Fleeing Serious Injury and Fatal Crashes is a Felony

by Aaron Black • May 09, 2019
Hit and Run in ArizonaDrivers involved in a serious injury or fatal crash on Arizona roads who leave the scene of the accident will face a felony hit-and-run charge.

In Arizona more than 15,000 hit-and-run crashes happened in 2017 resulting in 3,683 injuries and 65 deaths, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. So authorities have plenty of experience investigating these cases.

Police know that hit-and-run motorists flee for various reasons – panic, fear, intoxication, high on prescription or illicit drugs, outstanding warrants, suspended or revoked driver’s license, no vehicle insurance or current registrations, or perhaps some other reason.

With so many surveillance and cellphone cameras around it could be that investigators have evidence helpful in determining the make, model and color of the vehicle, license number and which direction the driver sped away.

To track down the car and then the driver detectives collect physical and forensic evidence from the crash scene, interview the victim and any witnesses, and they notify body shops about damage to the hunted vehicle. Sometimes a driver will return to the crash scene and raise the suspicion of investigators.

Arizona Hit-and-Run Law

Arizona has six levels of felony charges, with class 1 as the most severe, and all requiring incarceration of increasing duration.

Leaving the scene of a fatal crash is a violation of Arizona Revised Statute §28-661 and a class 3 felony. If the driver caused the crash the charge increases to a class 2 felony. A lesser offense, a class 5 felony, applies if someone is injured but not seriously.

Arizona’s legal definition of a serious injury:
  • Harm that causes a reasonable risk of death
  • A permanent or serious disfigurement
  • Loss or impairment of an organ or limb function
  • Health impairment that is serious
If there isn’t a safe place to stop, the driver is allowed to find a safe place and immediately return to the scene. The driver is also required by law to summon medical help for the injured people, and failing to do that is a class 6 felony under Arizona Revised Statute §28-663(A)(3).

If the driver is convicted of hit-and-run the law states that the sentence must be served consecutively, meaning not at the same time with the sentence for any other charges related to the crash, such as reckless driving or driving while intoxicated. Cases involving alcohol or drugs requires the convicted driver to complete alcohol or drug screening.

If convicted, the driver’s license or permit to drive can be revoked in seriously injured cases for five years or 10 years if death occurred. The time doesn’t start running until after the felon has served the sentence.

Statute of Limitations

Arizona law allows time for the fleeing driver to be apprehended, called the statute of limitations. Generally, a felony must be charged within three years of the crime or it can’t be brought. However, if the hit-and-run victim died, the prosecution may under some circumstances levy a murder charge which doesn’t have a statute of limitations.

Hit-and-Run Defenses in Arizona

The standard in all defenses is that the prosecution must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt and the defense’s job is to establish a reasonable doubt in the minds of jurors.

Several defenses are established in Arizona law that apply to specific situations of the case.
  • Lack of knowledge: The driver is not aware that the incident happened.
  • Lack of criminal intent: This means not intending to do something forbidden by law in the mind of the defendant.
  • Mistake of fact: The defendant acted on an incorrect assumption of fact not a criminal purpose.
  • Lack of knowledge of injury: The defendant didn’t know anyone was hurt.
  • No serious injury: The injury didn’t meet the legal definition of a serious injury as described above.
  • Constitutional violation: Authorities failed to honor the defendant’s Constitutional rights.

Consequences of a Felony Conviction

A felony conviction has serious implications on the quality of life. Employers may fire you or not hire you and fines add to your financial losses.

If you hold a professional license or certification it can be suspended or revoked. Your driver’s license also can be suspended or revoked. Any community service the court orders costs you time. You’ll also lose the right to vote in elections and be prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm.

Legal Defense for a Hit-and- Run

Hit-and-run is a very serious crime and if you or a loved one are charged or believe you are being investigated you’ll need to be represented by an experienced criminal defense attorney who has handled these cases and knows the intricacies of the applicable law.

In building a defense, the police reports need to be scoured for inaccuracies and it can happen that evidence favoring you is not learned or reported. The defense also conducts its own investigation including interviewing any witnesses under oath to develop evidence that’s in your support.

The state’s physical and forensic evidence may be challenged based on the accuracy of the equipment used and faulty storage and care of evidence may have tainted the results. A crash investigator will reconstruct the event to see how much at fault the other party may have been.

If you’re one of the drivers who later turns themselves in, be sure you have competent legal representation at your side. Authorities will want to know your reason for fleeing, too, but surrendering might help your case.

Should the state have a strong case, the prosecution often will offer to reduce the charge to the next lowest level, which has a lesser sentence, in exchange for a guilty plea and to avoid the cost and time of taking the case to trial.

As a criminal defense attorney I strive to achieve a dismissal for my clients or the best possible outcome.

Free legal advice

If you have been arrested on criminal traffic violation or any other offense contact Phoenix Criminal Defense Attorney, Aaron Black or call (480)729-1683 for a free telephonic consultation.

I defend clients charged with serious criminal offenses in Arizona’s city, state, and federal courts.
 

About the Author

Aaron Black is the founder and sole attorney of the Law Office of Aaron Black. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, his DUI and criminal defense law firm provides legal services to people who have received felony or misdemeanor charges from the state.

Aaron has developed a strong interest in defending people who have been arrested and received criminal charges for driving under the influence. With his professionalism and knowledge of Arizona DUI and criminal law, he has acted as a check and balance on the police, prosecution and courts and has protected a great number of his clients from excessive and unfair sentencing.

Along with DUI defense, Aaron handles a range of other criminal matters, including aggravated assault, burglary, domestic violence, drug possession, drug trafficking, fraud defense, insurance fraud, sex crimes and white-collar crime.

After graduating college in 2003 from the University of Arizona, Aaron decided to pursue a law degree. He followed a family long tradition and went to the University of South Dakota School of Law where he pursued his goal of becoming a criminal defense lawyer.

After passing the Arizona and South Dakota bar exams, Aaron joined the Maricopa County Office of the Public Defender where he defended hundreds of people charged with serious criminal offenses. His work as a public defender helped him sharpen his litigation skills and gave him a unique insight into the Arizona criminal justice system.

Over the course of his 15-year legal career, Aaron has spent a considerable amount of time in both Arizona justice, municipal, state and federal courts. He has argued over 50 jury trials, tried over 100 bench trials and has become one of the highest-rated criminal and DUI defense attorneys in Phoenix and the surrounding areas. He has received a 10/10 rating from the legal directory Avvo because of his legal background and successful case record. Since 2014, he has received the Super Lawyer rating for his work as a Phoenix DUI and criminal defense attorney.

You can review Aaron’s Attorney Bio page for more information about his background, education and experience as a Phoenix DUI and criminal defense attorney.
 
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