Phoenix Real Estate Law Blog

Poor lighting can lead to slip-and-fall accidents

On behalf of Faith, Ledyard & Faith, PLC posted in Premises Liability on Tuesday, January 14, 2020.

When people think about slip-and-fall accidents, they often think about the issues with the flooring itself. Maybe it's a staircase with a broken tread. Maybe it's a slick spot after a spill on a tile floor. Maybe it's snow and ice on a sidewalk that no one properly cleaned up.

These are all issues, but you do have to consider other factors, as well. One big one is the lighting. Without proper lighting, almost any surface can become very dangerous. This is especially true, for instance, in parking lots and on outdoor staircases.

Child suffers brain bruise in accident

On behalf of Faith, Ledyard & Faith, PLC posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Tuesday, January 14, 2020.

A serious accident at an intersection in Arizona left a 5-year-old girl in a coma with a bruise on her brain.

The crash happened when the family -- the girl and her mother and father -- attempted to make a left turn. The investigation is still ongoing, but it appears that a truck slammed into the side of their car as they turned. The people in the truck did not get badly hurt, but the family in the car wound up in the hospital with catastrophic injuries. The adults, with the mother unconscious, were rushed to Banner Thunderbird Medical Center. Their daughter was taken to Phoenix Children's Hospital with skull fractures and put into a medically-induced coma.

Never drive too fast in the rain

On behalf of Faith, Ledyard & Faith, PLC posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Friday, January 10, 2020.

A wet road is inherently more dangerous than dry pavement. It means you need greater stopping distances and have a greater chance of losing control of your vehicle. You need to take extra steps to stay safe whenever you have to drive in the rain.

One serious risk is simply driving too fast. Excessive speed can lead to hydroplaning. Your car actually lifts up off of the pavement and rides on top of the water itself. Even a fraction of a millimeter is enough to cause you to lose all control. It's like driving on ice. With no actual contact with the pavement, you can't steer or brake effectively.

Is there a lemon law for your house?

On behalf of Faith, Ledyard & Faith, PLC posted in Real Estate Transactions on Monday, January 6, 2020.

You buy a home, and it's a major investment. You take out a 30-year mortgage. Clearly, you expect the property to last. You want to start a family in the home. You may live there for the rest of your life.

Quickly, though, you start having problems. The roof leaks. The HVAC system breaks down. The house seems to have settled poorly. You have cracks in the walls and the ceiling. The pipes leak in the walls. Certain circuits do not work when you turn on multiple electrical devices at the same time.

These 3 tips could help save lives on the road

On behalf of Faith, Ledyard & Faith, PLC on Saturday, January 4, 2020.

Riding a motorcycle is dangerous, there's no question about that. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has stated that motorcylists are 28 times more likely to be killed in an accident than drivers of passenger vehicles.

While not all motor vehicle crashes involving motorcyclists are a result of other drivers, there are many that could be prevented if people were more aware of motorcyclists on the road. Here are a few things that drivers can do to help keep motorcyclists safe.

Will motorcycle riders become less common?

On behalf of Faith, Ledyard & Faith, PLC posted in motorcycle accidents on Friday, January 3, 2020.

Are we heading toward a time when motorcycles are less common than they have been over the years? It's not just the season, as there are often fewer riders in the winter months, but an overall trend. In 10 years, will we look back and wonder where all the motorcycles went?

It could be. Studies have found that young millennials do not buy motorcycles at a high rate at all. Sales exist, but the general trend is that millennials are skipping motorcycles and sticking to cars.

Tesla hits parked fire truck, killing woman

On behalf of Faith, Ledyard & Faith, PLC posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Wednesday, January 1, 2020.

One woman is dead after a car accident on a freeway in Arizona. She was riding in a Tesla that slammed into a fire truck parked on the left-hand side of the road.

Reports indicate that a first crash took place right around 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 29. It was just a single-vehicle wreck, and it happened close to the Mile 38 marker on I-70. That crash spurred a call to the Cloverdale Fire Department, who responded by sending emergency vehicles to the scene.

Focusing can create mental 'change blindness'

On behalf of Faith, Ledyard & Faith, PLC posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, December 26, 2019.

Car accidents happen for all manner of reasons, but one of the most confusing is when someone does not see something that they clearly should see. For instance, maybe they merge into a lane already occupied by another car. How could this happen? A car is a 4,000-pound vehicle that is more than a dozen feet long. Why didn't they see it?

There are a lot of potential reasons why. Maybe they were intoxicated. Maybe they were distracted. Maybe they just forgot to check the mirrors.

Delaying your estate planning: A question of focus

On behalf of Faith, Ledyard & Faith, PLC posted in estate administration & probate on Tuesday, December 24, 2019.

Why do people delay their estate planning? Why do they put it off? Maybe you've done this yourself, but you don't even really know why.

Sometimes, it's just a question of focus. You only have so much time. People tend to focus on more immediate concerns. Estate planning always feels like something you'll need in the future. For many, it's even a rather uncomfortable topic. That makes it easy to delay.

A simple stairway carries more danger than many people realize

On behalf of Faith, Ledyard & Faith, PLC posted in Premises Liability on Thursday, December 19, 2019.

You probably use the stairs every day, but do you ever think about the serious risks you face? It's worth considering, especially if you're often on property that you do not own: In stores, in public buildings, in an apartment or in a neighbor's house. You want to know what hazards could cause a serious accident.

Some of the most obvious issues are things like worn or loose stair treads, missing handrails or broken supports. You may be able to look at the staircase and see instantly that it's not safe.