Scottsdale Car Accident Lawyer
Car Accident Lawyer in Scottsdale, Serving Phoenix and the Valley
If you were hurt in a crash, a car accident lawyer in Scottsdale can explain your rights before you talk to the other driver’s insurance company. Valley Accident Law represents drivers and passengers injured across the Phoenix metro, and our experienced and friendly attorney, Charles Paglialunga, will explain your legal rights. Most Arizona car accident claims must be filed within two years of the crash, so earlier is always better.
- Filing deadline
- 2 years from the crash
- A.R.S. 12-542(1)
- Government vehicle
- Notice of claim within 180 days
- A.R.S. 12-821.01
- Fault rule
- Pure comparative fault, no percentage bar
- A.R.S. 12-2505
- Minimum liability limits
- $25,000 / $50,000 / $15,000
- A.R.S. 28-4009
Car Accident Lawyer in Scottsdale: After a Crash, the Clock Starts Running
A car crash in Phoenix or Scottsdale sets a lot in motion in the first 48 hours. The other driver’s insurance company opens a claim, an adjuster is assigned, a recorded statement is requested, and a first offer can land before you have seen a doctor twice. Most people do not realize how quickly the file is being built around them, or how much of it is being built by the wrong side. For how these claims work across the rest of the state, see our Arizona car accident lawyer page.
Valley Accident Law represents drivers and passengers injured in car accidents across the Phoenix metro. Founder Charles Paglialunga has 32 years of Arizona accident experience and is a Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum member. Talk to Charles today. Request your free consultation.
If you are searching for a car accident attorney in Scottsdale, AZ, or an Arizona car accident lawyer who will explain your options in plain language, that is the conversation we are here to have.
Step by step
What to Do After a Car Accident in Arizona
Three things matter most in the first day, followed by two habits that help all the way through.
- 1
Get medical attention, even if you feel fine.
Adrenaline hides injuries. Soft tissue, concussion, and back injuries often present 24 to 72 hours later, and a clean medical record from the date of the crash is the foundation of your case.
- 2
Make sure there is a police report.
Arizona requires reporting any crash involving injury, death, or property damage above the state threshold. The report is the first written record of fault, and if you believe you were not at fault, make sure you explain that to the officer.
- 3
Do not agree to a recorded statement with the other driver’s insurance company.
You are not required to, and the questions are designed to lock you into early answers before you understand the injury.
- 4
Collect what you can, if safely possible.
Photos of the vehicles, the scene, the road, and the other driver’s insurance card help, ideally taken before any vehicle is moved. Witness names and phone numbers help more.
- 5
Call us early.
Insurance companies and attorneys often negotiate the percentage of fault, so the sooner someone is on your side, the better. Our guide to what to do after a car accident has the full checklist.
Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle
Phoenix metro car accidents fall into recognizable patterns.
- Rear-end collisions
on Loop 101, Loop 202, the I-17, and surface streets. Almost always the rear driver’s fault, but the fight is over injury severity, not liability. See our page on working with a rear end collision lawyer Scottsdale after a crash.
- Intersection T-bone crashes
caused by red-light running or failure to yield, common across Scottsdale Road, Pima Road, and Shea Boulevard.
- Left-turn crashes
where an oncoming driver was missed or misjudged.
- Head-on impacts
often on rural Arizona highways and the higher-speed sections of US-60.
- Multi-vehicle pileups
where assigning fault requires accident reconstruction.
- Hit-and-run cases
that turn on uninsured motorist coverage. Leaving the scene of a crash with injuries is a felony in Arizona (A.R.S. 28-661 and 28-663), and the civil claim is a separate matter.
- Drunk driving crashes
which often qualify for punitive damages on top of compensatory damages. Arizona courts look for an “evil mind” shown by clear and convincing evidence (Linthicum v. Nationwide, Ariz. 1986).
Explore Car Accident Cases by Type
Read our guide to Phoenix and Scottsdale crash hotspots on Loop 101 and what to do after a hit-and-run in the Phoenix area, or choose the type of crash closest to yours.
- Rear-end collisions
- T-bone accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Left-turn accidents
- Intersection accidents
- Multi-vehicle accidents
- Distracted driving accidents
- Speeding accidents
- Parking lot accidents
- Freeway accidents
- Drunk driver accidents
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Uninsured motorist claims
- Dangerous intersections
- Crash statistics
What Your Car Accident Case Is Worth
Insurance adjusters generally lead with a number that covers the medical bills already paid and very little else. We do not negotiate from that number. Arizona law lets you recover the full economic cost of the crash plus pain and suffering, and Arizona does not cap personal injury damages (Ariz. Const. art. 2 sec. 31). The categories that matter most:
- Past medical bills (ER, imaging, surgery, follow-up, and physical therapy)
- Future medical care, often the largest single category in serious-injury cases
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Vehicle damage and rental
- Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium for serious injuries that affect marriage and family
- Punitive damages where the conduct was reckless, such as drunk driving, street racing, or intentional acts
Arizona Comparative Fault and Why It Matters
Arizona is a pure comparative fault state (A.R.S. 12-2505). Even if you were 30 percent at fault for the crash, you can still recover 70 percent of your damages. Adjusters know this and routinely try to push fault percentages higher than the police report or witness statements support. We push back with the actual evidence, because the difference between 20 percent at fault and 5 percent at fault can be tens of thousands of dollars in a serious case.
Insurance companies and their attorneys often negotiate the percentage of fault, and an Arizona car accident lawyer can put the evidence in front of them before that number hardens. Here is how Arizona comparative fault rules can reduce a settlement.
Insurance Coverage in Arizona
Arizona requires drivers to carry minimum liability coverage, but the minimums are low and many drivers carry only the floor. When a serious injury runs into a $25,000 policy, your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage becomes the difference between a real recovery and being made whole only on paper. We review every layer of coverage, including uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, MedPay, and any umbrella policy in the household, before we tell you what your case is realistically worth.
| Coverage | What to know | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability, per person | $25,000 minimum | A.R.S. 28-4009 |
| Bodily injury liability, per accident | $50,000 minimum | A.R.S. 28-4009 |
| Property damage liability | $15,000 minimum | A.R.S. 28-4009 |
| Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage | Your insurer must offer it in writing, and you may reject it | A.R.S. 20-259.01 |
| Uninsured and underinsured notice deadline | Written notice to your insurer within 3 years, with special start dates | A.R.S. 12-555 |
| Rideshare, prearranged ride | $250,000, and $1,000,000 with a passenger aboard | A.R.S. 28-4038 |
Source: Arizona Revised Statutes as cited. Liability minimums apply to policies since July 1, 2020.
The Two-Year Statute of Limitations
Most Arizona car accident cases must be filed within two years of the crash (A.R.S. 12-542). Claims against a government vehicle, such as a public bus, a police car, or an ADOT vehicle, require a notice of claim within 180 days (A.R.S. 12-821.01), a much shorter window, and a lawsuit against a public entity generally must follow within one year after the claim accrues (A.R.S. 12-821).
If your crash involved a government vehicle, call us right away. It is never too late to ask, and earlier is always better. These rules have exceptions, so call us and we will explain how they apply to you, and read our guide to the Arizona statute of limitations for the full picture.
What happens when
How a Car Accident Claim Moves in Scottsdale
Every claim runs on its own schedule, but most follow the same path. Here is how a car accident claim in Scottsdale usually unfolds when we are on your side.
Right away
Medical care, the report, and evidence
You get checked out, make sure there is a police report, and call us. We start gathering the crash report, insurance details, and any available video before it is overwritten.
While you treat
We handle the insurance company
Adjuster calls, requests for a recorded statement, and medical record requests come through us while you focus on your recovery.
When treatment settles
We measure the full loss
We add up past and future medical costs, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, and the ways the injury has changed your daily life.
Demand and negotiation
We present the claim
We present the claim with the evidence behind it and negotiate. We do not negotiate from the adjuster’s first number.
If the insurer will not be reasonable
We file suit
Filing a lawsuit does not always mean a trial, and it protects your claim before the two-year deadline passes.
Arizona
Where Car Crashes Happen Around Scottsdale
Heavy commuter traffic and high-speed freeway sections shape the crashes we see. Knowing the road helps us find the right evidence, from traffic signal timing to nearby camera footage.
Loop 101
Rear-end collisions are common in stop-and-go commuter traffic.
Loop 202 and the I-17
Merge, lane-change, and rear-end crashes at freeway speeds.
Scottsdale Road, Pima Road, and Shea Boulevard
Intersection T-bone crashes from red-light running or failure to yield.
US-60
Higher-speed head-on impacts on some sections.
Scottsdale Police Department
Often the agency that writes the crash report for crashes on city streets.
Working with Valley Accident Law
Our experienced and friendly attorney, Charles, is glad to answer your questions. Your first consultation is free, and we work on contingency. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. Our experienced and friendly attorney will explain your legal rights and what your case is worth. Request your free case review or call (602) 584-8054.
Whether you call it a car crash or an auto accident, an auto accident attorney in Arizona should be able to tell you honestly what a car accident claim in Scottsdale looks like, what the insurance company is likely to do next, and what you can do now to protect your legal rights.
Car Accident Help in Other Valley Cities
We are based in Scottsdale and also help people hurt in these Valley cities. Each city page covers the local roads, courts and police agencies that matter to a claim there.
Related pages
Other practice areas in Scottsdale
Questions
Questions about Scottsdale car accident cases
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Arizona?
Two years for most claims, and 180 days for claims against a government entity. Earlier is always better.
Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company?
Not without a lawyer. You are not required to agree to a recorded statement, and most early statements get used to limit the claim later.
What if I was partly at fault?
Arizona is a pure comparative fault state. You can still recover, reduced by your fault percentage. Adjusters often inflate that percentage, and we push back with evidence.
What if the other driver had no insurance?
Your own uninsured motorist coverage is designed for this. We file under your policy and pursue any other available coverage.
How much does it cost to hire a car accident lawyer?
You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. We work on contingency, and we will explain how costs are handled during your free consultation.
How do I find a car accident injury lawyer near me?
Look for someone you can actually reach. Ask who will handle your case, who will return your calls, and how fees work. Our office is at 5635 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 170, Scottsdale, AZ 85250, and we are glad to answer those questions on a free case review.
Can a car accident lawyer near me help if my injuries seem minor?
Often, yes. Many injuries show no or seemingly minor symptoms at first, and an early call lets us explain your options before you agree to anything with the insurance company. The earlier you call, the better, but it’s never too late to find out your legal rights.
What is my car accident claim worth?
There is no fixed formula. Value depends on your medical bills, future care, lost income, the effect on your daily life, and how fault is divided. We will not guess in the abstract, but we can tell you what we see after reviewing your facts. Our guide on what a case is worth explains the pieces.
Free case review
Let Us Answer Your Questions and Help With Your Case
Call (602) 584-8054 or request your free case review. Our experienced and friendly attorney will explain your legal rights and what your case is worth. The earlier you call, the better, but it’s never too late to find out your legal rights.
Call any time. Office visits Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.
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