Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog

Police are looking for a suspect who shot and killed a man during a dispute following a Phoenix car accident.

AZ Family reported that a 35-year-old man was killed Saturday afternoon after the Chevy Suburban he was riding in collided with a Nissan Sentra.

Both vehicles were westbound on Southern Avenue near 19th Avenue when the Nissan stopped, causing the Suburban to run into it. The Nissan drove away but was followed by the Suburban until both vehicles stopped and an argument ensued. The Suburban's passenger was apparently shot. His son was in the back seat but was not injured.

The Suburban driver was also uninjured.

The Chevy drove to the South Mountain Police Station, where the victim was transported to the hospital. He died as the result of a gunshot wound to the head.

Police are searching for a white Nissan Sentra, with a possible partial Arizona plate number of "052." The vehicle may also have rear-end damage as a result of the collision.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Phoenix Police Violent Crimes Bureau at 602-262-6141. For Spanish, the number is 480-TESTIGO.

The Arizona Republic report is available here.

The Channel 13 report is available here.

Arizona law enforcement will be out in force looking for speeders, drunk drivers and other traffic violations as they aim to reduce the number of serious and fatal Arizona car accidents this Memorial Day weekend, according to ABC15.

While New Year's is the holiday that frequently gets the attention when it comes to the dangers of traffic accidents, the summer holidays of Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day are the deadliest in Arizona.

"We're going to have a lot of officers out here working the streets, the highways, the back ways, and the interstates,” said Department of Public Safety Officer George Gregor.

The Glendale Star reports police will be conducting sobriety checkpoints in an effort to reduce the danger of Arizona drunk driving accidents.

A total of 343 of the 937 fatal Arizona car accidents in 2008 involved a drunk driver; accounting for more than one-third of all traffic fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

And the Arizona Republic reports that the West Valley DUI Task Force will be out in force in a effort to reduce Peoria car accidents.

Fatal Arizona car accidents during 2008 holidays

New Year's: 3

Memorial Day: 11

Fourth of July: 11

Labor Day: 11

Thanksgiving: 5

Christmas: 2

Nationwide fatal holiday traffic accidents

New Year's: 141

Memorial Day: 370

Fourth of July: 437

Labor Day: 423

Thanksgiving: 439

Christmas: 364

Continue reading " Memorial Day among the most dangerous for serious and fatal Arizona car accidents " »

Thousands of motorcycle riders took to the streets over the weekend to raise awareness in an effort to reduce the number of serious and fatal Arizona motorcycle accidents, according to The Daily Courier.

As we reported earlier this month on our Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, authorities nationwide are preaching motorcycle safety during the month of May, which is Motorcycle Awareness Month. A horrific Phoenix motorcycle accident that killed four people and injured five others is being used in the fight to get motorists to pay attention as the summer riding season gets underway. That accident occurred when a dump truck failed to stop at an intersection and drove through a group of motorcycles waiting at the light.

A total of 98 riders were killed in Arizona motorcycle accidents last year, according to preliminary estimates. While motorcycle accidents are projected to decline nationwide for the first time in more than a decade, that is not the case in Arizona, where 98 riders were also killed in accidents in 2008.

Saturday's ride included the Phoenix Motorcycle Riders Group and Phoenix MC Kruzers. The bikers rode from Mesa to Apache Junction. Those killed in the Phoenix accident were members.

"This tragic accident has motivated us to action that we hope will result in safer roads for everyone," said John Fox, organizer of the Phoenix Motorcycle Group.

Safety Tips

- Signal. Use your mirrors. Check lanes before changing lanes.

- Don't tailgate. Stay at least two seconds behind a motorcycle or other vehicle.

- Avoid distracted driving. Including using a cell phone while behind the wheel.

- Don't speed.

- Tap your horn to alert drivers to your presence when necessary.

- Use hand signals as well as turn signals when riding a motorcycle.

- Use flashers when approaching slower traffic to warn drivers behind you.

To read more about the Phoenix motorcycle accident's use in safety campaigns:

Channel 5 in San Antonio

Seattle motorcycle safety via the Woodenville Weekly.

Austin motorcycle awareness as reported by KVUE.

Continue reading " Arizona motorcycle accidents in focus as riders hit the road to promote safety and awareness " »

With the goal of reducing injuries and fatalities in Arizona car crashes, Monday marked the start of a new campaign for vehicle safety in Mesa and Tempe, according to azcentral.com. Police in both cities received a $20,000 grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to begin project “Click it or Ticket, Next Generation.”

The two week project will utilize seat belt enforcement zones to promote seat belt usage as well as the use of child safety seats. Drivers who choose not to wear seat belts or use child safety seats will be fined. Mesa has a $99.25 fine for failure to wear a seat belt and a $168.25 fine for failure to use a child safety seat. Neighboring Tempe fines drivers $75 for failure to wear a seat belt and $149 for failure to use a child safety seat.

Extra police officers will staff the seat belt enforcement zones where they will issue citations without warning. The grants from the Governor’s Office will pay for the extra staffing expenses as well as operational costs.

Mesa used a similar seat belt campaign last year and issued 356 fines for failure to wear a seat belt. Last year’s campaign was only one week long.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) states that seat belts save more than 13,000 lives each year. NHTSA also notes that seat belts are the most effective protection for automobile occupants in a crash.

An Arizona pedestrian accident sent a Peoria man to the hospital with life-threatening injuries on Monday afternoon, the Republic reported.

AZ Family reported that the 30-year-old man died overnight after being struck by a truck while stopping at the side of the road to help a friend load a disabled bicycle into his car.

The victim stopped on the outside eastbound lane of Cactus Road to pick up a friend whose bicycle had a flat tire. A pickup truck driving eastbound rear-ended the vehicle, striking the man at about 3 p.m. The accident pinned the victim beneath the truck.

The victim's friend and the truck's driver were not injured. Cactus Road was closed for about three hours between 67th and 71st avenues. An investigation into the accident is ongoing and charges are possible.

A total of 124 people were killed in Arizona pedestrian accidents in 2008, compared to 157 killed in 2007, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. More than 1,300 pedestrian accidents were reported in urban areas, while just 140 were reported in rural areas.

In Peoria, a total of 2,462 traffic accidents were reported in 2008, killing 18 people and injuring 1,003.

Arizona traffic statistics for last year are due out in the coming weeks.

A police cruiser collided with a Mercury sedan carrying 9 people on Sunday. The Phoenix car accident occurred about 7 p.m. at the intersection of Central Avenue and Alta Vista Road, the Arizona Republic reported.

The Mercury was driven by a 36-year-old woman; eight children, ages 4 to 17, were riding as passengers. All nine passengers were taken to the hospital for treatment; no life-threatening injuries were reported, according to police. Although no passenger vehicle contains nine seat belts, police report all nine passengers were properly restrained.

The officer was not injured and remained at the scene to assist with the investigation. The police department's vehicular crimes unit was charged with investigating the accident.

The officer was responding to a domestic violence call at a restaurant near Central and Southern avenues at the time of the accident. Police had received a report of a man assaulting a woman at that location, ABC15 reported.

Police report that the officer was proceeding through the intersection against a red light when the sedan failed to yield and collided with the cruiser.

Elsewhere in Phoenix on Sunday, one person was killed and three injured in a Phoenix car accident on Interstate 17, the Arizona Republic reported.

Police report that three northbound vehicles collided near Pinnacle Peak Road at about 10 a.m. A 24-year-old woman was taken to John C. Lincoln Hospital, where she died as a result of her injuries. A 36-year-old man in the same vehicle was also hospitalized.

A second vehicle, a Ford Explorer, carried five passengers, including three children. Two teenagers, ages 13 and 16, were also transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

A Phoenix area car crash has seriously injured a woman on Friday afternoon, according to AZCentral.com. The three vehicle accident occurred when a car rear-ended another vehicle, causing that vehicle to hit an SUV. The rear-ending car traveled around 100 yards after the collision and hit some trees off the road.

The car accident took place at Higley Road and Arrowhead Trail in Gilbert. The injured woman was transported by helicopter to Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center. Others involved in the collision denied medical attention.

Traffic was limited to one lane after the crash. The accident investigation is being handled by the Gilbert Police Department.

Rear-end collisions are very common in our State. In 2005 there were over 112,000 multi-vehicle accidents in the State of Arizona and almost 50,000 of those accidents were rear-end collisions, according to ADOT.

A grandmother and six children were injured a week ago Thursday, along with several bus passengers, after a Phoenix car accident involving a Valley Metro bus, ABC15 reported.

The Phoenix fire department reported that the accident happened at the end of the off ramp from northbound Interstate 17 at Rose Garden Lane. A 54-year-old woman and her six grandchildren -- including two infants and children ages 2,3,6 and 9 -- were all injured after the van rolled onto its side.

Cause of the accident is under investigation. Several passengers on the bus were also injured and were treated at the scene. The Arizona Republic reported the woman and children were wearing their seat belts and are expected to recover from their injuries.

The accident closed southbound I-17 at the Rose Garden ramp and Eastbound Rose Garden at 27th Avenue.

A total of 1,020 Arizona bus accidents occurred in 2008, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Seven people were killed 207 were injured.

As we reported last month on our Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, six people were killed in an Arizona bus accident in March. An investigation by the Arizona Department of Public Safety found numerous safety and maintenance violations could have been partially to blame. The driver was also believed to have been speeding at the time of the accident and may have fallen asleep at the wheel.

A man and his 7-year-old son were found dead from injuries sustained in a Phoenix car accident, nearly three days after the victim called 911 to report the accident, CBS 5 reported.

The victim reportedly told a Yavapai County dispatcher at 12:30 p.m. Friday that he had run off I-17 and was severely injured. He said he was with his 7-year-old son and that they were five miles south of a rest area. The dispatcher contacted the Arizona Department of Public Safety, which reported that it sent officers to try and locate the crash.

"We sent five DPS officers to the area," said Sgt. Kevin Wood. "They were looking for evidence of anything that would be recent in the way of a collision. They just didn't find anything."

Wood said they also tried to return the 911 call to the caller's cell phone. He said they did not launch a helicopter to assist in the search. "We just cannot send the helicopter every time DPS gets a single call about a possible collision somewhere in Arizona," he said.

A Chandler police officer was investigating the disappearance of the father and son on Sunday when he heard about the 911 call. He alerted the DPS and asked that a helicopter be dispatched. The bodies of the man and his son were found in a 200-foot ravine near Black Canyon City. Both had been ejected from the vehicle.

Investigators now say they are looking at whether the call was made before the crash, as survival seemed unlikely. They have verified through phone records that he is the one who placed the 911 call.

The 911 tapes were released on Wednesday, which recorded the victim's pleas for help. The victim's wife reported he was struggling with tax issues, according to the Arizona Republic. The dispatcher is heard assuring him that help was on the way.

They were found dead more than two days later.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety is warning drivers about the dangers of aggressive driving this summer in an effort to reduce the number of serious and fatal Arizona car accidents.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that at least 1,500 motorists, including children, are injured or killed each year in the United States by aggressive driving.

Aggressive driving includes speeding, improper lane changes, failure to use signals, tailgating, aggressive gestures and improper passing.

There is a difference between aggressive driving and road rage. Aggressive driving is a traffic offense while road rage is a criminal offense. Road rage is "an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon" involving the driver or passenger of a motor vehicle or regarding a dispute that occurred on the road.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the majority of drivers view aggressive driving as a serious safety threat and support the use of increased sanctions, photo enforcement and other means of combating aggressive driving and enhancing public safety.

Tips from the Arizona Department of Public Safety

-Avoid frustration while behind the wheel.

-Avoid distracted driving, including eating, drinking and talking on the phone.

-Don't tailgate.

-Avoid making frequent lane changes.

-Never run a red light.

-Maintain a proper speed for the posted speed limits and the weather and road conditions.

-Concentrate on the task of driving.

-Relax.

-Plan ahead and use alternative routes to avoid congestion.

-Consider using public transportation.

-When all else fails, just be late.

Advice when confronted with an aggressive driver

-Get out of the way.

-Don't let pride get in the way, avoid challenging a driver by maintaining your speed or lane or by speeding up or become confrontational.

-Avoid eye contact, which can provoke an aggressive driver.

-Ignore hand gestures.

-Report aggressive drivers to the police.

Continue reading " Aggressive driving can lead to Phoenix car accidents " »

An Arizona car crash has caused injuries to six teenagers in Avondale on Tuesday, according to the Arizona Republic. The accident involved 2 cars and occurred at Indian School Road and 99th Ave. The teens were reportedly in serious condition.

According to fire and rescue officials, a silver car t-boned a black car at around 12:15 p.m and there was heavy damage to the vehicles. The 6 teens were all taken to area hospitals. Four of the injured went to St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix and the other two went to Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, also in Phoenix.

The Arizona car accident is being investigated by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. The cause of the collision, or whether any tickets were issued, has not yet been reported.

According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, in the year 2008 alone 28 teen drivers were killed in Arizona motor vehicle accidents and over 3,500 were injured. During that same year, 39 teen passengers were killed and over 2,800 were injured.

Click here to read the story as reported by Fox News.

Five people were hurt in an Arizona truck accident on Interstate 8 west of Gila Bend, AZ Family reported.

The accident reportedly involved at least two semis and closed eastbound I-8 between Citrus Valley and Route 85. The semis apparently collided and burst into flames -- a passenger vehicle was also involved. Four people were airlifted to area hospitals while a fifth victim was taken by ambulance.

ABC 15 reported that the road was blocked for hours as crews worked to clear the wreckage. Cause of the trucking accident remains under investigation.

Arizona accidents involving semis and other large commercial trucks typically result in very serious or fatal injuries to motorists. In 2008, a total of 103 people were killed and 1,563 people were injured in accidents involving semis, tractor trailers or other large commercial trucks, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Earlier this year, the Arizona Republic reported that the Arizona Highway Patrol's Department of Public Safety unit would no longer make "administrative stops" on large trucks.

The stops are aimed at ensuring the safety of the motoring public by stopping trucks to check for safety violations and review compliance with driving hours, log books and other safety regulations.

Nationwide, an average of 5,000 motorists a year are killed in accidents with large trucks, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The change in Arizona enforcement is meant to allow authorities to concentrate manpower on trucks that are overtly violating the law, rather than stopping trucks that are committing no apparent violation.

"Here's what I told our officers: if you have a vehicle that goes by with a poor safety rating, but they're not currently committing a traffic violation or any other obvious violation of regulations, then let's go find one that is," said Lt. Col. Jack Hegarty. "There's no shortage of commercial vehicles that have bad ratings and they're committing traffic violations."

Safety advocates aren't buying it.

"The bad actors will start running footloose and fancy free," said Gerald Donaldson, of the Associates for Highway and Auto Safety.

The Arizona School Boards Association and Phoenix area principals are pushing teenagers and parents to talk about prom safety, ABC 15 reported.

The Arizona car accident attorneys at Abels & Annes urge parents to help make sure teens have a safe and memorable prom season by having an open discussion about the dangers of drinking and driving and unsafe driving habits.

In Parker, Arizona, a mock crash scene was set up to illustrate the dangers of drunk driving to high school students, according to the Parker Pioneer.

A total of 1,194 people were killed in Arizona car accidents involving teen drivers in the five-year period ending in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In addition to Arizona, states that reported more than 1,000 teen driving deaths were Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Texas.

MADD is also promoting "The Power of Parents: It's Your Influence" to promote safe teenage driving.

Parents can help teenagers make the right choices by:

- Establish clear rules, monitor your child's behavior, and talk to your child about the consequences of underage drinking.

- Understand that the choice to be drug and alcohol free takes courage, and is often not easy.

- If using a limo, instruct the driver to notify parents if alcohol is present.

- Permit only registered passengers to ride in a limo.

- Do not serve alcohol to an underage person.

Continue reading " Prom safety critical to avoiding Phoenix car accidents involving teenagers " »

Drunk driving, speeding, failure to yield and distracted driving are among the leading causes of Arizona car accidents, according to statistics from the Arizona Department of Transportation.

A motorist is injured every 10 minutes and someone dies every 9 hours in an Arizona traffic accident.

-One-third of Arizona car accidents are caused by drunk drivers.

-8 out of every 10 Arizona drunk driving accidents occur in an urban area.

-7 of 10 Arizona car accidents occurred during daylight hours, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

-33 children under the age of 14 were killed and 4,510 were seriously injured in Arizona car accidents.

Overall, the number of serious and fatal Arizona traffic accidents has declined in the past 5 years.

2004: 138,899 crashes, 1,159 fatalities, 73,693 injuries.
2008: 119,588 crashes, 937 fatalities, 56,009 injuries.

However, as we reported recently on our Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, authorities believe some of the decrease is the result of the downturn in the economy and record high gas prices in recent years. The state will release accident statistics for last year in the coming weeks.

Arizona Car Accidents

-Nearly half of all multiple-vehicle Arizona car accidents -- 43,738 of 95,427-- involved a rear-end collision. A T-bone collision was the next most likely cause, accounting for 17,848 accidents.

Leading causes of Arizona car accidents
Speeding: 41,567 crashes killed 304 motorists and injured 13,653.
Failure to Yield: 21,370 crashes, killed 87 motorists and injured 8,097.
Distracted Driving: 14,252 crashes killed 55 motorists and injured 3,724.
Unsafe Lane Changes: 6,601 accidents killed 7 motorists and injured 963.
Following too Closely: 4,568 accidents killed one motorist and injured 1,245.

Continue reading " Drunk driving, speeding, distracted driving among the leading causes of Arizona car accidents " »

Four people, including three teenagers, were seriously injured in an Arizona car accident early last Friday morning in front of Desert Ridge High School, the Republic reported.

Teenagers are at high risk for traffic accidents; almost 1,200 young people were killed in Arizona traffic accidents involving young people during the five-year period ending in 2008. And motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers ages 15 to 20, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In this case, the teens were not at fault; their vehicle was eastbound on Madero when it was struck by a car that ran a red light while traveling south on Crismon Road, according to the Mesa Police Department.

Two 17-year-old boys were transported to local hospitals with spinal and head injuries; one of the teens, seated in the back seat, was thrown into the front of the vehicle by the impact of the collision. A 17-year-old girl in the front passenger seat was airlifted to the county hospital with a lacerated forehead.

The adult male driver of the other vehicle was taken to Scottsdale Memorial Hospital.

In 2008, a total of 4,130 Arizona car accidents were caused by a driver who disregarded a traffic signal, including red-light runners. Another 977 were caused by stop sign violations. A total of 32 people were killed and 2,300 were injured, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Cuatro personas, tres de ellos adolescentes, fueron heridos gravemente en un accidente de carro en Arizona el viernes por la mañana adelante del Colegio secundario Desert Ridge High School, informa la República.

Los adolescentes están en riesgo alto para accidentes de tráfico; casi 1,200 jóvenes fueron matados en accidentes de tráfico en Arizona que implican a jóvenes durante el período de cinco años terminando en 2008. Accidentes automóvilisticos son la causa principal de muerte entre los adolescentes 15 a 20, según la Administración Nacional de la Seguridad del Tránsito de Carretera.

En este caso, los jóvenes no tuvieron la culpa; su vehículo estuvo hacia el este en Madero cuando fue atropellado por un carro que corrió una luz roja mientras viajaban hacia el sur por Crismon Road, según el Departamento de Policía en Mesa.

Dos muchachos de 17 años de edad fueron transportados a hospitales locales con heridas de espina y de cabeza; uno de los jóvenes, sentado en el asiento de atrás, fue tirado al frente del vehículo por el impacto del choque. Una chica de 17 años de edad en el asiento delantero de pasajero fue aerotransportada al hospital del condado con la frente lacerada.

El conductor adulto varón del otro vehículo fue trasladado a Scottsdale Memorial Hospital.

En 2008, un total de 4,130 accidentes de carro en Arizona furon causados por un conductor que desatendió un señal de tráfico, incluyendo corredores de luz roja. Otros 977 fueron causados por violaciónes de señal de pare. Un total de 32 personas murieron y 2,300 fueron heridos, según el Departamento de Transporte en Arizona.

A teen has past away from injuries received in a Arizona car crash, according to AZCentral.com. The driver of the other car involved in the accident was allegedly intoxicated, almost three times the legal limit of .08.

The collision took place last Thursday on Ray Road in Chandler, Arizona. The victim, a high school senior, was flown to an area hospital due to the severity of his injuries, AZFamily.com has reported. The teen was on life support until he passed away on Saturday evening.

At the time of the accident, the defendant was westbound on Ray Road in a Chevy pickup truck around 10:15 p.m. He was traveling around 80 mph in a 45 zone when he struck the victim's van on the passenger side as the van was turning left. Lab work taken later at the hospital showed the DUI driver had a blood alcohol level of .227.

The driver has reportedly been charged with manslaughter and his bond has been set at $250,000. He is scheduled to appear in court next on May 17.

In the year 2008 alone, there were 6,757 alcohol related auto accidents in the State Arizona. 324 people were killed and 4,733 were injured in those crashes, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Over 78 percent of the alcohol related accidents took place in urban areas.

Two teens are still in the hospital as of Tuesday after sustaining serious injuries in an Arizona motorcycle accident on Saturday, according to the Arizona Republic. The accident took place around 8:30 p.m. at 92nd and Cholla Street in Scottsdale.

Police are saying that they believe the accident was caused when a 19 year old motorcyclist ran a red light while heading southbound on 92nd. He hit a Honda minivan that was eastbound on Cholla turning left onto 92nd. He had a 17 year old female passenger riding with him at the time of the crash.

The motorcycle driver was taken to Scottsdale Healthcare-Osborn and the passenger was taken to John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital. The Honda driver was taken to Scottsdale Healthcare-Shea for an injured arm, and was treated and released.

It is being reported that the motorcyclist had alcohol in his system, but his exact BAC level has not been disclosed.

The Scottsdale Police Department is handling the accident investigation.

According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, in the year 2008 alone there were over 3,500 Arizona motorcycle crashes, and over 3,000 people were hurt in those accidents. Seventy percent of the crashes occurred in urban locations. 140 people were killed.

The Associated Press reports that Arizona will end its controversial traffic camera program, aimed at catching highway speeders and reducing Arizona car accidents.

As we reported last month on our Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, authorities in Mesa credit red-light cameras with a decline in Mesa car accidents. Such cameras in use by local governments will not be affected by the state's decision.

Gov. Jan Brewer announced her intentions to end the state program earlier this year. Last week, a non-renewal letter was sent to the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the private company that operates the state cameras. The state's 36 fixed cameras will be turned off and the 40 vans will be taken off the highways on June 16 when the state contract expires. The cameras were introduced in September 2008 and all 76 were running by January 2009.

The cameras captured images of speeders going 11 mph or more over the limit and sent tickets in the mail. The state had estimated $90 million in revenue during the first year, although that proved optimistic and revenue fell short as many motorists simply ignored the notices sent by mail.

The Arizona Republic slammed the decision as a mistake, citing reports of a nearly 20 percent drop in Arizona traffic fatalities, which equates to two dozen lives saved. The paper noted the cameras brought in $63.5 million and motorists had ample warning with signs warning of camera placement.

"When the cameras come down, the state might as well remove speed-limit signs, too," the Republic wrote. "They'll be roadside decoration, with no more effect on drivers than the designs on the sound walls."

Continue reading " State to eliminate speeding cameras; advocates warn of increase in Arizona car accidents " »

A Phoenix area car crash has lead the he death of an eighty-one year old woman, according to the Arizona Republic. The accident occurred around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday in the area of 1600 S. Crismon in Mesa, and involved a police cruiser.

The elderly victim was being driven by her 58 year old daughter who attempted to make a left turn from southbound Crismon onto the on ramp of U.S. 60. While making the turn she reportedly failed to yield to oncoming traffic and was hit by an unmarked police car that was headed northbound.

The police officer was not seriously hurt. He was taken to Desert Vista Hospital with neck injuries and bruising and was later released.

The 81 year old had to be cut from the car by the Mesa Fire Department and was then taken to Desert Vista Hospital and pronounced dead a short time later.

Drugs and alcohol reportedly did not play a role in the accident.

This is the second fatal car accident involving a Mesa police officer over the last month. As we reported in April on the Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, a police officer hit and killed a pedestrian that was laying in the street.

Arizona motorcycle accidents are a continuing cause for concern as the Governors Highway Safety Association reports the state was the 9th deadliest in the nation for motorcycle accidents in 2009.

While final statistics will be released in the coming weeks, the association reports that 98 riders were killed in Arizona during 2009 -- no reduction over the 98 killed in 2008 -- even as a significant decline occurred nationwide for the first time in more than a decade.

Nationwide, motorcycle accidents are forecast to decline to 4,762 deaths, compared to the 5,290 deaths reported in 2008. After 11 years of increases, officials say more needs to be done before the decrease can be considered part of a sustainable decline.

“We will need to see three to five years of decline before we are ready to say that a positive trend has developed," Association Chairman Vernon Betkey said.

Recently, a Phoenix motorcycle accident killed four people and seriously injured five others after a large dump truck plowed into eight bikes stopped at a traffic light in North Phoenix near 27th Drive and Carefree Highway. The accident was so shocking that the American Motorcycle Association offered a public apology and condolences to the families.

Witnesses reported the dump truck ran over the motorcycles and collided with an SUV that had originally been stopped at the light in front of the bikes. Some of the motorcycles burst into flames as bikes and riders were dragged 50 to 75 yards.

"I have never seen such a horrific accident involving so many motorcycles," Phoenix Public Safety Manager Jack Harris told reporters at the scene. Local newspapers reported that the 46-year-old truck driver has two pending speeding citations, both issued within the last month.

An ASU student who sustained severe injuries in a Tempe, Arizona car crash last Saturday has died. Here 19 year old passenger is in critical but stable condition, according to ABC News 15.

The accident happened when the 20 year old student lost control of her vehicle and hit a construction barricade on McClintock Drive in the area of Loop 202 around 3 a.m. She was not using her seat belt and was thrown from the car in the accident. She was rushed to an area hospital, but later died on Monday.

Her passenger, also an Arizona State University student, was wearing a seat at the time of the Tempe auto accident. Tempe police say alcohol may have been a factor in the crash, according to AZCentral.com.

Un pedestre de Arizona vs. accidente de autobús escolar ha reclamado la vida de una mujer en Glendale el miércoles por la mañana, según el Arizona República. La víctima, una mujer de 39 años, estaba cruzando la calle en el área de la Avenida 47 y la Avenida Peoria.

La mujer iba caminando hacia el norte por una luz verde cuando el autobús escolar, que también iba hacia el norte, giró a la derecha y no se dio cuenta del pedestre en el cruce peatonal. Las Noticias de ABC informan que el pedestre estaba en un cruce peatonal cuando fue atropellada.

El Departamento de Policía en Glendale esta manejando la investigación del accidente. Ningunos niños fueron heridos. La víctima fue trasladada al Hospital Valley, donde murió poco tiempo después.

En el año 2008, 124 pedestres murieron 1,423 resultaron heridos en Arizona según el Departamento de Transporte de Arizona. Ochenta y nueve de los accidentes pedestres fatales ocurrieron en áreas urbanas.

Bajo la ley de Arizona, los conductores están obligados a ser cuidadosos para evitar chocar con un pedestre en la via. Aún más, los conductores tienen que ceder el paso a los pedestres en un cruce peatonal.

An Arizona pedestrian vs. school bus accident has taken the life of a woman in Glendale on Wednesday morning, according to the Arizona Republic. The victim, a 39 year old woman, was crossing the street in the area of 47th Avenue and Peoria Avenue.

The woman was walking northbound on a green light when the school bus, who was also northbound, turned right and failed to notice her. ABC News is reporting that the pedestrian was in a crosswalk when she was hit.

The Glendale Police Department is handling the crash investigation. No children were injured. The victim was rushed to Valley Hospital where she died a short time later.

In the year 2008 alone, 124 pedestrians were killed 1,423 pedestrians were injured in Arizona according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Eighty nine of the fatal pedestrian accidents occurred in urban areas.

Under Arizona law, drivers are required to "exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian on any roadway". Further, drivers have to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in a crosswalk.

Abogados de accidente de carro en Arizona de Abels & Annes les recomienda a todos que disfruten el Cinco de Mayo en una manera responsable y hacer su parte para permanecer seguro y evitar accidentes de conductors borrachos.

Como informamos esta semana en nuestro blog de Abogado de Herida en Phoenix, 324 personas fueron matadas y más de 4,700 fueron heridos en accidents de conductors borrachos en Arizona en 2008.

Cinco de Mayo, Español para el "quinto de Mayo", ha crecido en popularidad en los Estados Unidos en los últimos años y ha llegado a ser una celebración de herencia mexicana en la misma manera que el día de San Patricio celebra la cultura Irlandesa. La fiesta del 5 de Mayo 1862,celebra la victoria del ejército Mexicano sobre soldados Franceses en la Batalla de Puebla.

Las autoridades a través de Arizona y a través de la nación han anunciado aumentos de patrullas, a partir del miércoles y durara hasta el fin de semana, en un esfuerzo por reducir el número de accidentes graves y fatales causados por conductores borrachos.

El NHTSA le ofrece a la comunidad hispana literatura de prevención en conducir borrachos.

Programación de la prevención borracha está disponible en ingles.

Si usted o un ser querido está en un accidente de carro en Arizona, los abogados de herida en Phoenix de Abels & Annes
ofrecen citas gratis y confidenciales para hablar de sus derechos. Llame a (602) 819-5191

The Arizona car accident attorneys at Abels & Annes urge everyone to enjoy Cinco de Mayo in a responsible manner and to do your part to stay safe and avoid drunk driving accidents.

As we reported this week on our Phoenix Injury Lawyer blog, 324 people were killed and more than 4,700 were injured in Arizona drunk driving accidents in 2008.

Cinco de Mayo, Spanish for the "fifth of May," has grown in popularity in the United States in recent years and has become a celebration of Mexican heritage in much the same way that St. Patrick's Day celebrates Irish culture. The holiday celebrates the May 5, 1862 victory of the Mexican army over French soldiers at the Battle of Puebla.

Authorities across Arizona and throughout the nation have announced increased patrols, beginning Wednesday and lasting through the weekend, in an effort to reduce the number of serious and fatal traffic accidents caused by drunk drivers.

The NHTSA provides the Hispanic Community with drunk driving prevention literature, available by clicking here.

English drunk-prevention programing is available by clicking here.

Continue reading " Celebrate Cinco de Mayo responsibly; help prevent Arizona car accidents caused by drunk driving " »

The West Valley DUI Task Force was out in force over the NASCAR weekend, making 39 arrests in the fight to reduce the number of serious and fatal Arizona drunk driving accidents.

Nationwide, someone dies in a drunk-driving accident every 45 minutes, according to government statistics.

"People that are impaired, it's imperative to get them off the roadway," Goodyear Police Officer Kory Miyazato told the Arizona Republic. "It's just like someone that commits murder. I see it the same way. It's someone behind the wheel, crashing into someone, killing someone."

About one-third of all fatal Arizona traffic accidents involve a drunk driver, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. In 2008, 294 alcohol-related crashes killed 324 and injured more than 4,700.

The West Valley DUI Task Force is comprised of most West Valley law enforcement agencies, which team up and descend on a chosen city with 40 to 60 officers for a night of saturation patrols hunting for impaired drivers. Participating police departments include Avondale, Goodyear, Buckeye, Peoria, El Mirage, Glendale, Phoenix, Tolleson and Surprise, as well as the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and the Department of Public Safety. The agency was formed in the 1990s and receives funding from the Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety to pay for overtime, training and equipment.

Arizona law permits someone to be arrested for DUI even if their blood alcohol limit is below .08. In 2008, another 63 fatalities in Arizona were caused by drivers with a blood-alcohol level of .01 to .07, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

DUI arrests by the task force increased to 4,827 in 2009 from 3,788 in 2008, according to the Office of Highway Safety. Nineteen similar task forces operate statewide, including in East Valley, northern Arizona and southern Arizona.

Nationwide, drunk drivers killed 11,773 people in 2008, or one-third of all traffic fatalities. In 1,347 cases, a child younger than 14 was killed while riding in a vehicle with a drunk driver. Another 34 kids were killed in bicycle or pedestrian accidents involving someone who was driving drunk.

Continue reading " DUI task force fights to reduce Arizona drunk driving accidents " »

In 2008, the statewide economic cost of car accidents was $2.85 billion. The Arizona Department of Transportation will release statistics for last year in the coming weeks. Statewide, a total of 119,588 Arizona traffic accidents, injured 37,180 motorists, including 842 fatal accidents that claimed 937 lives.

Economic Cost of Arizona Traffic Accidents
Fatal Accidents: $1.07 billion
Critical Injuries: $353 million
Other Injuries: $421 million
Possible Injuries: $376 million
Property Damage: $624 million

Average cost per Arizona Traffic Crash:

-Fatality: $1.1 million
-Serious Injury: $66,300
-Other Injury: $21,420
-Possible Injury: $12,138
-Property Damage: $7,650

Arizona counties with the highest cost for motor vehicle crashes
-Maricopa County: $1.5 billion
-Pima County: $444 million
-Pinal County: $149 million
-Mohave County: $121 million
-Coconino County: $118 million
-Yavapai County: $105 million
-Yuma County: $74 million
-Cochise County: $68 million
-Apache County: $66 million
-Navajo County: $63 million

Arizona Traffic Crashes by County:
-Maricopa: 78,034
-Pima: 18,218
-Coconino: 4,311
-Yavapai: 3,479
-Pinal: 3,249
-Mohave: 3,025
-Yuma: 2,879
-Cochise: 1,883
-Navajo: 1,286
-Gila: 1,063

Continue reading " Arizona traffic accidents cost counties with high numbers of serious and fatal crashes " »