Arizona Car Accident & Insurance Laws

Arizona Car Accident Law, Lawyers and Attorneys

Car accidents are a fact of life. They happen every day in Arizona. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 1,288 fatal crashes on Arizona roads in 2006. If you’ve been in a car accident and are looking for information about how to assess your rights and responsibilities and where to go for help, you’ve come to the right spot. Our car accident articles cover relevant issues such as fault, insurance, claims, personal injury, property damage, government liability, and structured settlements. You will also find rules, laws and other information specific to the state of Arizona, and links to Arizona personal injury attorneys who can assess the value of your claim and provide advice on your best course of action.

Arizona Car Accident Articles:

How an Auto Accident Insurance Claim Works

What is Your Car Accident Injury Claim Worth

Who is at Fault?

Car Insurance and Auto Accidents: Are You Covered?

What You Can Expect to Recover for Property Damage in Auto Accident Cases

Auto Accidents: Options if You’re at an Impasse with the Insurance Adjuster

Car Accidents Involving Government-Owned Vehicles and Government Workers

Structured Settlements

Do I Need to Contact an Attorney After a Car Accident?

Arizona Car Accident Lawyers:

Find an experienced Arizona Car Accident Attorney at AttorneyPages.com

Post your case to a Arizona Car Accident Lawyer (it’s free, with no obligations)

Post your auto accident question on the Free Advice Auto Accidents and Vehicle Claims forum

Article: How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

Special Rules for Arizona Car Accidents:

Arizona Fault: Pure Comparative Fault

Arizona Car Insurance Requirements/Limits: Bodily Injury & Property Damage Liability. Minimum Bodily Injury liability is $15,000 per person up to a total of $30,000 per accident (if there is more than one person injured). Minimum property damage liability is $10,000.

Arizona Small Claims Limit: $2,500

Arizona Personal Injury Statute of Limitations: Two years from the date of the injury, or if the injury could not have been discovered right away, from the date you discovered the injury.

Arizona Auto Accidents Involving Government Vehicles: Notice to File Against Government: If you were injured in a car accident caused by a government employee, you may sue the government agency —the city or town, county or state, public agency, school—that employs that person.

For claims against the federal government use form 95 and follow the instructions on page 2.

For claims against the state of Arizona, you must file a Notice of Claim with either the Arizona Department of Risk Management or the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. Forms are not available online, so you must contact these offices directly.

For claims against a county government employee, contact the county in which you want to file your lawsuit, see Arizona Personal Injury Venue below, for the proper forms and time limits. Some counties, such as Maricopa, have forms online, while other counties may require a direct inquiry from you.

For claims against a city government employee, contact the cityin which you want to file your lawsuit, see Arizona Personal Injury Venue below for the proper forms and time limits.

In dealing with accidents involving government entities and workers, be aware that there are special notices that must be filed against the appropriate government unit responsible for your injury within a certain time period (180 days in Arizona) and BEFORE filing a lawsuit. These notices of claims are basically administrative hoops the city/state government make you jump through and may be different than the statute of limitations against private parties. Many notices are rejected and a lawsuit may have to be filed anyway, but nonetheless these notices are required. Any mistakes in filing or filing on time could result in losing your ability to recover for your damages and injuries. Each government entity has its own separate time limit and the rules can be confusing. Check the form you are filling out and be sure to inquire about the time limit for filing your claim. Accidents claims involving the government can be complicated, you should consult with an experienced Arizona auto accident attorney right away to preserve your rights. See also Car Accidents Involving the Government-Owned Vehicles and Government Workers..

Arizona Personal Injury Venue (Where to File Lawsuit): In the small claims or superior court located where the defendant (the person you are suing) lives or does business. Alternatively, you might consider filing in a court located where the accident occurred or where you live or do business. If you are filing a claim against a government agency and are unsure of which agency is responsible, the most prudent course is to file a separate claim against each.