personnel while others were transported to area hospitals. Officials believe that none on board the train suffered serious injuries and that the hospital visits were mostly precautionary. Since the light rail first became operational, it has provided many in the Valley with a convenient and affordable means of transportation. Yet as with any form of transit, accidents still occur. The street level design of the light rail means that accidents with cars, trucks, or vans are capable and can be caused by the negligence of the driver of a passenger vehicle or the operator of a train. When a train is involved, the damage can be extreme. A train is a large, heavy vehicle with a significant […]

A new survey conducted by AAA shows that Americans are becoming less concerned about distracted driving techniques among other motorists on the road, even as the number of fatalities caused by such behavior is increasing annually. The survey shows many Americans identifying certain behaviors, including texting and emailing while driving, as very dangerous or even unacceptable, yet many of those same Americans admit to engaging in identical activities within the last month. The overarching theme seems to be that drivers are able to recognize dangerous behavior but that drivers believe that they should be allowed to engage in those actions anyway. The current thought among the majority of those on the roads is that it is acceptable for them personally to be distracted but that other drivers should always avoid distractions. Nationally, traffic deaths in 2012 increased by about 5.3 percent, the first increase in seven years. Despite this increase, the number of drivers that considered drunk driving to be a serious threat decreased 11 percent between 2009 and 2012. During the same three year period, the number of drivers that said driving after drinking was completely unacceptable decreased six percent, from 95 percent to 89 percent. With 89 percent of drivers surveyed responding so negatively to driving under the influence, it may surprise some that 14 percent of those same drivers admitted to getting behind the wheel within the previous month when their blood alcohol levels were likely at or above the legal limit. Fewer drivers believed that running a red light was completely unacceptable when the driver had an opportunity, from 77 percent in 2009 down to 70 percent in 2012. Thirty-eight percent of those surveyed admitted to running a red light within the last month. Surveyed drivers reported that speeding more than 15 miles an hour over […]

A fire truck was responding to a call when it was hit by an SUV in Phoenix, according to local police. The incident occurred early Friday morning in the area of 7th Street and Indian School Road and sent several people to area hospitals with accident-related injuries. Police say that the fire truck had its lights and sirens activated as it traveled towards a fire in the area of 13th Street and Devonshire Avenue shortly before 4:00 a.m. The fire truck was traveling eastbound on Indian School and had a red light at 7th Street. With its lights and sirens activated, the fire truck had the right-of-way at the intersection even though it had a red light and it proceeded eastbound. An SUV approaching the intersection had a green light and entered the intersection at the same time as the fire truck, causing a collision between the two vehicles. The impact of the collision caused the fire truck to roll over on its side, injuring four firefighters inside. At least one person inside the SUV was injured as well and all five victims received medical treatment at area hospitals. Police do not believe that anyone suffered life-threatening injuries in the accident and believe that all victims will recover. Police are still investigating the incident and at this time, it is not clear whether any citations will be issued as a result of the crash. Automobile accidents involving emergency vehicles can be more complicated to review than other crashes because the traffic rules that apply to these drivers are different. Generally, a driver with a green light has the right-of-way at an intersection which allows that driver to proceed down the road. A driver with a red light must yield to traffic with a green light. However, an emergency vehicle with […]

A Glendale police officer was patrolling near a construction zone near 43rd Avenue and Grand Avenue on Wednesday morning when he heard a motorcycle approaching. The officer aimed his radar gun at the bike and was shocked to realize that the motorcyclist was traveling at 114 miles per hour, more than twice the legal limit in the area. The officer pulled over the motorcyclist who is being described as a 21-year-old male after he caught up with the biker at Grand Avenue and 35th Street. The motorist reportedly did not know the legal speed limit in the area or how fast he had been traveling. According to the police officer, the biker did not seem to care that he had been traveling at more than twice the legal limit and did not seem surprised by the information. The biker reportedly used a lane that is currently closed for construction to speed past cars that were waiting for a red light, enabling him to reach a high speed without traffic blocking his path. When questioned about his speed, the man informed the officer that he was late for work and therefore in a hurry. The motorcyclist was arrested at the scene and charged with numerous misdemeanor traffic violations, though the specific charges are not clear at this time. Police have also stated that the man did not have a motorcycle endorsement on his driver’s license, a requirement to operate a motorcycle in the state of Arizona. Fortunately this motorcyclist was stopped before he had a chance to cause an accident, but traveling at 114 miles per hour through a construction zone and in an closed lane was a serious and imminent threat to all other drivers in the area. Often, motorcyclists are the victims of accidents because drivers in cars and […]

Police investigating a crash on Sunday morning believe that drugs may have been a factor. The incident began on westbound Broadway in Mesa when a blue truck collided with another car at the intersection with Stapley. The truck continued on Stapley and collided with another three vehicles by Alma School Road, where the truck came to a stop. Several adults were injured in the crash and one was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the truck had to be removed from his vehicle and was arrested by police. Witnesses say that before the crash, the driver was swerving and hit at least one curb along the road. Police believe that the driver may have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash but official results of any blood tests have not been released. Arizona has some of the strictest laws in the nation against drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs, but often it seems like stories of drunk drivers are reported in the local news. Drivers who get behind the wheel while under the influence are a danger to themselves and those around them. Whether charged with a criminal offense or not, a drunk driver may still find himself liable for any injuries caused in an accident through the use of a civil claim. A civil claim allows a victim to seek compensation for any damages incurred, including any medical bills that a victim received due to needed medical treatment for injuries. If the driver also is charged criminally, the result of that case can affect a civil claim, making it important to contact a personal injury lawyer soon after an accident. Civil claims are often brought against a driver’s automobile insurance, meaning that a victim deals with an insurance company […]

A three-year-old boy is dead following a Saturday afternoon car crash in Phoenix and several other people in the same car were injured. Phoenix police responded to the accident and stated that the boy was not wearing a seat belt or otherwise restrained in the crash and was ejected upon impact. The three-year-old was riding in a minivan driven by a 26-year-old female. Also in the van were a five-year-old, seven-year-old, and 15-year-old children. Authorities report that the driver of the van ran a red light near Broadway Road and Central Avenue in Phoenix and entered the intersection when cross traffic had the right of way. The minivan entered the path of travel of a pickup truck which struck the minivan and caused it to roll over onto its roof. Upon impact, the three-year-old was ejected from the vehicle through a window and landed on the ground. Police have reported that the female driver and at least two of the four children in the car were not wearing seat belts in the crash and it is not clear if any other occupants sustained injuries. No one in the truck was hurt in the accident and everyone in the truck was wearing a seat belt. It is also not clear if the driver of the minivan has been charged in connection with the crash but police state that their investigation is ongoing. One of the most common reasons car accidents occurs is that one driver fails to yield the right of way to another. Whether it occurs at a stop sign, a red light, or while attempting to merge, accidents that occur because one driver failed to yield can be deadly. This is more likely to be the case when both vehicles are traveling at a high rate of speed like […]

Police are still investigating a Tuesday evening crash between a car and a 12-year-old boy on a bicycle, leaving the child with critical injuries. Police say that just before 8:00 p.m. that evening, the boy rode his bicycle with several friends near 45th Avenue and Olive in Glendale when a silver sedan approached the boy and struck him while the boy was within a crosswalk. Friends of the 12-year-old and witnesses say the driver of the car, a blonde white male, never slowed down before the impact and fled the scene after the crash. These same witnesses have reported that the drive of the car appeared to be on his cell phone at the time of the impact and that after he struck the boy, he still did not slow down and left the scene at full speed. Police were called to the scene of the crash and the boy was transported by air ambulance to Phoenix Children’s Hospital that night, where he continues to receive treatment today. He is described by his aunt as having sustained head, stomach, and leg injuries in the crash. Though he was initially intubated, the same aunt says he is now breathing on his own and that the boy’s condition is improving. By all accounts, this young boy is lucky to have survived the crash. Early reports indicate that the boy was obeying all relevant traffic laws and was in a crosswalk as he was supposed to be when he was hurt. It appears that the cause of the collision was the negligence of a driver who was distracted, possibly by a cell phone, and failed to notice the boy on his bicycle. Arizona law holds a negligent driver responsible for any injuries that driver causes, even if those injuries are to a pedestrian […]