What to do after a car accident in Arizona
Every rule below is quoted from Arizona law or a state agency, with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
At fault state
The short answer
Arizona is an at-fault state. Drivers must carry liability insurance that pays for injuries and damage they cause to others. A police officer who investigates a crash must complete a written report when someone is injured or killed, property damage is more than $2,000, or a citation is issued. Smaller crashes still get a short report with names and a description. You generally have 2 years from the crash to sue for injuries.
Deadlines in Arizona
- 2 years
- to sue for injuriesA.R.S. 12-542
- 2 years
- to sue for car or property damageA.R.S. 12-542
- 2 years
- for a family to sue after a deathA.R.S. 12-542(2)
- 180 days
- to notify the government if a public vehicle or road was involvedA.R.S. 12-821.01
Miss one of these and you can lose the right to claim, even with a strong case.
At the scene
Stop, share your information and help anyone hurt
A driver in a crash must stop at the scene, give their name, address, and license plate number, show their license if asked, and help anyone who is hurt, including arranging for a doctor.
“Give the driver's name and address and the registration number of the vehicle... Render reasonable assistance to a person injured in the accident, including making arrangements for the carrying of the person to a physician”
When you must call the police
A police officer who investigates a crash must complete a written report when someone is injured or killed, property damage is more than $2,000, or a citation is issued. Smaller crashes still get a short report with names and a description.
“a motor vehicle accident resulting in bodily injury, death or damage to the property of any person in excess of $2,000 or the issuance of a citation”
Moving your car out of traffic
In Arizona, if a crash does not appear to involve serious injury or death, drivers must move their cars out of the travel lane to the shoulder, emergency lane, or median if it can be done safely and the car can still be driven normally.
“If a motor vehicle traffic accident occurs and serious physical injury... or death is not apparent, the drivers of the motor vehicles involved in the accident... shall remove the motor vehicles from the main traveled portion of the roadway into a safe refuge on the shoulder, emergency lane or median.”
In the days after
Whether you must file a report yourself
Arizona does not require the driver to separately file a written crash report with the state. The investigating officer must complete a written report within 24 hours of finishing the investigation and immediately send it to the Department of Transportation, if the crash caused injury, death, property damage over $2,000, or a citation.
“A law enforcement officer or public employee who, in the regular course of duty, investigates a motor vehicle accident that results in... damage to the property of any person in excess of $2,000... within twenty-four hours after completing the investigation, shall forward the report to the agency employing the officer or public employee, which shall immediately forward a copy of the report to the department of transportation.”
Getting a copy of the crash report
To get a copy of an Arizona Department of Public Safety crash report, go to the DPS Public Services Portal and select the request a report or records option.
“REQUEST A REPORT OR RECORDS”
Who pays for the damage
Arizona is an at-fault state. Drivers must carry liability insurance that pays for injuries and damage they cause to others.
“$25,000 because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident”
Insurance rules in Arizona
What insurance every driver must carry
As of July 1, 2020, Arizona's minimum liability limits are $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident for injury, and $15,000 for property damage.
“$25,000 because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident" and "$50,000 because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident" with "$15,000 because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident”
Personal injury protection (PIP)
Arizona does not require drivers to buy personal injury protection (PIP). The mandatory coverage is liability insurance that pays people you injure or whose property you damage.
“$25,000 because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident" ... "$15,000 because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident”
If the other driver has no insurance
Insurers must offer you uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage in writing. You can turn down each one, but you have to reject it in writing; it is not automatically included.
“make available to the named insured... the policy declarations page... constitutes the final expression of the named insured's decision to purchase or reject”
Medical payments coverage
Medical payments coverage is optional in Arizona. It is not part of the state's minimum required coverage, and insurers are not required by statute to offer it (unlike uninsured motorist coverage, which insurers must offer).
“You need Medical Payments coverage to have your own injuries covered under an auto policy.”
If an insurance company treats you unfairly
To file a complaint against an insurance company in Arizona, use the online complaint form on the Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) File a Complaint page.
“File Online: Complete the online form using the links above.”
The deadline rules, word for word
Deadline to sue for injuries
You generally have 2 years from the crash to sue for injuries.
“there shall be commenced and prosecuted within two years after the cause of action accrues”
Deadline to sue for car damage
You generally have 2 years from the crash to sue over vehicle or property damage.
“there shall be commenced and prosecuted within two years after the cause of action accrues”
Deadline for a wrongful death claim
Families generally have 2 years from the date of death, not the date of the crash, to sue over a death from a crash.
“For injuries done to the person of another when death ensues from such injuries, which action shall be considered as accruing at the death of the party injured.”
If a government vehicle or road was involved
If a government vehicle, employee, or road is involved, you must file a claim with that government within 180 days of the crash or you lose the right to sue.
“Persons who have claims against a public entity, public school or a public employee shall file claims...within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues”
Sources on this page
Each one was opened and checked on September 17, 2026.
- A.R.S. 28-4009
- A.R.S. 12-2505
- A.R.S. 12-542
- A.R.S. 12-821.01
- A.R.S. § 28-667
- Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-667
- A.R.S. 20-259.01
- A.R.S. § 20-259.01 (offer requirement applies only to uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage); Arizona DIFI consumer page
- A.R.S. 28-661, 28-662, 28-663
- Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-674
- https://psp.azdps.gov/
- Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions, File a Complaint page
- Ariz. R. Sup. Ct. 42, ER 1.5(c)
Know My Claim is not a law firm or a government agency, and this page is not legal advice. Laws change, so check the linked source before you rely on a deadline.