Enhanced Penalties Under New Law for Hit and Run in Arizona
A revision to a law named for a teenager who lost his life in a hit and run in Arizona accident will increase penalties for impaired drivers who leave an accident scene. This tragic incident shines a spotlight on the serious issue of hit and run in Arizona.
“Joey’s Law,” which went into effect in 2012, is named for 18-year-old Joey Romero. The high school student was struck by a hit and run driver while walking home from work in Peoria in 2010 and died in the hospital a few days later. This tragic hit and run in Arizona spurred lawmakers into action.
Police say that Laura Flanders was dazed and on medication when she struck Joey on a sidewalk and kept going. She was indicted on one count of manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident. This devastating hit and run in Arizona led to her imprisonment.
She was sentenced to six years in prison, which Joey’s father, Jesse Romero, considers a “slap on the hand.”
Romero fought to increase the time a hit-and-run driver’s license could be revoked from five years to ten years.
HB2505, signed by Governor Brewer in April, amended the existing provision of the Arizona Revised Statutes concerning failure to stop after accidents involving death or physical injury, a step forward in the fight against hit and run in Arizona.
The injury attorneys at Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm in Phoenix have significant experience in helping clients who have been victims of DUI accidents, including hit and runs. If you need help filing a claim for one of these awful, life-changing accidents, we are here to help you get the compensation you deserve. Our offices are conveniently located in Chandler, Peoria, and North Phoenix, and we can meet in person or over the phone or video call. You can contact us for a free consultation, or read on to find out more.
By the way, we will also help with other problems that have cost you sleep, like getting a rental car very soon and finding a nearby doctor or psychiatrist who can help get your life back on track. Even the best legal team isn’t good enough if your quality of life isn’t sustainable while justice and compensation are on the way. The whole point of legal action is to regain quality of life, so we help you long-term as attorneys and short-term as your go-to people. Our familiarity with the local Phoenix courts makes us confident that we can help you get the best settlement possible.
If you are unsure whether or not you can afford an attorney, don’t worry. We only get paid when you settle. Check out our Attorney Fees Calculator to find out more.
Hit and Run in Arizona Accident Lawyer: Things to do after a DUI Injury Accident
The law already provided that the driver of a vehicle involved in a hit and run in Arizona, resulting in injury or death of a person shall:
- Immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close to the accident scene as possible; and
- Remain at the accident scene to:
- Provide his or her name, address, and vehicle registration number,
- Show his or her driver’s license to the person struck or the driver or occupants of the vehicle collided with, and
- Render reasonable assistance to a person injured, including making arrangements for an injured person to get to a doctor or hospital.
Failure to comply with these requirements, especially in cases of a hit and run in Arizona, is a felony.
Alcohol and Drugs as a Contributing Factor
Under the new version of the law, the court shall order the person involved in the auto accident to complete an alcohol or drug screening. This is especially true if a court finds that a person’s use of alcohol or drugs was a contributing factor to the accident. If the screening reveals that alcohol or drugs were a factor in the accident, the impaired driver may be ordered to complete alcohol or drug screening as a condition of license reinstatement.
A person who fails to comply with the screening requirements will be guilty of a class 6 felony.
Get Help Now
At Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm near you, we have more than 15 years of experience helping clients obtain compensation for their injuries from DUI accidents, including hit and runs, in the Phoenix area. When you’re ready to talk, please contact our office to arrange a free initial consultation by phone or at our Chandler office, conveniently located near you.
If you have been in a DUI accident, contact Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm in nearby Chandler, AZ to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. We provide personal injury legal services to clients in your area including Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Peoria.
