Arizona Car Accident Statistics & Data

Phoenix Auto Accident Law Firm for Clients Throughout Arizona

In Arizona, car accident lawsuits (brought by an injured plaintiff against one or more negligent defendants) are rather common — reflecting the relatively high frequency of motor vehicle accidents in the state overall, and to an extent, indicative of the significant, potentially life-altering damage that a car can inflict upon the victim. According to a recent report conducted by the Arizona Department of Transportation, for example, there were 126,845 total motor vehicle crashes in the state of Arizona for 2016, with 962 fatalities and 56,636 injuries. Causes of injury were varied, with a significant proportion of accidents accounted for by drunk driving, among many other factors. If you have been injured due to the fault of another — whether a driver, manufacturer, or public/private landowner — you may be entitled to recover damages to compensate you for your injuries, pursuant to Arizona law. It’s not always easy to understand whether you have an actionable accident injury claim, however. What may seem to be a dead-end claim actually be worth taking to court. An experienced Phoenix auto accident law firm will be able to assess your injury claims and determine whether you have an actionable claim through which you can recover.

For example, suppose that you are injured in what first appears to be a straightforward car accident lawsuit. The defendant-driver injured you in a rear-ending incident at a stop sign. Further investigation reveals that your airbag failed to deploy, thus resulting in injuries that could have otherwise been prevented. Your case may therefore involve multiple defendants, including the airbag manufacturer, and may involve product defect claims, too. An experienced Phoenix car accident lawyer will review the accident information and help you move forward with an effective legal strategy.

ARIZONA CAR ACCIDENT STATISTICS

Every year, several thousand people in Arizona are involved in a car accident. In fact, on average, 155 people are injured, and two people are killed every day in motor vehicle crashes in Arizona. According to a 2016 Arizona Department of Transportation report, there were a total of 126,987 motor vehicle accidents in the state that year – 856 of which were fatal and 38,616 of which resulted in injuries. The total number of car accidents in 2016 rose by 8.70% from the previous year, which suggests that roadways are becomingly increasingly dangerous. Now, more than ever, it is crucial that anyone involved in a collision turn to an experienced auto accident lawyer for assistance after a crash.

Out of the total number of auto accidents in 2016:

42,900 ACCIDENTS OCCURRED IN PHOENIX
1,373 ACCIDENTS OCCURRED IN MOHAVE COUNTY
87,515 RESULTED IN PROPERTY DAMAGE ONLY
1,643 INVOLVED PEDESTRIANS
1,479 INVOLVED BICYCLISTS

3,115 INVOLVED A MOTORCYCLE
228 INVOLVED A SCHOOL BUS
20,073 WERE SINGLE-VEHICLE ACCIDENTS
106,914 WERE MULTI-VEHICLE ACCIDENTS
48,319 INVOLVED REAR-END COLLISIONS

16,887 INVOLVED LEFT TURN COLLISIONS
1,854 INVOLVED HEAD-ON COLLISIONS
14,928 WERE HIT AND RUN ACCIDENTS
4,750 VICTIMS SUSTAINED CATASTROPHIC INJURIES

The report further explains that the majority of car accidents in the state were rear-end collisions. Factors that contributed to these car crashes were mostly attributed to negligence, including reckless driving and drunk driving. Anyone who is injured or sustains damage to property in a motor vehicle accident has the right to seek legal counsel and may be eligible to receive compensation, so consider an Arizona catastrophic injury lawyer. Hirsch & Lyon Accident Law can provide you with the skilled representation to help you recover maximum damages after an auto wreck.

FACTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO AUTO COLLISIONS IN ARIZONA

POPULATION AND LAND AREA

The Phoenix metro area consists of a sizable amount of land and people. The City of Phoenix proper has 1.6 million people, making it the 6^th largest city in the US. Maricopa County has roughly the land area of New Hampshire and includes Phoenix, Mesa (nearly 500,000 people), Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, and Scottsdale (each with about 250,000 people), and Tempe and Peoria (each with almost 200,000 people). The fast-growing county has a total population of 4.5 million people (up from 4.1 million in 2010 and 3.2 million in 2000).

MAJOR ROADS

With lots of people and land, and very little public transportation, Phoenix has an extensive – and very busy – highway system including US Interstate 10 (running east and west), US Interstate 17 (running north and south), US Route 60 and Arizona State Routes 51, 101, 143, 202 and 303.

DANGEROUS ROADS

All of that traffic on congested roads means there’s no shortage of car, truck and motorcycle accidents in the Phoenix area. In fact, a recent study based on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s fatality data concluded that US Interstate 10 is the deadliest highway in America. Another study commissioned by The Daily Beast concluded that I-10 and I-17 rank first and second on the list of the five most dangerous roads in Arizona. If you drive in the Phoenix metro area, you will probably need a Phoenix auto accident law firm at some point during your driving career.

PHOENIX’S INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS

Better roads in Phoenix would likely reduce the number of accidents. The American Society of Civil Engineers in their annual infrastructure report card gives Arizona’s roads a grade of D+, citing a significant level of under investment. The Arizona Department of Transportation has estimated that the state will need to spend a minimum of $24 billion over the next 25 years just to maintain Arizona’s roads in their current subpar condition. Investment of $49 billion over that period would bring the state’s roads up to an acceptable condition, but close to $200 billion would be needed if Arizona embarks on an aggressive growth strategy.

NICE WEATHER = MORE DRIVING

Phoenix is well known for its desert climate that produces less than 10 inches of rain and almost 300 sunny days per year. Americans from all over the country relocate – and retire – here to escape the colder, wetter climates in the rest of the USA. All of that good weather means that people in Phoenix drive more miles – and they drive those miles faster unhampered by rain, snow, fog and ice. Like the metro area’s crowded highways, this is a recipe for car, truck and motorcycle accidents.

Hurt in an Arizona Car Accident? Call the Phoenix Auto Accident Law Firm of Hirsch and Lyon Today!

Hirsch & Lyon is focused entirely on providing top-tier legal advocacy for the victims of motor vehicle accidents. Our Phoenix personal injury attorneys have over 65 years of combined experience, with a history of success in obtaining favorable results for clients, whether through settlement negotiations or at trial. Call 602-535-1900 or contact us online to set up a free consultation with one of our Phoenix car accident lawyers today.