Does Arizona Require Personal Injury Protection Insurance?

Arizona does not require personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. However, Arizona insurance companies offer Medical Payments (MedPay) insurance. This type of policy is inexpensive to add to your auto insurance and can help with medical bills, deductibles, and copays. It pays regardless of fault. Were you hurt in a car accident in Arizona caused by someone else’s negligence? If so, you may be able to receive compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings, and emotional distress. However, securing the compensation you deserve can be difficult. The skilled personal injury attorneys at Mushkatel, Robbins & Becker, PLLC are ready and willing to help.

What Is Personal Injury Protection Coverage?

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is also known as no-fault insurance because it helps pay for losses like medical bills, lost wages, or funeral costs – regardless of who caused a motor vehicle accident. Arizona does not require PIP because it is an “at-fault” insurance state. That means the driver responsible for causing a car accident must cover your medical bills and other expenses.

What Is MedPay?

Medical Payments (MedPay) is an optional insurance policy that will cover necessary and reasonable medical and funeral expenses from an automobile accident up to the policy limits. MedPay covers the registered owner and passengers in their vehicle.

What Are the Minimum Liability Insurance Coverage Requirements in Arizona?

Arizona drivers must have insurance policies for motor vehicles operated on roadways, including golf carts, motorcycles, and mopeds. Anyone registering a vehicle in Arizona must purchase coverage with minimum liability limits. Each insurance policy must have at least:

• $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage for one person
• $50,000 in bodily injury liability coverage for two or more people
• $15,000 in property damage liability

These limits would cover payments for injuries to other people and property damage if the registered owner caused the accident.

What Is Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage?

Recent statistics indicate about 12 percent of Arizona drivers are uninsured. That means you have more than a 1 in 10 chance of being in an accident with someone with either no or minimal insurance. Arizona drivers are not required to have insurance policies to cover uninsured motorists (UM) or underinsured motorists (UIM). However, drivers in Arizona can elect to include UM/UIM coverage on their policies. The minimum allowable coverage limits are the same as those required for liability coverage. If you are injured in a car accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver and don’t have this optional coverage, you would have to pay out-of-pocket for medical expenses and vehicle repairs. If the accident is not your fault and you have UM/UIM coverage on your policy, UM coverage will cover the costs of medical bills, repairs, fees, and other expenses up to the policy limits. UIM coverage would kick in after the other party’s accident has paid up to their policy limits.

How Can a Driver Show Proof of Insurance to a Law Enforcement Officer?

Arizona law requires insurers to issue at least two motor vehicle insurance identification (ID) cards. Drivers must have evidence of financial responsibility in the car. The easiest way to show a law enforcement officer proof of insurance is with a physical copy of the ID card. Most drivers keep a copy of the ID card in the glove compartment. Drivers can also show the officer an ID card image on a cell phone or tablet by accessing their insurance company’s mobile app or website.

What Are the Penalties for Driving Without Insurance?

Arizona has penalties and fines for driving without car insurance. Law enforcement officers will ask for proof of insurance at an accident scene or when they’ve stopped you for a traffic violation. If you cannot provide proof when requested, you will most likely be issued a citation. It might be possible to dismiss the citation if you can prove you did have the required minimum insurance at the time. If you did not have insurance, you would pay a fine. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) may also suspend your driver’s license, car registration, and license plate. These consequences increase with each offense:

• First offense – $500 minimum fine, three months suspension
• Second offense – $750 minimum fine, six months suspension
• Third and subsequent offense – $1,000 minimum fine, 12 months suspension

You will need to provide future proof of insurance and pay fees before you can reinstate your driving privileges. You must obtain a Certificate of Insurance (an SR-22) from your car insurance company and submit it to the ADOT MVD.

Is Arizona a Fault State?

Arizona follows a fault-based insurance system. The driver responsible for causing a car accident is also responsible for paying your medical expenses and other losses. More precisely, the at-fault driver’s insurance company will pay – but only up to the policy’s coverage limits. The at-fault driver may only have the minimum mandatory liability coverage or no insurance at all. You may need help from an experienced personal injury attorney to seek the compensation you need to recover for your injuries and losses.

How Is Fault Determined in an Arizona Car Accident?

Fault in a car accident is typically determined based on statements from the people involved and any witnesses, commentary from a police report, and the evidence gathered by insurance companies and attorneys. That evidence could include:

• Footage from dashcams or security cameras
• Documentation of the weather at the time of the accident
• Drug or alcohol tests of the drivers
• Skid marks and debris
• Expert testimony, such as accident reconstruction experts

Contact an Arizona Car Accident Lawyer

The personal injury lawyers of Mushkatel, Robbins & Becker, PLLC serve clients throughout the Phoenix metro area and surrounding communities within Maricopa County. We want to help you understand your legal rights and your options for seeking compensation for your losses. Our team of highly-rated personal injury attorneys with a combined 50 years of legal experience will work diligently to pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free and confidential case review.

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