Suffering an injury in any motor vehicle accident is traumatic, leaving you with physical and psychological injuries. However, being the victim of a hit and run accident can be even more emotionally taxing as you wonder how you will be able to recover compensation for your injuries if you don’t know the offender’s identity.
If you were injured in a Phoenix, Arizona, hit and run accident, you need the assistance of a skilled car accident lawyer who can help you seek the compensation you deserve. Contact Triumph Law Group at 602-595-5559 for a free consultation with an experienced member of our legal team.
Just because the individual who caused your injuries can’t be immediately identified doesn’t mean you don’t have a case for financial recovery. Our team will help you gather the evidence you need and file the paperwork necessary to recover compensation for your medical expenses and lost wages.
Hit and Run Accident Cases Our Firm Handles
Our firm handles various types of hit and run accident cases. Some of the most common include:
- Head-On Collisions: Surprisingly, some individuals still manage to flee the accident scene after getting involved in a head-on collision. These collisions often leave victims with serious and life-threatening injuries.
- Rear-End Collisions: Rear-end accidents are the most common type of motor vehicle collision, with the Arizona Department of Transportation finding that these collisions account for over 38 percent of all multi-vehicle crashes in the state.
- T-Bone Collisions: A T-bone collision occurs when one vehicle drives directly into the side of another. These accidents typically occur at intersections, often when a left-turning driver doesn’t yield the right-of-way or when a motorist fails to stop for traffic signs and signals.
- Sideswipe Accidents: These accidents are when one vehicle slides along or bumps into the side of another. This can happen if a driver doesn’t check their blind spot before changing lanes or if an intoxicated, drowsy, or distracted driver can’t keep their vehicle between the lines.
- Pedestrian Accidents: Pedestrians are at particular risk of being involved in hit and run accidents. This may be because drivers who strike pedestrians know the accident was their fault and want to avoid the consequences of their actions.
Hit and Run Accident Statistics
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over a recent five-year period, over 12,000 fatal hit and run accidents and over 1 million hit and run accidents resulting in injury occurred nationwide.
Arizona alone saw 15,648 hit and run accidents in 2023, resulting in 3856 injuries and 113 deaths. This means that nearly 13 percent of accidents in the state were hit and runs, which shows how prevalent these types of incidents are. Despite what many people think, hit and run accidents aren’t all that rare, which is why it’s essential to understand what steps to take if you are struck by a driver who flees.
Examples of Hit and Run Cases
Many hit and run cases result from rear-end accidents, where the damage to the vehicles involved is relatively minor. The driver who rear-ended you may leave the scene of the accident because they don’t see much damage to your vehicle.
However, just because the vehicle damage is minor or not visible doesn’t mean you can’t suffer severe injuries. Rear-end accidents, in particular, often lead to whiplash, which is a soft-tissue injury affecting the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the neck, and spinal cord injuries.
Another common example of a hit and run is if another vehicle sideswipes you and continues driving as if nothing happened. Sideswipe accidents can result in your vehicle being pushed off the road or into an adjacent vehicle, leading to a more serious secondary crash.
If you were struck by a vehicle while crossing the road and the driver didn’t stop, you are the victim of a hit and run. It doesn’t matter that you weren’t also in a vehicle. The driver of the vehicle must stop. Fortunately, pedestrians struck by vehicles are protected by the same liability insurance rules that injured drivers and passengers are.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hit and Run Accidents
Below, you’ll find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding hit and run accidents in Phoenix, Arizona.
How Do I Recover Compensation for a Hit and Run Accident?
Since Arizona is an at-fault auto insurance state, injured parties typically file their insurance claims against the at-fault driver’s liability insurance policy. However, if you don’t know the identity of the driver who struck you, you can’t do this.
Fortunately, there is a solution. Victims can file claims against their own uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage is a type of mandatory auto insurance coverage you can use if you are struck by a driver without insurance. But you can also use it when you are the victim of a hit and run, as unidentified drivers are treated the same way as uninsured drivers.
What Happens When the Police Identify the Hit and Run Offender?
Once the police identify the hit and run offender, you can file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit against them. If you already filed an uninsured motorist claim and it covered all of your expenses, you do not need to do anything further. However, if your uninsured motorist claim didn’t cover your expenses, you can seek compensation from the at-fault driver.
It’s important to keep in mind that if you recover additional compensation, your insurance company may request that you reimburse what it paid you through your uninsured motorist claim.
What Steps Should I Take After a Hit and Run Accident?
After a hit and run accident in Phoenix, there are a few key steps you should take to protect your right to seek compensation for your injuries, including:
- Seeking ongoing medical treatment until you have fully recovered or reached your maximum medical improvement
- Documenting the accident and your injuries by writing down what you remember and taking photos of any visible injuries you have
- Reporting the accident to the police and your insurance company
- Avoiding admitting fault for the accident in any way, as contributing to the cause of the crash could reduce your compensation under Arizona’s comparative negligence statute
- Consulting an experienced hit and run accident lawyer who can provide legal advice and help you build a strong case for compensation
Why Do Drivers Leave the Scene of an Accident?
There are many reasons why a driver may flee the scene of an accident. Some of the most common are:
- They panicked after the crash and made a poor decision by fleeing
- They did not want the police to be involved, potentially because they have a warrant
- They did not have the required liability insurance
- They were under the influence of alcohol or an intoxicating substance
- They were worried about their insurance premiums increasing due to the crash
Contact Our Phoenix Hit and Run Accident Lawyers
Were you injured in a Phoenix hit and run accident? If so, contact Triumph Law Group at 602-595-5559 for a free consultation with one of our skilled Phoenix personal injury lawyers. During your initial consultation, we’ll review the facts of your case, explain your options for seeking damages, and answer any questions you have about the recovery process. You can count on our compassionate and caring team to provide the legal support you need.
T