Arizona car crash kills three teens, highlights single-car accident driver negligence issues

Three teenagers died in an Arizona car crash single-car accident in late February. A 16-year-old male from Thatcher, a 16-year-old male from Fort Thomas, and a 17-year-old male from Duncan were killed in the accident. All three boys attended Gila Institute for Technology. The teenage boys died after being ejected from the passenger van they were driving in after it rolled over on the U.S. 70.

Six other high school students were also in the van at the time of the accident. They were treated at a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The driver was among those injured in the car accident. Authorities say that the teens were leaving a National Hot Rod Association event located in Chandler. Police say that the Eastern Arizona College van the teens were traveling in crossed another lane and left the road at around 10 p.m. The van then rolled, ejecting the three teens.

Authorities have said that impairment was not a factor in the crash. Experts have speculated that the driver might have fallen asleep while driving and lost control of the vehicle. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Families who have lost a loved one in a car accident often face costly medical bills and funeral expenses along with pain and suffering. Drivers have the responsibility to stay awake and alert when operating a motor vehicle. If they don’t, they might have behaved negligently and may be responsible. In this case, a van from a local college was transporting the teenagers to and from the event. The driver may not have gotten enough rest and might have fallen asleep at the wheel, causing the fatal accident to occur. The families who lost their loved ones might be able to file a civil suit against the college or at-fault driver.

Tips for Dealing with an Arizona Car Accident

There are several ways you can defend yourself from excess liability following any Phoenix, Arizona car accident or within the extended suburbs of Greater Phoenix. Some of the following will likely apply to yours, be it a single-car crash or a car accident involving multiple vehicles and other property damages.

1. Don’t Admit Fault: Be careful with your statements to the other driver, their insurance company, or the police. Don’t admit any fault because it could be used against you during negotiations or in court. This applies to a deposition as well (see further below).
2. Call the Police: Contact the police at the scene, and get a police report. This report can provide important details about the accident and help you prove that the other driver was primarily responsible.
3. Take Pictures: Use your cellphone camera to take pictures of the damage, scene, and injuries. This helps a lawyer determine the cause of the accident and your percentage of fault (if any).
4. Gather Information: Get the other driver’s contact information and insurance company details. Collect eyewitness information to support your claim that the other driver was primarily responsible.
5. Seek Medical Care: See a doctor within 72 hours of the accident, even if you don’t think you’re hurt. This ensures you’re healthy and can help prevent disputes with the insurance company over the severity of your injuries.
6. Contact an Experienced Arizona Car Accident Lawyer to establish the basics of your likely claims or to see what claims you should be filing with insurance companies involved.

Car Accident Deposition Tips

If called upon to do a deposition under oath with the attorney of another party, you should keep firmly in mind that you should not admit fault and not pin yourself down to answering questions better handled by your own lawyer. Your lawyer should be the instrument and agent of all such negotiations and statements regarding liability. Therefore, your attorney should be present in a deposition and will advise you as they see fit before answering any question posed to you by the other attorney.

Remember that the deposition itself is ultimately a way to get your answers to key questions from the opposing case on the record.  This includes any admissions that could be used to attribute liability, such a negligence, likely a key factor of the opposing case. Your attorney’s job is to deflect inappropriate questions that could sway a jury examining the quoted deposition during cross-examination, as well as to advise you on what you have to answer and the correct legal parameters of your prospective answers.

Need help?

Contact our experienced lawyers at Gage Mathers today if you are in need of representation for your Arizona car accident case.