You’ve probably experienced one of the most traumatic events in your life as a victim of a hit and run accident and you’re now looking at a long road to recover. Not only will you most likely have physical injuries but the mental and emotional injuries too that will need to be considered throughout your legal battle and settlement case.
Here in Arizona, the statistics show we experienced the 5th highest number of hit and runs in America, in 2016, with 19.5% of those being either pedestrians or cyclists alone. So, why are so many of our drivers having these kinds of accidents and why aren’t they staying behind to help out- or even check on their victims.
We explore pedestrian hit and run accidents, from an attorney’s perspective and offer some valuable advice when it comes to hiring a pedestrian accident attorney for your accident.
The injury attorneys at Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm near you have significant experience in helping clients who have been in a hit and run accident as a pedestrian. Our offices are conveniently located in nearby Chandler, Peoria, and North Phoenix, and we can meet in-person at our nearby offices, over the phone, or video call. You can contact us for a free consultation, or read on to find out more.
By the way, we will also help with other problems that have cost you sleep, like getting a rental car very soon and finding a nearby doctor who can help you. Even the best legal team isn’t good enough if your quality of life isn’t sustainable while justice and compensation are on the way. The whole point of legal action is to regain quality of life, so we help you long-term as attorneys and short-term as your go-to people. Our familiarity with the local Phoenix courts makes us confident that we can help you get the best settlement possible.
Hit and Run Stats in Arizona
As we’ve just touched on, the state of Arizona has some of the highest rates of hit and runs in America which is a rather surprising stat. With over 15,000 hit and run accidents being recorded in 2017 alone, coupled with the number of people driving in our state has more than doubled by 800,000 in the last ten years alone, it would seem the volume of traffic is only making things worse on our streets.
Coupled with more people than ever now driving on our freeways and highways, more of us are choosing to move to Arizona from other states, bringing either bad driving habits or simply a lack of awareness in the hit and run laws.
What is the penalty in Arizona for a hit and run?
Penalties for committing this crime varies really, depending on how much damage was done on impact. For example, if a driver hit’s a fence, sign, post, or something else on the sidewalk and drives off without telling the owner of the property, they could face 30 days in jail, a fine of $500, and even 1 year of probation. If a driver hits a parked car and doesn’t attempt to find the owner, the penalty is the same.
However, should a driver hit another car or a pedestrian and cause injury but flees the scene, the penalty will then depend on the severity of the injuries which can be between 2.5- 9 years of prison, fines, and a ban on their license. These penalties will also still apply even if the driver returns to the scene or hands themselves in at a later date to a local police station.
Hiring a pedestrian accident lawyer to help
Experiencing this kind of accident is thankfully not as common as you might think but if you’ve been involved in a hit and run, we know you’ll be facing a long, uphill battle with injury and psychological trauma. That’s why getting a pedestrian accident lawyer is highly recommended. Our team at Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm are highly experienced in representing pedestrians after traumatic hit and runs, and we work closely with our clients with empathy and clarity.
Get Help Now
At Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm near you, we have more than 15 years of experience helping clients obtain compensation for their personal injuries, including those from hit and run accidents with pedestrians in the Phoenix area. When you’re ready to talk, please contact our office to arrange a free initial consultation by phone or at our Chandler office, conveniently located near you.
If you have been in a pedestrian hit and run accident, contact Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm in nearby Chandler, AZ to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. We provide personal injury legal services to clients in your area including Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Peoria.
