In Arizona, no law exists setting a time limit on how long people have to report a car accident to their insurance companies. However, insurance companies often have their own time limits.
Thus, cooperating with your auto insurance company will ensure it works on your behalf in negotiating your claim. Or, if you intend on making a claim against an at-fault driver’s insurer, do not give it an excuse to deny you by missing your window to make a claim.
If you have any questions about auto accident insurance laws and procedures in Arizona, Stone Rose Law can assist you with expert legal analysis and advice. You can contact us or call us at (480) 498-8998.
Here, we consider how soon after an car accident in Arizona you should report the accident to an insurance company.
Arizona statutes impose some timing requirements after motor vehicle accidents. There are two important laws you should be aware of in this regard:
Also, in Arizona, you should immediately notify the police when you get into a car accident, preferably while you are at the scene of the collision incident. This is particularly important if the accident involves significant property damage, injuries, or death, in which case Arizona law requires a police report. This accident report can be helpful in settlement negotiations to establish who the at-fault party is.
Notably, however, no Arizona law sets a time limit for filing an auto accident claim with your insurance company.
Instead, the general rule is to report a car accident to your insurer “as soon as possible” after the accident happens.
Each insurance company has its own auto insurance terms and conditions, so no universal rule applies to how long your insurer gives you to file a policy claim. A rule of thumb is within 30 days, but you should read your policy of insurance to know if your insurer has a specific number of days within which you must notify it, and how many days you have.
If you are filing a claim against the insurance policy of an at-fault driver, then you will not have the other driver’s insurance policy at your fingertips to refer to. In this situation, you should inform that insurer of your intent to file a claim as soon as possible.
If you have an Arizona car accident law firm to represent you after an auto accident, then your auto accident attorney can notify the other driver’s insurer on your behalf. This is one service that Stone Rose Law will provide if we represent you in the immediate aftermath of a car crash with another driver.
Two possibilities exist if you delay making a policy claim with an insurance company:
Another reason to notify the insurance company as soon as you can after the accident is that it helps to preserve evidence, including physical evidence at the accident scene and witness statements while their memory of the accident is still fresh.
If you have been involved in an auto accident in Arizona that has caused you personal injury or property damage, call us.
Remember—the Arizona statute of limitations for personal injury car accidents is only two years, and your insurance company might give you even less time to make a policy claim. Let us help you to protect your car accident claim. Call us today at (480) 498-8998 or use our contact form.
