In 2013, the Arizona Department of Transportation reported a total of 107,348 traffic crashes, causing injury to 50,284 drivers. In the event of a motor vehicle wreck, Arizona allows injured parties to recover compensation from another party responsible for the crash.
Snyder & Wenner, P.C. can help you pursue damages to which you’re entitled so you recover a fair settlement. We’ve been helping injured motorists in Phoenix for more than 25 years and can help you, too.
Types of Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents aren’t limited to passenger cars alone. These accidents may include any of the following:
- Truck accidents
- Unrealistic truck schedules
- Overloaded trucks
- Cross-border trucking
- Bus accidents
- Serious car accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Dram shop liability
- Motorcycle accidents
- Light rail/train accidents
- Boating accidents
- Aviation accidents
- SUV rollover accidents
While accidents involving passenger cars are the most common, those involved in accidents with buses, motorcycles, and large trucks are equally as susceptible—if not more so—to serious injuries or death. Those injured while riding motorcycles are also susceptible to serious injury, given the lack of protection afforded the rider compared to other vehicles.
Causes of Motor Vehicle Accidents
A number of factors can cause motor vehicle accidents. Sadly, the majority of motor vehicle accidents are preventable and can be caused by negligent driver actions. For example, speeding was a factor in 34,819 accidents in Arizona in 2013; failing to yield the right of way was a factor in 11,852 accidents, and distracted driving was a factor in 10,514 accidents. Below are some
- Following too closely
- Running stop signs or traffic lights
- Making improper turns or lane changes
- Falling asleep while driving or driving while fatigued
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
If you’ve been in a motor vehicle accident caused by the negligent actions of another driver, you may be eligible to recover compensation for your injuries and property damage. Work with Snyder & Wenner to collect the right evidence to establish the cause of your wreck—this allows you to prove liability for your damages.
Liability in a Motor Vehicle Accident
Following a motor vehicle accident, you may wonder how you’re going to pay for medical expenses, property damage, and any other bills you might have related to the accident, especially if your injury has caused you to miss work. If you can prove the liability of the other driver who caused your accident, you may be able to recover economic (medical bills, lost wages, etc.) and noneconomic (pain and suffering) damages.
In order to prove liability, you’ll have to prove several factors:
- The other driver behaved negligently—or outside the realm of that which would be considered reasonable or lawful behavior—such as drinking while driving or speeding
- The driver’s negligent actions caused your accident
- You suffered injuries and damages as a result of the accident
If you want to recover damages for your injuries, you must file a personal injury claim. Keep in mind that even if you’re partially to blame for the accident, you can still recover damages minus your percentage of fault.
Injured in a Car Accident? Seek Legal Counsel Today!
When you need help proving negligence, establishing liability, and filing your personal injury claim, an attorney is a great resource. An attorney advocates for your rights throughout the process and helps you in receiving the settlement amount you need.
According to Arizona law statute 12-542, you have two years from the date when the injury occurred to file a claim. So act quickly.
At Snyder & Wenner, P.C., our attorneys are ready to take on your case today. To get started, contact us at 602-224-0006 to schedule a FREE consultation.
Each year, nearly 1.3 million people die in car accidents. That is equivalent to 3,287 deaths per day. An additional 20,000,000 to 50,000,000 people are injured or disabled due to car accidents. With faster cars and more travel each year, these numbers are only rising.
When you or a loved one is in a car accident, an important decision must be made: Do you want to hire an attorney who will handle your case just like all of his/her other cases, and try to reach a quick settlement that does not benefit the client? Or do you want to hire an attorney who puts the client’s needs first, and treats each case differently based on the client’s actual injuries and concerns?
At the law firm of Snyder & Wenner, P.C. in Phoenix, we focus our efforts on cases involving serious injuries or wrongful death. Our personal injury attorneys know how important it is to get the compensation you need to handle the current and future expenses of a serious injury.
We do not handle hundreds of cases at a time; each client is important and is treated like a member of our family. Perhaps more importantly, we do not handle fender-bender or small injury cases. Instead, we focus our practice only on the most serious accidents, including catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases.
Because we handle fewer cases, we can give each car accident case our full attention.
Serious injuries from a car accident deserve maximum effort from your lawyer. At Snyder & Wenner, P.C., we do a thorough investigation and prepare every case for trial. If there is any detail that will help maximize your financial recovery, we want to find that detail. That is why we go the extra mile and then some for our clients.
We use accident experts and medical experts. We test for jury bias.
Our trial lawyers don’t take chances where our clients’ well-being is concerned.
We have a network of experts who investigate car accident scenes to determine what happened.
Our medical and economics experts determine what will be necessary—medically and financially—for long-term care of serious injuries.
We test all those facts with members of the community before the case goes to court, in order to determine the most persuasive arguments for our clients.
Thorough investigation and careful preparation shows in our representative verdicts and settlements.
If you have suffered catastrophic injuries in a motor vehicle collision, you need a lawyer who will devote time and attention to your case. Contact us for a free consultation.
Sport utility vehicles, also known as SUVs, were initially designed so that drivers could take them off-road. For safety purposes, features like roll bars became standard to keep the roof from collapsing in the event of a rollover, which can easily cause catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths. Throughout the 1990s, the popularity of SUVs grew dramatically and manufacturers discovered that only about 5% of SUVs were ever taken off-road. Because of this shift in use, manufacturers decided to take out safety features like the roll bar and offer them as add-on options instead. This change spelled disaster for many auto accident victims.
SUV Rollover Statistics
Of the estimated 11,000 SUV-related deaths that take place every year, rollovers are responsible for about 63%. Overall, rollovers account for more than 35% of all deadly auto accidents. These statistics are troubling, especially when you consider that they don’t account for the thousands of catastrophic injuries rollovers cause.
Why SUVs are Dangerous
Although the majority of SUVs you see in the Phoenix, Arizona area will never be driven on a mountain trail, their design makes them very susceptible to rollovers on paved roads and highways. This is because SUVs:
- Are taller and more narrow than most passenger vehicles
- Have a higher center of gravity
- Are top heavy
- Are likely to carry more weight than smaller vehicles, which despite popular belief, increases the chances of a rollover due to their other design features
These design flaws make SUVs nearly three times as likely to roll over than other vehicles. Couple these dangers with defective tires that SUV makers have recalled, and it’s clear that SUVs are among the most hazardous vehicles on the road today.
Unfortunately, many SUV owners don’t understand these risks or take the extra precautions necessary to drive their vehicle safely. If they fail to use reasonable judgment (i.e. drive in a negligent fashion) and a deadly crash ensues, the driver, the SUV manufacturer, and distributor, or the manufacturer of the defective tire could be sued for damages.
SUV Rollover Lawsuits
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a severe or deadly rollover accident, you should contact the auto accident lawyers of Snyder & Wenner, P.C. as soon as possible.
Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be able to file a lawsuit to collect damages that cover:
- Bodily injuries
- Past and future medical bills
- Past and future lost wages
- Pain, suffering, disability, disfigurement, and emotional distress
- Loss of relationship
We are dedicated to seeking justice for families who have suffered wrongful death and catastrophic injuries. Snyder & Wenner, P.C. will litigate your case with the utmost sensitivity, dedication, and expertise. Don’t hesitate to schedule a free consultation with our Phoenix, Arizona office today. We can do it on the phone if you live elsewhere.
With over offices in Phoenix, Avondale & Scottsdale, our team of personal injury attorneys can help you with your serious injury or wrongful death case.
Review of Snyder & Wenner, P.C.
“Brian was there for us from the minute we called him after our car accident. He is a dependable and knowledgeable attorney, who has his client’s best interest at heart.”
-Gregory G.
Rating 5 out of 5