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Hit by a Car While Walking in Arizona: What Are Your Rights?
Getting hit by a car while walking is terrifying. One moment you are crossing the street, and the next your whole life is turned upside down. If this happened to you or someone you love in Arizona, you are probably dealing with painful injuries, medical bills, missed work, and a lot of unanswered questions.
The good news is that Arizona law gives pedestrians strong protections. You have real rights, and a driver who fails to yield to you can be held financially responsible for everything you have been through. This guide will walk you through what the law says, what your case might be worth, and how to protect yourself from the start.
If you want to talk through your situation right now, schedule a free consultation with Wood Injury Law. There is no cost and no obligation.
Arizona Law Protects Pedestrians in Crosswalks
Under Arizona law, drivers are required to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. This applies to both marked crosswalks (the painted lines you see at intersections) and unmarked crosswalks (the theoretical extensions of sidewalks at intersections, even without painted lines).
Here is what the law actually says. A driver must slow down or stop when a pedestrian is in the driver’s half of the roadway, or when the pedestrian is close enough to be in danger. Drivers are not allowed to pass another vehicle that has already stopped at a crosswalk for a pedestrian. That law is there specifically to prevent the kind of horror story where one car stops and a second car swings around and hits the person crossing.
Pedestrians also have responsibilities. If you are crossing outside of a crosswalk, you are required to yield to vehicles. And no one should step off a curb suddenly into the path of a car that is too close to stop in time. These rules exist to protect everyone on the road.
But here is the reality: drivers in Mesa, Phoenix, Gilbert, and across Arizona run through crosswalks every single day. When they do and someone gets hurt, the law is on the pedestrian’s side.
What Is Pure Comparative Fault and Why Does It Matter to You?
One of the most important things to understand about Arizona personal injury law is that you can still recover money even if you were partly at fault for what happened. Arizona uses a system called pure comparative fault, governed by A.R.S. 12-2505.
Here is how it works. If a jury decides you were 20% at fault for the accident (maybe you crossed slightly outside the crosswalk) and the driver was 80% at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage. So if your total damages were $100,000, you would recover $80,000. Under Arizona law, you can recover even if you were up to 99% at fault. Your award is simply reduced by whatever percentage of fault is assigned to you.
Insurance companies know this rule. They will often try to pin as much fault as possible on you to reduce what they have to pay. They will point to where you were walking, what you were wearing, whether you were on your phone, and anything else they can find. This is exactly why having an experienced pedestrian accident attorney in your corner matters so much. An attorney who knows how insurers think can push back on those arguments and fight for every dollar you deserve.
Common Injuries in Arizona Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians have no protection when a car hits them. No airbags. No seatbelt. No steel frame. The injuries are often severe and sometimes life-changing.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
When a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle, the head often hits the ground, the hood, or the windshield. This can cause a brain injury ranging from a concussion to a severe traumatic brain injury. TBIs can affect memory, personality, speech, and the ability to work. They can last a lifetime.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Leg fractures, hip fractures, and broken arms are extremely common in pedestrian accidents. Some of these injuries require surgery, physical therapy, and months of recovery. Elderly victims are especially vulnerable to severe fractures.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Damage to the spine can cause chronic pain, numbness, or in the most serious cases, partial or full paralysis. These injuries often mean permanent changes to how a person lives and works.
Wrongful Death
Tragically, many pedestrian accidents in Arizona are fatal. If you lost a family member in a pedestrian accident, Arizona law gives surviving spouses, children, parents, and legal guardians the right to pursue a wrongful death claim. Under A.R.S. 12-542, the deadline to file is two years from the date of death.
If your family is dealing with a loss, please reach out to us. Contact Wood Injury Law for a free, compassionate consultation. You should not have to face this alone.
How Long Do You Have to File a Claim in Arizona?
In Arizona, the general statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident, under A.R.S. 12-542. That means if you do not file a lawsuit within two years, you will likely lose your right to recover anything.
There are some important exceptions to know about:
- Minors: If the injured person is under 18, the two-year clock does not start until they turn 18, under A.R.S. 12-502.
- Government vehicles: If the driver who hit you was operating a government vehicle, such as a city bus or a government employee’s car, the rules are different and the deadlines are much shorter. You are generally required to file a Notice of Claim within 180 days, and the lawsuit deadline is one year. Missing that 180-day window can permanently bar your claim.
- Discovery rule: For injuries that were not immediately obvious, the clock may start when the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered.
Two years sounds like a long time, but evidence disappears fast. Security camera footage gets deleted. Witnesses forget what they saw. Skid marks fade. The sooner you speak with a pedestrian accident lawyer in Arizona, the better protected you are.
What Damages Can You Recover After Being Hit by a Car?
If someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, you may be entitled to recover compensation for:
- Medical bills, both past and future
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
The value of your case depends on many factors, including how serious your injuries are, how clear the fault is, and what insurance coverage is available. Arizona requires drivers to carry minimum liability coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury. But minimum coverage often is not enough in serious pedestrian accident cases. An attorney can help identify all available sources of compensation, including underinsured motorist coverage on your own policy.
Why Josh Wood Is the Right Attorney for Your Pedestrian Accident Case
Josh Wood spent years working as an insurance defense attorney before switching sides to fight for accident victims. That background is a real advantage for you. He knows exactly how insurance companies evaluate claims, what arguments they make to reduce payouts, and how to counter those tactics effectively.
Wood Injury Law handles pedestrian accident cases across Arizona, including Mesa, Phoenix, Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Glendale, and beyond. The firm takes cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless they win for you.
If you have been hurt or lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident, do not wait. Reach out today for a free consultation and find out where you stand.
Frequently Asked Questions: Pedestrian Accidents in Arizona
What should I do right after being hit by a car in Arizona?
Call 911 immediately. Get medical attention even if you feel okay, because some serious injuries like brain injuries do not show symptoms right away. Get the driver’s name, contact information, and insurance details. Take photos of the scene, your injuries, and any damage. Get contact information from witnesses if you can. Then speak with a pedestrian accident lawyer before giving any statements to the insurance company.
Can I still recover money if I was crossing outside a crosswalk?
Possibly, yes. Arizona follows pure comparative fault under A.R.S. 12-2505, which means you can recover damages even if you were partly at fault. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you are not automatically barred from recovering. The specifics depend on the facts of your case, so speak with an attorney about your situation.
What if the driver who hit me did not have insurance?
Uninsured motorist coverage is not required in Arizona, but many drivers carry it on their own policies. If you have uninsured motorist coverage, it can compensate you when the at-fault driver has no insurance. An attorney can help you review your own policy and identify all available sources of recovery.
How long does a pedestrian accident case take in Arizona?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Some cases settle in a few months. Others, particularly those involving serious injuries or disputes about fault, can take a year or longer. The most important thing is not to settle quickly just to get it over with. Once you accept a settlement, you generally cannot go back for more. Make sure your injuries are fully understood before agreeing to anything.
Does it cost anything to hire a pedestrian accident lawyer at Wood Injury Law?
No. Wood Injury Law works on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront and nothing at all unless they recover money for you. Your first consultation is completely free.
Talk to a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Arizona Today
Being hit by a car can change everything. But you do not have to face the insurance companies, the medical bills, and the uncertainty on your own. Josh Wood and the team at Wood Injury Law are here to fight for you from day one.
Whether you were hit in a crosswalk in Mesa, struck by a car in Phoenix, or injured anywhere else in Arizona, you deserve experienced legal representation. Call us or schedule your free consultation online right now. There is no fee unless we win, and the sooner you reach out, the sooner we can start protecting your rights.
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