Worst vehicle accidents of 2014 in Arizona
We all know accidents can happen-especially as we’re all trying to make our way through busy streets and freeways in a wide range of motor vehicles. Then you add in other factors like tiredness, sunspots, driving under the influence of drink or drugs- and you’ve got a whole new level of accidents waiting to happen. These things contribute to making an accident be among the worst vehicle accidents.
When it comes to some of the worst vehicle accidents to happen in America, the state of Arizona ranks 7th worst in the country– but why? We look at some of the factors that may be causing more accidents on our highways than other places in the US as well as explore some of the worst vehicle accidents of 2019.
The injury attorneys at Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm near you have significant experience in helping clients who have been in the worst vehicle accident of their lives. Our offices are conveniently located in nearby Chandler, Peoria, and North Phoenix, and we can meet in-person at our nearby offices, over the phone, or video call. You can contact us for a free consultation, or read on to find out more.
By the way, we will also help with other problems that have cost you sleep, like getting a rental car very soon and finding a nearby doctor who can help you. Even the best legal team isn’t good enough if your quality of life isn’t sustainable while justice and compensation are on the way. The whole point of legal action is to regain quality of life, so we help you long-term as attorneys and short-term as your go-to people. Our familiarity with the local Phoenix courts makes us confident that we can help you get the best settlement possible.
3 of the Worst Vehicle Accidents We’ve Seen in Phoenix
1. Drugged Trucker Causes Accident that Kills One and Injures Several
Tractor-trailer truckers often experience muscle spasms from sitting in one position for several hours at a time. These muscle spasms often lead truckers to take muscle relaxers, such as Soma. Driving such heavy machinery with this medication in their blood often ends in tragedy.
So is the tale of 54 year-old, Brian Knoll, who caused a massive accident on November 20, 2014. Knoll took a Soma the night before the accident. The next morning, he fell asleep at the wheel, drifted through three lanes of traffic, and rear-ended 22 year-old, Paul Troupe’s ’08 Mercedes sedan, killing him and injuring his widow, Sarah Troupe. Then, Troupe’s car struck Emmanuel Soto’s Chevy pick-up, which led to Soto rolling his vehicle. Like a domino, Soto’s truck hit Susan Williams’ Hyundaia sedan, injuring Ms. Williams. Finally, Ms. Williams’ sedan struck Hanaa Bashir’s Toyota sedan, which left her seeking medical attention. This single accident injured five people and killed one.
2. Negligent driver kills Motorcyclist Teacher
Everyone has read the signs, “Start Seeing Motorcycles.” However, motorcycle accidents still occur far too frequently. Naturally, people driving larger vehicles often do not look out for motorcycles, and bikers often pay the ultimate price with their lives.
Such is the case of 42 year-old teacher, Marcus Reid. Mr. Reid left work at Sun Valley High School on his motorcycle, never to return home. A driver in a large van did not see the beloved technology teacher on his bike and delivered a fatal strike. Mr. Reid touched the lives of so many students who, now, bear an invisible, but permanent scar of unamendable loss.
3. Young, Drunk Driving Damages Many
Young, inexperienced drivers tend to be accident-prone. Likewise, drunk drivers cause thousands of car accidents every year. A recipe for disaster involves teen drunk drivers.
One of the year’s worst accidents occurred in Lake Pleasant on October 18, 2014, when a group of drunken teenagers left a party. Four girls jumped in the back of their friend’s pick-up to dance the night away. There were six people in the cab of the truck and a total of five people in the truck’s bed. In their drunken fog, they did not realize that their friend driving the truck mistakenly tried to pass a jeep when a car was approaching in the opposite lane.
When all was said and done, thirteen people were injured, and one person died due to youthful, drunken, inexperience behind the wheel. It turns out that the party at the lake wasn’t so pleasant, after all.
4. Speeding Auto Accident Claims the Lives of a Family
Many people have approached a yellow light, then gunned it to avoid stopping at a red light. While speeding may seem like a harmless, minuscule crime, it became the deadly crime that took the lives of two men and injured a 22 month-old boy and his mother.
On November 26, 2014, 50 year-old Dakota Fernandez went out in his Jeep with his wife and son in tow. He ran a red light and collided with a pick-up truck, driven by Justin Tharp. Fernandez faced his demise as a result of his impatience, while also killing Tharp and injuring his wife and toddler son in the vehicle accident. Momma was right; patience is a virtue.
This list of the worst Arizona vehicle accidents in 2014 serves as a memorial to those lost to the road, as well as a learning tool. Learn from the mistakes of the fallen, so that they may not die in vain. Please refrain from speeding and intoxicated driving, and keep those your love as well as other drivers on the road safe.
The good news is that – when drivers break the law or make the unwise decision to drive while intoxicated and leave victims in physical, emotional, and/or financial pain – the victims of these Arizona vehicle accidents do have people in their corner.
Get Help Now
At Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm near you, we have more than 15 years of experience helping clients obtain compensation for the worst vehicle accidents of their lives in the Phoenix area. When you’re ready to talk, please contact our office to arrange a free initial consultation by phone or at our Chandler office, conveniently located near you.
If you have been in an auto accident, contact Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm in nearby Chandler, AZ to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. We provide personal injury legal services to clients in your area including Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Peoria.
