How to Report a Car Accident in Arizona: A Phoenix Guide

Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-667 requires a written crash report for any accident resulting in bodily injury, death, or property damage exceeding $2,000. The investigating law enforcement officer must complete this report within 24 hours of concluding the investigation. For accidents with property damage of $2,000 or less that do not involve injury, death, or a citation, law enforcement completes an abbreviated partial report.

Under A.R.S. § 28-663, drivers involved in any accident resulting in injury, death, or damage to any vehicle must stop immediately, provide their name, address, driver's license, and vehicle registration to the other driver and to any law enforcement officer at the scene, and render reasonable assistance to any injured person — including arranging transportation to a hospital if needed. These duties apply regardless of who caused the accident.

If you strike an unattended vehicle, Arizona law (A.R.S. § 28-664) requires you to stop, locate the owner, and provide your name, address, and registration number. If the owner cannot be found, you must leave a written notice in a conspicuous place on the vehicle and immediately notify the nearest law enforcement agency. If you strike a fixture or property adjacent to the roadway, you must notify the property owner or nearest law enforcement (A.R.S. § 28-665).

Stop your vehicle at the scene or as close as possible without obstructing traffic. If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately. Phoenix's 911 center dispatches Phoenix Police, Fire, and EMS. For non-injury accidents where vehicles can be moved, call the Phoenix Police non-emergency line at (602) 262-6151.

While waiting for police, exchange the following with the other driver: full name, address, phone number, driver's license number, vehicle registration number, and insurance company name and policy number. If there are witnesses, ask for their names and phone numbers. Take photographs of the damage to all vehicles, the accident scene, road conditions, traffic signals, skid marks, and any visible injuries.

Do not admit fault at the scene. Arizona uses pure comparative fault (A.R.S. § 12-2505) — your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. Be factual when speaking with the officer, but do not speculate about what happened or apologize. The officer will make their own assessment of fault based on evidence at the scene.

When a Phoenix Police officer responds to your accident, they will investigate the scene, interview drivers and witnesses, document the damage, and create an official crash report. The officer records the date, time, and exact location, weather and road conditions, a scene diagram, driver and passenger information, insurance details, and their narrative of what happened. If the officer determines one driver was at fault, the report will reflect that. Citations may be issued.

The officer must complete the crash report within 24 hours of finishing the investigation (A.R.S. § 28-667). Your report will become available through the Phoenix Police Public Records portal at phxpublicsafety.phoenix.gov within approximately 7 to 15 business days. You can request a copy online for a $5 portal convenience fee.

If the officer gives you a card or receipt at the scene with a report number (DR number), keep it. That number is the fastest way to find your report online later. If you were transported by ambulance and did not receive a card, you can search the portal by your last name and accident date.

If your accident occurred on a state highway within Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) jurisdiction, involved only two vehicles, resulted in no injuries, and caused estimated damage under $2,000, you can file a Citizen's Collision Report online at azdps.gov. This tool provides a convenient way to submit information and obtain a police report number, which your insurance company may require.

You will need an email account to submit the report. After submission, DPS reviews the report. If additional information is needed, you will be contacted by email. Once approved, you receive a police report number by email. This tool does not replace the full Arizona Crash Report that law enforcement completes for more serious collisions.

For accidents within Phoenix city limits (not on state highways), Phoenix Police handles the report. If no officer responds to a minor non-injury accident, you can file a report online through Phoenix Police at phoenix.gov/police/policereport for eligible incidents. Online reporting is limited to minor, non-injury incidents where both parties exchanged information.

Phoenix Police Department allows you to file certain reports online through phoenix.gov/police/policereport. Online reporting is available for non-emergency incidents, including some property-damage-only accidents. This is not a substitute for calling 911 or the non-emergency line at the scene — you should always report the accident to police when it happens.

Online reporting is typically available for minor incidents where no injuries occurred, no one needs immediate medical attention, and the other driver's information has been exchanged. If there are injuries, if the other driver left the scene, or if a driver appears to be impaired, call 911 and wait for an officer to respond in person.

Even for minor accidents, having an official police report strengthens your insurance claim. If the other driver later claims injuries or disputes fault, your police report provides an independent record of what happened at the scene.

Arizona imposes serious penalties for leaving the scene of an accident. The penalties escalate based on severity. Under A.R.S. § 28-662, leaving the scene of a property-damage-only accident is a Class 2 misdemeanor — punishable by up to 4 months in jail and a $750 fine. A court may also order the Department of Transportation to suspend your driver's license for up to 1 year.

Under A.R.S. § 28-661, leaving the scene of an accident involving injury is a felony. If the accident caused non-serious physical injury, it is a Class 5 felony — 6 months to 2.5 years in prison. If the accident caused serious physical injury, it is a Class 3 felony — 2 to 8.75 years in prison. If the accident resulted in death, it is a Class 2 felony — 3 to 12.5 years in prison.

Beyond criminal penalties, hit-and-run convictions in Arizona carry mandatory license suspension and may result in insurance policy cancellation or non-renewal. These consequences apply even if the accident was not your fault — the penalties are for leaving the scene, not for causing the accident. Arizona also requires drivers convicted of hit-and-run to file an SR-22 proof of financial responsibility.

The police crash report is one of the most important documents in your personal injury claim. Insurance companies use it as a primary source of information about fault, the severity of the impact, and the injuries sustained. An officer's fault determination — especially when backed by a citation — puts significant pressure on the insurance company to offer a fair settlement.

Arizona uses pure comparative fault (A.R.S. § 12-2505). Unlike states with a 50% or 51% bar, Arizona allows you to recover damages even if you are mostly at fault — your award is simply reduced by your percentage of fault. The police report's fault assessment is not final — it can be challenged with additional evidence — but it carries significant weight. Documentation from the scene (photographs, witness statements, dashcam footage) can support or challenge the officer's findings.

Arizona's statute of limitations for personal injury is 2 years from the date of injury (A.R.S. § 12-542). If a government entity is involved (city bus, road defect, government vehicle), you have just 180 days to file a notice of claim (A.R.S. § 12-821.01). Reporting your accident promptly, getting a copy of the police report, and consulting with an attorney as early as possible gives you the best chance of preserving your rights and building a strong claim.

If you have been in a car accident in Phoenix, get your free Injury Claim Check. You will answer a few quick questions about your accident and injuries, and we will give you a personalized report that includes Arizona's filing deadline for your specific claim, your legal options based on the details of your accident, and whether connecting with a Phoenix personal injury attorney makes sense for your situation.

Arizona's pure comparative fault system means your percentage of fault directly reduces your recovery — making the evidence from the scene critical. Our Injury Claim Check is free, confidential, and gives you the information you need to make an informed decision about what comes next.