Arizona Accident Information Law Blog : Arizona Personal Injury Lawyer & Attorney : Solomon & Relihan Law Firm : Auto Accidents & Car Wrecks : AZ Accident Information Law Blog

The patrol trooper said the vehicle went into a drop-off and the vehicle struck the median of the road as they were traveling. There are many automobile accidents that occur because drivers do not see partitions in the roads or because they cannot stop in time before colliding with barriers in the road. Even if high speeds are not a factor in the accident, a vehicle could still be going the speed limit and end up in a severe collision with the median of the road. The fact that there was a drop-off in the road could have played a part in this accident as well. It is possible that the markings on the roadway were not clear enough and the 18-year-old driver did not see the drop-off in the road. Even at normal speeds it would have been very difficult for the driver to avoid going over the drop-off in the road.

Unfortunately, since this was a single-vehicle accident, there may not be much that can be done for the family’s to get compensation for their loss of loved ones. Unless the victims’ families can find something wrong with the roadway the victims were traveling on, this incident was a random automobile accident that may not have been avoided. However, there are still a number of factors that would need to be taken into consideration to determine if the families can seek legal representation for their loss. The most important factors revolve around the roadway itself where the victims were driving.
 

The incident occurred when the bus collided with the passenger side of a Cadillac that had overcorrected itself after passing the bus. The Cadillac went into a ditch on the right side of the roadway. The bus also went into the ditch but hit a guardrail and rolled over. State troopers stated a preliminary investigation revealed the driver of a Cadillac contributed to the accident. However, no charges had been filed until further investigation could be conducted. The children’s ages ranged between 9 and 12 years of age.

When we allow vehicles such as school busses to transport our children to school or some other activity, we expect that there will be a high degree of safety. However, nobody can account for random actions from drivers in front of them including when a driver cuts in front of the bus as in this incident. The bus driver could not have foreseen that the driver in the Cadillac would over-correct in front of them. State troopers stated the Cadillac contributed to this accident. The driver could be held responsible and charged if the investigation into the accident reveals the drivers actions directly resulted in the accident.

Although the children in this incident only suffered minor injuries, the fact that the bus turned over could have easily caused more serious injuries for the children and the adults in the school bus. If an investigation reveals that the Cadillac driver’s actions directly resulted in this accident, they should be held accountable and justice should be handed in favor of the children and adults riding in this bus. A school bus’s safety should never be compromised for any reason, especially because of another driver on the road.
 

The report highlights the need for more studies specifically targeted to the problem to determine how big the problem is as well as how to deal with the issue effectively. The study also incorporates commercial drivers and business employees who constantly use cell phones for communication stating that there should be programs and policies established to prevent accidents from occurring for those drivers.

Driver distraction has been a major concern for many years. In recent years the development of smartphones has made it so that people can not only send text messages to other cell phone users but they can also surf the internet and play games on their phones. With cell phones becoming more and more sophisticated, they are becoming more and more like compact computers; smaller than a standard laptop but capable of the same functionality. This sophistication could become a huge distraction for drivers especially teenagers who constantly use their cell phones for social networking purposes (texting, and social networking websites). Many drivers think using a hands-free system for cell phones will reduce their chance of being in an accident. However, simply keeping both hands on the wheel is not enough to keep a driver from being distracted while driving.

Incorporating and enforcing laws to prevent drivers from using their cell phones altogether could dramatically reduce the number of accidents that occur resulting from driver distraction. By developing more studies targeted toward cell phone laws as well as the activity of cell phone use while driving, organizations like the GHSA and NHTSA can help lawmakers make it harder for driver distraction related to cell phones to be a factor in an accident. Although many people find smartphones convenient, they can pose a very real danger for drivers and cell phone laws should be in place to prevent serious accidents.
 

 The 20-year-old passenger was ejected from the truck and a second female passenger also suffered serious injuries in the crash. Two male passengers riding with Ralph suffered less severe injuries. Ralph reportedly admitted to the judge that he was intoxicated and distracted when the car went off the road. Ralph is currently free on a $40,000 bond.

Two very dangerous factors played a part in this accident; operating a vehicle while intoxicated and being distracted on the road. These are two very common reasons why people are involved in very serious automobile accidents. The report states that Ralph had been cited for a misdemeanor charge of DUI in the past prior to this accident. Two other charges were dismissed in this incident including driving without insurance and having an open container in a vehicle.

In the state of Montana where this accident occurred, a driver charged with DUI could face up to 6 months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines for a first offense. This accident could easily have been avoided if the driver of the pickup had not been drinking. Now as a result of his actions, a 20-year-old woman suffered a broken neck and one other person was in the hospital with serious injuries.
 

The elderly man was reportedly riding his bicycle to his friend’s house when the minivan struck him. The family issued a statement pleading with anybody that may have any information to come forward.

According to other reports about this accident, the elderly man suffered a serious head injury, roughly a dozen fractured ribs, a broken clavicle and a collapsed lung. One of the worst things about accidents like this one is that the victims often leave family members behind upon their death. Prior to his death, the man’s family stated that he was a physically fit person and despite his age, had many more years ahead of him if this accident had not occurred. The elderly man left behind a wife and a daughter among other family members. Now his family must live without a father and a husband and beloved member of their family. Nobody should ever have to face that sort of loss and not have any closure in the incident that caused that loss. Anybody that has information should help the man’s family bring the driver to justice for their reckless actions.
 

The rear of the vehicle smashed into the driver’s seat and killed the 19-year-old passenger instantly. The 17-year-old passenger suffered a broken leg and fractured back while the 25-year-old passenger suffered a concussion and a displaced hip. Seaman suffered broken ribs and internal injuries in the crash. Seaman was sentenced to 55 months in prison on charges of vehicular assault, third-degree assault and vehicular homicide.

This incident demonstrates how drunk driving can affect people both inside and outside the vehicle, including the driver. The blood-alcohol level that Seaman had was close to 3 times the legal limit in the United States. It doesn’t take very many drinks to have a blood alcohol level over the legal limit; however, most people don’t take this into account and attempt to get behind the wheel. As a result of Seaman’s actions, a mother has to live her life without her child and 2 others were seriously injured as well. Nobody should have to lose their lives as a result of one person’s senseless actions. Anybody that chooses to get behind the wheel after having a few drinks should be brought to justice if they are at fault for causing a serious automobile accident.
 

Nelson spent a total of 13 days in the hospital including 3 days on life support and seven in intensive care. Within two weeks, Nelson regained the ability to walk and the only lasting effect was short-term memory loss.

Nelson was extremely lucky to make a full recovery following an accident as serious as this one. Following a severe brain injury, many people are unable to regain certain functions and some don’t regain consciousness at all. There is no report on the factors that played a part in this accident. In many cases, accidents of this severity could be caused by several factors. Sometimes vehicles are known to have serious flaws that cause them to flip over as in this incident. Other times, the driver’s error could cause this type of accident. Statistics from the CDC state that roughly 1.7 people sustain brain injuries per year. About 275,000 of those people are hospitalized for various amounts of time and 52,000 die as a result of the injury. Brain injuries are a contributing factor in roughly 30% of all deaths linked to injuries, according to the CDC.
 

Sabatino argues Behne was negligent in maintaining control of her vehicle including its speed and her ability to operate the vehicle. Sabatino claims he has lost wages, has become disabled and incurred pain and suffering as a result of the accident.

Head-on traffic accidents can often lead to very serious injuries. There is no information on what specific injuries Sabatino suffered in this incident but in any head-on accident, the victim can suffer severe neck and back trauma or even fatality. By reconstructing the events of the accident, investigators would be able to determine whether or not Behne was actually at fault for the accident as Sabatino claims. Many factors go into the decision on the amount of damages a victim receives including the severity of the injuries and the severity of the accident itself. In addition, the victim’s inability to work and as a result, lose wages is also taken into consideration. This incident demonstrates the ease of which an automobile accident can occur and the fact that victims can easily suffer serious injuries, especially in a head-on collision.
 

Traffic reports state that the woman lost control of her vehicle while she was on county road 179. The driver, thirty-nine year old woman Tammy Joy Anderson was ejected from the passenger side window when the accident occurred. She was immediately taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead upon arrival.  The police report stated that Anderson was not wearing a seatbelt. 

Unfortunately, accidents like this one occur on a daily basis. There are many possible causes to this type of car accident. There could be a manufacturer defect in the car; the driver may have had a health affliction or an adverse medicinal reaction, or there could have been a road aversion. Car accidents are common events and luckily there are many people who are able to walk away from them unharmed. Others are not so lucky. With injuries like head trauma, concussions, broken bones, paralysis and deformity it can be emotionally daunting to know what course of action to take. Consulting an expert is the best course of action to take when an accident occurs in order to alive the stress, anxiety and pain you or your family might feel when a car accident occurs.

According to the report, three complaints have been filed, however, no accidents or injuries have occurred in these incidents. This is similar to the malfunction that affected several Toyota vehicles in the past which led to 5.4 million vehicles being recalled. The review from the NHTSA could potentially lead to a recall.

If this recall does occur, it will be one of many that have plagued the automotive industry in the last year for various malfunctions and defects in the vehicles. Toyota, Chevrolet, Porsche and several other automobile companies have been forced to recall vehicles for incidents ranging from stuck accelerator pedals to defects in the frame of certain vehicles that caused a spare tire to fall onto roadways. In many cases, some of the defects or malfunctions have resulted in accidents of varying severity. If the NHTSA deems it necessary for a recall to occur, it is very important for automobile companies to abide by that recall in order to ensure the safety of their consumers.

For more information on how auto defects can cause automobile accidents, visit Solomon & Relihan's Auto Defects Information page.

The driver and passenger of the SUV were both taken to a medical facility with non life-threatening injuries. According to the report, the automobile accident is still under investigation and no charges have been filed as of yet.

This incident demonstrates one of the many reasons to maintain safety precautions on roadways. Many automobile accidents occur as a result of one of the drivers involved not looking out for stop signs and other signs along roadways and, sometimes, crossing into oncoming traffic or other lanes at intersections of roads. Many accidents can be prevented if drivers ensured that they watched for stop signs or other signs that are placed on roads to prevent incidents such as this one. For motorcycle riders, the danger is increased because of the lack of protection for riders. This incident demonstrates that any obstruction on the road can easily throw a motorcyclist of their bike and cause extremely serious injuries. The higher the speed the rider is operating the motorcycle the higher the risk of injury the rider faces as well.

For more information on motorcycle accidents, visit Solomon & Relihan's Motorcycle Accident website.

One of the occupants  was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The other occupant was unconscious when police got to him. He was taken to a local Delaware hospital suffering bleeding on the brain as a result of the crash. According to the report, police had not determined who was driving the car at the time and there is no information in the report regarding the cause of the accident.

This incident demonstrates some of the most severe injuries and results that could potentially occur in any automobile accident. Driving without a seatbelt presents a very dangerous hazard for drivers as this incident demonstrates. Even for the most responsible drivers on the road, driving without a seatbelt presents a very dangerous situation because there is no way to predict what can happen on roadways. There is no way to account for all the situations that an automobile accident can occur. It is always possible for a driver to lose control of their vehicle due to many different factors. If that driver is not wearing a seatbelt, the injuries that the driver sustains could be far worse than if they would be if they wear their seatbelt. Although serious injuries can occur even with a seatbelt, wearing the seatbelt could potentially prevent a driver from being ejected from the car and causing far worse injuries or fatality.

For more information on rollover accidents, visit Solomon & Relihan's Rollovers Information page.

 Operating a vehicle at excessive speeds is one of the highest known causes for auto accidents in the United States. Driving at excessive speeds impedes the driver’s ability to make sudden stops when necessary and also reduces the driver’s reaction time in any other situation. The severity of an auto accident could be greatly reduced if the drivers involved are not driving at very high speeds. In most cases, the impact of an auto accident could be reduced, thus reducing the chances of severe injuries from the accident. Speed limit signs and all other signage on roads are posted specifically to prevent automobile accidents of any kind. Still, many people inadvertently or purposely disregard these signs and continue demonstrate aggressive driving behavior which puts themselves and any others on the road in danger. In many cases, alcohol is also a major factor in automobile accidents including those that resulted from high speed driving. Alcohol impedes one’s judgment and makes it more difficult for drivers to control their driving, especially in regards to speeding.

For more information on wrongful death in car accidents, visit Solomon & Relihan's Wrongful Death Information page.

According to a Fire Department spokesperson, the driver of the vehicle noticed smoke coming from the trunk, and then handed the passenger a glass of water in order to put it out. When that did not work to put out the fire, the driver decided to stop the vehicle and run to a nearby pharmacy in order to purchase more water to put out the fire, leaving his two passengers sitting in the car. Although the fire was spreading, the passengers sitting in the car had trouble getting out of the vehicle since the car was parked next to a curb and they became trapped. Fire officials arrived at the scene to find the vehicle completely engulfed in flames. Luckily the two passengers were in stable condition when taken to the hospital. The male (26 years old) and female (25) suffered from second degree burns to their hands back and neck. 

The driver is being suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and it has been reported that he did not realize the seriousness of the fire since he did not call 911. Officials suspect that the fire originated the fire started in an after-market power inverter. 

In a case like this, it is important to really evaluate what caused the fire and who is at fault. Sadly in this case, the injuries could have been preventable. Serious burns can affect the rest of your life. Many factors were involved in this accident, for instance the fire could have resulted in a manufacturer defect. To prevent this type of accident, it is important that no amount of alcohol be consumed by the driver. It is also important that at the first sign of danger you to exit the vehicle immediately. 

For more information on the dangers if driving under the influence, visit the Solomon & Relihan DUI Information page.

Old cases being reopened include lawsuits for accidents that may have been caused, at least in part, by Toyota equipment malfunctions.  They also include a Minnesota man who was sentenced to 8 years in prison after causing an accident that killed 3 while driving a Toyota Camry.  The man's lawyers are arguing that the crash may have been caused by the sudden acceleration problem.

The ongoing Toyota safety scandal illustrates the often-hidden role that equipment malfunction and faulty manufacturing can have in car accidents.  Even if the causes of an accident seem apparent at first, equipment malfunction may play a role that is not always obvious.  That is why it is important that you contact an experienced auto accident attorney whenever you are involved in an accident.  An experienced attorney can fully investigate an accident to find all possible causes.

For more information on the Toyota recalls, you can visit Toyota's official recall page or Toyotarecall.org.

For additional information, you should visit the Solomon & Relihan Auto Defects information page.

According to the San Angelo Standard-Times, Sarah Goodner died three years ago in a car accident while in the passenger seat of her sister's 2005 Hyundai Tucson.    Goodner was wearing a seat belt but was thrown from the vehicle because her seat was reclined too far back.  Experts at the trial argued that reclining a car seat more that 45 degrees can be dangerous.  However, the Hyundai Tucson, like most of the 237 million cars in the US, allows front passenger seats to recline more than this.

It has long been known that car seats are only effective if worn correctly and reclining a seat too far can cause the seat belt to not be positioned correctly. According to an article on the subject in Slate magazine, car manufacturers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have known about the danger of overly-reclined seats since the 1980s.  Most car manufacturers only include a brief warning of the dangers of over-reclining your seat in the owner's manual.

This case highlights and important factor for all car passengers.  Many people think that if a car manufacturer includes a feature, such as reclining seats, and the government allows it, it must be safe. However, that is not always the case.  In addition, the causes of injuries or death in a car accident are not always obvious, so after any accident you should contact an experienced Arizona auto accident attorney to investigate your case.

This incident demonstrates that an automobile accident can occur at a moment’s notice and the driver may be completely unable to avoid any obstacles in front of them. The fact that Ricker could not explain what happened in the accident proves that there are always instances when something unexpected with the vehicle or others on the road can occur and cause a serious accident. It is very fortunate that nobody was hurt in this incident, including Ricker and her passenger. In many instances, people suffer serious injuries as a result of automobile accidents. Though this type of accident is not very common, the results could have been far worse, especially for customers inside the store, as they could have been harmed by the vehicle or surrounding debris from the accident.