Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog

A new report by the Highway Loss Data Institute questions the effectiveness of banning motorists form text messaging while driving. In fact, the study found that the accident rate actually increased in three of four states examined where such bans exist.

As we previously reported on our Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, Arizona is under increasing pressure to enact a distracted driving law but remains one of 20 states where texting and driving is legal. Advocates of the ban contend it would reduce the number of car accidents in Phoenix and throughout Arizona that result each year form distracted driving.

The HLDI study looked at four states with the bans and four states without. It found three of the states that have bans in place actually witnessed an increased in the accident rate.

"Texting bans haven't reduced crashes at all ... texting bans might even increase the risk of texting for drivers who continue to do so despite the laws," says Adrian Lund, president of both HLDI and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

As the Washington Post reports, speeding laws have been in place for nearly 150 years, but speeders still speed.

This study suggests texters may still text.

"Clearly drivers did respond to the bans somehow, and what they might have been doing was moving their phones down and out of sight when they texted, in recognition that what they were doing was illegal," Lund said. "This could exacerbate the risk of texting by taking drivers' eyes further from the road and for a longer time."

Meanwhile, the popularity of texting continues to skyrocket, growing by 60 percent last year to 1.6 trillion text messages, compared to the 1 trillion messages sent in 2008.

In my opinion, the argument set forth by HLDI and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does not add up. The studies argue that accident rates went up in three states where a texting ban is in place. There could be 100 reasons for an increase in accidents in those states. For example there could be more drivers on the road or bad weather that year.

Sometimes accident rates go up and down, but that does not mean dangerous behavior should be made legal. Texting while driving is hazardous and can cause accidents, the same way speeding is dangerous.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration continues to push texting bans as a primary tool in the fight against distracted driving. The federal government blames distracted driving for nearly 5,000 deaths and 500,000 injuries each year in the United States.

Continue reading " Argument made that texting ban might not reduce car accidents in Phoenix or traffic crashes elsewhere in Arizona - but a new law is still needed " »

A deadly Arizona auto accident has left two people dead and injured two others by a driver headed the wrong way on Interstate 10, according to the Arizona Republic. The accident happened early Saturday morning when the driver of a black Chevy Avalanche crashed head-on into a white Nissan Ultima around 4:45 AM. The collision occurred in an eastbound HOV lane between 24th and 32nd streets.

Azfamily.com is reporting that the department of public safety started receiving phone calls immediately prior to the accident regarding the wrong way driver. The callers stated the driver was traveling at a high rate of speed.

A DPS spokesman is stating they believe the driver of the Chevy was intoxicated at the time of the accident, but no specific facts as to evidence of impairment was disclosed. The at fault driver was seriously injured and taken to a local hospital.

The 22-year-old driver of the Nissan died at the scene of the accident. Her passenger, age 24, passed away while in an ambulance on the way to Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center.

The accident closed parts of Interstate 10 and Interstate 17 for period of time.

It has not been reported yet if there are Phoenix injury lawyers involved in the case. In an accident like this, the families of the victims will have insurance policy limits claims against the at fault driver. Further, if there is evidence of intoxication, I would expect that significant criminal charges will be filed against the wrong way driver.

In other accident news, ABC 15 is reporting that a Phoenix pedestrian accident has left a 17-year-old in critical condition. The accident happened on Monday night around 8 PM near Camelback Road and 28th St. The pedestrian, who is a Camelback high school student, was crossing a street to catch a bus when he was hit.

Police are saying that speed and impairment most likely did not play a role in the accident.

An Arizona bicycle accident that occurred on Saturday in North Phoenix has resulted in four people being injured, according to ABC news. The injuries to the Phoenix bicyclist are reportedly critical.

A representative the Phoenix Fire Department is stating that the accident occurred when a vehicle was traveling in an easterly direction on Bell Road around 8 PM. At that time a 49-year-old man on a motorized bicycle crossed in front of the vehicle at 21st St. and the car hit the bike. The bicycle rider ended up on the car's windshield. The car carried the bike rider around hundred yards until the vehicle hit a short brick wall and the bicyclist was thrown off.

The injured Phoenix bike rider was rushed by ambulance to Valley Hospital in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. Three occupants of the car, a 26-year-old woman and children ages 8 and 5, were also seriously injured and taken to John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital and St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center.

The Phoenix Police Department is still investigating who was at fault, according to Fox news. However, as a Phoenix bike accident lawyer, I can tell you at first glance that the police will most likely put the bicyclist at fault. At the accident location, E. Bell Rd. has two eastbound and two westbound lanes, plus left turn lanes in each direction and no traffic signal. 21st Street is more of a side street that has a stop sign at E. Bell Rd. The bicyclist likely had a duty to yield to oncoming traffic when crossing Bell Road.

That being said, until the final police report is in, you never know what it is going to say. For example, there could have been independent witnesses at the scene who tell a different story.

Click here to read the accident story as reported by CBS news.

El jefe del transporte de La nación abrió el segundo anual Manejar Distraído Cumbre tomando teléfono celular y a fabricantes de carro a la tarea para empujar tecnologías que distraern el público sin un énfasis adecuado en la seguridad, el Poste de Washington informó.

Nuestros abogados del accidente de Phoenix informan con frecuencia los peligros de manejar distraído y el papel que distracción de conductor juega en muchos accidentes de tráfico de Arizona.

El Secretario del transporte Ray LaHood dijo la cantidad creciente de la tecnología de carro, incluyiendo acceso al Internet, debe centrarse en la seguridad. "Juntos, pongamos la seguridad antes de entretenimiento," dijo el.

Y llamaún para la posibilidad de poner etiquetas de advertencia en teléfonos celulares, en la misma forma que el alcohol y el consume de tabaco usan etiquetas de advertencia para informar a consumidores de los peligros.

Los comentarios vienen como parte de un empujón mayor por el gobierno federal para combatir los peligros de manejar distraído, y especialmente el uso de teléfonos celulares y texto mientras atrás de la rueda. Los nuevos datos revelan que 5,500 automovilistas fueron matados y alrededor a de 500,000 resultaron heridos el año pasado en accidentes causados por manejar distraído. Sólo la conducción exceso de velocidad y manejar borracho son culpados para más muertes del tránsito cada año.

El número de accidentes causados por manejar distraído ha aumentado realmente del 10 por ciento al 16 por ciento desde que 2005 -- una subida que partidarios de seguridad culpan por lo menos en parte en la popularidad creciente de dispositivos de móvil y tecnologías de carro. Una inspección el año pasado por Seguro de State Farm encontró que el 62 por ciento de conductores confiesan hablar en su teléfono, 1 en 4 confiesan leer los mensajes de texto al manejar y acerca del 16 por ciento confiesa enviarlos. Mientras tanto, el 37 por ciento dijo que apoyarían una prohibición en el uso de teléfono celular al manejar y el 77 por ciento dijo que apoyarían una prohibición de mensajería de texto.

The nation's transportation chief opened up the second annual Distracted Driving Summit by taking cell phone and car makers to task for pushing distracting technologies off on the motoring public without an adequate emphasis on safety, the Washington Post reported.

Our Phoenix accident lawyers frequently report the dangers of distracted driving and the role that driver distraction plays in many Arizona car accidents.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the increasing amount of in-car technology, including access to the Internet, must include a focus on safety. "Together, let's put safety before entertainment," he said.

And he even called for the possibility of putting warning labels on cell phones, in much the same way as alcohol and tobacco use warning labels to inform consumers of the dangers.

The comments come as part of a major push by the federal government to combat the dangers of distracted driving, and particularly the use of cell phones and text messaging while behind the wheel. New data shows that 5,500 motorists were killed and about 500,000 were injured last year in accidents caused by distracted driving. Only speeding and drunk driving are blamed for more traffic deaths each year.

The number of accidents caused by distracted driving has actually increased from 10 percent to 16 percent since 2005 -- a rise that safety advocates blame at least in part on the increasing popularity of mobile devices and in-car technologies. A survey last year by State Farm Insurance found that 62 percent of drivers admit to talking on their phone, 1 in 4 admit to reading text messages while driving and about 16 percent admit to sending them. Meanwhile, 37 percent said they would support a ban on cell phone use while driving and 77 percent said they would support a text messaging ban.

Continue reading " Focus on distracting technologies could lead to fewer Phoenix, Arizona car accidents " »

An Arizona motorcycle accident has resulted in the death of a rider in his 50s, according to CBS News. The motorcyclist was heading eastbound on Interstate 10 on the West side of Phoenix when he was involved in a collision with a pickup truck on Tuesday morning.

A DPS spokesman said the Phoenix bike crash occurred around 9 AM at the 59th Avenue overpass. Several lanes of traffic were closed for several hours.

The motorcyclist was wearing his helmet at the time of the collision. He was rushed by ambulance to a Phoenix hospital and passed away a short time later.

The cause of the accident has not yet been reported. It has not been reported that drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash.

Click here to read the story as reported by the Arizona Republic.

According to ADOT, in the year 2008 alone there were 3,531 Arizona motorcycle crashes. Of those bike accidents, 3,004 people were injured and 140 were killed. Those numbers are slightly up from the year before, when in 2007 there were 3,464 Arizona motorcycle accidents that injured 2,929 and killed 135. Statistics for the year 2009 have not yet been released.

A bike accident in Phoenix has left the 33-year-old woman in critical condition, the Arizona Republic is reporting. The Arizona bike vs. SUV accident took place on September 19, 2010 near the intersection of N. Desert Willow Pkwy. and East Rancho Tierra Drive on the far North Side of Phoenix. The victim of the Phoenix bicycle accident reportedly has sustained "life-threatening brain bleeding".

The 44-year-old SUV driver the is believed to have been driving while intoxicated at the time of the crash. The Phoenix Police Department is handling the crash investigation. After the accident police arrested the driver and charged him with aggravated assault. They allege that the defendant appeared to be impaired and he further admitted to drinking 1 to 2 beers.

Police state he hit the bicyclist with his Chevy SUV after failing to yield a stop sign. Police further say that the woman was within a marked bicycle lane at the time of the accident, and she also had functioning lights on the bike. The Arizona Republic states that information above is according to documents filed in Maricopa County Superior Court.

It is not been reported if a Phoenix bike accident lawyer is involved in the case yet. At this point, there appears to be a very solid negligence case against the at fault SUV driver.

In the year 2008 there were just under 2000 bicycle accidents in the State of Arizona. In those accidents, 19 bicyclists were killed and 1674 were injured, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Bicycle accident numbers for the year 2009 have not yet been released.

A golf cart accident in Prescott Arizona has seriously injured a two-year-old child, according to the Daily Courier. Two other relatives were hurt in the incident as well.

The Arizona golf cart crash occurred when the child's 62-year-old grandfather who was driving the cart loss control in the 1400 block of Lucky Draw Lane. His wife and three grandchildren were on board with them.

The Prescott Valley Police Department is reporting that after he lost control the golf car flipped over. The boy was airlifted to a Phoenix hospital after the accident. While the injuries are serious, they are not believed to be life-threatening.

The driver's wife, age 61, and the two other grandchildren, both age 4, were taken to Yavapai Regional Medical Center West Campus. Their injuries were also non-life-threatening.

There was reportedly some indication that the scene that there may have been a mechanical failure on the golf part.

The police department is continuing their investigation, and it is believed that drugs and/or alcohol did not play a role in the accident.

Click here to read about the accident at azcentral.com.

An Arizona car crash that occurred on Sunday afternoon has injured five people and has resulted in the death of one person. Azfamily.com is reporting it was a chain reaction accident that took place on Highland Avenue in the area of the exit ramp of route 51 around 1:30 PM. The cause of the accident is still being investigated, however speed is reportedly a factor in the collision.

The Phoenix car accident may have started when an SUV flipped onto its roof. The female driving the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. There was also a three-year-old boy that was riding as a passenger. He was found in the backseat in critical condition by rescue workers. Paramedics had to cut him out of his car seat, and he was then rushed to Phoenix Children's Hospital. The boy is believed to be the son of the SUV driver.

Another person involved in the accident had to be cut out of a gray Mercedes. Phoenix firefighters literally had to cut off the roof of the vehicle in the rescue. He was also in critical condition and was rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital.

Three others were injured in the collision. They were treated and released at the scene, and did not have to be hospitalized.

The intersection was close for a period of time after the accident. The Phoenix Police Department is handling the crash investigation.

Click here to read the story as reported by KTAR.com and ABC news.

A Mesa car accident on Saturday morning has hurt two children, according to the Arizona Republic. A total of 7 people and one police officer were involved.

The accident occurred when a truck hit an SUV that was occupied by two adults and two children at McKellips Road and Country Club Drive around 10 a.m. An 11 year old girl suffered a loss of consciousness and was taken by ambulance to Maricopa Medical Center. The exact cause of the crash was not reported. The truck driver and 2 adults in the SUV were reportedly not injured.

After the accident, Mesa police were called to the scene. An officer responding to the call was rear-ended by another vehicle. There were no injuries reported in that second collision.

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

In my experience as a Phoenix car accident lawyer, sometimes people involved in motor vehicle collisions that are initially reported not injured end up in pain a short time later and seek medical treatment. I have found this most common with back and neck injuries. In an accident like this one, where the impact was significant enough for someone to get knocked out, there is a good possibility that the adults involved were feeling pain the next day.

Arizona bicycle accident attorneys at Abels & Annes have entered into an agreement to represent a nine-year-old bicycle rider who was injured in a parking lot when he was struck by a car. The accident happened back on July 19, 2010 Chicago, Illinois in the parking lot small food store at the intersection of Austin and Division.

The child was traveling eastbound when the at fault driver swiftly pulled into the parking lot from the street and did not see the bicyclist. The vehicle struck the bike, knocking the boy to the ground.

The nine-year-old had bilateral leg pain and back pain right after the accident. He was taken by ambulance to an area hospital. At the ER, x-rays did not show any broken bones and he was examined by physicians.

The bicycle rider's pain did not go away over the next few days. The child's mother took him for follow-up treatment with a medical doctor. He has had ongoing medical treatment since July.

As the weather starts to slowly cool off in the Phoenix area, there will be more and more bicycle riders on the road. Earlier this year Tucson, Tempe, Scottsdale and Phoenix Arizona were all listed in the 20 most bicycle friendly cities in the United States.

Motorists have to keep a proper lookout for, and be careful around Arizona bicycle riders. Sometimes even low impact bicycle vs. car accidents can cause serious injuries.

If you have been hurt in a Phoenix bike accident, contact the Arizona injury lawyers at Abels & Annes for free consultation. Call (866) 99-ABELS to speak directly to a lawyer now.

CBS 5 reports that Arizona is one of 21 states that do not meet federal guidelines for booster seat safety, which can increase the risk of serious or fatal injury as the result of a Phoenix car accident.

Some 15 years ago, the National Transportation Safety Board called for child restraint laws that protected all children up to eight years old. Current Arizona law only covers children up to the age of 4.

"While we heartily applaud the eight states that enacted or upgraded child restraint laws in the past year," said Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. "21 states and two territories still lack robust booster seat laws. This means that millions of children remain at risk of injury or fatality every day on our highways."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has declared Sept. 19 to Sept. 25 to be Child Passenger Safety Week, culminating in National Seat Check Saturday on Sept. 25. Our Phoenix injury lawyers encourage parents to make it a point to have their child safety seats inspected; even when you think you are in compliance, issues like the purchase of a new vehicle can change the effectiveness of a child safety seat.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently rated 72 car seats based on how well they fit 4- to 8-year-olds and how well they fit various automobiles. Twenty-one seats rated "Best Bets" while eight seats were not recommended.

"Unlike the top performers, consumers can't assume boosters in the in-between group will work in every family vehicle," said the Institute's Anne McCartt. "Some may be fine, but parents still need to try them out to see if the lap and shoulder belts fit their kids correctly."

Another danger in Arizona is leaving a child in a hot car. So far this year, 43 children have died as a result of being left inside a hot car, up sharply from the 33 deaths reported during all of 2009, according to San Francisco State University. Two of those deaths have been reported in Arizona, while Florida and Texas have led the nation.

Other dangers posed to children in an around vehicles include backover accidents, power window accidents, vehicle rollaways, seat belt entanglement and trunk entrapment.

Continue reading " Child safety seats one issue that can endanger children involved in Phoenix car accidents " »

A woman from Chandler has been found guilty in federal court of leaving the scene of an Arizona pedestrian accident that caused a death on an Indian reservation, according to the Arizona Republic. The 64-year-old woman now faces sentencing in November 2010.

The accident happened back on March 21, 2007 early in the morning on the Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Reservation, which is located east of Phoenix, Arizona. Evidence showed the defendant hit and killed a 34-year-old Native American pedestrian as she attempted to cross the street. The at fault driver did not stop at the scene of the accident as required by law.

A conviction in federal court for leaving the scene of a fatal accident carries a possible sentence of up to nearly 9 years and a possible $250,000 fine.

It was not reported if a civil lawsuit was ever filed or if an Arizona pedestrian accident attorney is involved in the case.

Phoenix hit-and-run car accidents seem to be more and more common. Many speculate that this is due to the fact that, because of the poor economy, many drivers are on the road without auto insurance. This in turn can lead to drivers fleeing the scene of Arizona accidents. In my experience as a Phoenix car accident lawyer, I have found that most hit-and-run drivers are uninsured.

A Phoenix personal injury lawyer at Abels & Annes has settled an automobile vs. pedestrian accident lawsuit for $162,000. The accident took place in Chicago, Illinois back on January 24, 2008 on the North Side near Wrigley Field.

The plaintiff was crossing a street in a crosswalk with a green light when a driver ran a red light and struck him. After the accident, the at fault driver tried to claim that she had a green light. However, there was an independent witness at the scene of the accident that saw the collision and agreed with our client's version of events. The accident was investigated by the Chicago Police Department.

After the accident, our client was taken by ambulance to an emergency room. At the ER, he had multiple complaints which included right wrist pain, shoulder pain,and he had a large cut on his forehead. The laceration was close with nine stitches and x-rays showed he had a right fractured wrist. He was discharged from the emergency room with instructions to follow-up with an orthopedic surgeon.

Our client followed up with a surgeon a few days after the accident. Due to his complaints, the doctor ordered an MRI of his left shoulder. The scan revealed a rotator cuff tear.

The physician recommended surgery to repair the shoulder. Surgery was performed weeks later Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago.

The lawsuit filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County alleged the driver failed to stop for red light, was driving too fast for conditions on the road, and failed to stop for pedestrian in a marked crosswalk. The defendant had auto insurance with State Farm and the case settled shortly before the scheduled trial date.

If you have been hurt in a Phoenix pedestrian accident, call the Arizona accident attorneys at Abels & Annes for a free, no obligation consultation. Call 602-819-5191 speak to an injury lawyer now.

More than one-fourth of all Arizona car accidents were caused by drunk drivers last year, according to new traffic statistics being released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Overall, nationwide traffic fatalities were at their lowest level in 60 years in 2009 -- a total of 33.808 people died in traffic accidents, down 9.7 percent from 2008 when 37,423 people died on the nation's roads. Our Phoenix car accident lawyers will be examining the data as the government releases it in the coming weeks.

Arizona drunk driving accidents claimed 219 lives last year, or 27 percent of the 807 traffic fatalities reported in 2009. That's down from the 262 fatal drunk driving accidents that were among the state's 938 traffic fatalities in 2008.

The 807 deaths ranks Arizona 15th deadliest behind Alabama (848), California (3,081), Florida (2,558), Georgia (1,284), Illinois (911), Louisiana (821), Michigan (871), Missouri (878), New York (1,156), North Carolina (1,314), Ohio (1,021), Pennsylvania (1,256), South Carolina (894) and Texas (3,071).

“Today’s numbers reflect the tangible benefits of record seat belt use and strong anti-drunk driving enforcement campaigns,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “But we are still losing more than 30,000 lives a year on our highways, and about a third of these involve drunk driving. We will continue to work with our state partners to strictly enforce both seat belt use and anti-drunk driving laws across this nation, every day and every night.”

The federal government reports that car accidents are the leading cause of death for U.S. residents ages 3 to 34.

The number of people injured also declined for the 10th straight year. An estimated 2.217 million motorists were injured in accidents in 2008, compared to 2.346 million who were injured in 2008.

Large truck occupants and motorcyclists reported the greatest percentage decline in serious and fatal accidents.

Total Traffic Fatalities: 33,808 (down 9.7 percent)
Large Trucks: 503 (down 26 percent)
Motorcycles: 4,462 (down 16 percent)
Bicyclists: 150 (down 12 percent)
Passenger Vehicles: 23,382 (down 8.2 percent)
Pedestrians: 4,092 (down 7.3 percent)

Thirty-three states reported a decline in the overall number of fatal drunk driving accidents, while 41 states reported fewer traffic fatalities. Florida reported the largest decline in fatalities (422) followed by Texas (405).

Continue reading " Fewer Phoenix, Arizona car accidents follow largest nationwide decline in 60 years " »

A Phoenix, Arizona motorcycle vs. truck accident has caused life-threatening injuries to a motorcycle rider, ABC news is reporting. The crash took place on Thursday at approximately 6:40 AM at Buckeye Road and 59th Ave. according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and the Phoenix Fire Department.

The motorcyclist, who was an adult male, was rushed to Valley Hospital by ambulance with serious injuries. 59th Ave. had to be shut down between Buckeye and lower Buckeye roads for a period of time due to the accident.

The name of the Arizona motorcycle rider has not been released and the cause the accident has not been reported. It is also not been said if a Phoenix motorcycle accident lawyer is involved in the case yet.

In the year 2008 alone, there were 3,531 motorcycle accidents in the state of Arizona (that according to the Arizona Department of Transportation). In those accidents, 3,004 people were injured at 140 people were killed. Those numbers are up slightly from the year 2007 where there were 3,464 Arizona motorcycle accidents that resulted in 135 deaths. Statistics from the year 2009 have not yet been released.

A study by Allstate Insurance found less danger of a Phoenix car accident or a serious or fatal traffic accident elsewhere in Arizona last year.

Our Phoenix injury attorneys have reported the impact the economic downturn has had on the number of car accidents across the nation, but particularly in states where winter residents and tourism play an important role, including Florida and Arizona.

Washington, D.C. was the worst city in the nation -- the average motorist reported an accident every 5.1 years. The best city was Fort Collins, Colo. There, a driver went about 14.5 years between accidents. The wort large cities included Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

Arizona Cities ranked from best to worst:

-Chandler ranked 16th, compared to 43rd last year. A driver goes an average of 11.4 years between accidents.

-Tucson ranked 20th. Last year it was 26th. A driver goes an average of 11.3 years between accidents.

-Mesa ranked 23rd, compared to 49th last year. An average of 11.2 years between crashes.

-Gilbert ranked 25th compared to 51st last year. 11.2 years between accidents.

-Scottsdale ranked 34th compared to last year's ranking of 56th. 10.9 years between accidents.

-Tempe was 47th compared to 86th last year. 10.4 years between accidents.

-Glendale was 50th compared to 71st last year. 10.3 years between accidents.

-Phoenix was 74th compared to 95th last year. 9.8 years between accidents.

-Peoria was 91st, down slightly from 88th last year. 9.6 years between crashes.

"For the sixth year, Allstate is releasing the Allstate America's Best Driver's Report to facilitate an ongoing dialogue on safe driving," said Mike Roche, senior vice president, Allstate's Claim Organization. "Human error is the biggest cause of accidents. It is vital for us to educate drivers across the country on the importance of being tolerant and attentive behind the wheel."

Continue reading " Economy could be partly responsible for fewer Arizona car accidents " »

Police are looking for help finding a driver involved in a Phoenix, Arizona pedestrian accident that took place back on June 29, 2010, Fox News reported. The Phoenix Police Department has released surveillance tape that shows the at fault driver entering a convenience store near the accident location.

The woman reportedly told workers in the store that she had been involved in an accident, but she then left and did not wait for police to arrive. She was reportedly driving a white Ford minivan, was around 35 to 40 years old, 5'3", 170 to 190 lbs., and is either native American or Hispanic.

The 30-year-old pedestrian accident victim is still hospitalized and recovering from injuries. The victim was struck by the hit-and-run driver while he was walking across 29th Ave. at Glendale. He was in intensive care at the hospital for weeks and it is being reported that rescue workers initially didn't think he would survive.

Phoenix police are releasing the surveillance tape with the hope that someone will recognize the hit-and-run driver and call police. If she is caught, police plan on charging her with felony offenses. If you have any information regarding this accident, please immediately contact the Phoenix Police Department at (602) 262-7626.

As far as a civil claim is concerned, it is not been reported if the victim has a Phoenix pedestrian accident lawyer working on his behalf. In a case like this, an Arizona injury lawyer will look to file a hit-and-run, uninsured motorist claim against the pedestrian's own auto insurance policy. If the driver is eventually caught, the lawyer will investigate as to whether her vehicle was insured.

Click here to read more about Phoenix hit-and-run accidents and Arizona uninsured motorist claims.

Click here to read the story as reported by azfamily.com and the Arizona Republic.

Phoenix bicycle accident attorneys Abels & Annes have reached a settlement in an incident that occurred in Chicago, Illinois in February of 2010. Our client was riding his bicycle southbound on Clark Street when the defendant, who was driving a 2005 Ford going northbound, turned left and struck the bike rider. The at fault driver was trying to turn left/westbound on Cornelia Street and failed to yield to oncoming traffic.

The Chicago Police responded to the crash. After their investigation they issued a citation to the defendant for failing to yield on a left turn.

The bicyclist injured his right knee and left shoulder in the crash. After the accident he was seen in the ER at Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Diagnostic testing was negative for fractures.

Days after the accident our client's pain remained. He sought follow-up treatment with a medical doctor. The physician then referred him to physical therapy.

Weeks later the bicycle rider's shoulder pain remained so an MRI was ordered. The test showed he had sustained a mild AC joint separation in the accident. He continued with physical therapy and his condition eventually improved.

The claim resolved for a little over $31,000 and we did not need to file a lawsuit to settle the case. Nationwide insured the at fault driver.

Continue reading " Arizona bike accident lawyer settles case " »

A Grand Canyon car accident killed one man and seriously injured two others when their truck smashed into a tree on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, the Tucson Citizen reported.

The fatality victim was taken to the Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office. The two survivors were transported to Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries.

Responding officers arrived at the accident scene near the intersection of Shuttle and Center roads, to find the pickup truck had smashed into a tree. The road was closed for more than three hours while the accident was investigated and the scene was cleared. The investigation is being handled by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the National Park Service and the Coconino County Sheriff's Office.

Grand Canyon accidents occur under many different circumstances. White water rafting expeditions down the Colorado River have proven among the deadliest activities, according to a 2001 book "Over the Edge: Death in the Grand Canyon." At least 79 people have drown in the river. Sightseeing crashes are also a danger. Whether by airplane or helicopter, more than 240 people have been killed. More than 50 have died from falls and 65 from environmental factors, including heat stroke and heart attack.

Tourist companies have an obligation to provide safe passage to customers. When they don't and someone is injured or killed through negligence, a Phoenix injury lawyer should be consulted to ensure the victim has the experienced legal representation necessary to protect his or her rights.

Of course not all victims die as the result of a company's negligence. Each year, hikers who overestimate their fitness level wander off and become disoriented and dehydrated. Sometimes they are rescued, and sometimes they are not. Signs featuring buff hikers have been installed that read "Each year we rescue hundreds of people from the Canyon. Most of them look like him."

Several dozen others have been killed in freak accidents, including lightning strikes and rock falls. At least 48 people have committed suicide in the canyon over the years and two dozen have been the victims of homicide.

There were several Phoenix area car crashes on Friday afternoon to start the busy holiday weekend, that according to a AZCentral.com. The car crashes occurred on the Loop 202 and Interstate 17. DPS officers responded to all three crashes.

On northbound Interstate 17, there was a three vehicle accident with injuries. The driver of a white Toyota struck a van from behind. The van was carrying 15 people. A third car sustained damage in the accident as well. This caused a traffic backup and tow truck had to remove one of the vehicles from the scene.

On the Loop 202 heading eastbound, the driver of a white vehicle rear-ended a maroon vehicle. The driver of the car that was rear-ended and a child passenger were injured. The auto accident blocked the right lane of traffic for a period of time.

Finally, a motorcycle rider struck the truck from behind on Interstate 17. The motorcyclist was injured, however the severity is unknown at this time.

DPS officers stated that slow traffic is common for this holiday weekend. It is a good idea for all drivers use extra caution when there are so many cars on the road. Also, avoid driving while distracted. That means no texting, and if you are going to use your cell phone, use a headset or Bluetooth.

If you are injured in a vehicle accident over this busy holiday weekend, it is a good idea to consult with a Phoenix injury lawyer to make sure your rights are fully protected.

Comedian Robert Schimmel has died from injuries sustained in a Phoenix car crash on Friday night, according to the New York Daily News. He was 60 years old. The comedian was best known for his hilarious appearances on the Howard Stern show.

At the time of the car accident, Schimmel was riding as a passenger with his 19-year-old daughter, who was driving. It is being reported that his daughter lost control after she tried to avoid a head-on collision and the car flipped over onto the side of the freeway. His daughter was injured, but she's expected to make a full recovery. His 11-year-old son was also in the car and he was miraculously not injured.

After the accident, Schimmel was rushed to an area hospital where he later died on Friday evening. Schimmel lived in Scottsdale Arizona.

In addition to appearing on Howard Stern, he was also named one of Comedy Central's 100 greatest comics, he had stand-up specials on Showtime and HBO, and he also published a memoir in 2008 called "Cancer on $5 a day" that told of his battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Click here to read the story as reported by E! Online and by the Associated Press.

Lives could be saved if passengers were buckled up in the event of a Phoenix, Arizona bus accident, the Arizona Republic reported.

The Department of Transportation has proposed the new rule requiring belts for all passengers on tour buses, contending that the measure could have saved the lives of Arizonians killed in a fatal bus rollover in Utah in 2008. If the charges go into effect, all new buses will have lap-and-shoulder belts within three years.

However, the rules would not apply to the 29,000 buses already on the road; and the proposal falls short of some federal safety recommendations.

As our Phoenix accident attorneys have reported on our Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, a number of high-profile Arizona bus accidents have authorities pushing for increased safety measures.

On average, 750 million passengers travel on motor coaches each year -- more than the total number of airline passengers. Sightseeing trips and cross-country tours are common. Few of these buses have seat belts and accidents can be catastrophic.

The DOT reports nearly 200 passengers have been killed in the last decade, including 9 who were killed on a ski-trip bus that was en route back to the Valley in 2008. More than half of the deaths involve ejections -- something safety advocates contend could be largely prevented with the use of seat belts. DOT claims the use of seat belts could reduce fatalities in rollover crashes by 77 percent.

They use the 2008 crash as an example: The bus driver, who was wearing a seat belt, and one passenger remained on the bus. The other 52 passengers were ejected into the snow and darkness. Nine people were killed and 44 were injured.

The National Transportation Safety Board said the driver was going too fast but also said the lack of safety features contributed to the serious and fatal injuries.

"Contributing to the accident's severity was the lack of an adequate motor coach occupant protection system," the agency's report said. This was because of the Department of Transportation's "delay in developing and promulgating standards to enhance the protection of motor-coach passengers."

The board has long called for seat belts and other safety measures on buses, including stronger roofs, emergency window exits and shatter-proof glass.

DOT estimates the cost for seat belts would be about $12,900 in each of the 2,000 new coaches sold each year in the United States.

However, medium size coaches, including school buses, would not be affected. Neither would the almost 30,000 motor coaches on the road.

Arizona authorities will join the U.S. Department of Transportation in the nationwide "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest" crackdown scheduled to last through the Labor Day weekend.

Drunk drivers are responsible for approximately one-third of Phoenix car accidents and serious and fatal car accidents elsewhere in Arizona. The Arizona Department of Transportation reports that 294 of the state's 842 fatal accidents involved a drunk driver in 2008.

Nationwide, nearly 12,000 people were killed by drunk drivers in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which reports that someone in the United States is killed by a drunk driver every 45 minutes.

“Drunk driving is deadly, it’s against the law, and unfortunately, it’s still a problem,” said Secretary LaHood. “With the help of law enforcement around the country, we are going to continue doing all that we can to stop drunk driving and the needless tragedies that result from this reckless behavior.”

The government reports that eight percent of all drivers -- some 17 million motorists -- have driven drunk at least once in the last year. About 1 in 5 have driven in the past year within two hours of consuming alcohol. Yet 80 percent of Americans identify drunk drivers as a major threat to the safety of their families.

“Our message is loud and clear. If you drive drunk you will be arrested and prosecuted. There will be no exceptions and no excuses," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. "And if you’re below the age of 21, there is zero tolerance for any alcohol in your system whatsoever. That’s why we’re out there with law enforcement, tackling this major safety issue head on.”

The study found that young males ages 21 to 24 were at the highest risk -- a full one-fourth had either driven after having too much to drink or rode in a car with an intoxicated driver at some point during the last 12 months.

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