Mesa Personal Injury Law Blog

The annual Dog Bite Prevention Week is geared toward reducing animal attacks and the danger that pets pose to children. Recently, State Farm Insurance released figures for 2018 that show an overall decrease in incidents but a rise in costs of claims. Though many states, such as Arizona, have enacted breed-specific laws aimed at protecting residents from a potentially dangerous breed, State Farm does not have breed restrictions in its policies, as any dog can attack.

The American Veterinary Medical Association sponsors Dog Bite Prevention Week to draw attention to the dangers of a pet that has not been properly socialized. In addition, it produces educational materials on how to safely introduce children and dogs. While the overall number for dog bites has declined in the past year, the number of child victims under the age of 1 has increased.

Far too often, there are reports of "man's best friend" inflicting serious injuries, especially when that best friend is a breed that has a reputation as being dangerous. When these types of dogs attack, victims can suffer permanent disfigurement along with emotional scars. Though several Arizona communities have enacted laws that restrict ownership of potentially dangerous breeds, these frightening attacks occur far too frequently.

It was reported that a Staffordshire Terrier belonging to NFL quarterback, Dak Prescott, will have to be relocated to another jurisdiction after attacking a neighbor last month. According to the report, two of the athlete's pets escaped his home and were involved in a fight with a neighboring woman's dog. When she intervened to save her pet, the 90-pound animal turned on her. She received a bite to her hand that resulted in the loss of one of her fingers.

In 2018, an estimated 3,000 motorcyclists were seriously injured or killed in motorcycle crashes on Arizona roads. As a result, one organization believes there is an urgent need for an effective course on motorcycle safety. In a program that is the only one of its kind in the country, motorcyclists have access to a safety course that offers scholarships to help pay for the course fees.  

In spite of the alarming number of crashes in Arizona every year, the number of registrations continue to climb. That is one of the reasons that the Arizona Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Foundation (AMSAF) offers classes to inexperienced motorcyclists and those who wish to improve their skills. According to the director of the foundation, an estimated 75 percent of riders have never received safety instruction.   

Everyone is aware of the dangers posed by an intoxicated driver. Another danger -- and one that may even be more common -- is driving while drowsy. Though some Arizona residents may feel that driving sleepy is often unavoidable, it can be a factor in causing a serious car crash.

In spite of the dangers of drowsy driving, nearly one-third of drivers included in a recent survey admitted driving when they were almost too sleepy to keep their eyes on the road. According to studies, those who drive after 24 sleepless hours function as if their blood alcohol content would be .10, which would exceed the legal limits of .08. Yet in spite of the risk, the problem persists. While there is no clear way to assess a driver's impairment due to tiredness, a study conducted by AAA in 2018 analyzed video footage of drivers moments before a collision, and it was estimated that nearly 10 percent of crashes could be blamed on drowsy drivers.