As Phoenix wrongful death pedestrian accident attorneys, we were sorry to hear about a man killed Saturday, December 31, 2011 as he attempted to cross a street in south Phoenix, according to news reports from Fox 10. The man was between the ages of 40 and 50 and was hit on Southern Avenue, east of 19th Avenue. The driver of the car that hit him was a 55-year-old man who didn’t appear to be impaired. The accident happened around 7:30 p.m. Anyone with any information should call (602) 262-6141. Our deepest condolences go out to the man’s family, and we hope police identify him quickly.
Causes of This Phoenix Pedestrian Accident
As Phoenix pedestrian accident lawyers, we want to stress just how important it is to cross at crosswalks and obey all traffic and safety rules. The man killed in this accident was crossing mid-block, and it is possible that the driver of the car did not see him.
Phoenix Pedestrian Accident Law
Although pedestrians must yield to oncoming cars if they are crossing outside of a designated crosswalk, drivers must also exercise due care to avoid hitting a pedestrian in the roadway, according to ARS 28-794. As injury attorneys, we want to advise pedestrians and their families that just because a pedestrian attempts to cross outside of a designated crosswalk, they do not necessarily give up all their rights. The driver who hits them may still be at-fault under Arizona law.
Phoenix Pedestrian Accident Statistics
Phoenix pedestrian accidents resulted in 155 deaths in 2010, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). During New Year’s weekend of 2010, there were nine fatal crashes.
Contact a Phoenix Wrongful Death Pedestrian Accident Attorney
As mentioned above, even those victims who were not crossing in the crosswalk may still be able to have a successful personal injury claim. Drivers still have a duty to exercise caution to avoid hitting someone in the street. The family of the victim killed in this pedestrian accident can contact an experienced Phoenix wrongful death attorney to begin the investigation and determine if the driver was at-fault. We are available to answer any and all legal questions. For a free consultation, call the Breyer Law Offices, P.C. today.
