Auto Insurance Laws
If you drive in Arizona, it’s crucial to understand our state’s traffic and insurance laws. An informed driver is a safer driver. Knowing your legal rights and obligations will make it easier for you to recover fair compensation for your injuries if you are ever injured in a car accident.
The team at Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer has a thorough understanding of laws in Arizona regarding car accidents. We are committed to protecting the rights of accident victims and seeking justice for the wrongs they’ve suffered. Through the settlement process or even in court, we will fight to get you the money you need after a crash.
Contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced Arizona car accident lawyer.
Arizona Red Light Laws
Research shows that intersections see a significant number of car accidents in Arizona. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation (AZDOT), nearly 5,000 drivers caused accidents and were cited for disregarding a traffic signal in one recent year. When an accident happens at an intersection, Arizona’s red light laws play a critical role in determining who will be held responsible for the crash. With that in mind, here are a few of the key applicable statutes:
- According to Section 28-644 of the Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS), running a red light or stop sign in Arizona is illegal unless a police officer directs the driver otherwise.
- ARS Section 28-645 states that any car facing a steady red light must slow down and stop before entering the intersection and cannot proceed until the light indicates they may go.
- Any car approaching an intersection must stop before a marked or unmarked crosswalk to allow pedestrians to pass safely.
- Drivers may turn right at a red light after coming to a complete stop, but they must yield to pedestrians and other traffic. If a sign prohibits a right turn on red, the driver must obey it.
- Drivers turning left onto a one-way street may turn left on a red light unless prohibited by a sign or signal, and they must still yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
Auto Insurance Laws in Arizona
According to the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI), all drivers must have proof of financial responsibility while operating a vehicle. The current AZ auto insurance laws for minimum requirements are:
- $25,000 for one person suffering injuries or death
- $50,000 for two or more people suffering injuries or death
- $15,000 per accident in property damage coverage
While these are the minimum amounts you are required to drive in Arizona legally, it is recommended to increase your coverage amounts. If your losses in an accident exceed your insurance policy limits, you could be responsible for those additional costs.
Arizona also requires all auto insurance carriers in the state to offer uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. These coverages protect you if you are involved in an accident with a driver who does not have insurance or whose insurance is not enough to cover your losses. You can also use uninsured motorist coverage if you are involved in a hit-and-run accident and the driver who hit you is never found.
While Arizona drivers are not required to carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, having it as part of your auto insurance policy is generally a good idea. If you are involved in a hit-and-run accident or your losses exceed the limits of the other driver’s policy, you could find yourself in financial trouble.
A driver caught without sufficient coverage to meet the state-required minimums can face significant penalties. Per ARS Section 28-4185 , the penalty for a first violation is a $500 fine and a three-month driver’s license suspension. A second violation in three years has a $750 fine and a six-month driver’s license suspension, while a third violation in three years carries a $1,000 fine and a one-year driver’s license suspension.
Legally Reviewed By:
Alex Silkman
Alex Silkman is the founder and managing member of Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer. He focuses exclusively on personal injury and wrongful death cases, with the goal of getting truly just results for accident victims and their families...
Statute of Limitations in Arizona
In Arizona, you have two years from the date of a car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you cannot recover any compensation for your injuries from the other driver. Contacting an AZ car accident attorney soon after the crash gives you a better chance of recovering maximum compensation since it gives your attorney enough time to develop a strong case.
A state’s negligence laws play a significant role in your ability to collect compensation after a car accident. In no-fault states, drivers are generally not allowed to file a personal injury lawsuit after an accident unless they have severe injuries that meet a certain legal threshold. Instead, an injured driver files a claim with their own insurance company to have their medical bills and other losses covered.
However, Arizona is an at-fault state. This means you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit against the other driver to recoup your losses after an Arizona car accident. But before you can recover any compensation, you must show how the other driver was negligent. Some of the evidence you or your personal injury attorney can use to show the other driver was negligent includes the following:
- Police accident reports
- Crash scene photos
- Surveillance photos or video
- Eyewitness accounts
- Forensic accident investigations
- Medical records
- Testimony from expert witnesses
While often one party is clearly at fault in most accidents, this is not always the case. Many drivers may be reluctant to file a personal injury lawsuit after an accident if they believe they were partially at fault for the crash. The good news is that you could still recover compensation for your injuries even if you are found partially at fault for an accident.
Arizona follows the doctrine of pure comparative negligence. Regardless of how much you may be to blame for the accident, you can still recover financial compensation. However, if you are found partially liable for an accident, your compensation will be reduced by your degree of fault. For example, you would lose 10 percent of your compensation if you are declared 10 percent at fault for an accident.
