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Sep 29, 2026
If you or a family member has been injured in a car accident, it is understandable to wonder how you can recover your damages and how long the process of ensuring accountability might take. But how long does it take to settle a car accident claim in Arizona?
There is no real average timeline because every case is unique, but there are a few things you can do to streamline this process in your recovery efforts.
Building a Car Accident Case
Your first challenge in the aftermath of a car accident in Arizona is proving fault for the accident. Arizona enforces a fault-based system for all motor vehicle accidents, meaning the at-fault driver is liable for the damages they caused in an accident, and a victim must prove fault before they can recover any compensation for the damages they suffered.
Proving fault is necessary whether you intend to file an auto insurance claim and/or a personal injury suit.
Every driver in the state is required to have auto insurance that meets the state’s minimum coverage requirements for bodily injury liability and property damage liability. Arizona’s Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions confirms the state’s minimum liability limits are 25/50/15, meaning $25,000 for one person’s bodily injury or death, $50,000. When an accident happens, the at-fault driver’s auto insurance will go toward paying for the damages the at-fault driver inflicted.
However, it is possible for a car accident case to raise complex questions of liability and raise very difficult legal questions for an injured driver. Because these minimums are often too low to cover a serious wreck, claims involving significant injuries frequently take longer to resolve, since the case may need to reach beyond the at-fault driver’s policy limits.
Proving fault will be more challenging in some cases than others, but having an experienced attorney on your side will enable you to recover the evidence you will need more easily.
Your attorney can help you secure evidence from the scene of the crash along with witness testimony and various forms of evidence you would be unlikely to be able to secure on your own, such as traffic camera recordings. This kind of proof matters even more when the insurance carrier for the at-fault driver is looking for reasons to dispute the claim.
Bleaman Law Firm’s founder, Marc Bleaman, spent years defending insurance companies before shifting his practice, giving him insight into how adjusters evaluate and try to minimize claims.
Factors That Affect How Long Your Settlement Takes
No two car accident cases move at the same pace. Several factors typically determine whether a claim resolves in weeks or drags on for a year or more:
- Severity of your injuries: Claims involving broken bones, surgery, or long-term treatment usually take longer because your attorney needs to know the full extent of your medical needs, called reaching “maximum medical improvement,” before valuing the claim accurately.
- Clarity of fault: When liability is obvious, such as a rear-end collision, insurers tend to move faster. Disputed fault, multiple vehicles, or a comparative negligence argument from the insurer can add months to a case.
- Available insurance coverage: A claim that fits within the at-fault driver’s policy limits often settles faster than one that requires pursuing underinsured motorist coverage or a personal injury lawsuit.
- Insurance company conduct: Some insurers process valid claims promptly. Others slow-walk negotiations or dispute damages, which can push a straightforward claim into months of back-and-forth.
- Whether a lawsuit becomes necessary: If a fair settlement cannot be reached, filing suit in Arizona’s court system adds the time needed for discovery, negotiation, and potentially trial. The Arizona Judicial Branch’s Self-Service Center outlines the general civil case process for anyone whose claim reaches that stage.
Resolving Your Car Accident Claim
After gathering the proof of fault you require, your car accident attorney can help you file your auto insurance claim. Dealing with insurance companies can be challenging because they will almost always fight back against claims for compensation, sometimes resorting to bad faith tactics in order to avoid paying out fair settlements.
However, with an attorney representing you, the insurance company will be more likely to process your claim efficiently and in good faith.
If an insurance company engages in bad faith or refuses to honor your claim, or if insurance will not fully cover your losses, a personal injury suit may be necessary in order for you to recover your damages.
It’s possible to resolve a straightforward auto insurance claim in a matter of weeks, but it may take months to resolve a contested claim, and filing a personal injury suit may take even longer.
You also need to keep an eye on the legal deadline for filing suit. Under Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-542, most personal injury lawsuits, including those arising from car accidents, must be filed within two years after the cause of action accrues.
Settlement negotiations with an insurance company do not pause this deadline, so waiting too long to get legal help can cost you your right to sue even while talks are ongoing.
Ultimately, if you want to have the greatest chance of streamlining your recovery and securing as much compensation as possible for your damages, you need an experienced attorney representing you in your recovery efforts.
The right attorney can make it much easier for you to gather the evidence you need to establish liability for the accident, and they can guide you through the auto insurance claim filing process with confidence.
FAQs
Do I Need a Lawyer to File an Auto Insurance Claim in Arizona?
You technically do not need a car accident lawyer in Arizona to file an auto insurance claim. You have the right to try to file your claim on your own, but this is risky for several reasons.
You are more likely to encounter unfair pushback from the insurance company, and they are also more inclined to attempt bad faith handling of a claim when the claimant does not have legal representation on their side.
How Long Will It Take to Receive an Auto Insurance Settlement?
The amount of time it takes to receive an auto insurance settlement varies from claim to claim, but most claimants have their claims approved and receive settlement checks within a few weeks of filing their claims. Having an attorney’s assistance will make the filing process easier, and you will be prepared to address any unexpected complications that arise.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Arizona?
Arizona law generally gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline comes from A.R.S. § 12-542, which sets a two-year limitation period for actions involving injuries to a person.
If your case involves a government vehicle or a city or county entity, a much shorter notice-of-claim deadline of 180 days may apply, so it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after your accident.
What Happens if I Share Fault for My Car Accident?
If you are found to share fault for your car accident, it will be reflected with a fault percentage, which indicates your level of liability for causing the accident.
Whatever fault percentage is assigned to you will be the percentage of your case award you lose as a penalty under Arizona’s pure comparative fault statute. This rule is codified at A.R.S. § 12-2505, which provides that damages are reduced in proportion to the claimant’s own degree of fault, rather than barring recovery outright, except when the claimant acted intentionally, wilfully, or wantonly. This could negatively impact the outcome of an insurance claim and/or personal injury suit.
What Compensation Can I Recover for a Car Accident?
The compensation you could recover for a car accident includes any financial losses you incurred from the accident, such as your vehicle repair costs, medical expenses, and lost income if you are unable to work because of your injuries.
There are limits to what auto insurance will cover, and if insurance does not fully cover your losses, you may need to file a personal injury suit in order to recover fully.
What Are Arizona’s Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements?
The State of Arizona requires every driver to carry liability coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily in, often written as 25/50/15. These are only minimums, and they frequently fall short of covering a serious accident, which is one reason claims involving catastrophic injuries can take longer to settle or may require pursuing underinsured motorist coverage.
How Much Will It Cost to Hire a Car Accident Attorney?
The cost to hire a car accident attorney will be a percentage of your case award if you choose Bleaman Law Firm, P.C, to represent you. We take car accident claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront and will only pay legal fees after we have won your case.
Our fee is a percentage of whatever compensation we obtain for you, but you pay nothing if we are unable to obtain a recovery for you.
Bleaman Law Firm, P.C, can provide the legal representation you need on your side to navigate the aftermath of a car accident effectively in Arizona. Our firm has years of experience helping injured clients navigate their legal proceedings and recover compensation for their damages, and we can put this experience to work for you.
Marc Bleaman is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and has served as President of its Southern Arizona Chapter, and he holds an AV Preeminent peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting his standing among peers and clients alike.
Contact us today and schedule a consultation with our team to learn more about the legal services we offer.
Arizona Car Accident Resources:
