Bicyclist Killed in Scottsdale Accident

The Arizona Republic reported that a bicyclist was struck and killed by an SUV on Thompson Peak Parkway north of 100^th street on March 11, 2012 at around 4:30 pm. The investigating police officer reported that the driver of the SUV swerved into the bike lane, striking the bicyclist. The police believe that the driver was not impaired at the time of the collision.

This accident reminds us that riding a bicycle along or across our busy urban streets can be extremely dangerous. Unfortunately, even bicyclists that are riding in a designated bike path are exposed to speeding vehicles making mistakes by swerving into the bike lane. We urge you to be vigilant to your surroundings whenever you are riding a bicycle alongside or across our city streets. Be sure to always wear an approved bicycle helmet. The accident data shows that wearing an approved helmet is the best way a bicyclist can protect him/herself in the event of an accident.

We are Phoenix accident injury lawyers and Phoenix personal injury lawyers. We are also Phoenix bicycle accident lawyers. To learn more about our firm and the services we provide, please visit our website at www.swclawyers.com.

No Texting While Driving Law This Year

On March 8, 2012, the Arizona Republic reported that the Arizona Legislature will not pass a law this year banning texting-while-driving. The story reported that previous attempts to get bills passes in the legislature have failed in prior years.

The sponsor of the bill,. Representative Steve Urie was quoted as saying "They’re not going to do something until somebody causes a catastrophic, wish-it-never happened accident."

As long time Phoenix accident injury lawyers, we are disappointed that the legislature did not pass the bill this year. As we have previously reported, numerous studies show that the risk of causing an accident increases dramatically when the driver of a vehicle is texting. The National Transportation Safety Board recommended in December that states ban all use of portable electronic devices including cell phones with hands-free devices. Furthermore, Phoenix and Tucson have city ordinances banning texting-while-driving.

We support a statewide ban on texting-while-driving. We are Phoenix personal injury lawyers. We are also Phoenix drunk driving accident lawyers and Phoenix dram shop lawyers. For more information about our firm and the services we provide, please contact us at www.swclawyers.com.

Goodyear Recalls 41,000 Light Truck Tires

The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company has announced that it is recalling Wrangler Silent Armor tires produced from March 31 to May 31,2009. These tires are used on light trucks and sport utility vehicles. In a report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Goodyear said that use of the tires could result in partial tread separation in severe condition.

In our experience, if you are driving a light truck or SUV and experience a tread separation at highway speeds, there is a high risk that you could lose control of your vehicle, resulting in a rollover, thereby exposing the driver and occupants to the risk of severe injury or death. When a tire manufacturer refers to "extreme conditions," that includes the hot temperatures we experience in the Southwest during the summer months. Tread separation incidents leading to rollovers increases dramatically during the hot summer months.

If you are riding on Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armor tires, we urge you to immediately contact your local Goodyear dealer or to contact Goodyear on its website to learn if yours are among the recalled tires. If they are, we urge you to have them replaced immediately before the summer months are upon us.

We are Phoenix tire defect lawyers and Phoenix rollover accident lawyers. To learn more about our firm and the services we provide, please visit our website at www.swclawyers.com.

Five Killed in Northern Arizona Rollover Accident

The Arizona Republic reported on 3/8/2012 that an adult and four youths were killed on the night of 3/5/2012 when their Chevrolet Suburban was involved in a rollover accident in Northwestern Arizona near the Arizona/Utah border. There was only one survivor of the accident.

The investigating officers did not disclose any information about the cause of the accident. While there is no information available as to how the accident happened, this accident reminds us of the deadly nature of rollover accidents.

While it does not appear that this rollover accident was preceded by a tire failure or tire defect, the accident also reminds us that the hot summer season is almost upon us. We have previously written that there are far more rollover accidents caused by a sudden tire failure in the hot summer months than at other times of year. Please check our prior posts for a more detailed explanation of why tires fail more frequently when driven in hot weather at highway speeds. Accordingly, this is a good time to check your tires to be sure there is adequate tread and that your tires are otherwise in good condition. It is also a good time to be sure you tire pressure is at the appropriate level.

We are Phoenix tire defect lawyers and Phoenix rollover accident lawyers. For more information about our law firm and the services we provide, please contact us at www.swclawyers.com.

Nissan Recalls 79,000 Vehicles Because of Fuel Leak

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced that Nissan North America is recalling about 79,000 Infiniti Sedans and SUVs, as well as Nissan Juke vehicles for possible fuel tank leakage from an improperly installed fuel pressure sensor.

According to NHTSA, certain 2011 and 2012 models of the M sedan, the QX sport-utility vehicle and Juke crossover might have improperly tightened fuel pressure sensors in the vehicle’s fuel tanks. Over time, these fuel tanks’ sensors may loosen due to heat and vibration, causing a fuel leak and increasing the risk of a fire.

To obtain more information, you can contact Nissan customer service at 615-725-1000 or visit the NHTSA website: www.SaferCar.gov.  If you own one of the models described above, we urge you to contact one of the sources of information listed above or contact your local Nissan or Infiniti dealer to see if your car is affected by the recall and to get it repaired if indicated.

We are Phoenix product liability lawyers and Phoenix defective product lawyers. To learn more about our firm and the services we provide, please contact us at www.swclawyers.com.

Truck Severely Injures Boy Riding Bike

On February 20, 2012, the Arizona Republic reported that a 12 year-old boy suffered multiple head fractures and a broken leg after he was hit while riding his bicycle through a crosswalk at 9:30 a.m. at Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard and Thompson Peak Parkway in Scottsdale. The police reported that the boy had a green light and the driver was making a left-hand turn onto Thompson Peak. The boy was not wearing a helmet. The news story did not report whether the driver was impaired.

This story reminds us that, as we have written numerous times, walking or riding a bicycle along or across our major streets can be dangerous. Unfortunately, vehicle drivers often do not see pedestrians and bicycle riders because they are distracted or impaired by alcohol or drugs. Accordingly, pedestrians and bicycle riders must exercise the utmost caution at all times.

Also, we remind you that bicycle riders should always wear an approved helmet in an effort to reduce the seriousness of any head injuries that may result from being hit by a vehicle.

We are Phoenix accident injury lawyers and Phoenix personal injury lawyers. We are also Phoenix bicycle accident lawyers and Phoenix pedestrian accident lawyers. For more information on our law firm and the services we provide, please contact us at www.swclawyers.com.

DOT Proposes Limiting Car Information Systems

The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has recently announced guidelines that would eliminate the operation of many information and entertainment ("infotainment") functions of modern cars while the car is moving. The goal to prevent the systems from contributing to distracted driving. In particular, drivers would not be able to "visual-manual"text message, browse the Internet, look at Facebook accounts, key in an address into the navigation system, input a phone number or see more than 30 characters of any incoming message unless the car is stopped and out of gear.

When the car is moving, the guidelines provide that messages and other infotainment tasks would be limited to two-second glances and one-hand operation. Voice-command systems are being encouraged as an alternative.

The goal of the rules are to:

1. Reduce complexity and task length required by an electronic device;
2. Limit device operation to one hand only;
3. Limit individual off-road glances required for device operation to no more than two seconds;
4. Limit unnecessary visual information in the driver’s field of view;
5. Limit the amount of manual inputs required for device operation.

The Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood states that " We all need to take personal responsibility. We started this campaign three years ago when no one was talking about distracted driving. We’ve made a lot of progress. This is our continued drumbeat."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an agency of DOT will be conducting hearings around the country on the proposed rule.

In our experience, it will take months, if not years, for any new rules limiting in-vehicle technology to be implemented. We will keep you posted on any new developments regarding these proposed rules.

We are Phoenix personal injury lawyers and Phoenix accident injury lawyers. We are also Phoenix drunk driving accident lawyers and Phoenix dram shop lawyers. For more information about our law firm and the services we provide, please contact us at www.swclawyers.com.

Stihl Chain Saws Recalled

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced that Stihl is recalling about 3,000 of its MS391 chain saws because the flywheel on the chain saw can crack causing parts to separate and strike users or bystanders. Obviously, this poses a risk of injury; it also reminds us of the importance of wearing protective goggles when using equipment such as chain saws.

The recall involves the MS gas-powered chain saws with an orange top casing, gray base and black front handle and hand guard. If you have this model chain saw, you should stop using the saw immediately and contact Stihl at 800-610-6677 or visit www.stihlusa.com to see if you own one of the affected saws. If yours is one of the recalled saws, the nearest Stihl dealer will install, at no cost, a replacement flywheel.

We are Phoenix defective product lawyers and Phoenix product liability lawyers. For more information about our law firm and the services we provide, please contact us at www.swclawyers.com.

Jury Finds Man Guilty of Manslaughter in Bicyclist's Death

On February 14, 2012, the Arizona Republic reported that a Maricopa county jury had found a hit-and-run driver guilty of manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol in the death of a Queen Creek bicyclist more than two years ago. The man is scheduled to be sentenced on March 23.

The news story reported that in August, 2009, the victim was killed when he was hit head-on while riding his bicycle in Queen Creek along Ocotillo Road. Bob Beane, president of the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists was quoted as saying that "I’m pleased with the verdict.. Our goal is to prevent these incidents from happening in the first place."

Beane’s organization focuses on bicycle safety education for bicyclists, drivers and police investigating cases involving bicyclists injured in collisions. The story reported that there were 806 traffic deaths in Arizona in 2009 and 25 involved bicyclists. Drivers were charged criminally in seven cases and five of those involved alcohol.

This story and the statistics cited above remind us that riding bicycles along our city streets can be especially dangerous because of the large number of drivers who operate their vehicles while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. We urge all bicycle riders to exercise the utmost caution while riding along side high roads and highways. At night, when there are more vehicles being operated by drivers impaired by alcohol and drugs, bicycles should be equipped with reflective lighting and riders should wear reflective clothing. Riders should also wear approved bicycle helmets.

We are Phoenix personal injury lawyers and Phoenix accident injury lawyers. We are also Phoenix bicycle accident lawyers and Phoenix pedestrian accident lawyers. For more information on our law firm and the services we provide, please contact us at http://www.swclawyers.com/