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What are your family’s plans this summer? Will you be spending time at home in the Phoenix area, or will you be taking a trip? If you are like a typical Maricopa County resident, odds are that you will leave the Valley at least once this summer and will travel by car or by plane to another part of the state or the nation.

Many people look forward to this time of year so they can enjoy some fun on a lake with their friends and family. Boating is a very popular pastime in Arizona and there are some great bodies of water in the northern part of the state for people to enjoy. Others head to Nevada or similar neighboring states with some water so they can enjoy time off work while relaxing in the sun.

Now that school is officially over for many children in Phoenix, the boating season in Arizona has begun in full force. If you will be participating this summer, though, make sure you do so with safety in mind so that you can avoid any boat accidents or water-related incidents that may lead to harm.

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Americans have heard for decades that smoking and using other tobacco products are harmful to their health. In response, e-cigarettes and other electronic devices arose to mimic the sensation of smoking but to reduce the harm presented by the activity. Reports now indicate that the e-cigarette industry brought in more than $2.5 billion in sales in 2014 alone in the United States, making it a serious factor in the lives of millions of Americans. The use of e-cigarettes, often referred to as vaping, has now become more popular among teens than actually smoking.

But as these devices have seen a rise in popularity, so has the number of accidents and injuries associated with them risen. Reports from all across the country have concluded that e-cigarettes and vape pens have a tendency to explode or combust when users least expect it, often leading to harm to an intended user or that user’s property.

Now, a new incident has been reported involving an e-cigarette that left a man blind in one eye and with severe damage to his face.

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Americans who are in the market for a new or used vehicle often make several assumptions. They assume that the cars they consider buying have met minimum safety standards and that they are legal on public roadways. They assume that there are no defects in the vehicles which would make them unreasonably safe to operate. And often, they assume that they will have no problems with basic driving tasks including starting the car, moving forward, and turning.

But if you live in the Phoenix area and you drive a Fiat Chrysler vehicle that is covered by a recent recall, odds are that you may have a hard time telling if you put your vehicle in park.

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Yesterday, many people driving in North Tempe were affected by a collision between a bus and a motorcycle. The crash happened on McClintock Road near the 202 and led to the closure of McClintock for more than six hours, an inconvenience for many who were trying to get around nearby.

But the fallout from the collision was much greater than the hassle it caused other drivers as it has been reported that the motorcyclist involved suffered serious injuries and needed immediate medical help, a reminder of how quickly life can change for those who ride in the Phoenix area.

This accident, like many involving bikers, has reignited questions in the minds of some about what rights motorcyclists possess and what options they have if they are involved in a motorcycle accident.

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If you choose to ride a motorcycle in the Phoenix area, you are also faced with additional decisions. When, where, and how you should ride are among those choices that motorcyclists must make, but one of the most basic questions that crosses every rider’s path is whether to wear a helmet.

Experts strongly advise all motorcyclists to wear helmets each and every time they ride. By wearing a helmet, bikers will significantly reduce their risks of head and brain injuries and will even reduce their risks of death in the event that a motorcycle accident occurs. If you have made the decision to wear a helmet, know that you are on the right track towards ensuring your own safety but that if you pick the wrong helmet, you will not do yourself any favors.

Recent years have seen an increase in the production, marketing, and purchasing of so-called “novelty helmets,” a type of helmet designed to look good but not designed to meet the optimal safety standards. Even among bikers, many of these helmets are known to be useless when it comes to protecting a head to the point that some are commonly referred to as “brain buckets,” a phrase that indicates a lack of safety, a lack of a face shield, and overall a helmet that may look good but that does not provide much, if any, protection.

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The way the world works means that darkness is a part of our American lives. Though it comes every day and its presence is routine, it is still a challenge for motorists who must drive during the dark hours. Roadways and cars are designed for nighttime travel but it poses some unique risks that drivers should acknowledge prior to their travels to remain as safe as possible.

If your daily life requires you to drive in the early morning hours or late at night, make sure you understand the issues that can arise in the dark and keep these following tips in mind:

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When you drive around Phoenix, you come across countless other vehicles occupying the same roads as you. Though people are all moving in different directions, they do so in an organized fashion thanks in part to the state laws that govern the flow of traffic. While some rules are clear, others are more confusing and can lead drivers to make mistakes or to err, potentially leading to a car accident. One area of the law that regularly gives rise to questions continues to be the right-of-way, and how to respect it.

Put simply, the right-of-way determines who or which vehicle gets to continue moving before others in the area. It allows one driver priority to move into an intersection, across a road, or in another direction while others must yield, or wait. In most cases, issues with the right-of-way arise when vehicles traveling in opposite directions cross paths and in particular at intersections that are not otherwise controlled.

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As the year winds down, many people in Phoenix and the rest of the Valley may reflect on 2014 and be grateful for the good that happened in their lives. For some unlucky residents, a year end reflection may focus on negatives instead of positives. For the victims of car accidents Phoenix, this is often true as collisions leave behind mental and physical injuries. From needed medical treatment to missed wages while they are unable to work, the suffering endured by these victims can be extensive.

Suffering and damages incur the moment a crash takes place and can last for a long duration. While no action can magically erase these losses, victims can seek relief to help them recover financially. A settlement may enable you to provide for your family, obtain the medical help you need, and let you move beyond the crash if an accident has affected your life. Speaking with an injury lawyer who handles car accident cases may enable you to assess your options for help and may let you move forward with your claim.

Late last night, three vehicles collided in a violent impact near the intersection of 35th Avenue and Northern Avenue in Phoenix. Police and other emergency crews responded to the scene and assessed the victims of the crash. In the end, three people needed to be taken to area hospitals for treatment on their injuries which were not disclosed. The victims included two teenagers and a 4-year-old child.

The crash happened at approximately 10:30 p.m. and police have not yet revealed a suspected cause but they have launched an investigation where all potential issues will be analyzed, according to reports. The results of the investigation may determine whether any driver involved in the accident will receive a traffic citation or whether any criminal charges will be issued.
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A 59-year-old man was riding his bicycle along Pinal Avenue in Casa Grande when he became the victim of a hit-and-run accident. He was struck by a large SUV, according to local police. The SUV fled the scene leaving the injured bicyclist behind.

Police found what they believe to be pieces from both the bicycle and a Ford Expedition believed to have been involved scattered at the scene. Early evidence indicates the Expedition may have been manufactured between 2003 and 2006. The bicyclist had to be airlifted to Maricopa Hospital in Phoenix where it was reported he sustained internal injuries as well as a head injury. Fortunately it appeared that the bicyclist’s injuries were not life threatening.

Early reports indicate that the bicyclist and the automobile were traveling in the same direction just north of the airport when the automobile struck the rider from behind.

A suspect was arrested by Casa Grande police but no charges have yet been filed.

Police are actively investigating the collision and are looking for any tips from local residents. If you have any information regarding this crash, please contact Officer Chuck Schmidlin at (520) 412-8700.
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GMAC Insurance recently released the results of a nationwide survey which seemed to illustrate the need for drivers to brush up on the rules of the road, according to Yahoo news. The study shows that over twenty percent of U.S. motorists would not pass a drivers test if they had to take one now.

This percentage is actually better when compared to 2010, when 76.2% of drivers would fail a test, as compared to 77.9% in 2011. In 2010, 30 million drivers in the United States were unfit to be on the road. These survey results arguably show that many American drivers have unsafe habits, which could lead to a greater number of Arizona car crashes.

Here are some of the survey results: