A car accident is frightening. Sometimes that fear can make someone involved flee the scene. They may have been the one at fault, or they fled for another reason. Either way, when someone decides to drive away after an accident, they are leaving another driver behind, and that is a crime. It does not matter how much damage you suffered in the accident, either physically or in property damage. Leaving after a car wreck is wrong.
There are thousands of accidents every year in Arizona, and many of those are hit-and-run accidents. Leaving the scene of a car accident is a crime in Arizona. Not only is it illegal, but it is also unfair to you, the other driver in the collision. Tracking down the other driver, repairing or replacing a vehicle, and treating injuries are only some of the consequences you will have to deal with. You can decide to hire a lawyer to help you with your case.
If you were in a crash and the other driver fled the scene, Ben Crump Law, PLLC wants to help. We have a Mesa hit and run accident lawyer on our team who can help you. You can call us today for a free consultation at (844) 730-0233. We can fight for your right to compensation with knowledge of Arizona law. You do not have to do this alone. Fight for compensation with a lawyer on your side.
Leaving the Scene of an Accident Is Illegal
Plain and simple, it is illegal to leave the scene of a car accident in Arizona. Whatever the circumstances, no matter who was at fault, if someone flees the scene of the collision, they have committed a crime. They may be trying to evade law enforcement because of prior criminal history, or they are just fearful of the outcome of the accident.
Still, staying on the scene until police arrive is the right and legal thing to do. In fact, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) states that fleeing the scene of an accident resulting in a serious injury or death is a Class 3 felony. The state even enacted Joey’s Law in 2012 that put punishments in place for leaving the scene of an accident with a serious injury involved.
Not only is there a legal consequence of this behavior, but they left you to do the work of finding them to seek compensation. This is unfair, but we can help. With a Mesa hit and run accident lawyer by your side, we can attempt to track down the individual in your accident and pursue awards for you.
For a free legal consultation with a hit and run lawyer serving Mesa, call (844) 730-0233
The Statute of Limitations
You have a specified amount of time to file a lawsuit for your personal injuries. In Arizona, that time limit is two years, according to Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) § 12-542. If you try to file a lawsuit after this timeframe, the court may dismiss your case. However, depending on the facts of your case, the statute of limitations may be tolled or extended.
Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC to learn more about the statute of limitations in Arizona. A lawyer can help you meet the two-year deadline by gathering and submitting all the necessary paperwork in time. Call us today.
Mesa Hit and Run Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
You Can Recover Costs
When you suffer injuries or property damage from an accident that was not your fault, you have a right to seek compensation for the damages. You should not have to pay for someone else’s mistake, especially when the person did not wait to see if you needed help after the accident.
Some of the damages you can collect include both economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages are those that have an easily assigned dollar value, like the cost of replacing a vehicle. Non-economic damages are those that you may not be able to put a price on, like physical and emotional pain and suffering.
These are some of the costs you can seek in your lawsuit:
- Medical bills for emergency room visits, primary care physician appointments, and more
- Lost wages from time you had to take off from work
- Property damage to your vehicle or anything else damaged in the accident
- Pain and suffering from your physical injuries and the hard work of recovery
- Emotional distress you are still suffering having to deal with the consequences of the accident
- The inconvenience of arranging transportation, keeping appointments, and rehabilitating
- Burial and funeral costs if you lost a loved one in the accident
This is not a comprehensive list. The person at fault should cover the costs you paid because of the accident. You have suffered because of your accident, and the responsible party should pay for the costs.
In Arizona, there is no cap on the damages you can pursue for your wrongful death or personal injury case, according to Arizona Constitution Art. 2 § 31. A lawyer can help you calculate the appropriate amount of money to include in your lawsuit.
Click to contact our Mesa Car Accident Lawyers today
Ben Crump Law, PLLC Can Help
We can help you find the evidence needed to prove that you were not at fault in your accident, and we can put together a strong case.
We will not back down from even a tough case. Ben Crump Law, PLLC has a Mesa hit and run accident lawyer who may be able to help you with your case. The consultation is free. Just call us at (844) 730-0233, and we can listen to the details of your case and talk about the next steps. We want to protect your rights.
Call or text (844) 730-0233 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
