What to Do After a Car Accident in Arizona: A 10-Step Checklist
The minutes after a crash are confusing, and the choices you make in the following days can shape your health, your finances and any injury claim. This checklist walks through what to do after a car accident in Arizona, step by step, and links to the Arizona statutes behind each legal duty so you can read the rules for yourself.
This is general information, not legal advice. Every crash is different. If you were hurt, talk with an Arizona attorney about your own situation.
What does Arizona law require you to do at the scene?
Arizona law sets out a few duties for every driver involved in a crash. They apply whether the crash happens on a public road or on private property, such as a parking lot.
- Stop. Under A.R.S. § 28-661, a driver involved in a crash that injures or kills someone must immediately stop at the scene, or as close to it as possible, and stay until the information and assistance duties are met. For crashes that only damage a vehicle that is driven or attended by a person, A.R.S. § 28-662 imposes the same duty to stop and remain, and adds that the stop should not block traffic more than necessary.
- Exchange information and help the injured. A.R.S. § 28-663 requires each driver to give their name, address and the vehicle's registration number, to show their driver license on request, and to give reasonable assistance to anyone injured, including arranging transport for medical treatment when it is apparently needed or when the injured person asks for it.
- Report injury crashes to police. When a crash injures or kills someone, A.R.S. § 28-666 requires the driver to notify the local police department (inside a city or town), the county sheriff, or the nearest highway patrol office immediately, by the quickest means available.
Leaving the scene is treated seriously. Under § 28-661, failing to stop or to meet the information and assistance duties after a crash that causes injury is a felony, and the class of felony rises when the injury is serious or fatal.
The 10-step checklist
1. Stop, check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt
Stop your vehicle, turn on your hazard lights and check yourself and your passengers. If anyone is injured, or you are not sure, call 911. That call also helps satisfy the duty in § 28-666 to report an injury crash to law enforcement. Do not move someone who may have a neck or back injury unless they are in immediate danger, such as from fire or traffic.
2. Move out of traffic when it is safe and allowed
On freeways and other highways with two or more marked lanes, Arizona has a "quick clearance" law. Under A.R.S. § 28-674, if serious injury or death is not apparent and the vehicle can be driven normally and moved safely, the drivers must move the vehicles out of the main travel lanes to the shoulder, emergency lane, median or another safe place. The same statute says that a driver who moves a vehicle under this rule is not considered at fault for the crash just because they moved it.
If anyone appears seriously hurt, or a vehicle cannot be driven safely, leave it where it is, stay safe and wait for help.
3. Exchange information with the other driver
Get each driver's name, address, phone number, driver license number, license plate and registration, and the name of the insurance company and policy number. Arizona requires every driver to carry evidence of insurance in the vehicle, which can be shown on a phone, under A.R.S. § 28-4135. Taking a photo of the other driver's license, insurance card and plate is usually the fastest way to get it right.
If you hit a parked car with nobody in it, A.R.S. § 28-664 requires you to stop and either find the owner or leave a written note in a conspicuous place on the car with your name and address and the name and address of your vehicle's owner.
4. Be polite, but do not argue about fault
You can be courteous and check on the other people involved without debating what happened. Fault is decided later, using the evidence, the police report and statements from witnesses. Comments made in the moment, while you are shaken up, can be repeated later by an insurance company.
5. Document the scene
If you can do it safely, use your phone to record:
- Damage to every vehicle, from several angles, and the license plates.
- Where the vehicles ended up, skid marks, debris, traffic signals, signs and road conditions.
- Your visible injuries, then and over the following days.
- The time, the exact location (cross streets or the freeway milepost) and the weather.
Photos taken at the scene are often the best evidence of what happened, because vehicles are repaired and roads are cleaned up quickly.
6. Get names and numbers of witnesses
Independent witnesses can make a big difference when drivers disagree about who ran a light or who changed lanes. Ask for names and phone numbers, and note whether nearby businesses or homes have cameras that may have recorded the crash. Camera footage is often overwritten, so ask early.
7. Ask for the police report number
When officers investigate a crash that causes injury, death, a citation, or more than $2,000 in property damage, A.R.S. § 28-667 requires them to complete a written accident report. Ask the officer for the report number and the agency name before you leave. The same statute says the agency must provide a copy of the report on request to a person involved in the accident, the owner of a vehicle involved, or their representative.
8. Get medical care, even if you feel fine
Adrenaline can hide pain, and some injuries, such as concussions and soft-tissue injuries to the neck and back, may not be obvious for hours or days. See a doctor, urgent care or emergency room promptly, tell them you were in a car accident, and follow up as directed. Keep every bill, visit summary, prescription and work note. Prompt treatment protects your health first, and it also creates a record that connects your injuries to the crash.
9. Notify your own insurance company
Your policy almost certainly requires you to report a crash promptly, so read the notice section and call your insurer. Ask which coverages may apply to you. Arizona requires insurers to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in writing under A.R.S. § 20-259.01, so check your declarations page to see whether you bought it. That coverage can matter a lot if the other driver has no insurance or too little.
Be more careful with the other driver's insurance company. You do not have to give a recorded statement right away, and it is reasonable to wait until you understand your injuries and have had a chance to get advice.
10. Keep records and know your deadlines
Start a folder for the crash: the police report number, photos, medical records and bills, repair estimates, rental car receipts, and notes about missed work and how your injuries affect your daily life. A short daily journal can help you remember details months later.
Also write down your deadlines (see the next section). Do not let an open insurance claim run out the clock.
What are the minimum insurance limits in Arizona?
Every motor vehicle driven on an Arizona highway must be covered by liability insurance or another approved form of financial responsibility, under A.R.S. § 28-4135. For policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2020, A.R.S. § 28-4009 sets these minimum liability limits:
| Coverage | Arizona minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury or death of one person in one accident | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury or death of two or more people in one accident | $50,000 |
| Damage to the property of others in one accident | $15,000 |
These are minimums. Medical bills after a serious crash can exceed them quickly, which is one reason your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can be important.
What if you were partly at fault?
You may still have a claim. Arizona uses pure comparative negligence under A.R.S. § 12-2505. If you share some of the blame, your claim is not automatically barred. Instead, your damages are reduced in proportion to your share of fault. That is why careful documentation at the scene, and not admitting fault in the moment, matters.
How long do you have to file a claim?
Arizona's general deadline for an injury lawsuit is two years from the date the claim accrues, which in most crashes is the accident date, under A.R.S. § 12-542. If a city, county or state vehicle, a government employee or a government-maintained road may be involved, the deadline is much shorter: a notice of claim generally must be filed within 180 days under A.R.S. § 12-821.01. Our guide to the Arizona car accident statute of limitations explains these deadlines in more detail.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving the scene before exchanging information or before police arrive at an injury crash.
- Skipping medical care or waiting weeks to see a doctor.
- Posting about the crash or your injuries on social media. Insurers may look for photos or comments that seem to contradict your claim.
- Accepting a quick settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries. Once you sign a release, you usually cannot reopen the claim.
- Assuming you have plenty of time. Evidence fades, and some deadlines are as short as 180 days.
Quick reference: Arizona laws after a crash
| Duty or rule | Arizona statute |
|---|---|
| Stop and remain at an injury or fatal crash | A.R.S. § 28-661 |
| Stop and remain at a crash that damages an attended vehicle | A.R.S. § 28-662 |
| Give name, address, registration and license; help the injured | A.R.S. § 28-663 |
| Leave a note after hitting an unattended vehicle | A.R.S. § 28-664 |
| Report an injury or fatal crash to police immediately | A.R.S. § 28-666 |
| Police written accident report and who can get a copy | A.R.S. § 28-667 |
| Move drivable vehicles out of travel lanes when no serious injury | A.R.S. § 28-674 |
Request a free case evaluation
Case Closed MVA is a free intake and attorney referral service for Arizona motor vehicle accidents. It is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. If you were injured in an Arizona car, pedestrian or bicycle accident caused by another driver, you can use the form below. Your information is sent to an Arizona personal injury law firm, which decides whether it can help. Submitting the form does not create an attorney-client relationship, and no outcome is guaranteed.
Sources
- A.R.S. § 28-661: Accidents involving death or physical injuries; failure to stop, Arizona Legislature
- A.R.S. § 28-662: Accidents involving damage to vehicle; failure to stop, Arizona Legislature
- A.R.S. § 28-663: Duty to give information and assistance, Arizona Legislature
- A.R.S. § 28-664: Duty on striking unattended vehicle, Arizona Legislature
- A.R.S. § 28-666: Notice of vehicle accident, Arizona Legislature
- A.R.S. § 28-667: Written accident report, Arizona Legislature
- A.R.S. § 28-674: Traffic accidents; quick clearance, Arizona Legislature
- A.R.S. § 28-4009: Motor vehicle liability policy requirements, Arizona Legislature
- A.R.S. § 28-4135: Motor vehicle financial responsibility requirement, Arizona Legislature
- A.R.S. § 20-259.01: Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, Arizona Legislature
- A.R.S. § 12-2505: Comparative negligence, Arizona Legislature
- A.R.S. § 12-542: Two year limitation for injury actions, Arizona Legislature
- A.R.S. § 12-821.01: Claims against a public entity or public employee, Arizona Legislature