Arizona car accident statute of limitations: two years, with a shorter clock for public vehicles
The Arizona car accident statute of limitations is two years or 180 days for public vehicles. Call free.
Arizona has two deadlines that catch people out. Most crash suits must be filed within two years. A crash with a city, county, state or school vehicle needs a written claim within 180 days, under ARS 12-821.01. Your own share of blame lowers the award but never wipes it out.
The deadlines in Arizona
| What | Time limit | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Injury lawsuit | Two years | A.R.S. 12-542 |
| Car or property damage lawsuit | Two years | A.R.S. 12-542 |
| Shared fault | Award cut by your share, never barred | A.R.S. 12-2505 |
| Minimum liability cover | $25,000 / $50,000 / $15,000 | A.R.S. 28-4009 |
| Claim against a public entity | Notice in 180 days, suit in one year | A.R.S. 12-821.01, 12-821 |
| Wrongful death lawsuit | Two years from the death | A.R.S. 12-542 |
The public vehicle trap in Arizona
If a city bus, police cruiser or school vehicle hit you, the two-year rule does not protect you. The written claim must reach the right official within 180 days. It must state facts and a specific dollar amount that would settle it or it is barred.
If the entity does not answer within 60 days, the claim counts as denied. The lawsuit itself must then be filed within one year of the crash, under ARS 12-821.
Extra time for children hurt in Arizona
A child’s two years usually wait until the 18th birthday, under ARS 12-502. For a public entity claim, a minor gets 180 days after the disability ends. Parents often have their own claim for medical bills, which may not wait, so ask early.
Pure comparative fault and Arizona insurance
Arizona uses pure comparative negligence, meaning your recovery shrinks by your percentage of blame. A driver found 70 percent at fault can still collect 30 percent of the loss. The jury decides those percentages, under ARS 12-2505.
Policies issued or renewed from July 1, 2020 must carry at least $25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash and $15,000 for property, under ARS 28-4009. A bad injury can outrun those limits quickly.
When to call an Arizona car accident lawyer
Call within weeks if a public vehicle was involved, because the 180-day notice needs a settlement figure backed by facts. For any other crash, an attorney needs months to build the claim before the two years end. The call is free and you pay only if the lawyer wins.
Other states: California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado or every state on one page.
Arizona car accident statute of limitations questions
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Arizona?
Two years from the crash for injuries and car damage, under ARS 12-542. Claims against public bodies are much shorter.
Can I recover if the crash was mostly my fault in Arizona?
Yes. Arizona reduces your award by your share of fault but does not bar you, even above 50 percent.
What is the deadline to sue the City of Phoenix or another public body?
File a notice of claim within 180 days and the lawsuit within one year.
How much insurance must Arizona drivers carry?
At least $25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash and $15,000 for property damage.
Before the clock runs out
In Arizona, blame lowers your award but does not erase it, so a low offer is often worth a second look. Call before you sign a release and a lawyer will check the offer and your deadline free.
Call about my deadline(833) 716-6705
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