According to a 2018 report published by the Arizona Department of Transportation, the number of traffic accidents and injuries reported in 2018 declined. Unfortunately, the report also found the number of fatal traffic accidents increased over the same time period. As experienced motor vehicle accident injury attorneys in Phoenix, we have represented personal injury victims in a wide variety of traffic accidents.
The following are some of the more common types of accidents that cause serious injuries and fatalities each year in the state of Arizona. If you or a loved one has been injured in a traffic accident caused by a negligent driver, contact the Phoenix car accident lawyers at Torgenson Law at (602) 726-0747 as soon as possible to protect your legal rights and for your free case review.
Head-on collisions are the most serious of all traffic accidents on Arizona roadways. Head-on car accidents are caused when one car crosses over the centerline into oncoming traffic. When two vehicles are traveling in opposite directions and their front ends collide, the force of the accident is multiplied, resulting in serious and often fatal injuries. Head-on motor vehicle accidents are often caused when one driver is distracted and is no longer paying attention to the road ahead. Law enforcement officers often report that the driver at-fault for the accident was either reaching for something or became distracted. When a driver turns their head or reaches for something inside the car, the opposite hand can accidentally turn the steering wheel toward the side of the road or turn the car toward oncoming traffic, resulting in a serious crash.
While head-on collisions are the deadliest type of accident in Arizona, rear-end collisions are the most common type of accident to occur in Arizona. Rear-end accidents typically occur while automobiles are stopped at red lights. Rear-end collisions also occur when a driver is following too closely or “tailgating” another motor vehicle and the leading car makes a sudden stop and the trailing vehicle struck the leading car from behind. The most catastrophic rear-end accidents occur on highways and interstates where traffic moving between 50 and 70 miles per hour approaches slower or stopped traffic ahead. If a driver approaching a traffic jam is not paying attention to the road ahead, a high-speed rear-end collision can occur, resulting in catastrophic injuries and even death. In an attempt to reduce rear-end accidents, many auto manufacturers have added safety features that alert drivers to slow or stopped traffic ahead. Some automobiles have automatic braking systems that will automatically slow and then stop the approaching vehicle to prevent a rear-end collision. Safety advocates recommend that drivers maintain at least one full car length of space distance between cars while at stoplights and keep ten car lengths away from the vehicle ahead of you while driving on highways and interstates.
Side-impact collisions, also referred to broadside collisions, and T-bone accidents typically occur at intersections. The most common cause of side-impact collisions is when a driver disregards a traffic device such as a stop sign or a red light. Side-impact accidents are also caused by drivers who make a left-hand turn without yielding to oncoming traffic. Side-impact crashes are extremely dangerous to occupants in the vehicle that is struck from the side. Unlike other accidents where the motor vehicle has a larger mass or impact “crumple zone” to absorb most of the forces, side-impact accidents lack sufficient space and protective material along-side the motor vehicle to absorb the forces delivered by a vehicle moving at a high rate of speed.
If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident or if you lost a loved one in an Arizona accident, ensure that your best interests are well-represented and call (602) 726-0747 to receive your free accidental death case review from the Phoenix personal injury lawyers at Torgenson Law.
