A man has been sentenced to 23 and a half years in prison for charges stemming from a fatal alcohol-related car crash in Phoenix on Christmas Eve 2007.

According to Maricopa County prosecutors, 32 year-old Christopher Smith claimed he was sleepwalking when he got into his car and crashed head-on into a mini-van carrying four people on December 24, 2007. One person inside the vehicle was killed and three others were seriously injured, authorities say.

Smith was convicted of second-degree murder and three counts of aggravated assault. According to officials with the Phoenix Police Department, Smith had a blood alcohol level of .20 percent at the time of the crash, 2.5 times the legal limit to operate a vehicle in Arizona of .08.

Car accidents can have a devastating impact on the lives of the victims and their families. If you or someone you love have been involved in a Phoenix car accident, it is important to understand all the rights available to a victim in the wake of a crash. Please contact a Phoenix personal injury lawyer of Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally, P.L.C. by calling 800-763-0964.

A driver in Valley, Arizona claims his runaway Prius nearly killed a man last month. 

"It was one of the scariest incidents I have ever been in," Chuck Schmeiser said. He is speaking of an incident that occurred last month in his two-year-old Toyota Prius.  While trying to park in a field at a music festival, Schmeiser says his Prius shot forward, struck a parking lot attendant, and veered out of control over a dirt embankment. "It happened so fast. It was instantaneous. There was no advance warning whatsoever," he said.

"M foot was on the brake to stop the car when it started to surge. All I did was press the brake as hard as I could," Schmeiser said. "That brake did not stop the car."

Schmeiser had his car towed to a dealership. A specialist was brought in to examine the vehicle and determined the incident occurred due to driver error. Schmeiser says he did nothing wrong. He says he was skeptical of other reports of runaway cars, but the incident changed his mind. 

"We had talked about it, and said they must be doing something wrong... and until it happens to you, you realize they weren't doing anything wrong, it's the car."

If your or someone you know has been injured in an Arizona car accident, please contact a Phoenix personal injury lawyer of Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally, P.L.C. at 800-763-0964 to learn about protecting your rights.

An unidentified woman from Lake Havasu City died early Sunday morning after she was struck by a vehicle on North Kiowa Boulevard. 

According to officials with the Lake Havasu City Police Department, the woman and  a man were arguing somewhere near the roadway shortly before 2:00 a.m Sunday.   Lake Havasu City police sergeant Joe Harrold said "the female was laying in the westbound traffic lane of North Kiowa Boulevard." Officers say they do not know why the woman was laying in the street, but the accident remains under investigation. 

Harrold said 27 year-old John Lindsay was traveling westbound on North Kiowa Boulevard in his 1992 Buick at the time of the accident. "Mr. Lindsay's vehicle approached the area, and the female suddenly sat up - at which time Mr. Lindsay realized it was a person and attempted to brake and swerve to avoid her," Harrold said. "Alcohol was not a factor with the driver. There were no signs of impairment or of mechanical defects with the vehicle."

Lindsay's left front bumper struck the woman and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Under the law, every driver has an obligation to be aware of the safety of others on the road, including other drivers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. If another person's failure to fulfill this obligation has led to your injuries, contact a Phoenix personal injury lawyer of Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally, P.L.C. at 800-763-0964 to learn about protecting your rights.

Four people have died after a crash involving a sanitation truck and a group of motorcyclists in Phoenix Thursday.

According to officials with the Phoenix Police Department, the accident occurred sortly after 1:00 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of 27th Drive and Carefree Highway. Police say eight motorcycles, carrying nine people, were stopped at a traffic light when they were struck by an eastbound dump truck.

Three motorcyclists, 67 year-old R. Nachand, 52 year-old Stephen Punch, and 35 year-old Daniel L. Butler, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. A forth victim, 47 year-old Daylve Veronica Downs-Totonchi, died Friday at a Phoenix hospital from injuries sustained in the accident. Phoenix Fire Department Captain Ernie Lizaraga, one of the motorcyclists involved in the crash, is listed in critical condition. Two other bikers are in serious condition. Police say two motorcyclists were treated at the scene and released. Victims were transported to hospitals via medical helicopters.

The driver of the dump truck, 46 year-old Michael J. Jakscht, was not injured in the crash. Investigators say Jakscht failed to control his speed and collided with the eight motorcycles and four other vehicles in front of them.

Under the law, every driver has an obligation to be aware of the safety of others on the road, including other drivers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. If another person's failure to fulfill this obligation has led to your injuries, contact a Phoenix personal injury lawyer of Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally, P.L.C. at 800-763-0964 to learn about protecting your rights.

Three people were seriously injured after a two-car accident on Phoenix's north-side Saturday. 

Scott Walker, a spokesman for the Phoenix Fire Department, said the accident occurred shortly after 3:30 p.m. near the intersection of 18th Street and Thunderbird Road. One of the victims is a 16 year-old male, and two of the three injured are related, Walker said.

Police did not comment on the nature or extent of the victims' injuries, and could not say  who was at fault in the crash. The accident remains under investigation.

Under the law, every driver has an obligation to be aware of the safety of others on the road, including other drivers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. If another person's failure to fulfill this obligation has led to your injuries, contact a Phoenix personal injury lawyer of Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally, P.L.C. at 800-763-0964 to learn about protecting your rights.

A ban on text messaging while driving has reached the Arizona Legislature.

If the new bill passes and Governor Jan Brewer signs it, Arizona will become the 21st state (not including the District of Columbia) to ban drivers from texting, checking email, or using cell phone applications behind the wheel. Senator Al melvin, R-Tucson, is one of the main sponsors of the anti-text legislation, but says he is unsure if the bill will pass the house. 

"The road will be difficult in the House, no doubt," said Rep. Steve Farley, D-Tucson, another one of the bill's biggest supporters. "But, i remain optimistic that common sense will win out in the end."

The new bill prohibits writing, sending, or reading messages on a cell phone or a similar electronic personal device while operating a vehicle, even if stopped at a red light. Drivers caught texting behind the wheel would face a $50 civil fine and a non-moving traffic violation. If the driver is involved in an accident while texting the fine is increased to $200.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Arizona car accident, please contact the Phoenix personal injury attorneys of Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally to learn more about the options available to a victim in the aftermath of a car accident. Please call 800-763-0964.

The Arizona State Senate gave preliminary approval to a ban on texting while driving Thursday.

The vote on Thursday resulted in 17-11 approval of the bill. The measure will get a finale Senate roll-call vote next week, and still needs to pass the House. The bill was introduced more than three years ago, but Thursday's proceedings are the first time the measure has gained Senate approval.

The proposed law would result in a $50- $200 fine for texting drivers involved in an accident. 

Senator Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, thinks the bill is unnecessary, he questioned why the particular distraction of texting merited a law. Pearce said "If you drink your BIg Gulp, its OK... If you're reaching down to get somethig off the floor and not looking at the road, you're OK. If you're changing the radio station, you're OK. If you're putting on makeup, you're OK..." 

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Arizona car accident, please contact the Phoenix personal injury attorneys of Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally by calling 800-763-0964.