Skip to content
Arizona accident law

Arizona car accident settlement calculator

Arizona is an at-fault state that uses pure comparative negligence. You generally have 2 years to file an injury lawsuit. The calculator below applies these rules to your numbers.

Checked against official sources November 5, 20266 cited sourcesHow we calculate

Injury lawsuit deadline2 yearsA.R.S. 12-542(1), (2), (3); A.R.S. 12-821.01; A.R.S. 12-821
Fault rulePure comparativeA.R.S. 12-2505(A)
Insurance systemAt-faultNo PIP requirement
Minimum liability25/50/15thousands of dollars

Arizona settlement estimate

How serious is the injury?
Moderate: months of treatment, full recovery. Typical multiplier 2 to 3.
Applied to your medical bills. Set by the injury above, adjust if you like.
Leave at 0 if unknown.
Lawyer fee, costs and liens
Estimated amount to you
$46,500

Likely range depends on the injury

Economic damages
$16,500
Pain and suffering
$30,000
Injury claim value
$46,500
After your share of fault
$46,500
Attorney fee and costs
$0
Liens repaid
$0

Arizona: Pure comparative negligence, at-fault (tort) state.

An estimate, not legal advice. Deadlines can be shorter in some situations, for example for claims against a city or state agency. Talk to a Arizona attorney about your case.

Arizona filing deadlines

ClaimDeadline
Personal injury lawsuit2 years
Vehicle and property damage2 years
Wrongful death2 years
Notice of a claim against a governmentNotice of claim to a public entity, public school or public employee within 180 days after the cause of action accrues (A.R.S. 12-821.01(A)); suit against a public entity or employee within 1 year (A.R.S. 12-821).
A.R.S. 12-542(1), (2), (3); A.R.S. 12-821.01; A.R.S. 12-821. Counted from the accident date in most cases.

Property: 12-542(3) 'For trespass for injury done to the estate or the property of another' (2 years). Wrongful death accrues at the death. Notice statute: ('within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues'). Statutory dog bite claims under 11-1025 are subject to the 1-year period for 'a liability created by statute' (12-541(5)); common-law negligence claims keep 2 years.

If you were partly at fault

Arizona follows pure comparative negligence. Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you can recover something even if you were mostly to blame.

  • With $100,000 in damages and 30% of the fault, you would recover $70,000.
  • With 55% of the fault, you would recover $45,000.

No comparative negligence for a claimant who intentionally, wilfully or wantonly caused or contributed to the injury or death.

Source: A.R.S. 12-2505(A). Compare all states in the comparative negligence table.

At-fault (tort) state

In Arizona the driver who caused the crash is responsible for the damage, so you claim against their liability insurance or sue them. Your own medical payments or health coverage can pay bills while the claim is pending.

Traditional tort state; no PIP requirement. The constitution bars abrogating the right of action, which effectively precludes a no-fault tort threshold.

Minimum car insurance in Arizona

$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, $15,000 for property damage. Uninsured motorist coverage is optional or can be rejected in writing.

Many drivers carry only the minimum, so the bodily injury limit is often the most the at-fault driver's insurer will pay one person. Raised from 15/30/10 for policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2020. Insurers must offer UM and UIM by written notice.

Damage caps

Arizona does not cap pain and suffering in ordinary car accident cases.

Constitution prohibits statutory damage caps for injury or death (exception only for claims by felons against crime victims).

Dog bite law

Strict liability statute. Bites only, victim in a public place or lawfully in a private place (including owner's property). Reasonable provocation is a defense (11-1027). Exceptions for military/police dog work. Statutory claim has a 1-year limitation (12-541(5)); a common-law claim for non-bite injuries requires showing negligence or known dangerous propensity.

Source: A.R.S. 11-1025(A); A.R.S. 11-1027. Estimate a claim with the dog bite calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Arizona?

2 years from the accident for an injury lawsuit and 2 years for vehicle damage (A.R.S. 12-542(1), (2), (3); A.R.S. 12-821.01; A.R.S. 12-821). Insurance claims should be reported much sooner, and claims against a government agency can have shorter notice deadlines.

Is Arizona a no-fault state?

No. Arizona is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other people's injuries and damage.

What happens if I was partly at fault in Arizona?

Arizona follows pure comparative negligence (A.R.S. 12-2505(A)). Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you can recover something even if you were mostly to blame.

What is the minimum car insurance in Arizona?

$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, $15,000 for property damage (25/50/15).

Does Arizona cap pain and suffering damages?

Not in ordinary car accident cases. Constitution prohibits statutory damage caps for injury or death (exception only for claims by felons against crime victims).

Sources

Checked against official Arizona sources November 5, 2026.

  1. Arizona statute of limitations: A.R.S. 12-542(1), (2), (3); A.R.S. 12-821.01; A.R.S. 12-821
  2. Arizona comparative fault: A.R.S. 12-2505(A)
  3. Arizona insurance system: A.R.S. 28-4009; Ariz. Const. art. 18, sec. 6
  4. Arizona minimum liability insurance: A.R.S. 28-4009(A)(2)(b); UM: A.R.S. 20-259.01(A)
  5. Arizona damage caps: Ariz. Const. art. 2, sec. 31; art. 18, sec. 6
  6. Arizona dog bite liability: A.R.S. 11-1025(A); A.R.S. 11-1027