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Charges Brought Against Suspect Driver for Fatal Crash with Pedestrian

According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, there were 11,762 hit-and-run accidents in 2012 alone. This means that 11,762 drivers were involved in a collision with another car, a motorcycle, a bicycle, a pedestrian, or even a fixed object and yet they failed to stay at the scene of the crash to speak with police or other officials. Through these hit-and-run collisions, at least 3,112 people were injured and 37 people were killed.

Drivers who flee the scene of an accident are not only breaking state and local laws but they are also risking the health and safety of the victims of those collisions. After an accident, a victim may be unconscious or unable to move freely, potentially limiting or eliminating that victim’s ability to call for help. Sometimes, the driver fleeing the scene is the only one involved that is capable of requesting help but for some reason, the driver does not do so and leaves the accident. This can prevent medical personnel from responding to victims or delay a response, potentially worsening a victim’s injuries or even leading to death.

The risks associated with a hit-and-run crash are so serious that being involved in one can lead to significant charges, even if the fleeing driver was not responsible for the original collision. On top of any criminal or traffic charges brought against that driver, there exists the possibility that the victims of a crash will bring a civil claim for their damages which lets victims seek compensation from an at-fault party. Speaking with an injury lawyer is the best way to learn about your legal rights following an accident.

Sheriff’s deputies in Yuma County responded to a fatal collision on Sunday that involved a fleeing automobile and a pedestrian. According to authorities, an SUV was traveling along Highway 95 when the driver came upon a pedestrian walking on the side of the highway. For reasons that are not yet known, the SUV struck the pedestrian, causing a serious collision that left the pedestrian dead. The driver of the SUV fled the scene.
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Driver May Have Been on Cell Phone When He Hit a 12-Year-Old Boy

Police are still investigating a Tuesday evening crash between a car and a 12-year-old boy on a bicycle, leaving the child with critical injuries. Police say that just before 8:00 p.m. that evening, the boy rode his bicycle with several friends near 45th Avenue and Olive in Glendale when a silver sedan approached the boy and struck him while the boy was within a crosswalk.

Friends of the 12-year-old and witnesses say the driver of the car, a blonde white male, never slowed down before the impact and fled the scene after the crash. These same witnesses have reported that the drive of the car appeared to be on his cell phone at the time of the impact and that after he struck the boy, he still did not slow down and left the scene at full speed.

Police were called to the scene of the crash and the boy was transported by air ambulance to Phoenix Children’s Hospital that night, where he continues to receive treatment today. He is described by his aunt as having sustained head, stomach, and leg injuries in the crash. Though he was initially intubated, the same aunt says he is now breathing on his own and that the boy’s condition is improving.

By all accounts, this young boy is lucky to have survived the crash. Early reports indicate that the boy was obeying all relevant traffic laws and was in a crosswalk as he was supposed to be when he was hurt. It appears that the cause of the collision was the negligence of a driver who was distracted, possibly by a cell phone, and failed to notice the boy on his bicycle.

Arizona law holds a negligent driver responsible for any injuries that driver causes, even if those injuries are to a pedestrian or a bicyclist. The law may impose criminal and traffic penalties which can include fines, suspension or loss of a driver’s license, community service, or even incarceration. But the penalties imposed by the state are not all that a negligent driver may face.

In addition to criminal and traffic violations, the negligent driver may find himself faced with a civil lawsuit brought on behalf of his victim. This can include a claim for any damages suffered by the victim or his family, including medical bills. Arizona law makes a driver liable for the medical, surgical, and physical therapy bills of his victim when the driver is negligent or reckless and causes injuries.
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Hit-And-Run Driver Kills Pedestrian in Glendale

Passersby called 911 Wednesday morning to report a woman lying in a Glendale street early this morning who appeared to be severely injured and unresponsive. One witness performed CPR on the woman while waiting for paramedics to arrive and she was eventually transported by air ambulance to an area hospital. Despite all efforts, she died of her injuries.

Police now believe that the pedestrian was the victim of a hit-and-run accident that took place on Northern Avenue in the early morning hours. The crash took place near the intersection of 63rd Avenue and involved an unknown driver in an unknown car. After the collision, the victim was left for dead in the street as the driver fled the scene without calling police or checking to see if the woman was even alive.

While little is known at this time, police have been encouraged by one potential piece of evidence. A side-view mirror was found on the scene near the victim and may be from the offending vehicle. Officers plan to identify the make and model of the vehicle the mirror belongs to in an effort to track down the responsible car. However the Glendale Police have stated that at this early point in their investigation, they cannot definitely confirm that the mirror is related to the crash and that it may be from an earlier collision or entirely unrelated to any traffic incident.

Police are looking for any information related to this incident and the public is encouraged to call the authorities if they know anything. Additionally commuters should note that the area between 59th and 67th Avenues is expected to remain closed through morning rush hour so an alternate route should be used.

There are many reasons that the law requires drivers who are involved in an accident to remain at the scene until police arrive. One of them is that if a person is injured, help can be obtained faster and increase the chance of survival. It is unclear whether the victim in this accident would have survived if she received medical treatment immediately after the collision but the delay in care did not improve her injuries.
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11-Year-Old Boy Killed By Hit-And-Run Driver

An accident in Phoenix over the weekend claimed the life of a Phoenix 11-year-old boy who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The driver who caused the collision fled the scene and has not yet been apprehended by authorities.

Phoenix police stated that the boy was walking through a parking lot with his mother near 35th Avenue and Indian School Road on Saturday night near their home. A driver entered his Izuzu Amigo that was parked in the same parking lot, intending to leave, and place his vehicle in reverse. Police now believe that the driver failed to remove a steering wheel device designed to prevent vehicle theft before placing the car in reverse. The car backed up and struck the young boy, running him over, and then continued to hit a chain link fence where the vehicle stopped. With the safety device in place, the driver would not have been able to steer or brake to control the car.

After the impact, the driver reportedly got out of his car and helped the boy’s mother remove the boy from underneath the Amigo before the driver fled the scene on foot. Though officials have been looking for the driver, they have not yet located him and are asking the public for any information that might be helpful. Some witnesses at the scene said the driver appeared to be intoxicated when he exited his car and as he walked away leading to the speculation as to why the driver failed to remove the safety device before moving his car.

Though the victim in this case was transported to an area hospital for medical treatment, his injuries were too severe and later claimed his life.

Hit-and-run accidents like this one in Phoenix are often serious and may become deadly. The fear of facing traffic charges causes some drivers to flee the scene of an accident but this action may subject a driver to more serious charges in the long run. A hit-and-run driver may also leave a victim without the means or ability to seek medical care, especially if no witnesses are around, and therefore these collisions may turn deadly when proper treatment would otherwise have allowed a victim to survive.
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Phoenix Police Officer Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver

A six year veteran of the Phoenix Police Department was killed in the line of duty on Sunday morning when he was stuck by a hit-and-run driver. The officer was on the scene to handle another incident with a driver who was allegedly under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the officer was hit by a green Ford Expedition. The driver of the Expedition fled the scene and the officer later died of his injuries.

The officer, an Iraqi War veteran, is survived by his wife and one child.

Police officers investigating the incident later found the Expedition but they have not yet determined who was driving the vehicle at the time of the fatal crash. Anyone with information related to the collision or the driver of the Ford Expedition is asked to call the Phoenix Police Department or Silent Witness where callers can remain anonymous if they choose.

The law in Arizona requires anyone involved in a motor vehicle accident to stay on the scene until responders arrive. This is to provide police and any other drivers with personal information as well as to make sure that anyone injured gets the medical care they need. Unfortunately many Phoenix drivers do not follow the law and leave the scene of an accident that they cause which puts the other drivers involved at risk.

In this case, the vehicle that caused the fatal accident was later found, meaning that charges may be filed against the driver or the owner of that car related to the collision and for leaving the scene of the accident, depending on what the evidence reveals. Identifying the person who caused an accident also means that a civil suit for damages can be brought against that individual.

In many hit-and-run crashes, the other vehicle and its driver cannot be identified. Often the only witness is the driver who remains at the scene and it can be difficult for a car accident victim to be certain of all details of the crash, including the make and model of the other vehicle as well as a description of the driver. Injuries can also prevent a victim from identifying the other vehicle.

If the other driver that causes a collision cannot be identified, it is still possible to bring a claim for injuries sustained in a crash. Most automobile insurance policies have something called uninsured motorist coverage which provides an avenue for recovery when a driver is injured by a hit-and-run motorist. In a claim for uninsured motorist benefits, a driver’s own insurance company steps into the shoes of the insurance company for the unknown, at-fault driver and provides coverage for the collision.

An uninsured motorist claim can cover the same types of losses as a claim against an at-fault driver, including expenses for medical bills incurred, lost wages, and any other damages suffered by a driver.
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Deadly Phoenix pedestrian accident leads to felony charges

An Arizona car vs. pedestrian accident in July, 2010 has left one person dead and another facing a potential prison sentence, according to AZCentral.com.

The driver accused of causing the accident is a 29-year-old Phoenix man who allegedly lost control of a Cadillac last summer, crashing it into a crowd of pedestrians crossing the street. One of the five injured was killed in the accident that took place near Bell Road, west of Arizona 51. The at fault motorist reportedly left the scene of the Phoenix accident without checking on any of the accident victims, in violation of Arizona law.

Arizona law mandates that any driver of a vehicle involved in an accident that results in injury to or death of a person must stop the car at the scene of the crash and remain at the scene until cleared by officials to leave. A driver who fails to meet these requirements and also caused the crash is guilty of a Class 3 felony.

Witnesses reported seeing the Cadillac speeding down Bell Road around 36th Street where the driver appeared to lose control. After running down a group of pedestrians crossing the street, the car stopped and several occupants of the vehicle fled in different directions.

The Cadillac passengers later turned themselves in to the police, but the driver failed to do so and was later arrested at his girlfriend’s house. He faces several charges, including leaving the scene of the accident. He could face up to 10 years in prison when his case goes to trial in March.

Cases like this usually involve a civil claim in addition to the pending criminal charges. It has not been reported if the pedestrian victim’s family has retained a Phoenix personal injury attorney or if a civil lawsuit has been filed.

Phoenix hit-and-run bicycle accident – suspect arrested

An Arizona bike accident that occurred on Sunday, November 14th around 4:30 AM has resulted in the death of the 53-year-old man, according to Fox news. A 54-year-old female motorist who hit the bicycle rider and then fled the scene has been arrested by the Phoenix Police Department.

The accident occurred in the area of 48th St. and Van Buren when the driver hit a bicyclist moving westbound. The driver was traveling in a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier and she attempted to flee the scene after the accident. Police officers were able to apprehend her within blocks of the accident scene and they now believe she was driving while impaired.

The bicyclist died at the scene.

The driver was arrested and charged with manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident causing death. Additional charges reportedly could be made after toxicology reports are reviewed.

Read the story as reported by CBS news and ABC news here.

There is no word as to whether a Phoenix bike accident lawyer is involved in the case yet. Click here to read more about Arizona hit-and-run claims.

Woman convicted in deadly Arizona hit-and-run pedestrian accident case

A woman from Chandler has been found guilty in federal court of leaving the scene of an Arizona pedestrian accident that caused a death on an Indian reservation, according to the Arizona Republic. The 64-year-old woman now faces sentencing in November 2010.

The accident happened back on March 21, 2007 early in the morning on the Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Reservation, which is located east of Phoenix, Arizona. Evidence showed the defendant hit and killed a 34-year-old Native American pedestrian as she attempted to cross the street. The at fault driver did not stop at the scene of the accident as required by law.

A conviction in federal court for leaving the scene of a fatal accident carries a possible sentence of up to nearly 9 years and a possible $250,000 fine.

It was not reported if a civil lawsuit was ever filed or if an Arizona pedestrian accident attorney is involved in the case.

Phoenix hit-and-run car accidents seem to be more and more common. Many speculate that this is due to the fact that, because of the poor economy, many drivers are on the road without auto insurance. This in turn can lead to drivers fleeing the scene of Arizona accidents. In my experience as a Phoenix car accident lawyer, I have found that most hit-and-run drivers are uninsured.

Phoenix hit-and-run pedestrian accident – police search for driver

Police are looking for help finding a driver involved in a Phoenix, Arizona pedestrian accident that took place back on June 29, 2010, Fox News reported. The Phoenix Police Department has released surveillance tape that shows the at fault driver entering a convenience store near the accident location.

The woman reportedly told workers in the store that she had been involved in an accident, but she then left and did not wait for police to arrive. She was reportedly driving a white Ford minivan, was around 35 to 40 years old, 5’3″, 170 to 190 lbs., and is either native American or Hispanic.

The 30-year-old pedestrian accident victim is still hospitalized and recovering from injuries. The victim was struck by the hit-and-run driver while he was walking across 29th Ave. at Glendale. He was in intensive care at the hospital for weeks and it is being reported that rescue workers initially didn’t think he would survive.

Phoenix police are releasing the surveillance tape with the hope that someone will recognize the hit-and-run driver and call police. If she is caught, police plan on charging her with felony offenses. If you have any information regarding this accident, please immediately contact the Phoenix Police Department at (602) 262-7626.

As far as a civil claim is concerned, it is not been reported if the victim has a Phoenix pedestrian accident lawyer working on his behalf. In a case like this, an Arizona injury lawyer will look to file a hit-and-run, uninsured motorist claim against the pedestrian’s own auto insurance policy. If the driver is eventually caught, the lawyer will investigate as to whether her vehicle was insured.

Click here to read more about Phoenix hit-and-run accidents and Arizona uninsured motorist claims.

Click here to read the story as reported by azfamily.com and the Arizona Republic.

Arrest made in deadly Tempe, Arizona hit-and-run accident

A man has been arrested in connection with an Arizona hit and run accident that killed a bike rider in Tempe last week, according to azfamily.com. A 22 year old man from Mesa was arrested on Saturday and charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident, which is a felony charge. Police are also saying he has admitted being involved.

The arrest stems from a bicycle accident that occurred last Saturday night at Southern Ave. and Rural Road. The 32 year old victim was driving a motorized bike eastbound when the defendant turned his car left into the victim, causing a T-bone accident. The defendant then fled the scene of the accident. Video shows the bicycle rider was legally riding in traffic at the time of the crash.

Several people in other vehicles called police and stayed at the scene to try to help the bike rider. The victim was rushed to an area hospital where he later died.

Click here to read the entire story as reported by azcentral.com.