The Phoenix injury lawyers at Abels & Annes wish you a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July weekend and encourage you to celebrate responsibly, avoid drinking and driving, and leave the fireworks to the professionals. Drink Responsibly and Don’t Drink and Drive Phoenix car accidents caused by drunk driving are also a concern over the Fourth of July holiday. Nationwide, someone dies every 45 minutes in a car accident involving a drunk driver. In Arizona, alcohol was involved in 329 of the 937 traffic fatalities reported in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Safe Boating Arizona boating accidents are a frequent cause of summer injuries. As we reported on our Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, Arizona ranks 7th in the nation for the number of serious and fatal boating accidents. Only Michigan, which is home to three of the Great Lakes, and the coastal states of Florida, California, Texas, New York and Maryland record more serious and fatal boating accidents. The Coast Guard reported 158 serious or fatal boating accidents in Arizona in 2008. Firework Injuries More than two-thirds of fireworks injuries occur around the Fourth of July holiday. Each year, approximately 10,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries caused by fireworks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Children are at high risk, with nearly half of all fireworks injuries involving victims under the age of 20 — one-third involve children under the age of 15.The most common injuries reported involve the hands, eyes, and the head, face and ears. Burns, contusions, lacerations and foreign objects in the eyes are the most frequently reported reasons for emergency room visits.Fireworks injuries can lead to blindness, third-degree burns and permanent scaring. Common causes of injuries are improper use of professional-grade fireworks, being too close to […]
A 12-year-old girl was seriously injured in an Avondale, Arizona bicycle accident a week ago Wednesday afternoon after she was struck by a car while crossing the street, AZ Family reported. Police are asking the driver of a delivery van to contact them to be interviewed about the accident. They believe the driver may have witnessed the crash. The Avondale Police Department reports that the girl was crossing Central Avenue eastbound at Madden Avenue while riding her bike. The vehicle in the curb lane stopped as she entered the roadway. But a Nissan Sentra struck the girl while heading southbound on Central in the inside lane. The girl was rushed to the hospital in critical condition after suffering a head injury. Police report the girl was alert on Thursday and that her condition had been upgraded to stable. The driver of the Nissan remained on the scene. The investigation continues and there is no word yet on whether charges will be filed. Police are asking the driver of a white box-type delivery van, similar to a FedEx delivery truck, to contact them at 623-333-7001 to be interviewed as a witness. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 716 people were killed and 52,000 were injured in bicycle accidents in 2008. Arizona bicycle accident killed 19 riders. Bicycle safety tips for kids: -Wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet. -Adjust a child’s bike for a proper fit. -Check bike for maintenance issues, includes tires and brakes, before riding. -See and Be Seen: Wear brightly colored clothing. Reflective tape or flashing lights are also a good idea. Make eye contact with a driver before proceeding. -Control you bike and always ride with at least one hand on the handlebars. -Watch for and avoid road hazards, including potholes, glass, gravel, puddles, leaves and […]
El Departamento de Seguridad Pública en Arizona siguió un aplicación de velocidad en el aire tarde la semana pasada con un programa de fin de semana de aplicación de tráfico que concentró en Interstate 10 y Interstate 8. Los esfuerzos son el principio de un programa de aplicación de verano que propone reducir accidentes de carro graves y fatales en Arizona. Nuestros abogados de herida en Phoenix le animan que tenga su vehículo atendido, practique hábitos de manejar seguro, obedecer la ley y disfrutar de la temporada de viaje de verano. Durante la patrulla en el aire, un Cessna 182 voló al área de Parker, donde condujo aplicación de tráfico por State Route 95 y Interstate 10. Los carros de patrulla en la calle pararon a violadores. La aplicación del fin de semana sucedió el domingo entre el mediodía y 8 de la tarde dirigidos a automovilistas en Interestatal 10 e Interestatal 8 entre fronteras de Nuevo México y California. Los esfuerzos de la aplicación están en respuesta al aumento de tráfico por la temporada de viaje de verano. A principios de este mes, el Departamento de la Seguridad Pública en Arizona ofreció consejos de conducción seguro de verano para los automovilistas de Arizona. -Las temperaturas extremas de verano hacen prevenir una llanta o fracaso mecánico una parte esencial de manejar seguro. Aségure que su vehículo ha sido atendido por un mecánico calificado. -Mantenga mucha agua y un estuche de primeros auxilios dentro de su vehículo. -Siga pautas de mantenimiento planificadas. Revise líquidos regularmente. Revise las correas y las mangas y cambie los que tienen una apariencia agrietado o seco. También revise regularmente por fugas o gotas en el suelo debajo de donde su carro está estacionado por la noche. -Asegúrese que sus llantas esten infladas apropiadamente. Gire y equilibre […]
A fatal Glendale, Arizona car accident claimed the life of a motorist in a two-vehicle wreck near 59th Avenue and Cactus Road, ABC15 reported. The crash happened about 2 p.m. on Saturday when a Jeep t-boned a truck at the intersection, according to the Glendale Fire Department. Several occupants were transported to the hospital and information about which motorist was killed has not been released. Police report that the accident happened when one vehicle apparently tried to turn into a private drive in front of the other vehicle. Also on Saturday, two police officers were injured in a Phoenix car accident after a pair of police cruisers crashed downtown, ABC 15 reported. The accident happened about 5 p.m. Saturday at 15th Avenue and Washington Street. One officer may have stepped on the gas instead of the brake while attempting to stop at a red light. Both were transported to area hospitals; one complained of chest pain, while the other complained of back pain. A 16-year-old riding in the patrol car with his father was also injured. A Tucson trucking accident along 1-10 sent one person to the hospital on Saturday afternoon, News 13 reported. The crash near Ruthrauff happened when the semi truck crashed into a passenger car, the Arizona Department of Public Safety reported. The passenger car hit a tree before coming to rest upside down. One person was transported to the hospital in unknown condition.
Federal authorities have fined a Van Nuys busing company more than $72,000 for safety violations in the wake of a Phoenix bus accident that killed six passengers in March, according to the Arizona Republic. We reported in April on our Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog that a 130-page report by the Arizona Department of Public Safety blamed negligent operation and numerous safety violations for the accident. Six of 22 passengers were killed when the bus plunged off the freeway and overturned. It had been traveling from Los Angeles to New Mexico when it struck a pickup truck on I-10 between Tucson and Phoenix. The U.S. Department of Transportation announced the $72,760 fine on Monday. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recommended the fines as a result of its investigation. The federal government charged the owner of the busing company with 78 violations of 13 motor-carrier safety regulations. Violations include operating without federal authority or required insurance and violating driver qualification, hours of service and maintenance requirements. The company has until July 12 to contest the claims. The Republic reports that the company has a history of violations and was suspended from operating for lack of insurance in April 2009. The owner allegedly used four different names over a period of several years in order to evade federal orders to cease operations. The Arizona Department of Transportation reports that 233 Arizona bus accidents occurred in 2008, the last year for which statistics are available. Four people were killed and 45 were seriously injured.
Six injured in Phoenix auto accident after car flies off freeway
June 25, 2010 |Five children and an adult suffered serious injuries in a Phoenix car accident on Wednesday when their car flew off the freeway, AZ Family reported. The crash happened shortly before 3 p.m. southeast of 24th Street and McDowell Road. Firefighters report that the car went off Loop 202 and slammed into a concrete culvert along a canal bank. The children range in age from 10 to 16. The cause of the accident remains under investigation but firefighters believe one of the children was not buckled up. Our Phoenix injury attorneys represent motorists who have been injured in accidents, whether or not they were wearing their seat belt. However, the law requires everyone to buckle up and wear a seat belt, which can often reduce the risk of serious or fatal injury. We reported another case this week on our Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog that involved four people ejected from a Mustang in a crash that killed three passengers, including a 3-year-old boy. Authorities believe lack of seat-belt use may have been a factor in that crash as well. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched a major summer offensive aimed at getting motorists to buckle up. The government agency charged with highway safety reports that 45 million Americans are still not using their seat belts on a regular basis. Overall, seat-belt use in this country is at a record high — 84 percent of motorists buckle up. The “Click It or Ticket” campaign will target violators through the summer months. “We’ve made great strides to get Americans to buckle up, but we must not rest on our laurels,” said Secretary Ray LaHood. “Not wearing your seat belt is a serious, life-threatening practice. If you are one of the 45 million Americans who won’t buckle up, our Click It or […]
A 3-year-old boy has died after being ejected from a Mustang in a Sunday night Phoenix car accident, the Arizona Republic reported. As we reported on our Phoenix Injury Lawyers Blog, authorities believe the car may have been racing a black Chevy pickup truck at the time of the accident, which occurred on Thomas Road. The Mustang was carrying six people when it lost control and veered into a palm tree near 75th Avenue. Witnesses told police the two vehicles were weaving in and out of traffic. They met up at a traffic light and took off when the light turned green. Police are still investigating how fast the vehicles were traveling but witnesses reported they may have been going as fast as 90 mph. The Mustang’s 18-year-old driver and her 14-year-old boyfriend were pronounced dead at the scene. Four others were ejected out the back window of the vehicle. Those passengers were ages 14, 14, 16 and the 3-year-old boy. Media reports indicate that the 14-year-old passenger apparently took the Mustang without his parent’s permission. Police continue to search for the black Chevy pickup involved in the race and said that driver could face charges. The truck is described as a newer model, 2002-2008, two-door extended cab with tinted windows. The truck may have been slightly lifted. Witnesses say the Mustang may have hit the pickup and the truck may have some damage to the rear end. It was last seen westbound on Thomas Road at a high rate of speed. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Phoenix Police Department. Meanwhile on Monday, a 23-year-old woman was killed in a Tempe SUV accident. The woman was riding as a passenger when the driver lost control and over corrected near an intersection. He was released from the hospital […]
A Phoenix pedestrian accident has critically injured a city employee who had pulled over to the side of the road to watch the funeral procession of a police officer killed in the line of duty, the Arizona Republic reported. The Phoenix Street Department electrician suffered severe brain injuries but is showing signs of emerging from a coma. A single father of an 8-year-old girl, the man is credited with pushing a coworker out of the path of an oncoming vehicle. The men had set up their bucket trucks on the south side of the Loop 101 near Seventh Street. They had pulled onto the shoulder of the freeway to salute the funeral procession of Phoenix Police Officer Travis Murphy. A 20-year-old woman lost control of her car and slammed into the trucks as traffic slowed in front of her, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The woman was cited for failure to control speed to avoid a collision. Phoenix injury attorneys frequently handle cases involving an accident that happened due to stopped traffic in the roadway. Motorists need to use extra caution whenever they are approaching a construction zone, an area where police emergency vehicles or utility workers have activated emergency lights, or even a parade or funeral procession. Accidents can easily result when such circumstance interrupt the normal flow of traffic or disrupt normal driving rules. The 34-year-old man is in critical condition at John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital. His family is praying for his recovery and seeking support to help pay medical bills. Authorities say the man spotted the vehicle veering toward a group of city workers and jumped to help push a co-worker out of the way. The crash turned one of the trucks around and slammed the victim into another truck. It is […]
Four teens killed in weekend Phoenix car accidents
June 21, 2010 |A Phoenix car accident killed two motorists and injured four others on Sunday night, Channel 13 News reported. Police report the driver of a car carrying six people lost control and slammed into a tree on Thomas Avenue in west Phoenix. Two people were pronounced dead at the scene and four others were ejected from the vehicle and transported to area hospitals in serious or critical condition. Authorities report they are also looking for a black pickup truck that may have played a role in the accident. The victims range in age from 3 to 18. The 3-year-old was in critical condition. AZ Family reports the fatal accident may have started as a street race. According to that report, police content a Ford Mustang and the Chevy pickup were traveling westbound on Thomas Road at a high rate of speed. The accident happened just before 10 p.m. when the driver of the Mustang reportedly lost control and slammed into a tree in the median. The road was closed until after 6 a.m. Monday. The truck fled the scene and is being sought by authorities. It is described as a newer-model, two-door Chevy pickup truck and may have rear-end damage. It was last seen driving at a high rate of speed westbound on Thomas. As our Phoenix injury attorneys have been reporting, summer is a particularly dangerous time for young drivers and their passengers. Auto accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers ages 15 to 20, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The risk of young drivers being involved in a serious or fatal traffic accident increases as school lets out for summer. Please visit out most recent teen safe driving post on our Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog and speak with your young drivers about safe driving […]
The Arizona Department of Public Safety followed up an airborne speed enforcement effort late last week with a weekend traffic-enforcement program that targeted Interstate 10 and Interstate 8. The efforts are the beginning of a summer enforcement program aimed at reducing serious and fatal Arizona car accidents. Our Phoenix injury attorneys encourage you to have your vehicle serviced, practice safe driving habits, obey the law and enjoy the summer travel season. During the airborne patrol, a Cessna 182 flew to the Parker area, where it conducted traffic enforcement along State Route 95 and Interstate 10. Patrol cars on the ground stopped violators. The weekend enforcement effort took place Sunday between noon and 8 p.m. and targeted motorists on Interstate 10 and Interstate 8 between the New Mexico and California borders. The enforcement efforts are in response to the increase in traffic through the summer travel season. Earlier this month, the Arizona Department of Public Safety offered safe summer driving tips for Arizona motorists. -The extreme summer temperatures make preventing a tire or mechanical failure an essential part of driving safety. Make sure your vehicle has been serviced by a qualified mechanic. -Keep plenty of water and a first aid kit inside your vehicle. -Follow scheduled maintenance guidelines. Check fluids regularly. Check belts and hoses and replace those with a cracked or dry appearance. Also check regularly for leaks or drips on the ground beneath where your car is parked overnight. -Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Rotate and balance your tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. Dealing with a tire blowout: -A tire blowout is frequently signaled by a loud booming noise or the feeling that your vehicle is pulling to one side. -Do not brake. -Do not take your foot off the accelerator. -Ease your foot into the […]