Law Offices of Samuel P. Moeller, PLLC

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Samuel P. Moeller

Phoenix, AZ – William Dodd loses Life in Truck Crash on 35th Ave near Campbell Ave

Phoenix, AZ (June 6, 2022) – A truck accident reported on Tuesday evening in the Phoenix area has taken one man’s life. At around 4 p.m., on May 31, the Phoenix Police Department and emergency medical services responded to the scene of an auto accident on 35th Avenue.

Reports from the Phoenix Police Department show that 57-year-old William Dodd was driving a truck in the area of 35th Avenue and Campbell Avenue. For unknown reasons, he became involved in an accident with a fire truck.

His vehicle then went off the roadway and struck a tree.

Dodd suffered severe injuries in the accident. He was rushed to a local hospital for medical care. However, he passed away after arriving.

No other injuries were reported in this accident.

At this time, the incident remains under investigation.

We would like to offer our warmest condolences to the family of William Dodd. Our thoughts are with them at this time.

Fatal Truck Accidents in Arizona

Each year, over 1,000 people are fatally injured as a result of motor vehicle accidents in the state of Arizona. Accidents involving semi-trucks and large commercial vehicles are more likely to resent in severe and fatal injuries due to their massive size and weight.

These accidents are often preventable. However, families are constantly forced to deal with the unexpected losses of loved ones due to the negligence of drivers.

Some of the most common causes of truck accidents across the state of Arizona include:

Speeding: Excessive speeds are continually cited as a leading cause of fatal truck accidents across Arizona.

Reckless driving: When drivers are traveling too fast for road conditions, fail to yield to others, or run red lights, they can cause fatal injury accidents in an instant.

Fatigue: Truck drivers spend long hours out on the road. As a result, they are likely to become fatigued while operating their vehicles.

Impairment: Given the length of time that truck drivers spend alone, they may turn to illicit drug use or alcohol. Operating a vehicle while impaired can have severe consequences.

Equipment failure: Failing brakes, defective tires, jammed accelerators, and other malfunctions can result in severe crashes instantly.

If you have lost a loved one as a result of a truck accident, you may have legal options available to help you seek compensation to cover funeral arrangements and other costs you face. It is important that you reach out to a wrongful death lawyer in Phoenix as soon as possible.

For more than two decades, the Phoenix truck accident lawyers at Law Offices of Samuel P. Moeller, PLLC have helped countless families protect their legal rights after losing loved ones in accidents. Our lawyers can help your family get justice and hold the person at fault to account.

Our lawyers are fully committed to taking all of the legal work off of your hands so you can focus on moving forward. While working with us, you can rest assured knowing your legal rights and best interests are protected. Our lawyers will advocate on your behalf to ensure you are able to obtain the results you expect for your case.

If you have lost a loved one as a result of another driver’s reckless, negligent, or malicious actions, you must contact our law firm right away. Our lawyers are available by calling 602-903-2905 to schedule a free case review at your earliest convenience.

Note: Our writers have used outside and secondary sources when creating this post. These sources include local and state police accident reports, news and social media outlets, as well as eyewitness accounts about accidents that take place in Arizona. We have not independently verified all of the facts surrounding this incident. If you locate any information that is incorrect, please contact our firm right away so that we can update the post to reflect the most accurate information available.  We will remove this post if requested. 

Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be medical advice. If you have been injured in an accident, seek medical attention immediately. None of this information should be considered legal advice. Speak to legal counsel about the specifics surrounding your injury accident. The photo used in this post was not taken at this accident scene. This is not a solicitation for business.

Phoenix, AZ – Four People, Including Child, Injured in U-Haul Truck Crash on 20th St & Jefferson St

Phoenix, AZ (June 6, 2022) – Four people, including a child, were left injured as a result of a two-vehicle accident reported on Saturday in the Phoenix area. On Saturday morning, June 4th, the Phoenix Police Department, Phoenix Fire Department, and medical personnel were all dispatched to the scene of an auto accident on 20th Street.

Reports from the police show that an SUV and a U-Haul truck collided on 20th Street in the area of Jefferson Street during the morning hours. The impact of the crash caused the U-Haul to flip over and come to rest on its side. The SUV came to rest on top of the cab of the U-Haul.

A total of five people were involved in the accident. Two victims became trapped inside the SUV and had to be removed by responding firefighters.

A man, woman, and a 9-year-old girl inside the SUV all suffered critical injuries. The three victims were rushed to area hospitals for emergency medical care.

The driver of the U-Haul also suffered injuries and was admitted to a local hospital in stable condition.

At this time, investigations surrounding the accident are underway.

Our thoughts are with the victims who were injured in this accident. We hope for their full recovery.

Car Accidents in Arizona

Around 130,000 motor vehicle accidents take place in the state of Arizona each year. These crashes take the lives of more than 1,000 people while leaving tens of thousands of others with injuries.

Many people who are involved in accidents have to go through medical treatment and spend several weeks off work to recover. Dealing with the mental, physical, and emotional consequences of crashes can be incredibly challenging. Rather than moving forward alone after your accident, you can benefit greatly by reaching out to a car accident lawyer in Phoenix. You may be able to secure the financial compensation that you can use to alleviate the costs of medical treatment and other damages you face.

Our Phoenix personal injury attorneys at Law Offices of Samuel P. Moeller, PLLC have decades of experience helping injured victims get justice following their accidents. Our lawyers can help you by performing various tasks to ensure you are able to get justice. Some of the ways our full-service personal injury law firm can help you include:

  • Conducting an investigation into your crash
  • Gathering strong evidence from various sources
  • Working with expert recreationists who can uncover critical details surrounding your crash
  • Take witness statements
  • Contact the insurance company and negotiate compensation
  • Represent you in court

Our lawyers are fully committed to helping each client we represent secure the maximum amount of compensation available to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and more. We will help you get the money you need to replace or repair your vehicle so you can get back on the road quickly.

If you have been injured in an auto accident, contact our Arizona personal injury law firm at your earliest convenience to protect your legal rights. Our lawyers are available by calling 602-903-2905. We can meet with you to discuss your case and the legal options available to help you recover. Contact our law firm today to get started.

Note: Our writers have used outside and secondary sources when creating this post. These sources include local and state police accident reports, news and social media outlets, as well as eyewitness accounts about accidents that take place in Arizona. We have not independently verified all of the facts surrounding this incident. If you locate any information that is incorrect, please contact our firm right away so that we can update the post to reflect the most accurate information available.  We will remove this post if requested. 

Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be medical advice. If you have been injured in an accident, seek medical attention immediately. None of this information should be considered legal advice. Speak to legal counsel about the specifics surrounding your injury accident. The photo used in this post was not taken at this accident scene. This is not a solicitation for business.

Victim of a Hit & Run?

Let’s face it, there are numerous scenarios in which you can be hit by a vehicle that is essentially uninsured. I want to address a few such scenarios and explain how to best protect yourself in such situations.

You’re the victim of a Hit & Run. Your vehicle is damaged and you’re hurt. Do you have any options? That depends.

  • If possible, before the other driver flees, photograph the point of impact between your vehicle, as well as the damage done to both vehicles..
  • If possible, photograph the other driver’s vehicle and license plate (this may help police identify the owner of the vehicle that fled)
  • If possible, pay attention to what the other driver looked like (if the fleeing vehicle is later identified, your claim becomes considerably stronger if your description of the driver matches the Driver’s license photo of the vehicle’s registered owner).
  • Immediately call law enforcement/911. You may have applicable coverages on your own auto insurance available if you can prove you were indeed the victim of a Hit & Run
  • If you have Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage, you can make an injury claim against your own carrier, up to the limits of your UM coverage
  • If you have collision coverage, you can get your vehicle repaired and/or paid of as a total loss (if applicable). However, these payments would be subject to your collision deductible

You’re UM & Collision coverage are equally applicable if the person that hits you stays at the scene, but has no auto insurance. Unfortunately, Arizona has a high number of uninsured drivers, so you owe it to yourself to maintain UM and collision coverage on your vehicles, even if you own your vehicle outright and/or have health insurance.

Not sure what optional coverages, and how much of such coverages, you should have (beyond the State minimums), give us a call and we’d be happy to offer a free consultation regarding our recommendations and provide detailed explanations in support of our recommendations.

Pedestrian

Pedestrians have the right of way …. Or do they?

We get a lot of calls for pedestrians hit by motor vehicles. Sometimes the pedestrian is walking through a crosswalk, sometimes they’re crossing a street mid-block.

While motor vehicles are supposed to yield to pedestrians, pedestrians are expected to obey the law.

Walk Signals at crosswalks show a solid green person when safe to cross. When it begins to flash, that is a warning not to enter the crosswalk if not already in it.

The City or Municipality calculates how long it will take an average person to clear a crosswalk. That estimate is usually based on the average person covering 4 feet per second at average walking speed.

Therefore, presuming that most pedestrians enter the crosswalk on a solid Walk signal and will cover some distance before the Walk signal begins flashing, the length of time for which the Walk signals flashes is not likely enough time for someone entering while its flashing to complete their crossing. As such, think twice before beginning to cross if the Walk signal is already flashing.

In addition, even those crossing on a solid walk signal are often hit by vehicles traveling the same (or opposite) direction as them but turning onto the street the pedestrian is crossing. This is because, while motorists lookout for other vehicles, they often fail to keep a lookout for pedestrians or bicyclists. Never trust that they see you and will yield to you. Keep a lookout for those turning vehicles. Unless you make eye contact with them and are sure they both see you and are yielding to you, yield to them

Crossing mid-block is always dangerous, especially at night. Illumination is often subpar mid-block. Motorists aren’t expecting you to cross mid-block.

Even when a motorist does see you, they may not have enough time and/or distance to brake so as to avoid hitting you. A vehicle driving 35 mph covers 51 feet per second. At 35 mph, a vehicle would cover close to 51 feet during the driver’s “reaction timer,” which is the time required to process the danger and hit the brake pedal. At 35 mph, it would take an additional 135 feet to come to a complete stop. So a vehicle more than 150 feet away when you step off the curb might well not have enough time to stop before hitting you.

The moral of the story is, always pay attention and exercise caution, even when think its completely clear.

E-Scooters

By now you’ve probably seen them parked downtown, or while on vacation, waiting to be rented for an hour or two of fun. They seem to be taking the place of bicycles for rent that were popular just a few years ago.
But … are they safe, and even more important, are you protected in the event of an accident? The answers may surprise you.

One needs to only be 18 years old to rent an E-Scooter. The E-Scooter App includes a “waiver” of liability that one agrees to when renting the E-Scooter. Even though the scooter company likely carries liability insurance, the “waiver” pretty much absolves the scooter company of any liability, absent a defect in the scooter itself. Such a defect could be the result of faulty manufacture or maintenance. But how would you prove such a defect. Would you be able to pick out “your” scooter from a group? Absent something so obvious, the Scooter would most likely have been ridden by dozens, if not hundreds, of subsequent renters (thereby altering the condition of the scooter) before you even put the company on notice.

Moreover, Arizona Law does not require that an E-Scooter rider wear a helmet, thereby potentially increasing the risk of serious injury in an accident. What if, while renting a scooter, you cause injury to yourself or someone else? What if, you’re injured by someone riding such a scooter?

Sadly, you may have no coverage. The scooter company’s liability coverage will not likely extend to such situations (remember the waiver?). Someone’s automobile insurance usually does not extend to cover their insured while riding an E-Scooter, which is not considered a “motor vehicle.” In fact, many policies specifically exclude such coverage. Someone’s homeowners or renters insurance will not cover such situations. Your UM (uninsured motorist) will likely exclude coverage for E-Scooters since the law does not require the E-Scooter rider to have liability insurance and an E-Scooter is not necessarily considered a “motor vehicle.”

Some auto insurance carriers do offer umbrella policies that extend to recreational vehicles that could include an E-Scooter. For most of us, our only recourse would be to our health insurance, or to personally pursue a negligent claim against an E-Scooter driver.

The bottom line … think long and hard before you rent an E-Scooter, and be on your guard when around other E-Scooter riders.