Hit while walking?
It’s not your fault.
Crosswalk, parking lot, school zone — Arizona ranks #3 in pedestrian fatalities. The case mechanics differ from auto cases. Free 5-minute consultation.
You were walking. Then everything stopped.
You were crossing at a corner. Walking through a parking lot at Fry’s, Walmart, or a Phoenix-area shopping center. Picking up your kid from school. Walking the dog on a Mesa or Scottsdale residential street. A driver wasn’t paying attention.
Pedestrian impacts at modest speeds cause serious injuries because the body has nothing between it and the vehicle: hip fractures, knee injuries, traumatic brain injuries, fractured wrists. Older Arizonans face an aging-victim depreciation argument: “She would have needed that hip eventually.” That argument fails when challenged properly.
Why pedestrian cases need different handling
Pedestrian wrecks have specific legal mechanics that are often missed.
Aging-victim physiology
Older pedestrians suffer hip fractures from impacts younger pedestrians would shake off. Insurance argues “age caused the injury, not the wreck.” That defense fails when documented.
Low-speed, big injury
Most pedestrian wrecks happen at low speeds in parking lots and school zones. Insurance argues low-speed = low-value. Medical reality is the opposite.
Right-of-way under § 28-792
Drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks at intersections. Even outside crosswalks, they must exercise due care under § 28-794.
Comparative fault arguments
Adjusters argue you stepped off the curb without looking. Even at 30% fault under A.R.S. § 12-2505, you still recover 70%.
UM/UIM covers walkers too
Even though you weren’t in a vehicle, your auto policy’s UM/UIM coverage typically covers pedestrian injuries.
The 180-day government clock
If the driver was operating a government vehicle (USPS truck, school bus), you have 180 days to give written notice under A.R.S. § 12-821.01.
What to do in the first 72 hours
Get medical attention.
Adrenaline masks injuries. Concussions, internal bleeding, and ligament damage are routinely missed at the scene. ER documentation creates the medical record your case will rely on.
Document the scene.
Photos of the vehicle, the road, and your injuries. Witness names and phone numbers. Insurance won’t preserve any of this for you.
Don’t give a statement.
Tell any insurance caller: “I’ll have my attorney contact you.” That sentence stops every trap above. You owe no further explanation.
Call us.
Free five-minute conversation. We tell you whether you have a case, what the insurance company is doing, and what to do next. No paperwork on the first call.
Wood Injury Law took over my case after another firm told me to take a low-ball settlement. They got me significantly more once they actually fought it. Worth every minute.
Questions clients ask on the first call
How much does it cost to hire Wood Injury Law?
Nothing upfront. Contingency fee, paid a percentage of recovery. If we don’t recover, you owe nothing in attorney fees.
How long do I have to file in Arizona?
Two years from the date of the wreck under A.R.S. § 12-542. Government cases require 180-day notice under A.R.S. § 12-821.01.
What if I’m partly at fault?
Arizona is a pure comparative negligence state under A.R.S. § 12-2505. You can still recover, reduced by your percentage of fault.
What if the at-fault party had no insurance?
Your own UM/UIM coverage under A.R.S. § 20-259.01 may pay your damages even when the at-fault driver carries no insurance.
What if I had a prior injury?
Arizona follows the eggshell plaintiff doctrine. A wreck that aggravated an existing condition still caused your current injury and is compensable.
How quickly should I call?
Today if you can. Earlier involvement means evidence preservation, no recorded-statement traps, and a clear strategy from day one.