Arizona Fault Rule
Pure Comparative Negligence: Arizona adheres to pure comparative negligence under state statute. You are legally entitled to recover compensation unless you were 100% at fault for the motor vehicle collision.
Statute of Limitations
2 Years (A.R.S. § 12-542 & A.R.S. § 12-2505): Claimants must finalize settlement agreements or initiate formal civil actions within 2 years of the collision date.
Statutory Insurance Minimums
25/50/15 ($25k bodily injury / $50k per accident / $15k property damage): These mandatory insurance minimums represent the maximum available coverage under standard policies unless the driver purchased higher optional coverage.
How Fault Apportionment Affects Claims in Arizona
When negotiating auto accident claims in Arizona, insurance adjusters calculate damages using an itemized formula that adds economic losses (medical bills, future treatment, lost earnings, property repair) to non-economic damages (pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life).
Under Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-2505, the defense of contributory negligence is a question of fact. The claimant’s full damages are reduced in direct proportion to their relative degree of fault, meaning even a driver who was 80% responsible for a collision can still recover 20% of their documented losses from the other driver’s insurer. Understanding this threshold prevents accident victims from being pressured into unfair initial liability splits during adjusters' telephone recorded statements.