Arizona’s gorgeous landscape and well-paved roads makes it a wonderful state to drive through. That being said, the joy of driving on such scenic roads could be cut short if you experience a car accident in Arizona.
Each motorist is responsible for knowing the state’s driving laws and protecting everyone else on the road by using good judgement. However, that doesn’t always happen, and anybody--even you-- could end up in an accident.
Contact a personal injury attorney if you get injured in an accident caused by a careless person. You could get financial compensation to help you through your (potentially long) recovery.
Specific Rules in Arizona
In Arizona, every driver needs to obey the following laws.
Seatbelt: Arizona’s law states that any passenger in the first row of the car must buckle his or her seatbelt. This does not apply to kids under the age of eight who fit a particular height requirement.
Drunk driving laws: One of the interesting aspects of Arizona’s drunk driving laws is that you can actually be arrested for driving under the influence even if your BAC is under 0.08. That happens if the police officers suspect that you’re on other types of substances as well that might be affecting your driving. First-time offenders also often have to install an IID (“ignition interlock device”).
Open container laws: Arizona drivers are not allowed to store open containers of alcohol in the passenger portion of their cars, though they are allowed to transport them in their car trunks. The exception to this rule is if someone is a passenger on a party bus or in a limo or taxi.
Distracted driving: The law regarding distracted driving in Arizona states that, “Distracted driving involves any type of activity whereby or in which the driver’s eyes, hands, or attention are diverted from the task of driving.” Drivers who still have their permit or are in the first six months of owning their license are specifically banned from texting and driving.
A Distracted Driving Disaster
Imagine you’re driving through Tucson. You’re going at the speed limit, and suddenly, a vehicle comes up from behind you and sideswipes you because the driver was texting and driving. The car spins out of control, and you suffer a broken arm.
Arizona is a fault state, which means that in order to file a successful claim, you have to prove that the driver was at fault. You can file a personal injury claim or a claim against the driver’s insurance company. The choice is yours, but it may help to ask a personal injury attorney about what would be best for your particular case.
Find an Attorney Who Can Help You
Normally, if someone causes an accident, it’s due to carelessness. Many of the previously mentioned driving laws prohibit behavior that’s due to carelessness as well. This suggests that if you got into accident in Arizona and the other driver was at fault, the driver was most likely breaking some type of law when he hit you.
Talk to an attorney to see how this new information could influence your case and potentially help you get the compensation you deserve.
