15-passenger vans are a popular option for youth groups, senior groups, airport shuttles and the like for transporting a large group of people at one time. However, these large vans carry a significant risk of rollover and instability in handling, especially when overloaded. Every year in the U.S., 15-passenger vans are involved in thousands of auto accidents, resulting in serious injuries and even fatalities. Here’s what you can do to minimize the risk and keep large passenger vans safe on the road:

Don’t overload the van. The more cargo and passengers the van is carrying, the more the center of gravity will shift upward and rearward, increasing risk of rollover. In fact, 15-passenger vans are three times as likely to rollover when loaded with more than 10 passengers.

Make sure the van is properly maintained. Like with any vehicle, it’s important to make sure your van is mechanically sound before embarking on any trip.

Ensure the driver has sufficient experience operating large passenger vans. Be aware that drivers may require additional training for driving 15-passenger vans, especially when fully loaded.

Check tire pressure and condition before every trip. Low tire pressure makes handling more difficult, increasing risk of losing control of the vehicle. Refer to the vehicle manual for the recommended tire pressure and make sure tires are at the level before leaving. Front and rear tires may require different tire pressures. Also, check tires for uneven wear, cracks and other significant damage.

Buckle up. In the event of an accident, wearing a seatbelt can help prevent life-threatening injuries and deaths.

If you or a loved one has been harmed in a passenger van accident, seek legal help immediately. The personal injury attorneys at Skousen, Gulbrandsen and Patience of Mesa are very experienced handling cases involving injuries, fatalities or negligence in the greater Phoenix area. Contact us for a free initial consultation.

Disclaimer: The materials available at this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Use and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site do not create an attorney-client relationship. The opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the firm or any individual attorney.

Driving can be full of frustrations, especially in a big city such as Phoenix. Congestion, unexpected delays and errors by other drivers can be aggravating, leading drivers to engage in road rage. Common aggressive driving behaviors include yelling insults, rude hand gestures, honking, flashing headlights and aggressive tailgating, but in some cases, this anger can end in violence and even death.

Although exact statistics aren’t available, in a recent survey, more than half of drivers have admitted to engaging in aggressive driving behavior, and about the same number have experienced some form of road rage from other drivers in the last year. Furthermore, NHTSA estimates that about a third of auto accidents are the result of road rage. And as roads become more and more crowded, these numbers are on the rise.

Though you can’t always control what happens to you on the road, you can control your attitude toward these situations and how you react to them. The following are a few helpful hints for managing and preventing road rage:

Allow extra traveling time. Many road frustrations come from not allowing enough time to get from place and place. Adding just a few extra minutes to your driving time will help you keep your cool even when facing unexpected delays.

Breath slowly and deeply. When you encounter a stressful situation on the road and feel yourself tensing up, calm yourself by taking a few deep, slow breaths. Slowing down your breathing will help you loosen up, remain clear-headed and not give in to rising feelings of anxiety or anger.

Don’t take others’ driving errors personally. If another driver cut you off or braked very suddenly in front of you, he or she most likely did so accidentally and not purposely to get a rise out you. The best way to deal with these kinds of mistakes is to keep calm, increase your distance and practice kindness even to inconsiderate drivers.

Don’t engage. If you come across an aggressive driver, limit your interaction with them to keep the situation from escalating. Don’t gesture or yell back, avoid eye contact and increase your distance. If the other aggressive driver is persistent, contact the authorities ASAP.

Skousen, Gulbrandsen & Patience is a Mesa, AZ, personal injury law firm dedicated to serving the legal needs of accident and injury victims. For a free legal consultation, please contact us.

Disclaimer: The materials available at this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Use and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site do not create an attorney-client relationship. The opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the firm or any individual attorney.

While traveling Phoenix roads, you are likely to encounter a number of big trucks. But because of their large size, sharing the road with trucks takes special consideration. Not paying adequate attention to their limitations could lead to a very severe, even fatal, truck accident. To comfortably share the road with big trucks, please follow these safety tips:

· Don’t linger in blind spots. When coming upon trucks on the road, it’s best to pass quickly and safely. Staying in a truck’s blind spots (located directly in front or back of or on the driver’s or passenger’s side of a truck) puts you at greater risk for a serious accident. Keep a safe distance from trucks at all times.

· Give trucks extra room for merging and lane changes. If you see a truck on the road with its signal on, be sure to give it plenty of room to move into your lane.

· Watch for trucks making wide right turns. Big trucks need much more room to make right turns than regular-sized vehicles. If you come upon a truck signaling to make a right turn, be sure to give them plenty of room to maneuver. Don’t squeeze in between the truck and the curb.

· Don’t cut-off trucks. Trying to fit in tight spots in front of other vehicles is risky with normal-sized vehicles, but with trucks that can’t brake quickly, it’s outright hazardous. If you can’t see both of the truck’s headlights in your rearview mirror, don’t make the lane change.

To summarize, when encountering a truck on the road, allow sufficient room for braking and turning, be mindful of blind spots and keep a safe distance to avoid accidents.

If you’ve been injured in an accident with a truck, you can count on the professional, experienced auto accident attorneys at Skousen, Gulbrandsen & Patience. Serving Mesa, the East Valley and the greater Phoenix area, we can help guide you in your time of legal need. Contact us for a free legal consultation.

Disclaimer: The materials available at this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Use and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site do not create an attorney-client relationship. The opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the firm or any individual attorney.

All drivers are required to carry a minimum amount of auto insurance coverage. And in the event of a traffic stop or an auto accident, drivers must furnish proof of sufficient auto insurance coverage. Recently, Arizona made showing proof of insurance a little more convenient by allowing drivers to do so on their smartphones.

Arizona is the second U.S. state to allow drivers to show electronic proof of auto insurance (Idaho was the first), and many other states are currently considering similar legislation. Motorists can now present insurance coverage proof by showing a PDF version of their insurance card on their phone or displaying it in an app on their wireless mobile devices.

Under Arizona law, drivers are required to carry at least $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident in bodily injury coverage, and $10,000 per accident in property damage coverage. Not carrying enough auto insurance could not only result in tickets and fines, but in the case of a collision, you could face thousands of dollars in accident-related expenses. To keep you and your assets protected, make sure you carry enough insurance.

If you’ve been in auto accident, you’ll need to seek advice from a skilled personal injury attorney. The auto accident lawyers at Skousen, Gulbrandsen & Patience offer decades of experience helping injured people recover expenses. For more information, please call us at 800-501-2782 or contact us online.

Disclaimer: The materials available at this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Use and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site do not create an attorney-client relationship. The opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the firm or any individual attorney.