Arizona

Minimum Auto Insurance for Arizona Drivers

Arizona law mandates specific minimum insurance coverages for all drivers. As of the most recent legislation:

• Bodily Injury Liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
• Property Damage Liability: $15,000 per accident.

This basic coverage ensures that if someone is at fault in an accident, there’s some financial protection for the injured party. However, it’s often recommended to consider higher coverage amounts or additional types of coverage to be fully protected, given the potential high costs associated with severe accidents.

Arizona’s Statute of Limitations

One of the most crucial aspects to remember in personal injury cases is the timeframe within which you can file a lawsuit. In Arizona, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is generally two years. This means that you have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit in the state’s civil court system. If you miss this deadline, the Arizona court will likely refuse to hear your case, and you’ll be unable to obtain any compensation for your injuries.

Arizona’s Dog Bite Laws

Unlike some states that adhere to the “one-bite” rule, Arizona holds dog owners strictly liable for injuries their pets cause, regardless of whether the dog has shown any prior propensity to bite humans. This strict liability applies if the person bitten is in a public place or lawfully in a private place. However, if the injured person provoked the dog, they may have difficulty receiving full compensation due to Arizona’s comparative negligence rule (discussed below).

Compensation Caps

Many states limit the amount of compensation one can receive, especially concerning non-economic damages like pain and suffering. Arizona stands out in this regard. The state’s constitution prohibits caps on personal injury damages. This ensures that victims of personal injury in Arizona have the opportunity to receive full compensation for their damages, without arbitrary limits.

Arizona’s Comparative Fault Rule

Arizona operates under the “pure comparative negligence” system. Under this system, if you’re found partially at fault for your injuries, your compensation will be reduced by an amount that’s proportional to your degree of fault. For instance, if you’re found to be 20 percent at fault in a car accident and suffered damages of $10,000, you’d receive $8,000 after a 20 percent reduction. However, what sets Arizona apart is the “pure” aspect of its comparative negligence system. Even if you’re found 99 percent at fault, you can technically still recover one percent of your damages from another at-fault party.