Accident Settlement Calculator

Home › States › Arizona

Arizona Car Accident Settlement Calculator

In Arizona, you generally have 2 years to file an injury lawsuit, you can recover even if mostly at fault, minus your share, and drivers must carry at least $25,000/$50,000 in injury liability. Enter your numbers below to see what a Arizona claim may be worth and what you would actually take home.

1

Your accident

How serious is the injury?
2

Your costs so far

That's all you need for a first estimate. Rough numbers are fine.

Optional: make the estimate more accurate fault, insurance, lawyer fee
3

Fault and future costs

4

Insurance

5

What comes out of it

Arizona rules in 30 seconds

If you were partly at faultYou can still recover, minus your share of the blame
Details & exceptions

Arizona uses pure comparative fault: the injured person's own fault never bars recovery, and damages are reduced in proportion to their share of fault (A.R.S. 12-2505). The exception is an injured person who intentionally, willfully or wantonly caused or contributed to their own injury; they are not entitled to comparative negligence.

Compare fault rules in all states →
Deadline to file a lawsuit2 years from the accident
Details & exceptions

A.R.S. 12-542 gives 2 years after the cause of action accrues for personal injury, wrongful death (which accrues at death), trespass injuring property, and taking, detaining or converting personal property, subject to the exceptions in 12-551. Claims against a public entity or public employee (state, county, city, school district, etc.) require a notice of claim within 180 days after the cause of action accrues (A.R.S. 12-821.01(A)), and the lawsuit must be filed within 1 year (A.R.S. 12-821).

Compare deadlines in all states →
Other driver's minimum insurance$25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident
Details & exceptions

Property damage minimum: $15,000. A.R.S. 28-4009(A)(2)(b): 25/50/15 for policies issued or renewed beginning July 1, 2020. Policies issued or renewed on or before June 30, 2020 carried 15/30/10. Some secondary sites give a 2025 date for this change, which is wrong according to the statute text.

Compare minimums in all states →
Who pays your medical billsThe at-fault driver's insuranceSee all no-fault states →
Cap on pain and sufferingNo cap for typical car accident claims
Details & exceptions

No general cap for typical car accident injury claims. The Arizona Constitution bars damage caps. Art. 2, Sec. 31: 'No law shall be enacted in this state limiting the amount of damages to be recovered for causing the death or injury of any person.' Art. 18, Sec. 6: the right of action for injuries 'shall never be abrogated' and the amount recovered 'shall not be subject to any statutory limitation.' Both have an exception: a person harmed while attempting, committing or fleeing a felony may not sue the crime victim. There is no noneconomic damage cap in auto injury cases.

Uninsured motorist coverageOptional
Details & exceptions

A.R.S. 20-259.01: insurers must offer UM and UIM coverage to the named insured by written notice, but the coverage is optional and the insured may reject it. The statute says the declarations page is the final expression of the decision to purchase or reject UM coverage.

Worked example: a typical Arizona car accident claim

Another driver turned left into you at an intersection in Arizona: $15,000 in medical bills, $5,000 in lost wages and a moderate injury that healed in a few months. The insurer says you were 20% at fault for speeding slightly, the other driver has a $100,000 policy, and your lawyer takes 33%.

  1. Economic damages$20,000Medical bills + expected future treatment + lost wages.
  2. Pain and suffering$20,000 – $40,000Multiplier method: economic damages × 2–3 for a moderate injury, minus the economic part itself.
  3. Total claim value$40,000 – $60,000Economic + pain and suffering.
  4. After your share of fault$32,000 – $48,000Arizona uses pure comparative negligence: your recovery is reduced by your 20% share of fault.
  5. Limited by available insurance$32,000 – $48,000At-fault policy limit $100,000 + your UM/UIM $0.
  6. Estimated take-home$20,440 – $31,160Minus attorney fee (33%), case costs and medical liens.

You would take home about $25,800 ($20,440 – $31,160), after the 33% fee and $1,000 in case costs.

Typical figures (midpoint of a moderate injury multiplier), no medical liens. Run your own numbersor see the same crash in every state.

How much time do you have to file?

General personal injury deadline only. It can be shorter for claims against a city, county or state agency (often a written notice within months), and longer for minors. Check with a lawyer before relying on it.

Deadline traps in Arizona

The 2-year lawsuit deadline is not the only clock. These are the ones people miss:

Crash with a government vehicle or on a public road180 days

A written notice of claim must be filed with the person authorized to accept service for the public entity or employee (state, county, city, school district) within 180 days, and the lawsuit must be filed within 1 year.

A.R.S. 12-821.01, Authorization of claim against public entity, public school or public employee (Arizona Legislature)A.R.S. 12-821, Authorization of actions against public entities (Arizona Legislature)

If the injured person is a child

The 2-year clock usually starts at age 18. For claims against a public entity, the 180-day notice period also starts when the child turns 18.

A.R.S. 12-502, Effect of minority or unsound mind (Arizona Legislature)A.R.S. 12-821.01(D) (Arizona Legislature)

How fast a Arizona insurer must respond

Insurers must acknowledge any claim, including third-party claims, within 10 working days. Accept/deny within 15 working days and the 30-day payment rule protect first-party claimants only.

Ariz. Admin. Code R20-6-801, Unfair claims settlement practices (Cornell LII)A.R.S. 20-462, Time for payment of claims (Arizona Legislature)

If an insurer misses these deadlines, you can file a complaint with the state insurance department. Compare all states:insurance claim deadlines by state.

Next steps after a Arizona crash

Frequently asked questions

What is a typical car accident settlement in Arizona?
It depends on the bills, the injury and fault. Worked example: with $15,000 in medical bills, $5,000 in lost wages and a moderate injury, 20% of the fault, a Arizona claim against the other driver is worth about $40,000, and the injured person takes home about $25,800 after a 33% attorney fee and costs.
Is Arizona an at-fault or no-fault state for car accidents?
Arizona's car insurance system: At-fault (tort).
Is there a cap on pain and suffering in Arizona car accident cases?
No general cap for typical car accident injury claims. The Arizona Constitution bars damage caps. Art. 2, Sec. 31: 'No law shall be enacted in this state limiting the amount of damages to be recovered for causing the death or injury of any person.' Art. 18, Sec. 6: the right of action for injuries 'shall never be abrogated' and the amount recovered 'shall not be subject to any statutory limitation.' Both have an exception: a person harmed while attempting, committing or fleeing a felony may not sue the crime victim. There is no noneconomic damage cap in auto injury cases.
What happens if I was partly at fault for an accident in Arizona?
Arizona follows pure comparative negligence, so you can recover damages even if you were mostly at fault, but your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Arizona?
Generally 2 years for personal injury and 2 years for property damage. A.R.S. 12-542 gives 2 years after the cause of action accrues for personal injury, wrongful death (which accrues at death), trespass injuring property, and taking, detaining or converting personal property, subject to the exceptions in 12-551. Claims against a public entity or public employee (state, county, city, school district, etc.) require a notice of claim within 180 days after the cause of action accrues (A.R.S. 12-821.01(A)), and the lawsuit must be filed within 1 year (A.R.S. 12-821).
What is the minimum car insurance in Arizona?
$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $15,000 for property damage. A.R.S. 28-4009(A)(2)(b): 25/50/15 for policies issued or renewed beginning July 1, 2020. Policies issued or renewed on or before June 30, 2020 carried 15/30/10. Some secondary sites give a 2025 date for this change, which is wrong according to the statute text.
What is the deadline to file a claim against the government in Arizona?
180 days. A written notice of claim must be filed with the person authorized to accept service for the public entity or employee (state, county, city, school district) within 180 days, and the lawsuit must be filed within 1 year.
How long does an insurance company have to respond to a claim in Arizona?
Insurers must acknowledge any claim, including third-party claims, within 10 working days. Accept/deny within 15 working days and the 30-day payment rule protect first-party claimants only.

Related

Official sources