Arizona Car Accident Laws Explained

Arizona car accident laws determine how drivers must respond after a crash, how fault affects compensation, and which insurance rules apply. Understanding these laws can help you make informed decisions after a collision. Arizona follows a fault-based system. The driver responsible for a crash may be liable for another person’s injuries and losses. However, insurance coverage, shared fault, evidence, and legal deadlines can affect a claim. Consult with a Phoenix car accident lawyer to discuss the options you have.

How Does Arizona Determine Fault in a Car Accident?

Arizona uses a fault-based system rather than a no-fault auto insurance system. The person whose negligence caused a crash may have to pay for resulting injuries and property damage. Negligence generally involves failing to use reasonable care under the circumstances. Examples may include speeding, distracted driving, or failing to yield when required. Evidence helps establish what happened. Police reports, witness statements, photographs, video footage, and medical records may all provide useful information. An insurance company may investigate the collision before deciding whether to accept a claim. Its decision does not necessarily resolve every question of legal responsibility.

Is Arizona a No-Fault State?

No. Arizona generally requires drivers to carry liability insurance that can cover injuries or property damage they cause to others. An injured person may pursue a claim against the responsible driver’s insurance or another applicable source of coverage. Arizona also follows comparative negligence rules. A person’s own share of fault may reduce the compensation they can recover.

What Are Arizona’s Minimum Car Insurance Requirements?

Under A.R.S. § 28-4009, Arizona requires minimum liability coverage for applicable motor vehicle policies issued or renewed beginning July 1, 2020.

The current minimum limits are:

These limits are often called 25/50/15 coverage. They represent minimum liability requirements, not a guarantee that insurance will cover every loss. For example, an injured person’s medical expenses and other damages may exceed the available policy limits. Other coverage may apply, depending on the circumstances.

What If the Other Driver Has No Insurance?

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage may help when an uninsured driver causes covered bodily injuries. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage may apply when the available bodily injury liability limits fall below the injured person’s total damages. A.R.S. § 20-259.01 addresses these coverage types and the insurer’s obligations to offer them. Actual coverage depends on the policy, its terms, and the claim’s circumstances. Review your policy before assuming that a particular benefit applies.

How Does Comparative Negligence Affect an Arizona Car Accident Claim?

Arizona follows comparative negligence rules under A.R.S. § 12-2505. A claimant’s action generally is not barred simply because the claimant shares some responsibility for the accident. Instead, the factfinder can reduce the claimant’s damages according to the claimant’s share of fault that approximately caused the injury or death. The statute also contains an exception for claimants who intentionally, willfully, or wantonly caused or contributed to the harm. Consider a simplified example. If a factfinder determines that a claimant’s recoverable damages total $100,000 and the claimant bears 20% of the fault, the proportional reduction would be $20,000. This example illustrates the calculation, not a prediction of any case outcome. Insurance companies may dispute fault. A driver should not assume that an insurer’s allegation establishes the final outcome.

What Must You Do After a Car Accident in Arizona?

Arizona law imposes different duties depending on whether the collision causes injuries, death, or vehicle damage.

When Must a Driver Stop and Provide Assistance?

Under A.R.S. § 28-661, a driver involved in an accident causing injury or death must stop at the scene or as close as possible and return immediately if necessary. The driver must remain until the applicable legal duties are fulfilled. Under A.R.S. § 28-662, a driver involved in an accident causing only damage to another vehicle that is driven or attended by a person must also stop and remain until the required duties are fulfilled. A.R.S. § 28-663 requires the driver to provide identifying information, including the driver’s name, address, and vehicle registration number. The driver must exhibit a license upon request and provide reasonable assistance to an injured person as the statute requires. When it is safe, documenting insurance information and the other driver’s details can also help with the claims process. Leaving a crash scene without meeting the applicable legal duties can carry serious consequences. The precise offense and penalties depend on the circumstances.

When Is an Accident Report Required?

Under A.R.S. § 28-667, a law enforcement officer or public employee who investigates a qualifying motor vehicle accident must complete a written report. The statute’s main reporting criteria include bodily injury, death, property damage exceeding $2,000, or the issuance of a citation. It also requires part of a report for certain investigated crashes involving $2,000 or less in damage when no citation, injury, or death occurs. This statute addresses reports prepared by investigating officers or public employees. It does not mean every driver must file the same written report after every collision. However, A.R.S. § 28-671 permits incorporated cities and towns to require additional driver reports by ordinance. Keep any available crash documentation and ask the investigating agency how to obtain the report.

Can You Move a Vehicle After a Freeway Crash?

Arizona’s quick-clearance law, A.R.S. § 28-674, addresses qualifying accidents on controlled-access highways and other specified divided roads. When serious injury or death is not apparent, the law requires moving a vehicle from the main traveled portion if it can be moved safely and driven normally under its own power without creating a hazard. Do not treat this as a rule to move every vehicle after every crash. Safety conditions matter. The statute also preserves other applicable duties, including the duty to stop and provide information.

Which Other Traffic Laws May Affect Car Accident Fault?

Traffic violations can provide relevant evidence in a collision investigation, but a citation alone does not automatically resolve civil liability. Arizona restricts holding portable communication devices while driving and generally prohibits reading, writing, or sending text-based communications while operating a vehicle, subject to statutory exceptions.

In 2026, Arizona enacted HB 2109, which amended A.R.S. § 28-914. The law took effect September 12, 2026. It increased the civil penalty for a second or subsequent violation to $400 and added a $150 penalty when a violation results in an accident with a motorcycle. The first-violation penalty remains $75 to $149. See the current statutory text.

Arizona also enacted HB 2941, effective September 12, 2026. It classifies specified motorcycle lane-passing violations as reckless driving, subject to the statutory exceptions. See A.R.S. § 28-903. These laws may matter when investigating how a crash occurred. The available evidence and applicable law still determine their significance in a civil claim.

What Compensation May Be Available After an Arizona Car Accident?

Depending on the facts, a claim may involve several types of losses:

• Medical expenses and reasonable future medical costs.
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity.
• Vehicle repair or replacement costs.
• Pain and suffering, where recoverable.

The evidence must support the claimed losses and their connection to the accident. Available insurance, comparative fault, and other legal issues can also affect recovery. There is no reliable settlement amount that applies to every Arizona car accident. The outcome depends on the particular injuries, evidence, liability, coverage, and applicable law.

How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Arizona?

Under A.R.S. § 12-542, Arizona generally requires covered personal injury actions to be filed within two years after the cause of action accrues. The statute also contains a specific accrual rule for covered actions involving injuries that result in death.

What If a Government Entity May Be Responsible?

Claims involving a public entity or public employee can have shorter deadlines. Under A.R.S. § 12-821.01, a notice of claim generally must be filed within 180 days after the cause of action accrues. A.R.S. § 12-821 generally requires the lawsuit to be filed within one year after accrual. These requirements are separate. The applicable deadline can depend on the claim, accrual rules, and legal exceptions. Do not assume that every claim follows the ordinary two-year period.

What Should You Do After an Arizona Car Accident?

Take practical steps to protect your safety and preserve useful information.

1. Move to a safe place when possible and contact emergency services when needed.
2. Seek appropriate medical care, even if symptoms appear later.
3. Photograph the scene, vehicle damage, and visible injuries when safe.
4. Preserve original dashcam recordings and identify potential witnesses.
5. Keep medical records, repair estimates, wage records, and insurer communications.
6. Find out how to request available crash reports.

These steps can help document what happened and the losses that followed. No single photograph, report, or statement necessarily decides every issue. For more practical guidance, read Harris Injury Law’s article on what to do after a crash.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Arizona a no-fault state for car accidents?

No. Arizona generally follows a fault-based system. The responsible driver’s liability insurance may cover another person’s losses, subject to applicable law and policy limits.

Does a police report decide who was at fault?

No. A police report can provide useful evidence, but liability depends on the available evidence and applicable law. An insurer, court, or other decision-maker may assess the facts differently.

Do I have to file a police report after every car accident?

Not necessarily. Section 28-667 establishes reporting duties for investigating officers and public employees. A city or town may impose additional driver-reporting requirements by ordinance under § 28-671. The circumstances and applicable local rules matter.

Can I recover compensation if I was partly at fault?

Possibly. Under Arizona’s comparative negligence statute, a claimant’s damages generally decrease in proportion to the claimant’s share of fault. The evidence and applicable law determine the outcome.

Understand Your Options After an Arizona Car Accident

Understanding Arizona’s laws can help you identify the questions that matter after a collision. Preserve relevant evidence, document your losses, and pay attention to deadlines. Harris Injury Law can discuss the circumstances of your accident and explain potential legal options. Call (480) 800-4878 or request a consultation online. No particular outcome is guaranteed.

This article provides general information about Arizona law and is not legal advice. The law and its application can depend on the specific facts of a case, and reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Reviewed by Jason A. Harris, Attorney, Harris Injury Law, PLLC.