The Legal Representation
You Need.

Arizona Auto Insurance: Types and Needs

Guide to Auto Insurance in Arizona

As an Arizona driver, you are legally required to have auto insurance to operate a vehicle. With many options available, choosing the right coverage for your needs can be challenging. This page is designed to help you navigate the different types of auto insurance in Arizona, including the minimum required coverage, so you can make well-informed decisions and hit the road with peace of mind.

If you have questions after reading this, please give us a call. We are also happy to review your coverage to make sure that you have adequate insurance coverage.

Liability Insurance

Liability insurance is the foundational coverage required in Arizona. This type of insurance safeguards your finances if you are found responsible for an accident, covering the expenses of damages and injuries you cause to others or their property. The minimum liability insurance requirements in Arizona are as follows:

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

Keep in mind that these are only the minimum requirements; it’s prudent to consider higher limits for greater protection in the event of a severe accident.

Collision Insurance

Collision insurance covers the expenses of repairing or replacing your vehicle if it’s damaged in an accident, regardless of fault. While not mandated by the state, collision coverage is often necessary if your vehicle is financed or leased, as lenders generally require it to safeguard their investment.

Comprehensive Insurance

Comprehensive insurance offers coverage for damages to your car resulting from non-collision incidents, such as theft, vandalism, natural disasters, or encounters with animals. Like collision insurance, comprehensive coverage is not required by Arizona law but may be stipulated by your lender or leasing company.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage provides protection if you’re involved in an accident with an at-fault driver who lacks insurance. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage steps in when the at-fault driver’s insurance is inadequate to cover your damages. Although not legally required in Arizona, UM/UIM coverage can offer vital financial protection in the event of an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is the most often overlooked coverage that clients forget to buy. This coverage protects you if the person who hit you does not have enough insurance in the event that you’re physically injured. For example, if you are in a car accident and have a broken leg, medical bills can easily be in excess of $100,000. If the other driver only has a $25,000 liability policy, which is very common, or no insurance coverage at all, which is also very common, then you would get no compensation at all. You would be stuck paying your out-of-pocket medical bills, bet nothing for your lost wages, get nothing for your pain and suffering, etc…

Underinsured (UIM) and Uninsured (UM) motorist coverage fills the gap and provides compensation for your personal injury, lost wages, and medical bills if you are hurt in an accident that someone else is responsible for. Also, this type of coverage also will protect you if you are walking on the sidewalk and a car hits you or a piece of debris from a motor vehicle strikes and injures you.

Clients are often very concerned that if they make a claim on their own UM or UIM policy, their own insurance rates will be raised. Fortunately, this is almost never going to be the case. Arizona has a law that states that if you are not at fault, the insurance company is not allowed to raise your rates; see Arizona revised statute section 20-563: “No insurer shall increase the motor vehicle insurance premium of an insured as a result of an accident not caused or significantly contributed to by the actions of the insured. Any insurer which increases the premium as a result of accident involvement shall notify the insured of the reason for such increase.”

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is generally inexpensive and is the very best thing you can do to protect yourself. Most drivers do not have adequate insurance. If another driver seriously injures you in a car crash, usually you are not going to be able to get fully compensated and have your bills fully paid unless you have paid for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

Medical Payments Coverage

Medical payments coverage, also known as MedPay, assists with medical expenses for you and your passengers following an accident, irrespective of fault. This optional coverage in Arizona can be particularly helpful in covering health care costs if you have a high-deductible health insurance plan or no health insurance at all. Typically, these policies will cover $5,000 or $10,000 of your out-of-pocket medical bills.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is an optional coverage in Arizona that compensates for medical expenses, lost wages, and other non-medical costs for you and your passengers, regardless of fault in an accident. PIP can be a valuable supplement to your insurance policy, offering a safety net in the event of injury or lost income due to an accident.

In conclusion, while liability insurance is the sole legally required coverage in Arizona, you need to explore additional insurance types to safeguard your finances and vehicle. By familiarizing yourself with the range of coverage options, you can select the ideal auto insurance policy tailored to your needs.

If in doubt, feel free to give us a call at the Law Offices of John Phebus Personal Injury Lawyer in Glendale. We are not insurance agents or brokers, but we are happy to review, at no charge, your coverages and let you know if you are missing important types of coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

To choose the right personal injury lawyer, ensure they specialize in cases like yours and have a strong track record of successful settlements or verdicts. Review testimonials to assess client satisfaction. Look for clear communication, transparency in handling cases, and a no-win, no-fee commitment. Consider their availability to handle your case personally and their willingness to explain legal options during a free initial consultation.

If you have been injured, hiring a personal injury attorney is one of the best decisions that you can make for your future. There are a number of reasons why it is beneficial to hire an attorney as opposed to handling the case without a lawyer. First, some personal injury cases involve complex legal concepts that may be difficult for you to understand if you don’t have a legal background.

Personal injury attorneys can also ensure that you accurately calculate the value of your claim. If you have sustained a serious injury that will continue to affect your life in the future, it can be very difficult to calculate how much you will need to cover medical expenses and lost wages in the future. But if you don’t calculate this accurately, you may end up accepting a settlement that does not cover all of your expenses. Don’t make this mistake – let an attorney analyze your case and help you determine the true value of your claim.

Personal injury lawyers can also handle the negotiations with the insurance company. Insurance adjusters are notorious for their attempts to get victims to accept unfair settlements or admit fault for the accident that caused their injuries. Saying the wrong thing to an adjuster could impact the rest of your case, which is why it’s so important to let an attorney speak to the insurance company on your behalf.

Having an attorney by your side is crucial if your case ends up going to trial. Most personal injury cases can be settled outside of the courtroom, but this is never guaranteed. You will need an attorney who can handle your case regardless of where it ends up. For these reasons – and so many more – it is crucial that you work with an experienced Georgia personal injury attorney.

If you have been injured, hiring a personal injury attorney is one of the best decisions that you can make for your future. There are a number of reasons why it is beneficial to hire an attorney as opposed to handling the case without a lawyer. First, some personal injury cases involve complex legal concepts that may be difficult for you to understand if you don’t have a legal background.

Personal injury attorneys can also ensure that you accurately calculate the value of your claim. If you have sustained a serious injury that will continue to affect your life in the future, it can be very difficult to calculate how much you will need to cover medical expenses and lost wages in the future. But if you don’t calculate this accurately, you may end up accepting a settlement that does not cover all of your expenses. Don’t make this mistake – let an attorney analyze your case and help you determine the true value of your claim.

Personal injury lawyers can also handle the negotiations with the insurance company. Insurance adjusters are notorious for their attempts to get victims to accept unfair settlements or admit fault for the accident that caused their injuries. Saying the wrong thing to an adjuster could impact the rest of your case, which is why it’s so important to let an attorney speak to the insurance company on your behalf.

Having an attorney by your side is crucial if your case ends up going to trial. Most personal injury cases can be settled outside of the courtroom, but this is never guaranteed. You will need an attorney who can handle your case regardless of where it ends up. For these reasons – and so many more – it is crucial that you work with an experienced Georgia personal injury attorney.

Request Free Consultation

Take the first step to protect your future.
Tell us about your case to receive a free
and confidential consultation.