Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog

There are 6 new units that were unveiled at a recent news conference to help catch drunk drivers through the holidays. These new units were given to the Maricopa County, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the Tuscon and the Phoenix Sheriff's Offices, Scottsdale and the Department of Public Service office to help to combat drunk drivers during this year's multi-agency Holiday DUI Task Force efforts, according to Cronkite News.

These mobile units act as processing centers where officers can conduct Breathalyzers and blood-alcohol tests, in addition to checking for search warrants. These units help to reduce the time that arresting officers spend processing those who are suspected of driving under the influence and frees up more time to help prevent drunk driving car accidents in Phoenix and elsewhere. The units cost more than $1 million and were purchased with federal money.

“These trucks mean we can get out and get the next person off the road faster,” said Travis Mathews, officer for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.

Our Phoenix drunk driving car accident attorneys understand the need for increased patrolling efforts during holiday season. Each year, we see a large number of roadway fatalities during the month of December. Many of these accidents are alcohol-related. During this time of year, residents and visitors get to spend some time away from work and school and get to gather with friends and family members. What's unfortunate isn't the fact that more people drink during these joyous gatherings, but the fact that more people get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.

In 2010, there were nearly 19,500 DUI arrests in Arizona. Nearly 4,000 of these arrests were during the holiday season. In 2010, there were nearly 200 people killed in the state because of alcohol-related car accidents.

Arizona isn't the only one that's beefing up enforcement efforts around the holidays. The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced that it will be launching its "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This is a nationwide campaign that involves thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country. In 2010, there were nearly 10,500 people who died because of drunk driving accidents in the U.S. More than 400 of these fatalities occurred during the second half of December.

"Safety is our focus year round at DOT. But this holiday season, we're stepping up our efforts to get drunk drivers off our roads and reminding Americans 'drive sober, or get pulled over,' " said USDOT Secretary LaHood.

The USDOT reports that although the number of drunk-driving fatalities decreased in 2010, these accidents still accounted for one out of every three deaths on our roadways.

Transportation officials are urging states to push education and enforcement efforts to help to reduce the risks of alcohol-impaired accidents on our roadways. This year's national campaign is accompanied by a $7 million national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over advertisement campaign. This campaign will be running from December 16th through January 2nd.

Residents are urged to be extremely cautious behind the wheel during the upcoming holidays. There's never a reason to drink and drive. If you're expecting to go out and to drink, please designate a sober driver to get you home safely. If you can't find a sober driver, consider getting a hotel room or staying at a friend's house. Please be safe and responsible on our roadways through the remainder of the year. Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Continue reading "Officers Increase Enforcement to Help Curb Drunk Driving Accidents in Phoenix" »

A Maricopa County Sheriff's employee was taken into custody on Friday by the Goodyear Police Department for his involvement in a Phoenix area car vs. motorcycle crash that killed a woman, according to the Arizona Republic. We previously reported on our Phoenix injury lawyer blog that the collision occurred on October 16 at around 12:30 AM at Indian School and Citrus Roads in Goodyear. The 27-year-old detention officer was driving his Chevy Cobalt when he rear-ended a woman that was stopped at a stop sign on a 2009 Ducati motorcycle.

The motorcycle rider was thrown from her bike and reportedly died instantly. Her foot was also severed in the collision. The victim was riding with her husband next to her at the time of the accident. He was not injured.

The at fault driver reportedly admitted to police that he had been drinking throughout the day and that he felt "buzzed" when he left a tavern shortly before the accident. Goodyear police officers claim he had bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech and smelled of alcohol. A hospital blood test taken around 2 AM show the defendant had a BAC of 0.225%. A subsequent test taken around 4 AM by police showed a 0.14% blood-alcohol level. Both test results are well above the legal limit.

The defendant surrendered to police on Friday at his attorney's office in Phoenix. The defendant reportedly works at the 4th Avenue Jail as a corrections officer.

There is no word as to whether Arizona motorcycle accident attorneys are involved in the case yet. When injury lawyers do get involved, they will pursue a claim against the intoxicated driver, however they will also look into a possible claim against the tavern that may have served the defendant too much alcohol. Click here to read about Arizona dram shop claims.

A total of 29,282 Phoenix car accidents claimed 142 lives and injured 9,714 in 2009, according to statistics being released by the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Maricopa County car accidents accounted for $1.4 billion in losses, or more than half of the $2.7 billion traffic accidents cost Arizona statewide in 2009. More than half of all Arizona drunk driving accidents also occurred in Maricopa County, accounting for 3,601 of the state's 5,854 traffic crashes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently reported the fewest traffic accidents since 1950. A total of 33,808 motorists were killed on the nation's roads in 2009, compared to the 37,423 deaths reported in 2008.
Arizona car accidents by county:

Maricopa: 68,653 accidents/280 fatalities/21,410 injuries
Pima: 15,669 accidents/83 fatalities/5,292 injuries
Coconino: 3,768 accidents/39 fatalities/903 injuries
Pinal: 3,541 accidents/62 fatalities/1,079 injuries
Yavapai: 3,313 accidents/42 fatalities/1,003 injuries
Yuma: 2,825 accidents/24 fatalities/968 injuries
Mohave: 2,940 accidents/34 fatalities/974 injuries
Cochise: 1,876 accidents/30 fatalities/486 injuries
Navajo: 1,241 accidents/38 fatalities/360 injuries
Gila: 984 accidents/17fatalities/303 injuries
Apache: 591 accidents/29 fatalities/203 injuries
Santa Cruz: 591 accidents/6 fatalities/149 injuries
La Paz: 421 accidents/15 fatalities/131 injuries
Graham: 287 accidents/8 fatalities/ 94 injuries
Greenlee: 67 accidents/2 fatalities/25 injuries

Arizona pickup truck accidents accounted for nearly 20 percent of all Arizona accidents.

Crashes by vehicle type
Cars: 98,888
Pickup Trucks: 38,674
Station Wagons: 35,990
Tractor-Trailer Accidents: 2,457
Concrete Mixers: 31
Dump Truck Accidents: 164
Garbage Truck Accidents: 121
Tanker Truck Accidents: 42
Tow Truck Accidents: 143
School Bus Accidents: 238
Commercial Bus Accidents: 1,086
Motorcycle Accidents: 3,029
ATV Accidents: 169
Moped Accidents: 21
RV Accidents: 153

Top 5 Most Common Causes of Accidents (non-alcohol):
Speed too fast for conditions: 33,845
Failure to Yield Right of Way: 18,531
Inattention/Distraction: 11,117
Following too Closely: 5,502
Unsafe Lane Change: 5,557

Continue reading "More than half of all Arizona drunk driving accidents involve car accidents in Phoenix" »

Nearly 300 Arizona traffic accidents a day injured more than 50,000 motorists and claimed 806 lives in 2009, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Our Phoenix car accident attorneys reported earlier this month on our Injury Lawyer Blog, that fatal traffic accidents hit a 16-year low last year, in part because of the struggling economy.

But all totaled, the state reported more than 100,000 car accidents. Among the highlights of Arizona's 2009 traffic report:

Number of crashes
Drunk Driving Accidents: 5,854
Pedestrian Accidents; 1,523
Bicycle Accidents: 1,995
Motorcycle Accidents: 2,958

Serious an fatal injuries

Total: 806 fatalities/50,610 injuries
Drunk Driving accidents: 261 fatalities/4,142 injuries
Pedestrian accidents: 122 fatalities/1,304 injuries
Bicycle accidents: 25 fatalities/1,643 injuries

Months and Days
December: Most crashes
February: Most fatal crashes
Friday: Most crashes
Saturday: Most fatal crashes

At a glance

-More than two motorists a day died in Arizona traffic accidents.
-One person was killed every 10.88 hours.
-138.56 injuries were reported per day.
-Drunk driving was involved in more than 5 percent of all crashes and more than one-third of all traffic fatalities.
-Single-vehicle accidents accounted for less than 20 percent of all accidents but almost half of all fatalities.
-Three-quarters of all accidents occurred during daylight hours.

The most common type of collision was rear-end accidents while driving too fast for conditions was the most common driving violation. The total cost of the state's traffic fatalities was estimated at more than $1 billion, while overall cost of traffic accidents in Arizona in 2009 was $2.7 billion.

Continue reading "More than 300 Arizona car accidents a day cost the state $2.7 billion in 2009" »

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.

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" »

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.

Continue reading "Drunk driving enforcement aims to reduce risk of Phoenix car accidents through Labor Day weekend" »

A Phoenix pedestrian accident claimed the life of a young teenager Friday night, ABC15 reported.

The teen was killed while crossing Phoenix Street near 72nd Avenue and Indian School Road about 10:45 p.m. An officer was driving by the scene just before the accident happened and made a U-turn in response to the crash.

A witness reported that the officer had shined a spotlight on two people jaywalking just before the accident, possibly blinding the driver who struck them. A police spokesperson said the officer did not shine a light on the two victims until after the crash occurred. Police say the driver did not claim to be blinded and statements by both the driver and the surviving victim confirm the police version of events.

Police say the driver of the vehicle stopped and was cooperative with officers. Neither drugs nor alcohol are suspected to be a factor in the crash. No information about the second victim's condition was made available.

Drivers in Arizona are required by law to use due care to not hit pedestrians in the roadway.

Click here to read the story as reported by AZ Family.

Drunk driving may have been responsible for a fatal Phoenix truck accident that killed a 28-year-old man over the Fourth of July weekend, the Arizona Republic reported.

The driver of the truck was killed when his Nissan Titan pickup slammed head-on into a tree, according to police. The man and a 14-year-old passenger were speeding westbound on Southern Avenue near 34th Place when the driver lost control shortly before 2 p.m. Saturday. The teenager was transported to the hospital, where he was listed in stable condition on Sunday.

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 fireworks, operator error, child curiosity and the use of homemade devices.

Continue reading "Phoenix injury lawyers wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July weekend" »

Authorities are reviewing city procedures after a 10-year-old boy was injured in a San Luis, Arizona bicycle accident by an employee who was allegedly driving drunk in a city vehicle, the Yuma Sun reported.

The boy was riding his bike near a Walmart store on May 27 when he was struck by the city vehicle, according to the San Luis police chief. The defendant is charged with driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident. He has since resigned from his job with the city. The victim, a student at Harvest Preparatory Academy, suffered a broken pelvis, femur and shoulder in the accident.

“The employee was on duty and broke the rule,” city spokeswoman Karin Meza said. “The idea is see what improvements can be made to the procedures to avoid risks” of similar incidents occurring in the future. “We don't know if supervision was lacking or if the rules need to be strengthened.”

Channel 13 reported that the accident happened shortly after 7 p.m. as the city worker was traveling west on Los Olivos Avenue. He struck the boy at the corner of Bernal Drive. Witnesses say he initially got out of his vehicle and attempted to help the boy. But, after seeing the witnesses, he climbed back in his city-issued Ford Ranger and left the area.

A police report indicated two beer containers were found in the city vehicle and a pair of breathalyzer tests showed the employee's blood-alcohol level was over the legal limit.

As we reported on our Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, safety advocates are pushing to reduce the number of serious and fatal Arizona bicycle accidents. Nineteen cyclists were killed in Arizona accidents in 2008 and 1,682 were injured according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Drunk driving accidents continue to be a leading cause of traffic fatalities nationwide, accounting for about one-third of all deadly crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nationwide, 11,773 people died in alcohol-related crashes in 2008 -- or one person every 45 minutes.

In Arizona, 343 of the state's 937 fatal crashes involved alcohol.

A 29-year-old mother is facing serious criminal charges in connection with an Arizona car crash that occurred between Phoenix and Flagstaff earlier this year. She remains in jail on a $15,000 bond after her arrest on Thursday.

ABC15 reported on Thursday that the woman is accused of driving under the influence of drugs and causing the Skull Valley car accident.

The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office said she was driving a 1997 Ford Mustang with two children in the car, ages 5 and 6, when she collided with a Chevy truck driven by a 71-year-old Yarnell man.

The woman was flown to a Phoenix hospital with injuries to her legs and upper body; the daughter was airlifted to a Phoenix hospital with head injuries. Her son was treated at Yavapai Regional Medical Center. The pickup truck's driver, who had recently undergone open heart surgery, was flown to a hospital with severe chest pains.

Authorities report a traffic investigation clearly determined the woman was at fault in the accident, having driven left of center before colliding with the truck; her blood tested positive for a substantial amount of methamphetamine/amphetamines through lab testing conducted by the Department of Public Safety.

She now faces charges of aggravated DUI, child abuse, aggravated assault and felony criminal damage. Her 5-year-old daughter, who was home at the time of her arrest, was taken into custody by Child Protective Services.

Nationwide, about one-third of all traffic fatalities result from a driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs; 11,773 motorists were killed in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In Arizona, 343 of 937 traffic fatalities were blamed on impaired drivers.

The U.S. Department of Transportation recently reported that the number of women arrested for driving while impaired has increased by 30 percent in the last decade, even as the number of men arrested has declined slightly.

You can learn more about the increase in DUI among women by reading the CNN report.

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" »

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.

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.

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" »

As the State of Arizona prepares to issue a comprehensive report on traffic accidents for last year, a look at the 2008 traffic report provides an in-depth look at traffic safety in The Grand Canyon State.

A total of 937 people were killed in 842 fatal Arizona traffic accidents in 2008. In all, 119,588 Arizona traffic accidents were reported, injuring more than 56,000, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Crash statistics for last year will be released in the coming weeks. Nationwide, more than 6 million crashes killed 41,059 people, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported.

Urban accidents were responsible for the majority of the state's traffic crashes, with 81,566 accidents, compared to 23,113 in rural areas. However, more people were killed in rural accidents.

Of accident types:
-Arizona bicycle accidents accounted for 1,989 crashes.

-Pedestrian accidents in Arizona were responsible for 1,524 traffic crashes.

-Motorcycle accidents accounted for 3,531 traffic collisions in Arizona.

-24,161 single-vehicle crashes were reported.

-Multi-vehicle crashes were the primary type of traffic accidents, with 95,427 reported.

Drunk driving accidents accounted for about one-third of all fatal traffic accidents in 2008, with 294 of 842 deadly accidents blamed on impaired drivers.

Of fatal accidents:
-414 occurred in urban areas.

-523 occurred in rural areas.

-114 young drivers under the age of 24 were killed.

Other findings include:
-February was the peak month for crashes.

-More accidents occurred on Friday than any other day of the week.

-Early evening rush hour -- between 4 and 5 p.m.-- was the most dangerous time on the roads.

-Saturday was the deadliest day of the week.

-Rear-end collisions were the most common type of traffic accident in Arizona.

-The most common citation issued to drivers was "speed too fast for conditions."