Why Phoenix's walking deaths matter

How dangerous is Phoenix for people on foot?

Phoenix's 2025 Road Safety Action Plan Annual Report has a blunt fact sheet. Of all fatal crashes from 2020 through 2024, 41% involved pedestrians.¹ That is a share of crashes, not a count of people. The city also reports that 19% of fatal crashes involved motorcyclists.⁴ Those two groups have no car around them, and the city's own numbers show how much of the risk falls on them.

Think about what that means on a normal day. A person who walks to a bus stop, crosses a wide street to get to work, or steps out to a store has no bumper, no airbag and no seat belt. Nothing stands between them and the car.

What the numbers do and do not say

It is easy to misuse crash numbers, so here is the careful version.

Two things stand out. First, the state and the city count differently, so you should not mix their numbers. Second, the trend is getting better. Fatal crashes fell from 257 in 2023 to 224 in 2024, and preliminary 2025 data shows 198.²⁵ The pedestrian share also fell, to 41% from 45% at baseline.¹ Progress is real, and it is still a lot of families.

Where the danger is concentrated

This part may matter most, and it shows why walking deaths are not just bad luck. The city's High Injury Network looks at crashes that killed or seriously hurt someone from 2020 to 2024.⁸ It identifies 31.9 miles of road, in 81 segments.⁹ Those segments make up less than 1% of Phoenix's roads, and 11% of all serious and fatal crashes.³

The city also lists 46 signalized intersections with six or more serious or fatal crashes.¹⁰ A regional list points the same way. The Maricopa Association of Governments ranks the top 100 intersections by crash risk, using 2018 to 2022 data.¹¹ By our count, 78 of the 100 rows name Phoenix as an agency.¹¹ 67th Avenue and McDowell Road ranks first.¹² 99th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road has the highest crash count in the top 10, with 429 crashes.¹³

Crash risk that clusters this way suggests road design and traffic patterns are part of the story, not only the choices of one driver or one walker. That helps explain why it matters who is responsible for the road.

What to do if you are hit while walking in Phoenix

1. Call 911 and get medical care, even if you can stand up. Some injuries show up later.
2. Get the driver's name, plate and insurance if you can, or ask someone to do it for you.
3. Get the names and numbers of witnesses. Ask nearby businesses to save any video.
4. Photograph the crosswalk, the signal, the lighting and anything that blocked your view.
5. Ask the officer how to get the report.
6. Check your own auto policy, even though you were walking. Your coverage may still apply. It depends on the policy.

Can I still claim if the driver says I was jaywalking?

Often, yes. Arizona does not bar a claim just because you share the blame. Your full damages are reduced in proportion to your share of fault.¹⁴ Drivers and insurers commonly point at the person on foot. You do not have to accept their version. Evidence such as video, witnesses and signal timing can matter.

Deadlines if you were hit in Phoenix

Arizona's general deadline for an injury lawsuit is two years.¹⁵ The clock is much shorter if a public body is involved, such as a city vehicle or a road the city maintains. In that case, a claim must be filed with the City Clerk Department within 180 days.¹⁶ The City of Phoenix's address for that is 200 W. Washington Street, 15th Floor.¹⁷ Do not wait until you are done with treatment to find out which clock applies to you.

These rules are for Arizona. They can change, and the details of your crash matter, so get advice about your own situation if you can.

Questions

Keep reading

Guides

• Pain that shows up days after a crash: when to get checked
• Hit by a driver with no insurance: what you can do
• How long does a car accident settlement take?
• How contingency fees work and what you take home
• How much is my injury claim worth? The factors that decide it
• How to get a police report for a car accident, and what to do if it is wrong or missing