Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog

In what is being labeled as a freak accident, a 30-year-old man lost his life at an indoor trampoline park after suffering spinal cord injuries in Phoenix.

According to The Arizona Republic, the man broke his neck after falling into a foam pit inside one of the half-dozen trampoline parks that have emerged in the Phoenix area in recent years. The sites have been a magnet for recreation-seekers of all ages, but have also, according to the newspaper, been the site for a number of injuries - everything from strained muscles to fractured bones.

While both the trampoline park is conducting its own investigation into what happened, the park remains open.

Our Phoenix injury lawyers want everyone to keep in mind that government oversight of these type of facilities is minimal, as this is a somewhat new genre. Many of these parks have not only trampolines, but dodge ball, Velcro walls and basketball hoops. City and county officials don't inspect for much more than fire hazards or the safety of the actual structure. Inspectors are not looking at whether the equipment is safe for play, according to the newspaper article.

The centers have cropped up across the state, with two in Phoenix, one in Peoria, one in Scottsdale, one in Glendale and three in Chandler. In the last two years, some of these centers have had more than 30 calls for an emergency ambulance.

Unlike gymnastics centers, these trampoline parks might not require their staff to acquire any sort of safety certification.

Patrons are often required to sign a waiver, freeing the park of any liability if you get hurt. There is at least one case, though, in which The Republic is reporting the parents of a 17-year-old are suing, saying someone other than the teen's legal guardian signed the paperwork to play in the park. That teen ended up with a broken ankle.

Additionally, the parents of a 16-year-old are suing one of the parks for negligence after she broke her leg.

In another case, the mother of a 10-year-old boy told a reporter her son may need more than $50,000 worth of dental work over the course of his life, after suffering an injury at one of these parks.

In the fatal fall suffered by the 30-year-old man, the victim reportedly broke his neck, and later died, after falling into a pile of foam cubes after jumping on a trampoline.

Spinal cord injuries in Phoenix aren't always fatal, but they can be devastating and require years of intense physical therapy. A person may permanently lose certain capabilities, such as the ability to walk or use arms and hands. This type of injury can be especially painful for someone who was previously very active and full of vitality.

People who do survive an injury to the spinal cord will often have to cope with medical complications, such as bladder and bowel problems, chronic pain and increased chances of heart and respiratory problems.

Continue reading "Phoenix Trampoline Death Leads to Injury Concerns" »

A deadly Arizona bike accident has resulted in the death of a Colorado resident, according to KJ CT8.com. The bike rider was fatally struck in a hit-and-run crash in Avondale, AZ on May 16.

The exact facts as to how the accident occurred were not reported.

After the collision, an accident witness followed the motorist and notified police of their location. Avondale police tried to pull the driver over a short time later, but he then crossed over the center line and drove up onto a sidewalk.

Officers finally stopped the 37-year-old driver by blocking him in with their squad cars. He still refused to cooperate until police released a K-9 on him, and only then did he cooperate.

The defendant was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident and aggravated assault of a police officer. It was not reported if the motorist was impaired.

The article did not state whether a civil lawsuit has been filed or if a Phoenix bicycle accident attorney is involved in the case.

A rollover SUV accident in Tucson has claimed the lives of two Phoenix residents, according to KVOA.com. The single car crash occurred on Sunday, May 15 on Interstate 19 around 10 miles south of the city. Arizona Department of Public Safety officials are stating that just after 1 PM the driver of a Ford Explorer lost control, drove onto a median and rolled over.

Two passengers, a 53-year-old man a 62-year-old woman died in the accident. The 25-year-old driver and a 51-year-old passenger were also injured, but it was not reported if they were hospitalized.

All of the occupants in the vehicle were from Phoenix. DPS officials also stated that everyone was wearing their seatbelts and that the investigation is ongoing.

It has not been reported if an Arizona personal injury lawyer is involved in the case.

An Arizona car vs. pedestrian accident in July, 2010 has left one person dead and another facing a potential prison sentence, according to AZCentral.com.

The driver accused of causing the accident is a 29-year-old Phoenix man who allegedly lost control of a Cadillac last summer, crashing it into a crowd of pedestrians crossing the street. One of the five injured was killed in the accident that took place near Bell Road, west of Arizona 51. The at fault motorist reportedly left the scene of the Phoenix accident without checking on any of the accident victims, in violation of Arizona law.

Arizona law mandates that any driver of a vehicle involved in an accident that results in injury to or death of a person must stop the car at the scene of the crash and remain at the scene until cleared by officials to leave. A driver who fails to meet these requirements and also caused the crash is guilty of a Class 3 felony.

Witnesses reported seeing the Cadillac speeding down Bell Road around 36th Street where the driver appeared to lose control. After running down a group of pedestrians crossing the street, the car stopped and several occupants of the vehicle fled in different directions.

The Cadillac passengers later turned themselves in to the police, but the driver failed to do so and was later arrested at his girlfriend’s house. He faces several charges, including leaving the scene of the accident. He could face up to 10 years in prison when his case goes to trial in March.

Cases like this usually involve a civil claim in addition to the pending criminal charges. It has not been reported if the pedestrian victim's family has retained a Phoenix personal injury attorney or if a civil lawsuit has been filed.

An Arizona bike accident that occurred on Sunday, November 14th around 4:30 AM has resulted in the death of the 53-year-old man, according to Fox news. A 54-year-old female motorist who hit the bicycle rider and then fled the scene has been arrested by the Phoenix Police Department.

The accident occurred in the area of 48th St. and Van Buren when the driver hit a bicyclist moving westbound. The driver was traveling in a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier and she attempted to flee the scene after the accident. Police officers were able to apprehend her within blocks of the accident scene and they now believe she was driving while impaired.

The bicyclist died at the scene.

The driver was arrested and charged with manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident causing death. Additional charges reportedly could be made after toxicology reports are reviewed.

Read the story as reported by CBS news and ABC news here.

There is no word as to whether a Phoenix bike accident lawyer is involved in the case yet. Click here to read more about Arizona hit-and-run claims.

An Arizona resident has been struck and killed in a pedestrian accident that occurred in Green Bay, Wisconsin, according to azfamily.com. The victim, who was a resident of Avondale, Arizona was accidentally struck and killed by his girlfriend who was driving while intoxicated.

The deadly accident occurred last Friday around 11 PM. The victim had been unemployed for several months and was staying with his girlfriend Wisconsin.

The couple had been out drinking at a local bar before the accident when they reportedly got into an argument. The Arizona man decided to walk home and then his girlfriend got into her car to go find him. She then accidentally ran him over around three blocks from the tavern. She got out of her car to try to help when she realized that she had struck him. She tried performing CPR.

During the police investigation it was discovered that the woman had a blood-alcohol level of over twice the Wisconsin legal limit of 0.08. She now faces charges that include homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, which is a felony in Wisconsin.

It is not been reported if a Wisconsin or Arizona injury lawyer is involved in the case yet. Here, the attorney representing the family of the victim will look to pursue a wrongful death claim against the at fault driver. Further, the lawyer may also look into whether the local tavern served the driver too much alcohol before she got into her car and drove off.

While this accident happened Wisconsin, click here to read more about Arizona dramshop claims.

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 woman has been killed in a Mesa car crash that was caused by a motorist going the wrong way on the Loop 202, according to azcentral.com. This is the second wrong way accident on a Phoenix area highway this past week.

A spokesman from the Mesa Police Department is stating that the crash involved a police chase. Two detectives observed a vehicle pass them going well over 100 mph on US 60 around 11 PM on Wednesday. Police were not initially following the suspect and they do not know why he was traveling at such an excessive rate of speed.

The speeding driver was in a Jeep Grand Cherokee headed eastbound. Police officers tried pursue the Jeep, but then slowed down and called in a police helicopter. Police vehicles reportedly stayed a half mile in back of the suspect to try to avoid unnecessary danger to the public.

The driver of the Jeep blew through traffic lights as it sped through parts of Mesa. Officers tried to stop the vehicle at the intersection of Power and Brown Roads by blocking the intersection with police cars, however the driver got around them by driving through landscaping.

The police also tried using stop sticks at Hermosa Vista Drive and Gilbert Road, but the speeder was able to avoid capture again and got onto the Loop 202 heading east in the westbound lanes.

The Jeep then struck a car head-on, killing its 36-year-old female driver. The driver of the Jeep is facing manslaughter charges, and additional charges are expected to be filed.

Phoenix auto accident lawyers at our office reported just a few days ago that a teenage driver on the Loop 101 caused an accident by driving the wrong way. Three people were injured and hospitalized in that accident.

An Arizona motorcyclist has died in an accident that occurred in the North Valley on Tuesday, according to ABC news. The Phoenix bike crash took place at Union Hills Drive and 28th St. in the late afternoon, which is a stop light intersection in a residential area.

It is being reported that the accident occurred when a female driver of a car made a left turn into the path of the motorcycle. The woman later told police she did not see the motorcyclist approaching.

When the vehicles collided the gas tank on the motorcycle punctured and burst into flames, burning both the bike and the car. The Arizona Republic is reporting that the motorcyclist was thrown around 30 feet and sustained severe chest injuries.

The motorcycle rider, age 26, was rushed by ambulance to John C. Lincoln Hospital in critical condition and died a short time later. The driver of the car only suffered minor injuries.

The Phoenix Police Department is handling the motorcycle crash investigation. They do not believe the left turning driver was impaired. The intersection had to be closed for several hours.

It has not been reported if a Phoenix personal injury lawyer is involved in the case yet. There will most likely be a civil claim pursued in this matter, as drivers in the state of Arizona have a duty to yield to oncoming traffic when making a left turn.

On Tuesday night a deadly Mesa bike accident claimed the life of 11-year-old girl, according to azfamily.com. The accident took place around 6 PM at the intersection of Brown Road and Lindsay Road.

A 16-year-old driver of the pickup truck was reportedly passing a vehicle in front of him, and he failed to observe the bicyclist and struck her. The 11-year-old victim was out for bicycle ride with her family at the time of the accident. The name of the girl has not been released.

The Mesa Police Department is handling the accident investigation. No charges have yet been filed, and it appears that drugs or alcohol did not play a role in the accident.

As the weather cools off in the Phoenix area, more and more bicyclists will be on the streets. Arizona drivers have to diligently lookout for bikes on the roadway, especially children.

ADOT reports that in the year 2008 there were nearly 2000 bicycle accidents in our state. In those accidents,113 children between the ages of 10 – 14 were injured, and two were killed. Statistics for 2009 have not yet been released.

An Arizona car versus motorcycle accident has resulted in the death of a woman from Buckeye, according to azcentral.com. The motorcycle crash occurred Saturday morning in Goodyear.

At the time of the collision, the victim and her husband were both riding on two motorcycles. They stopped for stop sign at the intersection of Indian School Road and Citrus Road at around 12:30 AM. While stopped, the driver of a Chevy Cobalt rear-ended the victim's motorcycle.

The woman's name has not been reported, and her husband was not injured in the accident.

Investigating Goodyear police officers believe the at fault driver may have been drinking, and their investigation is ongoing.

Whether a Phoenix area personal injury law firm is involved in the case yet has not been reported.

In other bike crash news, the Arizona Republic is reporting that an All-Arizona senior linebacker from Mesa was injured last week in an accident. The 6 foot three, 215 pound player reportedly suffered bad road rash. What caused the motorcycle accident has not been reported.

According to ADOT, in 2008 alone there were over 3,500 motorcycle accidents in Arizona. 140 motorcyclists died and over 3,000 were hurt in those collisions. 70% of those accidents took place in urban centers such as Glendale and Mesa.

An Arizona bus crash has resulted in the death of two people in serious injuries to several others, according to CNN. The accident occurred in Kingman, Arizona which is part of Mohave County.

It was a single vehicle bus crash that took place just after 8 AM on Sunday. A commercial tour bus reportedly drove off the road and rolled over several times on Pierce Ferry Road near milepost 23, according to NBC news. There were a total of 11 passengers and the driver on board.

Two of the bus passengers died at the accident site, and several other passengers were seriously injured and either helicoptered or taken by ambulance to to area hospitals. Some were taken to Kingman Regional Medical Center. The bus may have been carrying a group of Chinese tourists. The tour bus was traveling from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon.

The bus driver is said to incurred minor injuries and is cooperating with investigating officers. The Mohave County Sheriff's Department is handling the crash investigation. No reason has yet been given as to why the bus drove off the highway.

It is not been reported if there are any Arizona injury attorneys involved in the case.

Fox news in Arizona is reporting that there is been two other fatal bus crashes in this region over the past two years. One bus crash in January of 2009 killed seven people and injured 10 others. A bus traveling with Chinese tourists coming from the Grand Canyon were in an accident on US 93.

Then in August, 2010 a bus crash on Interstate 15 in southwestern Utah resulted in the death of three Japanese tourists. The bus was doing a four-day national Park tour that included the Grand Canyon.

The Arizona Republic is reporting that a driver that was involved in a deadly bicycle accident in Tempe Arizona has pleaded guilty in court to failing to drive at a speed to exercise reasonable care for others.

The accident happened back on May 17, 2010 when a 36-year-old Tempe bicycle rider was headed home from work when he was hit by a car at the intersection of Alameda Drive and McClintock Drive. The Arizona bicycle rider died later the same evening.

The driver claimed in the police report that as he went through the intersection he had a green light, however a witness at the scene (who was also riding a bicycle) stated that the bike rider had the green light.

The victim's family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the at fault driver. The newspaper report did not name the Phoenix bicycle accident attorney that is working on the case.

The Arizona Republic is reporting that a car crash in Phoenix has led to the death of the teenager who was riding as a front seat passenger. The accident happened when a teenager driving on a permit hit a tree at 4100 W. Bethany Home Rd. around 4 AM on Sunday. The driver's injuries were reportedly minor.

The vehicle was moving eastbound when it crossed the center line and then crashed. Police do not yet know what caused the vehicle to lose control, however there was no indication of alcohol impairment.

It is also being reported that the front seat passenger was not wearing a seatbelt, but the driver was belted. There was another passenger in the backseat of the car that was also not wearing a seatbelt. That passenger, age 17, sustained critical injuries, according to Fox news.

The passenger that died in the accident was 18 years old and was a student at Phoenix Union High School District.

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

According to ADOT, in the year 2008 alone a total of 258 passengers were killed, and 16,055 passengers were injured in Arizona motor vehicle accidents.

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 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 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 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.

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.

A man has been arrested in connection with an Arizona hit and run accident that killed a bike rider in Tempe last week, according to azfamily.com. A 22 year old man from Mesa was arrested on Saturday and charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident, which is a felony charge. Police are also saying he has admitted being involved.

The arrest stems from a bicycle accident that occurred last Saturday night at Southern Ave. and Rural Road. The 32 year old victim was driving a motorized bike eastbound when the defendant turned his car left into the victim, causing a T-bone accident. The defendant then fled the scene of the accident. Video shows the bicycle rider was legally riding in traffic at the time of the crash.

Several people in other vehicles called police and stayed at the scene to try to help the bike rider. The victim was rushed to an area hospital where he later died.

Click here to read the entire story as reported by azcentral.com.

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.

A woman from Peoria has been killed in an Arizona pedestrian accident, according to the Arizona Republic. The Phoenix area car accident happened when a car jumped a curb and struck the woman who was sitting on a bench outside a Walgreens on Tuesday.

The accident occurred around 9:00 a.m. The Peoria Police Department and Fire Department came to the scene of the accident at Lake Pleasant and Beardsley Road. The driver, an 87 year old woman, was parking her Honda Accord in the parking lot when she accidentally hit the gas instead of the brakes. The car then jumped a curb and hit the victim, who was a 65-year-old Walgreens employee.

The victim was treated at the scene by paramedics and then flown to an area emergency room by helicopter. She died a short time later.

The at fault elderly driver was not injured, nor was she impaired.

According to most recent ADOT reports, 124 pedestrians were killed in Arizona in the year 2008 alone. Over 1,400 pedestrians were injured that same year. Also, in 2008 just under 7,000 elderly drivers (ages 75 & up) were involved in auto accidents, and in those accidents 66 people were killed and over 2,300 were injured.

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 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.

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.

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.

In 2008, Arizona traffic accidents totaled 119,588, including 842 fatal accidents that claimed 937 lives, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Total accidents declined by more than 15 percent, compared to the 141,092 crashes reported in 2007. Authorities will be watching the numbers carefully when the state releases 2009 figures in the coming weeks to see if that trend continues.

While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports a reduction in traffic accidents nationwide, from 37,261 in 2008 to 33,963 in 2009, some experts point to the weak economy and high unemployment as primary causes and believe serious and fatal accidents will rebound with an economic recovery.

The stats in Arizona give validity to that argument:
2004: 138,899 crashes claimed 1,159 lives
2005: 140,574 crashes claimed 1,193 lives
2006: 143,093 crashes claimed 1,300 lives
2007: 141,092 crashes claimed 1,071 lives
2008: 119,588 crashes claimed 937 lives

With the upcoming publication of last year's statistics, comparison to a number of 2008 metrics will be useful:

-Approximately 2.57 people a day were killed in Arizona traffic accidents; or one person every 9.36 hours.

-About 153 people a day were injured; or one person every 10 minutes.

-Alcohol was involved in about one-third of all fatal Arizona traffic accidents. Of those, 4 out of 5 occurred in urban areas.

-7 out of 10 crashes occurred during daylight hours.

-Arizona traffic crashes caused more than $2.8 billion in damages.

-33 children under the age of 14 were killed in motor vehicle accidents and 4,510 were injured.

Continue reading "Improving economy could impact recent reduction in Arizona car accidents" »

A Phoenix bus, involved in a fatal Arizona bus accident that claimed six lives last month, was being driven so erratically that several motorists called 911 shortly before it plunged off the freeway and overturned, the Arizona Republic reported.

A 130-page report was released this week by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, detailing several safety violations, including brake problems, poor maintenance and driver logbook violations. The report also said the driver was believed to be going too fast and may have fallen asleep at the wheel.

However, no specific cause of the crash was identified in the report and no citations have been issued, pending a review by the Pinal County Attorney's Office.

The March 5 accident occurred when the bus crashed into a pickup truck on Interstate 10 as it was traveling to Los Angeles from central Mexico. The bus veered into the median and then back across several lanes, before rolling into a ditch. Six of 22 passengers were killed.

A drug expert concluded the driver was not impaired. However, authorities report he has changed his story several times during interviews with investigators. Motorists reported the bus was speeding, tailgating several semis and driving erratically through traffic.

Police report the bus driver was incapable of reading or speaking English, as required by Arizona law, and did not have his logbook up to date. Documents report that the owner of Tierra Santa, the Los Angeles-area company that owns the bus, tried to take out insurance on the bus after the crash.