I Was Involved in an Accident Resulting in Injury, Death, or Vehicle Damage. What Should I Do at the Scene? A.R.S. 28-663
Arizona doesn’t tolerate “hit-and run” scenarios in which vehicle drivers flee the scene of an accident. The state provides multiple laws regarding what a driver should do at the scene if they were involved in a crash of any sort. A driver’s duty to give information and assistance following an accident is detailed in A.R.S. 28-663.
When a driver is involved in an accident on public or private property that results in injury or death to another person, or damage to a vehicle driven by another person, the driver must:
- Give the driver’s name, address, and the registration number of the vehicle the driver is driving.
- On request, exhibit the person’s driver license to the person struck or the driver or occupants of or person attending a vehicle collided with.
- Render reasonable assistance to a person injured in the accident, including making arrangements for the carrying of the person to a physician, surgeon or hospital for medical or surgical treatment if it is apparent that treatment is necessary or if the carrying is requested by the injured person.
If the vehicle damaged was a fully autonomous vehicle operating without a human driver or a neighborhood occupantless electric vehicle, the requirements of this section are satisfied if both:
- The vehicle owner or a person on behalf of the vehicle owner promptly contacts a law enforcement agency to report the accident or if the fully autonomous vehicle or neighborhood occupantless electric vehicle alerts a law enforcement agency to the accident.
and
- The vehicle owner, a person on behalf of the vehicle owner, the fully autonomous vehicle or a neighborhood occupantless electric vehicle makes the owner’s name and address and the registration number of the vehicle available to either:
- A person struck by the vehicle.
- The occupants of, or a person attending a, vehicle that is involved in the accident.
Failure to Give Information at the Scene – Penalties
A failure of the driver to provide their name, address, vehicle registration number, or driver’s license (if requested) is a class 1 misdemeanor. Violators may be incarcerated for up to six months.
Failure to Provide Reasonable Assistance at the Scene – Penalties
A failure of the driver to provide reasonable assistance at the scene of the accident is a class 6 felony. This includes failing to make arrangements for the injured person to be sent to medical care, or for failing to carry the injured person to requested medical arrangements.
Violators may be incarcerated for up to 2 years. Additionally, if the court finds a preponderance of evidence that the driver’s accident was influenced by liquor, drugs, or vapors, they may be ordered to complete alcohol or drug screening.
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