Abels & Annes, P.C. Personal Injury Blog

Redflex Traffic Systems already has cameras at 12 intersections in Chandler. The company is introducing a new camera that could potentially prevent even more intersection car accidents in Phoenix and the surrounding area. This new technology supposedly knows when a car is going to run a red light and will stop other drivers from crossing the intersection, according to AZ Central. The camera would stop traffic until the red-light runner has passed through the intersection.Our Phoenix car accident attorneys understand just how dangerous intersection collisions can be. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), car accidents commonly occur at intersections because these are locations where two or more roads intersect and activities such as crossing over, turning left and turning right have the potential for conflicts resulting in crashes. Data from the National Automotive Sampling System-General Estimates System (NASS-GES) and the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) conclude that approximately 40 percent of the nearly 6,000,000 traffic accidents in 2008 were intersection-related accidents. A majority of fatal intersection accidents happen when a vehicle that is turning left collides with another vehicle traveling through an intersection, according to the Chandler Police. When cars run red lights, they’re likely to run into a vehicle coming from another direction. But when they slam on the brakes to avoid a red-light ticket, their risk for a rear-end accident also spikes significantly. This new technology claims that it can hold off other vehicles when a driver is running a light and therefor would reduce the risks of another car being struck in the intersection. The new technology is serving as backup for the current red-light cameras, which initially claimed to be the solution to intersection accidents. Frank Milstead of the Mesa Police said that the red-light camera technology has improved and now they’re able […]

The $3.2 million settlement of a sexual abuse lawsuit against the Catholic church made news nationwide last week. Plaintiff lawyers at Abels & Annes P.C. and Hilfman & Martin, P.C. announced the settlement of the claim against the Archdiocese of Chicago, Cardinal Francis George and the Catholic Bishop of Chicago. The case involved the sexual abuse of a minor boy by former Rev. Daniel McCormack. $300,000 of the settlement is to be placed in escrow for services. The identity of the plaintiff and his family are confidential. As the Washington Post reports, the case involved the sexual abuse of a boy by former Roman Catholic Priest Daniel McCormack. The preteen victim in this case was one of five victims McCormack admitted to abusing when he pleaded guilty in 2007. He served half of a 5-year prison sentence and remains in a mental health facility under the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act. The suit claimed church failed to keep McCormack away from children despite knowing he had sexually abused minors. As we reported on our Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, Hilfman and Martin and Abels & Annes were the only law firms in McCormack litigation that took the depositions of many senior Archdiocese officials, including priests, seminary leaders and other key Archdiocese personnel. The firms were able to reach the favorable settlement on behalf of the victim shortly before trial. “Representing child victims of sexual abuse in cases against religious institutions, school districts, day care centers and other organizations that interface with children implicates complex and sensitive issues and requires a unique approach given the ages of our clients,” said David Abels, a partner at Abels & Annes. ” We are proud to work every day on their behalves to represent their interests and maximize rewards that, we feel, are deserved.” The […]

Arizona sex abuse attorneys recently learned that a Missouri grand jury has indicted Robert Finn, the Catholic Bishop of Kansas City. Also indicted was the Catholic diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, this according to USA Today. The charges stem from church officials failing to notify proper authorities about sexual images of children found on a priest’s computer. Finn has pleaded not guilty to the allegation of failing to report suspected child abuse, a misdemeanor. These allegations make the Kansas City Bishop the highest ranked Catholic church official in United States to be charged with a crime related to attempting to cover up alleged sexual abuse of a minor by a priest. Church officials have a duty under Missouri state law to report suspected abuse. The October 6 indictment alleges the Bishop and the diocese had reasonable cause to believe that priest had committed a form of sexual abuse against a child. A U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops spokesperson has said that they believe this is the first time a Bishop has been charged with this type of crime. The charge is a significant setback for the Catholic Church in its efforts to move past the sex abuse scandals of recent years, the Washington Post reported. A Jackson County grand jury issued indictments after the US Department of Justice brought charges this year against Rev. Sean Ratigan for his alleged possession of child pornography. The prosecutor for the government’s case has said that the significance of the case against the Bishop should not be diminished because it’s a misdemeanor charge. Finn could possibly face up to one year in prison and a $1000 fine. $5000 is the maximum fine for a corporation. The Washington Post went on to report that in December, 2010 school officials had notified diocese officials about concerns […]

Phoenix accident attorneys at Abels & Annes have signed on to represent a Scottsdale resident who was recently injured in a Scottsdale car crash. The collision occurred earlier this month at the intersection of 92nd and Thunderbird. There is a four-way stop sign at the intersection. Our client stopped at the stop sign and proceeded through when it was her turn. At that moment, the defendant approached the intersection going approximately 40 to 50 mph and did not notice the stop sign. He failed to slow his vehicle and slammed into the plaintiff’s car. The Scottsdale Police Department responded to the scene of the accident. After investigating, police placed the defendant at fault and issued him a citation for failing to obey the stop sign. Our client sustained neck and back injuries and a concussion in the crash, with symptoms of dizziness and nausea. Shortly after the accident she was seen at Scottsdale Healthcare on Shea. At the ER she was examined by physicians and x-rays were taken. Doctors diagnosed her with a concussion and cervical strain (whiplash). She was prescribed several types of pain medication and instructed to follow-up with a physician. Over the days following the accident, unfortunately her pain did not resolve. She is now treating with an orthopaedic group in Scottsdale. The plaintiff has hired our office to pursue a negligence claim against the defendant auto insurance carrier, American Family. According to the United States government, there are nearly 700,000 auto accidents reported to police annually that occur at stop signs. Around one third of these collisions cause injuries. A study done in 2003 found stop sign violations caused about 70% of the above-mentioned accidents. This compared to about 12% caused by rear end collisions. The study also found that drivers 65 and older as well […]

An Arizona school bus vs. dump truck accident last week has resulted in injuries to four kids and a bus driver, according to ABC news. The collision occurred at approximately 6:50 AM on Monday as the school bus was stopped to load children in the area of 56th and Missouri avenues in Glendale. At the time of impact, two girls were getting on the bus and two children and the bus driver were already on board, according to Glendale police. The two kids boarding the bus were seriously injured. All five were taken by ambulance to an area hospital. None of the injuries are reportedly life-threatening. The bus was stopped in the roadway in the right lane of Missouri Avenue. Witnesses to the incident say that the school bus had its stop sign raised. Police did not know why the dump truck failed to stop. A spokesperson from the Glendale Police Department used the accident as an opportunity to remind the public to use extra caution in the area of school buses, further stating that it is against the law to pass a school bus when it’s octagon stop sign is out, and that under Arizona law motorists on both sides of the street must come to a stop and can only resume driving when the bus starts to move. According to safemotorist.com, more than 23 million students travel to school on school buses. The website gives many safety tips to avoid collisions with students and school buses, such as: When exiting your driveway be on the lookout for kids walking or bicycling to school; Use extra caution when traveling through school zone areas; Be on the lookout for kids walking in the street, especially when there are no sidewalks; and Slow down when in the area of children waiting […]

Drivers can take a few easy actions while driving to reduce the risk of injury or death in an Arizona car crash. Sometimes it’s just as easy is remembering to wear your seat belt and making sure that your kids do the same. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently reported that some of the old and true methods of safety are still more significant than the advancements of technology in new cars. Our Phoenix personal injury lawyers agree that buckling up is one of the biggest safety factors in the event of a collision. In 2009, more than 12,700 lives were spared when people took the time to put on their seat belts. Tragically, research shows that around 3700 lives of children ages 4 and above could have been saved if seat belts were used. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in the year 2009 more than 32,000 people nationwide lost their lives in motor vehicle collisions.On a positive note, the rate of people buckling up has increased significantly over the past 10 years. Safety advocates believe this improvement is due to law enforcement actions and a greater number of states passing seat belt laws. In 2010 it is estimated that approximately 85% of drivers are buckling up. “Primary seat belt laws” that have been passed make it permissive for police to stop a motorist for not wearing his or her seatbelt. Over 30 states now have this type of law in place. Unfortunately, Arizona does not yet have a primary law in place for all motorists. Arizona is currently still a “secondary enforcement” state. Police can issue a seat belt citation during a traffic stop for another violation, but they cannot pull a driver over solely for a seat belt violation. Adults can help prevent child […]

Arizona car crashes were significantly down in 2010, according to the Arizona Department of Transporation. Fatalities dropped by around 5.5% from the year before. There were a total of 106,177 accidents, down nearly 1% from 107,094 in 2009, and down from 143,503 in 2006. The amount of accidents in Arizona has dropped every year since 2006. People say there are several possible reasons to the reductions, such as red light cameras or better vehicle safety devices, but this is really just speculation. Here are some other 2010 highlights: Of the 106,000 plus accidents in the state, 698 crashes were fatal, or 0.66%, with a total of 762 people killed. Nearly one third, or 33,195 of the accidents resulted in injuries, with a total of 50,110 people injured. Of the 762 people who lost their lives, 406 were drivers, 182 were passengers, 155 were pedestrians and 19 were bicyclists. The total number of bike riders injured was down by almost 4 percent, and bicycle fatalities were way down by 24 percent. Pedestrian injuries were down by over 5 percent, however pedestrian fatalities increased by a whopping 27.05%. This was the only significant increase reported. ADOT also reported the following: Just over 2 people were killed per day; 137.19 persons were hurt every day; Crashes where alcohol played a role represented just over 5 percent of all crashes and just over 30 percent of all fatal crashes; Single car accidents represented 17.42 percent of all crashes and 41.12 percent of accidents involving fatalities; 10.77% of pedestrian accidents were fatal, while only .99% of bike accidents were fatal; 73.6% of accidents took place during daylight hours; Minors ages 14 and under sustained 31 fatalities and 3,881 injuries; Auto accidents caused $2.668 billion in economic losses to the State of Arizona; and Just under […]

Phoenix injury lawyer Gary Annes has resolved a truck vs. pedestrian accident case for $95,000 for a plaintiff who was negligently struck by a truck as he walked in a marked crosswalk. On June 18, 2009, the victim was walking in a quiet residential neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois when he began to cross a side street at the designated pedestrian crosswalk. When he was nearly across, a truck driver who was stopped at the intersection suddenly accelerated and struck the man with the front of his vehicle. The victim was hit in the right side of his body and thrown to the pavement, at which point he immediately complained of back, neck, and shoulder pain. He was then transported by ambulance to Swedish Covenant Hospital. The driver pleaded guilty to the traffic tickets he received for failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk and failing to exercise due care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian. There was good visibility at the time of the accident, as there was sufficient light available and the street was straight and flat. The x-rays taken at the hospital showed some loss of disc height in the lumbar spine and straightening of the lordotic curve of the cervical spine. The victim was diagnosed with lumbar and cervical strain, instructed to temporarily take off work, prescribed anti-inflammatory and pain medication, and instructed to seek follow up care. Unfortunately, the victim’s condition worsened over the next couple days when his back pain began to radiate into his right leg and cause discomfort. A week later, the man began therapy for his neck and back pain, which was radiating down his entire right leg. The pain was particularly bad when he was sitting or doing everyday activities such as putting on his […]

In in an effort to reduce Arizona car crashes, Phoenix is contemplating installing more red-light cameras at intersections where car accidents have been a problem after a task force studying traffic in the city made the recommendation. According to the Arizona Republic, of the 12 intersections that have the cameras, only the one at 15th and Missouri avenues is ranked in the top five for car accidents. The photo-enforcement manager for the Phoenix Police Department attributes this to the cameras, which he says saves lives by changing motorists’ driving behavior. Drivers are more hesitant to run red-lights, reducing the potential for accidents. “In a perfect world, all the intersections would be monitored,” he said. “We’re currently evaluating more sites.” He says the city looks at speed, the number and seriousness of accidents, and fatalities in determining where to place the cameras. The installations would come at no cost to the city as the company that provides the cameras is paid based on the citations issued. A recent study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety claims that red-light cameras in 14 large cities reduced the rate of red-light running accidents resulting in death by 24%, saving 159 lives in 2004-2008. In 2009, red-light running killed approximately 676 people, the majority of whom were not the drivers of the vehicle running the red-light. The study claims that the cameras deter would-be violators from running through the intersections, and the effect can spill over to intersections where there are no cameras. It also allows police officers to use their time more efficiently, as patrolling intersection for red-light runners can be difficult and even dangerous. While the study states that there is there is widespread report for the cameras, there are a growing number of opponents to the scheme who claim that […]

Two different Arizona car accidents, one in Phoenix and the other in Tucson, have recently claimed the lives of two children, Reuters is reporting. In Phoenix a two-year-old girl was killed after a pickup truck being driven by her father rolled over her while backing out of the driveway. The incident occurred at the family’s home on Tuesday morning, May 31. The girl had been playing with her brother in the front yard of their house, which is located in the area of Thunderbird Road and 35th Ave. around 10:30 AM. The father had been watching the kids at the time. The mother then came home, and the father then mistakenly thought mom was watching the kids. The father then backed his vehicle down the driveway to go run errands, and in doing so struck his daughter, according to azfamily.com. The child was rushed to Phoenix Children’s Hospital where she passed away from injuries sustained in the accident. The Phoenix Police Department handled the crash investigation, and no criminal charges are expected to be filed, police saying that this was a tragic accident. In a second Arizona pedestrian accident that resulted in the death of a toddler, a 25-year-old mother allegedly struck her four-year-old son with a vehicle on May 30th in Tucson. The child was taken by ambulance to University Medical Center where he died a short time later. Police are stating they believe the mother was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. She has since been arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder and child abuse. While our condolences go out to both families, tragic cases such as these serve as an important reminder for drivers to use extreme caution around homes with children. Backing out of residential driveways can be especially hazardous. Even when a driver is […]