Motorists driving large vehicles must pay especially close attention to the rules of the road. Heavy vehicles such as SUVs and cars with larger-than-average blind spots pose extreme risks when they speed or stop abruptly.

Speeding and ignoring traffic lights appear to have led to a fatal crash between an SUV and a limo in Phoenix. Authorities at the site reported that one vehicle ran a red light, and at least one vehicle was speeding into the intersection. The driver of the SUV was ejected from the vehicle and later died at a local hospital.

Liability in such a case will likely come down to determining which car failed to obey the traffic signal and at what the speeds of the vehicles were travelling. Even moderate changes in speed can mean the difference between an accident that causes only property damage and one that results in severe injury or death. After an investigation shows that one party may have been responsible, victims or their families can seek legal redress through a personal injury or wrongful death claim. Both of these types of lawsuits can help victims receive compensation for damages and losses caused by another driver's negligence.

It is the job of personal injury attorneys to work with officials and the courts to help determine liability in otherwise confusing cases. After a devastating accident, picking up the pieces of life is hard enough without the burden of financial obligations that should never have come up in the first place, and Arizona residents who find themselves in this situation should be aware of their rights.

Source: AZ Central, "1 dead in SUV-limo crash in Phoenix," Cassondra Strande, Aug. 15, 2012