Arizona Statute of Limitations for Car Accidents

 

The 180-Day Government Claim Deadline in Arizona

The two-year deadline under A.R.S. § 12-542 is not the shortest deadline you may face.

If a government vehicle caused your crash (a Valley Metro bus in Phoenix, an ADOT maintenance truck on I-10, a Tucson city fleet vehicle, a Maricopa County sheriff's cruiser, a school district bus) you must file a formal Notice of Claim within 180 days under A.R.S. § 12-821.01.

Not a lawsuit. Just the notice. And 180 days is the maximum. Some Arizona municipalities set even shorter windows.

Fail to file the notice within 180 days and your claim against the government entity is dead. The evidence doesn't matter. The severity of your injuries doesn't matter. The deadline is the deadline.

• Valley Metro buses and light rail in Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa — 180-day notice to the transit authority
• ADOT maintenance trucks and highway equipment on I-10, I-17, I-40, Loop 101, Loop 202, and Loop 303 — 180-day notice to the state
• City fleet vehicles in Phoenix, Tucson, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, and Peoria — 180-day notice to the municipality
• County vehicles including Maricopa County, Pima County, Pinal County, and Yavapai County — 180-day notice to the county
• School district buses across Arizona — 180-day notice to the district

Crashes on Tribal Land Have Separate Filing Deadlines

Arizona has the largest tribal land area of any state. Crashes on tribal land may fall under tribal court or federal court jurisdiction rather than Arizona state courts — and the filing deadlines can be completely different.

• I-40 through the Navajo Nation between Flagstaff and the New Mexico border — tribal or federal jurisdiction may apply depending on the parties involved
• Highways near Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community bordering Scottsdale and Mesa — tribal jurisdiction questions arise when a crash occurs on reservation roads
• I-10 near the Gila River Indian Community south of Phoenix — one of the busiest freight corridors in the state passes through tribal land
• Highways near Tohono O'odham Nation in southern Arizona between Tucson and the Mexico border

Sovereign immunity protections, separate tribal tort claims processes, and federal filing requirements create a jurisdictional question that must be resolved before your attorney files anything. The wrong court means a dismissed case regardless of the merits.

When Does the Two-Year Clock Start Running in Arizona?

For most car accidents, the clock starts on the date of the crash. You were hit on March 15, 2026 — you have until March 15, 2028 to file suit. The statute of limitations for car accident claims applies to crashes involving passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, motorcycles, rideshare vehicles, and any other type of motor vehicle collision.

Arizona recognizes limited exceptions that can delay or pause (toll) the start of the filing deadline:

• Discovery Rule (Hidden Injuries) — The clock starts when you discover the injury or reasonably should have discovered it. This applies when crash injuries aren't immediately apparent. Internal bleeding, hairline fractures, and soft tissue damage can take days or weeks to present symptoms. Concussions sustained on I-10 or I-17 may not show cognitive symptoms until well after the crash. The discovery rule extends the filing window but requires medical documentation proving the injury wasn't diagnosable at the time of the accident
• Injured Minors Under 18 — The two-year deadline does not begin running until the child turns 18. An injured child has until their 20th birthday to file under A.R.S. § 12-502. Parents can file on the minor's behalf before that, but the child retains independent rights to sue after turning 18
• Mental Incapacity — Severe traumatic brain injury, court-adjudicated incompetence, or other conditions that prevent the victim from understanding their legal rights pause the clock under A.R.S. § 12-502. The deadline resumes when competency returns or a legal guardian is appointed. Medical documentation is required
• Absent Defendants — If the at-fault driver leaves Arizona or conceals their location, the statute tolls for the entire period they are absent. This prevents hit-and-run drivers and out-of-state defendants from running out the clock by avoiding service

Why Insurance Companies Want You to Run Out of Time

Insurance companies slow-walking your claim is a deliberate tactic. Insurers delay responses, request unnecessary documentation, and drag out the negotiation process knowing the two-year deadline is ticking. Every month that passes without a filed lawsuit is a month closer to the deadline eliminating their obligation entirely.

State Farm, GEICO, Progressive, Allstate, and USAA adjusters in the Phoenix and Tucson markets know the A.R.S. § 12-542 deadline as well as your attorney does. Some count on you not knowing it at all.

An experienced Arizona car accident lawyer will help you file suit before the deadline becomes a weapon the carrier can use against you. Early filing also forces the insurer to respond, produce evidence, and negotiate under court supervision rather than on their own timeline.