How Long Do You Have to File an Auto Insurance Claim in Arizona?

If you live in Arizona, it’s important to be aware of the laws regarding how much time you have to submit various claims if you are in an accident. Every state has a statute of limitations that people must follow if they are going to report the accident to the police or the DMV, file an insurance claim, or file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. If you get in a car accident in Arizona, make sure you follow the required timeframes for submitting your claims. 

Timeframe for Various Claims After an Accident in Arizona

When You Should Report a Car Accident in Arizona 

Each state has different laws when it comes to reporting a car accident to the police or DMV. Oftentimes, minor car accidents don’t need to be reported at all. An accident is minor if the drivers won’t need to file an insurance claim. In most cases, an accident that causes $2,000+ in property damage should be reported.  

While several states give the drivers somewhere between 10-30 days to report an accident, Arizona requires that drivers immediately report the accident. This means that the drivers will call the police from the scene of the accident right after it occurs. This is often a good idea anyway, no matter what state you’re in, since a police report can be used as evidence for later claims you might file. 

How Long You Have to File a Claim With the Insurance Company in Arizona  

Because Arizona is an at-fault insurance state, drivers have a few options for filing their insurance claim after an accident. 

• Your own insurance company – If you are not at-fault for the accident, you have the option to file a claim with your own insurance company to receive coverage for your damages.
  
• At-fault driver’s insurance company – If you are not at-fault for the accident, you can also file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company to receive coverage for your damages. 
• Lawsuit against at-fault driver or insurance company – If you are not at-fault for the accident and the insurance claims fail or are insufficient, you also have the option to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver to receive coverage for your damages. 

All that to say, every insurance company will have different deadlines for filing an insurance claim. However, it is best to file a claim as soon as possible. If you file a significantly delayed claim, then the insurance company might become suspicious and investigate your claim first. If they decide that the damages you’re trying to receive coverage for resulted from a separate incident after the accident, then the insurance company can deny your claim. 

Statute of Limitations for Filing a Lawsuit Against the At-Fault Driver in Arizona  

Again, because Arizona is an at-fault state, drivers have the option to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver to collect compensation. In Arizona, the statute of limitations for filing this type of lawsuit is two years. After two years passes, you will lose your ability to bring a lawsuit against the at-fault driver even if you deserve compensation. 

Exceptions to the Statute of Limitations  

While two years is the statute of limitations in Arizona for filing a car accident lawsuit, there are a few exceptions that would delay this deadline: 

• Rules of Discovery – Sometimes an injury is not immediately apparent after a car accident. In this case, the two-year deadline to file a claim would start once the victim’s injuries are discovered (or a date when the victim should have reasonably known about the injury). 

• The Victim is a Minor – If the victim is a minor, then the two-year deadline might begin once the victim turns 18. 

Additionally, the requirements look different if your accident claim involves the state or federal government. You should consider the following: 

• Deadline – You have 180 days from the date of the accident to file a notice to the applicable state or federal government agency.  

• Procedure – You must notify the agency before filing a lawsuit. Each county and agency might have different forms and procedures to follow, so you should contact the applicable agency to clarify exactly what you need to do. 

• Attorney – It is possible to lose your right to file a claim if you don’t follow the necessary procedures. Because it is more complicated to file a lawsuit against a state or federal entity, you should consider hiring a car accident attorney for help.  

Learn More From AZCAL Insurance Services 

Feel free to reach out to AZCAL Insurance Services if you have any questions about car accident-related claims in Arizona. Our experienced team is here to help. If you are looking for an auto insurance policy you can depend on, we can also help you with that. As an independent agency, we can provide you with the right blend of price, coverage, and service. Don’t hesitate to contact us today!