Phoenix's Hit-and-Run Epidemic — 20,000 Per Year and Counting

Phoenix has a hit-and-run epidemic. There’s no other word for it. Our analysis of Phoenix Police Department calls-for-service data reveals approximately 20,000 hit-and-run incidents per year — accounting for nearly half of all traffic accidents in the city.

The Numbers

Out of 379,090 total traffic accidents recorded by Phoenix Police from 2018 through 2025, a staggering proportion are classified as hit-and-runs. That’s roughly 20,000 incidents annually where a driver struck someone — another vehicle, a pedestrian, a cyclist, property — and fled the scene.

To put that in perspective: in any given hour of any given day, there are roughly two hit-and-run incidents happening somewhere in Phoenix.

Why Phoenix Has Such a Problem

Uninsured drivers. Arizona consistently ranks among the top states for uninsured motorists. Drivers without insurance flee because they know they face both civil liability and criminal penalties for driving uninsured.

DUI involvement. Many hit-and-run drivers are impaired. They flee to avoid a DUI arrest — which carries severe penalties in Arizona including mandatory jail time.

Wide, high-speed roads. Phoenix’s broad arterials make it easy to flee quickly. The grid system offers dozens of escape routes. And the distances between intersections mean fewer witnesses and cameras.

Limited enforcement capacity. With 47,000+ total accidents per year, Phoenix police are stretched thin. Not every hit-and-run gets a dedicated investigation, especially if no injuries are reported.

The Human Cost

Hit-and-runs are not victimless. The person left behind may be injured and unable to get help. Their vehicle may be totaled. And without the other driver’s information, they face the prospect of paying for everything out of pocket — unless they have uninsured motorist coverage.

Hit-and-run pedestrian accidents are the most devastating. A pedestrian struck by a fleeing vehicle may lie in the road for minutes before someone calls 911. Every second of delay in medical treatment can mean the difference between recovery and permanent disability — or life and death.

Your Legal Options After a Hit-and-Run

Even if the driver is never identified, you’re not without options:

UIM/UM coverage on your own auto policy covers your injuries when the at-fault driver is uninsured or unidentified. This is exactly the scenario UIM exists for — and it’s why we tell every Arizona driver to carry it.

If the driver is found — through cameras, witnesses, plate readers, paint transfer analysis, or police investigation — you can pursue a full personal injury claim. The fact that they fled supports a claim for punitive damages because fleeing is a conscious, deliberate choice to prioritize self-interest over your safety.

Dram shop claims may be available if the hit-and-run driver was intoxicated and was overserved at a bar or restaurant.

What to Do

Follow the steps in our hit-and-run guide: don’t chase the driver, get any plate or vehicle details you can, call 911 immediately, look for witnesses and cameras, and document everything.

Then call the Law Badgers. We’ve handled numerous hit-and-run cases and know how to work with police investigators, subpoena camera footage, and maximize your recovery through UIM claims — even when the other driver is never caught.

This Problem Is Solvable

20,000 hit-and-runs per year is not inevitable. Other cities have reduced hit-and-run rates through expanded traffic camera networks, automated license plate readers, community tip programs, and meaningful enforcement.

Until Phoenix catches up, the best thing you can do is protect yourself: carry UIM coverage, invest in a dashcam, and know what to do if you’re ever a victim.