Hit by a Car While Walking in Phoenix?

Pedestrian accidents almost always result in serious injuries. When a vehicle strikes a person on foot, the pedestrian has no protection. Broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, internal bleeding, and severe lacerations are common even at moderate speeds.

Call 911 immediately. Do not try to move if you have any possibility of a spinal injury. Let paramedics assess and stabilize you at the scene.

If you're able, get to one of Phoenix's Level I trauma centers: Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center (with the Barrow Neurological Institute), Valleywise Health Medical Center, Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, or HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn. Phoenix Children's Hospital handles pediatric cases.

Even if you feel your injuries are minor, get a medical evaluation within 24 hours. Impact injuries often produce delayed symptoms — internal bleeding, concussions, and soft tissue damage may not be apparent for hours or days.

Arizona law requires drivers to stop and remain at the scene of any accident involving injuries. If the driver stopped, make sure the Phoenix Police Department (PPD) or Arizona DPS (for freeway incidents) responds and creates an official crash report.

If the driver fled (a hit-and-run), call 911 immediately. Try to note as much as you can about the vehicle: color, make, model, license plate, direction of travel. Ask witnesses for the same information. Hit-and-run involving injury is a felony in Arizona.

If you're physically able (or ask someone to help you), photograph the scene: the intersection or roadway where you were hit, crosswalk markings (or lack thereof), traffic signals, the vehicle that hit you, your injuries, and the street conditions.

Get the driver's name, phone number, insurance information, driver's license number, and license plate. Collect names and phone numbers from witnesses — their testimony can be decisive, especially if the driver disputes what happened.

Do not apologize or admit fault. Do not say "I wasn't paying attention" or "I shouldn't have been crossing there." Fault determination is a legal question.

Phoenix consistently ranks among the deadliest cities in the United States for pedestrians. Pedestrian deaths in the city peaked at 117 in 2022, and the Phoenix metro area continues to see some of the highest pedestrian fatality rates in the nation. Several factors contribute to this.

The city's sprawling, car-centric design features wide, high-speed arterial roads — Camelback Road, Indian School Road, McDowell Road, Thomas Road, Van Buren Street, Bell Road, 35th Avenue, 43rd Avenue, Grand Avenue — that prioritize vehicle throughput over pedestrian safety. Many of these roads have limited crosswalks, inadequate lighting, and no sidewalks in certain stretches.

The 27th Avenue corridor has been identified as one of the deadliest streets for pedestrians in the entire country. Pedestrian crashes in Arizona are most common during commute hours (3–4 PM and 6–7 PM) when traffic volume and reduced visibility converge.

Extreme heat also plays a role — during summer months, scorching pavement and heat exhaustion can impair both pedestrian and driver judgment.

Arizona law gives pedestrians the right-of-way in marked crosswalks and at intersections (A.R.S. § 28-792). Drivers are required to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. However, pedestrians also have duties — they must obey traffic signals, use crosswalks when available, and not suddenly leave the curb into the path of a vehicle that is too close to stop (A.R.S. § 28-793).

Even if you were jaywalking or crossing outside a crosswalk, you are not automatically barred from recovery. Arizona's pure comparative fault system (A.R.S. § 12-2505) allows you to recover damages even if you were partially at fault. Your award is reduced by your percentage of fault, but there is no threshold that eliminates your recovery entirely.

The driver's insurance company will contact you — sometimes within hours. They will sound sympathetic. Their goal is to settle your claim as cheaply as possible, and they will look for any statement that can be used to shift blame to you.

Do not give a recorded statement. Do not accept a settlement offer. Pedestrian injuries are typically severe, require long-term treatment, and result in significant lost income. You won't know the full cost for weeks or months.

Under A.R.S. § 12-542, you have two years from the date of the pedestrian accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Arizona. For wrongful death, the two-year clock runs from the date of death.

Government entity exception: If you were hit by a government vehicle, or the accident was caused by a dangerous road condition that a government entity was responsible for maintaining, you must file a Notice of Claim within 180 days (A.R.S. § 12-821.01). This is critical — many pedestrian accidents involve poorly designed intersections, missing crosswalks, or inadequate lighting that may be the responsibility of the City of Phoenix or Maricopa County.

Pedestrian accident cases in Phoenix involve severe injuries, high medical costs, and aggressive insurance tactics. Drivers and their insurers will frequently blame the pedestrian — arguing they were jaywalking, distracted, or wearing dark clothing at night.

An experienced pedestrian accident attorney can investigate the scene, obtain surveillance and traffic camera footage, reconstruct the accident, determine all liable parties (including government entities responsible for road design), and fight to ensure you receive full compensation.

Most personal injury attorneys offer free consultations and work on contingency — you pay nothing unless they win.