En Español
En Español
Call For A Free Consultation
(480) 706-1100
The (somewhat) good news is that car crash fatalities in Arizona went down in 2019, down from 982 in 2018 to 911. The bad news is that there were 129,750 multi-vehicle crashes in Arizona in 2019, with a staggering 36,926 injuries.
Car crashes are a common occurrence in Arizona – our Phoenix accident attorneys handle these cases often. Most of us have been in a crash, however minor, or know someone close to us who has experienced an injury accident. Even a small accident can have a very traumatic effect, not to mention the inconvenience of having a to repair your vehicle, and the subsequent loss of resale value.
The State of Arizona does a great job of compiling statistics and making them available to the people. You can find detailed information here:
https://azdot.gov/sites/default/files/media/2020/08/2019-Arizona-Motor-Vehicle-Crash-Facts.pdf
In the meantime, we have pulled out some of the most important points – which we hope you can use to make each and every trip you make just that bit safer.
Although we all have a fear of the head-on collision – and rightly so, as these kinds of accidents are often fatal – it’s actually the rear end shunt that’s the most common kind of accident. (These often result in whiplash injuries, so even if you don’t think the accident is very serious, you should get a doctor to check you out very soon after the accident.)
We all know how these can happen. You’re in heavy traffic, and someone else is not paying attention, maybe even checking their messages, and suddenly – ka-boom! Someone just ran into your car. Or suddenly a kid or a dog runs out into the road, you jump on the brakes, and before you know it, the gal behind you has rear-ended you because they were following too close.
The message here is clear. Keep your distance! Keep to the speed limit! Expect the unexpected, especially in towns and cities. And pay attention to the road. Turn that phone off, switch it to an automatic “I’m driving” message, or just have the discipline to pull over and take or return the call when it’s safe to do so. While you cannot stop other drivers from being careless or reckless, you can always do your best to be as careful as possible to avoid an injury accident.
(Source: https://azdot.gov/adot-blog/rear-end-crashes-are-most-common-type-collision)
The peak year for fatalities on Arizona’s roads, with 1,301 deaths, was 2006, and luckily the trend has been going down since then. There is no doubt that improved roads, tougher laws on distracted and impaired driving, and safer vehicles, have helped bring down this number. Hovering around a thousand though, we can all agree that it’s a tragic figure, and much too high.
Surprisingly, only 8,106 of accidents where there was an injury or fatality involved drivers under 24 years old, and only a small percentage of these also involved alcohol. This implies that younger Arizonans are behaving responsibly and taking their roles as drivers seriously, which Hastings and Hastings commends.
Good driver training, good vehicle maintenance, refraining from driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (legal or illegal), not driving when tired or emotional, and not using a phone while you are driving are all ways that accidents can be avoided. Oh, and maybe not driving on Valentine’s Day! Who knew!
While it is fortunate that the majority of Phoenix area accidents do not involve injuries, Hastings and Hastings wants you to be prepared in the event you are injured by someone else’s carelessness or recklessness. Because of the additional danger of being in the middle of a busy road following a collision, if your vehicle is drivable and it is safe to do so, move your vehicle off the road to a safe place where you can inspect the damage, and collect information from the other driver. It’s usually the case that both or all parties will cooperate in the exchange of insurance details and the taking of photographs if it is safe to do so. If you do experience a hit-and-run collision, try to obtain the other driver’s license plate so you can report it to the police.
It is also very important following an accident that you call the police and seek medical attention. Calling the police ensures that a written report is made to preserve evidence of the crash, as well as any injuries you may have suffered. Calling for medical help is important because many injuries are not felt immediately after a crash. It is always best to get checked out by a medical professional, such as a first responder, EMT, ambulance or go to the emergency room if you believe you have been injured following a car, truck, bicycle, pedestrian, or motorcycle accident.
Be sure to get the details of any other parties involved, including insurance details if possible. If it is safe, you should try to take pictures of the accident scene, your vehicle, as well as the other driver’s vehicle. We also advise that you take photographs of the other driver’s license plate, driver’s license and insurance information, if available. Be especially meticulous if there are any injuries or if the accident is serious or blocking the highway, or involves damage to other property, for example, fences or walls.
Remember, no matter how much you might want to share, do not post about your accident to social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc.). Doing this might affect any future legal proceedings, and may harm your injury case.
Following an accident, after you have been checked at the scene, it is a good idea to schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor if you have one, even if you don’t think you have been injured. After an accident, we have a rush of adrenaline which enables us to cope with the emergency, but which also might prevent us from feeling pain.
You should contact a personal injury law firm that only focuses on accidents. At Hastings and Hastings, for over 40 years we have been fighting aggressively for accident victims. It’s all we do. We understand what you are going through and know what it takes to fully protect your rights to help you get the all of the compensation you deserve. The Hastings and Hastings advantage is that our Discount Fee puts the most money possible in your pocket when your case settles. Hastings and Hastings also has our famous No Fee Promise, which means that we don’t get paid unless you get paid. If we don’t win money for you, you pay us absolutely nothing.
If you’ve been injured in an accident that was someone else’s fault, it is important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney right away. The longer you wait to contact a Phoenix personal injury lawyer, the greater chance that evidence can get lost, damaged, or destroyed. It is also important to seek medical treatment quickly following a car accident. The experienced team at Hastings and Hastings can help guide you through this difficult time from getting your car repaired, to getting you the medical attention you need.
At Hastings and Hastings, accidents and personal injury is all we do. We have been an established and respected legal presence in Arizona for over 40 years, and our team has over 90 years of combined experience in making accident and injury wrongs, right. Our experienced, friendly team is more than happy to help with any traffic accident-related inquiries that you might have. We will fight hard on your behalf to make sure that you get all of the compensation you deserve, and our Discount Fee always means more money for you.
Your consultation is always free, and always with an experienced, licensed attorney—never a salesman, intake coordinator or paralegal. It is the law in Arizona that only a lawyer can advise you on your legal rights. Call 480-706-1100 today to find out more about how we can help you get all of the money you deserve for your injuries.