Updated September 30, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Your facts, insurance policy and the parties involved can change the next step.

At the scene: safety and an accurate record

1. Put safety first. Call 911 for an emergency, tell the dispatcher your location and follow responder instructions. Do not enter traffic to take photographs or pursue a departing vehicle. Arrange medical assistance when needed; a website cannot assess an injury.
2. Notify the appropriate agency. A.R.S. § 28-666 requires immediate notice to the specified law-enforcement authorities when a collision causes injury or death. Do not wait to estimate repair costs before reporting an injury collision.
3. Exchange information. A.R.S. § 28-663 addresses identification and reasonable assistance after a qualifying collision. Record the other driver’s name, address, vehicle registration information and insurance details. Photograph documents only when it is safe and appropriate.
4. Record what you actually observed. Keep original photos of vehicles, road markings, signals, debris and the wider scene. Note the time, direction of travel, intersection or freeway exit, and witness contact information. Distinguish personal observations from what someone else told you.
5. Ask for the report details. Save the officer’s agency, report number and any information card. A Phoenix street collision, a Mesa intersection collision and a freeway collision may involve different record holders. The agency on the paperwork is a better starting point than the nearest city name.

If you could not collect evidence because you were injured or helping someone, do not invent missing details or put yourself at risk by returning to an unsafe location. Write down what you remember and identify who might have the missing information.

The $2,000 reporting rule: an important distinction

The amount in A.R.S. § 28-667 concerns an investigating officer’s written-report duties; it is not a reason to delay reporting an injury crash. That statute also addresses reports for lower-damage collisions. Calling law enforcement, an officer preparing a report, and obtaining a copy are separate steps.

A report records information gathered during an investigation. It does not automatically resolve every disagreement about fault, injury or insurance coverage. If a factual detail is wrong, preserve the original and follow the agency’s correction process. Our Arizona crash-report correction guide explains how to separate a factual error from a disputed account.

During the next few days: make one usable claim file

Keep a dated folder rather than scattered screenshots. You do not need a polished account of the collision. You need reliable records that help someone understand what happened and what remains uncertain.

• Collision records: photographs, original video, witness contacts, agency details, the report and any supplemental material.
• Care records: discharge instructions, appointments, prescriptions, bills and work restrictions. Follow your treating provider’s advice and tell the provider about symptoms or changes.
• Vehicle records: the tow location, storage notices, repair estimates, rental paperwork and vehicle-value correspondence. Ask about deadlines or accumulating charges rather than assuming an insurer is handling them.
• Income records: pay records, employer communications, missed shifts and restrictions affecting your work. Keep expenses separate from estimates of future losses.
• Insurance records: the policy in effect on the crash date, declarations page, claim numbers, adjuster contact details, letters and proposed releases.

Preserve original files and avoid editing or deleting relevant material. Identify possible nearby cameras promptly, but do not assume a business or agency recorded the event or will keep footage indefinitely.

What to say when an insurer contacts you

First identify the company and whose policy it represents. Your own policy can require notice and cooperation; an opposing insurer is a different relationship. Provide accurate basic facts, do not guess about speed or injuries, and ask for unclear requests in writing. Keep a log of who called, when, and what was requested.

Before a recorded statement, broad authorization or settlement release, consider getting advice about its scope and your obligations. Do not ignore your own insurer’s deadlines. A release can affect which claims remain available, so understand what it covers rather than relying on an oral description of the payment.

Arizona deadlines are not one universal countdown

A.R.S. § 12-542 generally provides two years after accrual for covered injury actions. Accrual, exceptions and the identity of a defendant matter. Claims involving public entities or employees can involve a 180-day notice requirement and a separate one-year lawsuit deadline. These summaries are not a calculation of your deadline.

Negotiations and an open insurance file do not by themselves establish that a filing deadline has been extended. If a public vehicle, public roadway condition, child or other unusual circumstance is involved, raise that at the start of a consultation.

What if responsibility is disputed?

Arizona’s comparative-negligence statute generally reduces damages according to applicable fault rather than imposing an ordinary 50% or 51% cutoff. The statute has exceptions, so that general rule is not a promise that every claimant can recover. Evidence and the applicable law determine how a dispute should be evaluated.

What to bring to a case review

Bring the report or agency information, photos, available medical and vehicle records, insurance letters, and any document you have been asked to sign. If something is missing, say so. Useful questions include: Which evidence is time-sensitive? Which policy may apply? What deadline needs checking? What would representation cover, and how would fees and case costs work?

A minor property-only dispute may call for different help than a collision involving injury, a commercial vehicle or contested coverage. A consultation should clarify that distinction, not promise a settlement amount. For a broader overview, read our Arizona car accident guide.

Frequently asked questions

Should I wait for the police report before asking for help?

No. A report can be useful, but you can begin with the agency name, date, location, photos and insurance correspondence. Do not delay urgent care or a time-sensitive legal question while waiting for paperwork.

Does a vehicle-damage estimate establish the value of an injury claim?

No. Repair costs, medical evidence, fault, insurance coverage and losses answer different questions. Neither a repair estimate nor another person’s settlement determines your outcome.

Can I handle the claim without a lawyer?

Some claims can be handled directly. Injury severity, disputed responsibility, coverage questions, releases and deadlines are reasons to consider an individual review. Ask what help is necessary for your situation.

Sources checked

The linked Arizona Legislature provisions above were checked September 30, 2026. Agency procedures and the facts of a claim can change the analysis. This guide does not create an attorney-client relationship.