pedestrian accident

Pedestrian Injuries: Who’s at Fault?

By Personal Injury Lawyer on December 11, 2009

Pedestrians are some of the most vulnerable travelers on our roads. Many drivers simply aren’t paying attention and don’t notice a pedestrian crossing the street; other drivers may be ignoring the law requiring them to yield to pedestrians. Whatever the cause, pedestrian accidents can result in serious injuries and even death.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an Arizona pedestrian accident, please contact one of our personal injury lawyers right away. Due to the statutes of limitations in such cases, it is critical that our attorneys begin working on the case immediately. If possible, you should also try to get witnesses who can verify your account of the accident.

If you’re not sure if you have a claim, then it’s still important to contact an Arizona personal injury attorney experienced with pedestrian injuries who can effectively evaluate the situation to see if you have a case.

Mesa Pedestrians Injured by Drivers Who Fail to Look Right Before Turning

By Personal Injury Lawyer on October 12, 2009

As personal injury attorneys in Mesa, Arizona, we’ve seen many cases where pedestrians are injured in car accidents. Obviously, these types of accidents can be incredibly dangerous to the pedestrian. Even if a vehicle is going very slowly, it can still cause catastrophic damage to a person walking. There is nothing to protect the pedestrian – no seatbelt to hold them back or airbag to cushion the blow. When a car weighing thousands of pounds, which can exert major force, hits a pedestrian, there are almost always injuries to that individual.

One of the most common kinds of pedestrian accidents that we see at Breyer Law Offices happens when a car is turning right and the driver fails to see the pedestrian. This happens when a vehicle is turning right at an intersection light or out of a driveway. Rather than looking right to ensure that there are no people there, the driver simply looks left and forgets to check right before turning.

Unfortunately, in many of these cases, the driver does not immediately take responsibility for their actions. Rather then admitting that they were at fault, they claim it was the pedestrian’s fault. They may say that the pedestrian walked right in front of their vehicle without paying attention or that the pedestrian came out of nowhere. These are common defenses that we’ve seen negligent drivers try to use.

Even if you as the pedestrian had the right of way and weren’t at fault, it’s important to have evidence to back this up, such as eyewitness testimony. That’s why in these types of unfortunate situations it’s critical to hire a Mesa personal injury attorney who is experienced with pedestrian accidents. A skilled attorney will know how to gather vital evidence in order to create a strong case on your behalf.

With that said, you may not even need to hire an attorney or you may not even have a valid personal injury claim. But, if you do have a solid claim and you don’t file it within a certain time period, then you may lose the right to file a personal injury claim at all – even if a negligent driver injured you. So before proceeding on your own, at least consult with a lawyer who can explain all your options and the legal ramifications to you.

If you’d like to explore your legal options with an experienced Mesa pedestrian accident attorney, please contact Breyer Law Offices. We are always available to answer your questions about a possible personal injury claim. We’ve represented thousands of clients and we understand that dealing with a lawyer and a possible lawsuit can seem intimidating and daunting. But rest assured that we will do everything possible to answer your questions and provide the guidance and advice you need so you can make the best decision possible. Contact us today for more information and to schedule a free, no-obligation case consultation.

Hit and Run Accidents

By Personal Injury Lawyer on September 22, 2009

The Arizona Revised Statutes, specifically ARS 28-661, discusses what a driver should do if he or she is involved in an accident that results in death or personal injury, and how the law should react if the driver fails to stop. In short, this statute talks about hit and run accidents, a very serious issue in Arizona.

Many Arizona residents feel as if they have no recourse if they have been seriously injured in a hit and run accident. They think that they will not be able to file an insurance claim or receive any monetary compensation. The reality of the situation is that there are a number of different types of insurance that will allow someone who has been seriously hurt in a hit and run accident to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and other legitimate claims, even if the responsible party left the scene of the accident.

If you have any questions after a hit and run accident, it is best to at least contact a skilled Arizona personal injury lawyer. The best lawyers for hit and run claims will answer your questions honestly and will not pressure you to sign any sort of fee agreement. Many initial consultations with some of the best injury lawyers in Arizona are without cost or obligation to you. The personal injury lawyers at Breyer Law Offices are happy to answer your questions so that you can make the best decision for yourself and your family about how to proceed in a hit and run or other personal injury claim.

Pedestrians Injured by Cars that Are Not Paying Attention

By Personal Injury Lawyer on September 1, 2009

Far too many people walking along our sidewalks and our streets are badly injured because cars simply do not pay attention to the pedestrians on the side of the road or in the crosswalk. Arizona Revised Statutes ARS 28 791 and ARS 28 792 both govern crosswalk accidents. Arizona Revised Statute ARS 28 793 also discusses those who may have been crossing somewhere other than a crosswalk. However, people fail to pay attention to Arizona Revised Statute ARS 28 794 which also requires drivers to exercise due care.

Far too often, the person seriously injured in a pedestrian accident with a motor vehicle has to overcome the initial reaction that blames the pedestrian even though the car may have been at fault.

Because someone who has been seriously injured has the burden of proof, finding the most experienced Phoenix pedestrian accident lawyer can be a vital first step for anybody who needs a top lawyer anywhere throughout the State of Arizona.

If you or someone you know has been seriously injured or if you have had a family member killed who was walking along the street and you believed that there may be a right to pursue a legal claim, do not just guess. Contact a top accident lawyer and get your questions answered. We are happy to answer your questions at no cost and we will provide you honest feedback—we will tell you if there is a case and whether we believe it is worth pursuing—so that you can make the best decision possible under these terrible circumstances.

Source report:http://www.azleg.state.az.us/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/28/00792.htm&Title=28&DocType=ARS

Phoenix Pedestrian Accident May Have Been Caused by Drunk Driver

By Personal Injury Lawyer on August 4, 2009

Sadly, Arizona drunk drivers continue to cause harm to innocent victims. In order to reduce drunk driving car accidents in Tucson and Phoenix and throughout Arizona, auto accident lawyers can play an important role. Reports indicate that a pedestrian hit on a sidewalk on Camelback Road close to 37th Avenue was injured due to an alleged drunk driver who ran a red light and swerved onto the sidewalk.

Since alcohol was probably a mitigating factor in causing the pedestrian accident in Phoenix, there should be both a criminal and civil prosecution of the driver. Too many people in Arizona are seriously injured and wrongfully die in drunk driving accidents in Phoenix, Tucson, and other communities in the state.

The criminal justice system works by putting drunk drivers in jail, but it does little to mitigate the financial damage too often caused by an alcohol-impaired driver. That is why it is equally as important to file a personal injury claim against the drunk driver’s insurance company in cases where there has been a serious injury. This will be an added deterrent to any drunk driver, and the use of experienced Arizona drunk driver injury lawyers in such cases can only make our streets and sidewalks safer.

Though the details in this case are sparse, and there is a possibility that alcohol did not play a role in it, we do know that alcohol-related car accidents involving pedestrians are prevalent throughout Arizona. As such, we need to take every step possible to ensure that drunk drivers stay off Arizona roadways.

We believe strongly in eliminating, or at least reducing, the risk of drunk driving, and that is why we invite anyone with a possible Arizona personal injury claim from any type of accident involving alcohol to contact us. We are glad to answer your questions, guide you towards what action is best for you, and in doing so keep others from becoming victims of drunk drivers.

Some Arizona Auto Accidents Caused by Dangerous Roadways

By Personal Injury Lawyer on July 3, 2009

It was recently reported in an article that a teenage boy was struck by a vehicle and, as a result, suffered serious personal injury at Cactus Road and the Loop 303. Surprisingly, it was reported that the intersection where the teenager was struck did not have any traffic signals, nor did it have a painted crosswalk.

Dangerously designed roadways in Arizona like these regularly lead to serious personal injuries and even wrongful deaths. And as the West Valley of the Phoenix metropolitan area continues to grow, we’re seeing more and more unfortunate, and oftentimes preventable, accidents.

While we don’t know for sure what caused this particular accident, an intersection without any traffic control devices does raise some questions as to whether the injuries were preventable. Many personal injury attorneys and pedestrian accident attorneys in Arizona have had to take on either state or city governments as a result of these types of injuries.

In such instances, there is a limited timeframe in which pedestrian accident victims in Arizona can pursue claims. An expert witness needs the time to make a full review and the Arizona personal injury attorney needs time to collect evidence regarding that particular roadway. All paperwork must be submitted within six months.

Deciding whether to bring a claim against the Arizona government can be difficult. The first step should be to seek out a skilled personal injury or pedestrian accident attorney in Arizona who can help decide if a claim is in your best interest.

Legal Rights for Victims of Hit-and-Run Accidents in Arizona

By Personal Injury Lawyer on June 29, 2009

It sounds like a bad nightmare: You’re crossing the street on your way to the store, a friend’s house, or the bank. All of a sudden you’re plowed down by a car that subsequently takes off. You’ve just been the victim of a hit-and-run. But what are your legal rights and can you file a claim?

Hit and run accidents that cause serious injuries raise a lot of questions. Oftentimes victims don’t even know if they have any legal rights. What’s worse is that instead of contacting an experienced pedestrian accident attorney in Phoenix to determine if a claim can be made; many victims allow those rights to be lost.

But the reality is that there are many ways for a full or significant financial recovery. Uninsured motorist coverage is one key source for the payment of medical bills, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering. Many people with this coverage don’t even realize they can use it following a pedestrian accident.

If you’ve been a victim of a hit-and-run accident and you’re looking for more information, check out the website of the Christensen Law firm. A Utah personal injury lawyer, Mr. Christensen’s discussion of uninsured motorist coverage is worth a quick read for those in Utah, Arizona, and beyond.

Also, be sure to contact an experienced pedestrian accident attorney in Arizona who can answer questions about whether to make a claim, when to make a claim, and what kind of claim should be made.