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Car Accidents: A Complete Guide for Arizona Victims
Two years to act under Arizona law. This guide walks through what qualifies, how damages are valued, and the pitfalls that destroy claims.
If you were hurt in a car crash in Arizona, the next six to eight weeks matter more than you think. Insurance adjusters start building their version within days, medical bills stack, and Arizona law sets hard deadlines that quietly close doors on valid claims.
What This Guide Covers
This guide explains what qualifies as a car accident claim in Arizona, which statutes actually govern your case, how damages get valued, the insurance landscape unique to this state, the typical timeline, and the pitfalls that destroy otherwise winnable claims.
What Qualifies as a Car Accident Claim in Arizona
A viable car accident claim in Arizona requires four elements: duty of care (every driver owes one), breach (the other driver did something wrong), causation (their conduct caused your injuries), and damages (you have actual losses).
Arizona uses pure comparative fault under A.R.S. § 12-2505 — you can recover even if you were 99% at fault (your recovery just reduces by that percentage). That’s unusual. Most states bar recovery at 50%+ fault.
The Legal Framework in Arizona
Three statutes matter most:
- A.R.S. § 12-542 — two-year statute of limitations from the date of the accident
- A.R.S. § 12-2505 — pure comparative fault rule
- A.R.S. § 28-4135 — mandatory minimum auto insurance of 25/50/15
