What’s the Penalty for a Hit and Run in Arizona?

Your Legal Obligations at an Accident Scene

Arizona law requires every driver involved in an accident to stop at the scene or as close as safely possible. You must provide your name, address, and vehicle registration to the other driver and to any law enforcement officer who responds. You must show your driver’s license if requested. If anyone is injured, you are required to arrange reasonable medical transportation. Failure to comply with any of these obligations carries separate criminal penalties, including a Class 3 misdemeanor charge for not providing required information.

Hit and Run: Property Damage Only

If you leave the scene of an accident involving only property damage, you face a Class 2 misdemeanor. Penalties include up to 4 months in jail, fines, and a one-year driver’s license suspension. While this is the least severe category, a misdemeanor conviction still creates a permanent criminal record and can affect employment, insurance rates, and professional licensing.

Hit and Run: Minor Injury

When you leave the scene of an accident where someone sustained a minor injury, the charge escalates to a Class 5 felony. This carries up to 2.5 years in prison. The classification of the injury as minor versus serious is determined by medical evidence and prosecutorial discretion, making the line between this category and the next one critically important for defense strategy.

Hit and Run: Serious Injury or Death

Leaving the scene of an accident involving serious injury or death is a Class 3 felony punishable by up to 8.75 years in prison. Your driver’s license faces 5 to 10 years of revocation depending on the specific circumstances. If you caused the accident and someone suffered serious injury or death, the charge increases to a Class 2 felony with up to 12.5 years of imprisonment. The distinction between being involved in versus causing the accident significantly impacts sentencing.