12 News reported that four juveniles and an adult were in a stolen vehicle that led to a pursuit and later crashed into another car, killing that car's driver, according to Bullhead City police. The outlet reported that a juvenile driver is facing charges. No one has been convicted, and the facts are still being developed by investigators.
When the vehicle that struck you was reported stolen, the insurance path is different from an ordinary collision. Arizona liability coverage generally follows permission to use the car, so the registered owner's policy often denies coverage for a thief or an unpermitted driver. That leaves three places to look. First, uninsured motorist coverage on the injured person's own auto policy, which exists precisely for drivers who carry no applicable insurance. Second, any household policy covering a minor driver, since some policies reach resident relatives. Third, a public entity, if a law enforcement pursuit contributed to the harm; claims against Arizona cities, counties, and the state require a written notice of claim served within 180 days of when the claim accrues under A.R.S. § 12-821.01, and that deadline is separate from and much shorter than the two-year limit in A.R.S. § 12-542. Order the crash report, preserve the UM policy, and count both deadlines from day one.
Who a claim can be brought against when a stolen car is involved
A criminal charge against a driver is not a source of money for a family. Restitution in a juvenile or adult criminal case is usually a fraction of what a death or a serious injury actually costs, and it depends on the defendant having assets. The civil case is separate, and it is where compensation comes from.
Look at coverage in this order:
- Your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. If the at-fault driver has no applicable liability policy, UM steps into that place. Underinsured motorist coverage applies if there is some coverage but not enough.
- Any policy that might extend to a minor driver. A parent's or guardian's auto policy sometimes covers a resident relative, and there may be separate theories of negligent entrustment or negligent supervision depending on the facts. Whether those apply is a factual question, not an assumption.
- A public entity, if pursuit conduct is at issue. Arizona law does allow claims against government entities, but only if the notice of claim under A.R.S. § 12-821.01 is served correctly and on time. Miss it and the claim is barred even if it is otherwise strong.
Arizona applies pure comparative fault under A.R.S. § 12-2505, which means fault can be divided among multiple parties, and a recovery is reduced by a claimant's own percentage of fault rather than eliminated. That matters when several parties may share responsibility.
Wrongful death and survival claims after a fatal crash
When someone is killed in a collision, Arizona recognizes two distinct claims. The wrongful death claim under A.R.S. § 12-611 to A.R.S. § 12-613 belongs to the surviving spouse, children, or parents, or to the personal representative of the estate on their behalf. It compensates the survivors for their own losses, including lost income and support and the loss of the relationship.
The survival claim under A.R.S. § 14-3110 belongs to the estate and covers what the person who died would have been able to recover, such as medical expenses and property damage. The two claims are filed together but measured separately, and who has standing is fixed by statute rather than by family preference. If no estate has been opened, opening one is typically an early step, because the personal representative is the party with authority to bring the estate's claim.
The general deadline to file suit for wrongful death or personal injury is two years under A.R.S. § 12-542. If a public entity is a potential defendant, the 180-day notice requirement in A.R.S. § 12-821.01 comes first.
What to do in the next two weeks
Practical steps, in rough order of urgency:
- Request the full crash report and note the investigating agency and report number. Do not rely on news coverage for the facts of your own claim.
- Get complete copies of every auto policy in the household, including the declarations page showing UM and underinsured limits and medical payments coverage.
- Notify your own insurer that you are investigating a UM claim. Most policies require prompt notice, and delay can be used against you.
- Keep all medical records and bills, and document injuries and limitations as they change over time rather than only at the emergency room.
- Do not give a recorded statement to any insurer, including your own, before you understand what coverage is in play and what the statement will be used for.
- If a government entity may bear any responsibility, calendar the 180-day notice of claim deadline immediately.
Note also that A.R.S. § 28-661 imposes a duty to stop and provide information after a collision involving death or injury; whether that statute was violated in any given incident is for investigators and the courts to determine.
If you were injured or lost a family member in a Bullhead City collision, our Arizona car accident practice page explains how these claims are built and what the deadlines require.