Short answer: the Arizona car accident statute of limitations for an injury lawsuit against another driver is generally two years from the crash, under A.R.S. § 12-542. But that is only the most familiar deadline. If a city, county, the state or a public employee is involved, you must file a written notice of claim within 180 days and sue within one year. Children get extra time. A death starts its own two-year clock. And your own insurance policy sets notice rules for UM and UIM claims. Miss the right one and the claim can be gone for good, no matter how strong it was.
The shortest deadline wins. If a public vehicle, a road condition, or a government employee played any part in your crash, assume the 180-day notice rule applies until a lawyer tells you otherwise. Sending a form or making a call does not stop or pause any deadline.
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The deadlines at a glance
| Situation | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Injury lawsuit against a private driver or company | 2 years from the crash | A.R.S. § 12-542(1) |
| Vehicle and property damage lawsuit | 2 years | A.R.S. § 12-542(3) |
| Wrongful death lawsuit | 2 years from the date of death | A.R.S. § 12-542(2) |
| Notice of claim to a city, county, state agency, public school or public employee | 180 days from when the claim accrues | A.R.S. § 12-821.01(A) |
| Lawsuit against a public entity or public employee | 1 year from when the claim accrues | A.R.S. § 12-821 |
| Injured person under 18 | Clock generally paused until age 18 | A.R.S. § 12-502, § 12-821.01(D) |
| UM or UIM claim with your own insurer | Set by your policy, plus prompt notice | Your policy |
The two-year rule for most crashes
A.R.S. § 12-542 says actions “for injuries done to the person of another” must be commenced within two years after the cause of action accrues, “and not afterward.” For a car crash, the claim generally accrues on the day of the crash. “Commenced” means a lawsuit is filed in court. Talking to an adjuster, getting an offer, or being in the middle of negotiations does not count.
Two years sounds like plenty. In practice, treatment can take months, a lawyer needs records and bills to value the claim, and insurers know where the deadline sits. A claim that drifts close to the deadline can lose bargaining room.
The 180-day notice rule for government claims
This is the deadline that catches people. A.R.S. § 12-821.01 requires anyone with a claim against a public entity, public school or public employee to file a written claim within 180 days after the claim accrues. The notice must go to the person authorized to accept service for that entity under the court rules, and it must include:
- facts that let the entity understand why it is being held responsible, and
- a specific dollar amount for which the claim can be settled, with the facts supporting that amount.
A claim not filed within 180 days is barred. After filing, the entity has 60 days; if it doesn’t respond in writing, the claim is treated as denied. The lawsuit itself must then be filed within one year of accrual under A.R.S. § 12-821.
Around Flagstaff this can mean a crash with a city vehicle, a county truck, a state vehicle, or a claim that a road was defective or dangerous. Our page on car accident claims against the government walks through those situations.
When a child is hurt
A.R.S. § 12-502 provides that if the injured person is under 18 when the claim accrues, that time does not count against the limitation period; they get the same time after turning 18. For claims against a public entity, § 12-821.01(D) lets a minor file the notice within 180 days after the disability ends. These rules protect the child’s own claim. Parents may have separate claims of their own, such as for medical bills they paid, and those can follow different timing. A lawyer should sort out whose claim is whose early.
When someone was killed
A wrongful death claim in Arizona accrues at the death, not the crash, under § 12-542(2). If someone was injured in a crash and died weeks later, the two years run from the date of death. Who can bring the claim is set by A.R.S. § 12-612. See our fatal crash guide.
Your own insurance claims
Uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist and medical payments claims run against your own policy. The policy sets notice requirements and may set time limits for making a claim or demanding arbitration. Read the “duties after an accident” section of your policy this week and send your insurer written notice. Our page on underinsured motorist claims explains how UIM works.
Visitors and out-of-state drivers
If you were hurt in Arizona while visiting from another state, plan around Arizona’s two-year rule for a lawsuit filed here. Do not assume a longer deadline from your home state applies. Our page on out-of-state crashes near Flagstaff covers handling a claim from home.
What to do this week
- Write down the crash date and count forward: 180 days, one year, two years. Put them on your calendar.
- Identify every vehicle and agency involved. Was any vehicle owned by a city, county, school district or the state? Did a road condition play a part?
- Get the crash report. It identifies the other driver, their insurer and the vehicle owner. Our accident report guide explains how.
- Find your own policy and read the notice section.
- Keep every bill. A government notice of claim needs a specific amount, and the amount needs support.
Can a deadline be extended?
Arizona recognizes narrow exceptions, and courts apply them strictly. Do not plan around an exception. Plan around the earliest deadline that could apply, and let a lawyer tell you if you have more time.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to sue after a car accident in Arizona?
Generally two years from the crash for an injury lawsuit against another driver, under A.R.S. 12-542. If a public entity or public employee is involved, you need a written notice of claim within 180 days and a lawsuit within one year.
Does negotiating with the insurance company stop the clock?
No. Talking with an adjuster, receiving an offer or exchanging records does not pause the statute of limitations. Only filing a lawsuit, or a written agreement that a lawyer reviews, protects the deadline.
What happens if I miss the two-year deadline?
The other side can ask the court to dismiss the case, and the court will generally grant it. Exceptions are narrow, so the safe assumption is that a missed deadline ends the claim.
My child was hurt in the crash. Is the deadline different?
Yes. Under A.R.S. 12-502, time while the injured person is under 18 generally does not count, and for government claims a minor can file notice within 180 days after turning 18. A parent’s own claims can follow different timing.
Is the deadline for property damage different?
Property damage to your vehicle is also generally two years under A.R.S. 12-542. Your own collision coverage, if you have it, follows the notice rules in your policy.
What counts as a claim against the government?
A claim against a city, town, county, the state, a state agency, a public school or a public employee acting for one of them. A crash with a city truck or a claim about a dangerous public road are common examples.
Related guides
Not sure which deadline applies? Free and confidential
A short call can tell you which clock is running. We’ll connect you with an independent licensed Arizona attorney who handles Coconino County crash claims.
Sources & Corrections
Primary sources checked for this page on October 18, 2026:
- A.R.S. § 12-542, Two-year limitation
- A.R.S. § 12-821.01, Notice of claim against a public entity
- A.R.S. § 12-821, One-year limitation for public entities
- A.R.S. § 12-502, Effect of minority
- A.R.S. § 12-612, Wrongful death parties
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Not legal advice. The Flagstaff Legal Resource Center is an independent referral service operated by Wilder West Assets LLC, not a law firm. This page explains general Arizona law to help you prepare to talk with a lawyer. Laws change, and how they apply depends on your facts. No attorney-client relationship is created by using this site. Verify any attorney’s credentials through the State Bar of Arizona.