Most Arizona car-accident cases turn on three documents: the crash report, the medical records, and the policy declarations page. We get all three before we discuss settlement.
Most Arizona car-accident cases involve more insurance than the claimant realizes. The at-fault driver's liability policy is the starting point, but it is rarely the only source of recovery. Underinsured-motorist coverage on the claimant's own policy responds when the at-fault driver's limits are exhausted. Uninsured-motorist coverage responds when there is no at-fault policy at all, including in hit-and-run cases. Resident-relative provisions can extend coverage to a parent's or spouse's policy. Med-pay or PIP coverage pays medical bills regardless of fault and is not subject to subrogation in Arizona. Stacking analysis — whether multiple UM/UIM policies on different vehicles in the same household can be combined — turns on the specific policy language and on a body of Arizona case law that has evolved significantly over the last decade. We perform this coverage review on every file, before we send the first demand, and we routinely find five-figure or six-figure additional coverage that the claimant did not know existed.
Liability is a separate analysis from coverage. Arizona is a pure comparative-fault state, which means a claimant who is partially responsible for a collision still recovers — reduced by the percentage of fault assigned. Carriers exploit comparative fault aggressively, particularly in intersection, lane-change, and rear-end cases involving sudden stops. We respond by securing intersection-camera footage, ECM data from both vehicles where available, and accident-reconstruction expert opinion in serious-injury cases. A fault percentage assigned by a claims adjuster in the first thirty days is not a verdict; it is an opening position. We treat it as such.
The property-damage side of a car-accident claim is often handled poorly, even by claimants who later retain counsel for the injury portion. Arizona recognizes diminished-value damages — the difference between the pre-loss fair-market value of a vehicle and its post-repair value, even when the repair is performed correctly. Carriers do not volunteer this category of damages, and many adjusters will deny it exists. We pursue it separately when the vehicle and circumstances support it. We also push back on totaled-vehicle valuations that rely on stale comparables, and we coordinate rental coverage so the claimant is not paying out of pocket while the injury claim develops. The goal is a complete recovery — vehicle, medical, wage, and general damages — handled in a coordinated sequence rather than left to multiple adjusters working at cross-purposes.
At a glance
- Direct, attorney-handled investigation — not outsourced.
- UM/UIM and stacking analysis on every case.
- Property-damage and rental coordinated in parallel with injury claim.
- Contingency fee; no out-of-pocket cost.
Liability & coverage
We pursue at-fault drivers, employers under respondeat superior, dram-shop defendants, and your own underinsured-motorist coverage when needed. Most clients are surprised by how much coverage actually exists.
Damages
Medical bills, future treatment, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, vehicle and rental, and pain and suffering. Each is documented separately and supported by records and, where appropriate, expert testimony.
Comparative fault
Arizona is a pure comparative-fault state — recovery is reduced by your share of fault but never barred. We push back hard against inflated fault assignments.
Commercial vehicle and rideshare crashes
Trucking, delivery, and Uber/Lyft cases involve higher policy limits and federal regulations. We preserve electronic data and driver logs immediately.
Total loss and diminished value
We separately pursue fair-market value, sales-tax reimbursement, loss-of-use, and Arizona diminished-value claims so the vehicle side does not get shortchanged.
Representative results
Past outcomes do not guarantee a future result. Details are generalized to preserve client confidentiality.
- Six-figure settlement on a Loop 202 rear-end crash where the at-fault driver carried only state-minimum limits — recovery stacked with two UIM policies.
- Reversed a comparative-fault finding that initially assigned 40% to our client after we obtained intersection-camera footage.
- Recovered diminished-value damages on a near-new vehicle the carrier initially refused to consider.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Accepting the carrier's repair estimate without an independent shop's teardown.
- Settling the property-damage claim with a release that also waives bodily-injury rights — read every release.
- Closing out medical treatment early because you 'feel mostly fine' — gaps are weaponized at mediation.
Fees
Contingency fee. We advance case costs and account for every dollar at settlement.
How a case moves through our office
- 01
Free consultation
Same-day or next-day, in person, by phone, or by video.
- 02
Investigation & treatment
We handle the carriers while you focus on recovery.
- 03
Demand
Comprehensive demand to all available carriers — at-fault and UIM.
- 04
Negotiation or litigation
Most cases settle; we file when the offer is wrong.
Governing law
- A.R.S. § 28-661
- Leaving the scene of an accident — relevant to liability and punitive exposure.
- A.R.S. § 20-259.01
- Mandatory offer of UM/UIM coverage by Arizona auto insurers.
Citations are general references, not legal advice. Statutes are amended; consult counsel for the current text as it applies to your matter.
Car Accidents by city
Each page below covers the local court, ZIP codes, neighborhoods, and the issues that come up most in that city.
Common questions
- What if the other driver was uninsured?
- Your own UM/UIM coverage typically responds. We pursue that claim for you on the same contingency terms.
- Do I need to use my own insurance for the rental?
- Not always. We often get the at-fault carrier to pay directly.
- What if I was partially at fault?
- You can still recover; your damages are simply reduced by your percentage of fault.
- Should I see a doctor if I feel okay?
- Yes. Soft-tissue injuries often surface 24–72 hours later, and gaps in treatment hurt the case.