Anthem sits along the I-17 corridor roughly 35 miles north of downtown Phoenix, which means local drivers share the road daily with long-haul semi-trucks, commuters, and tourists heading to Flagstaff — all on a freeway posted at 75 mph. The Anthem Way interchange backs up during rush hours, monsoon storms and haboobs reduce visibility to near zero on short notice, and Daisy Mountain Drive sees regular high-speed traffic through residential intersections. Crashes here happen fast and injuries are often serious.
Arizona's fault system
Arizona is an at-fault state — the driver who caused the crash is responsible for your damages. Arizona also follows a pure comparative fault rule (A.R.S. § 12-2505), so even if you were partly at fault, you can still recover. Your award is reduced by your percentage of fault, not eliminated. Adjusters know this and routinely argue that you share more blame than the evidence supports — inflating your fault percentage is the most reliable way to reduce their payout. See our post on Arizona comparative negligence law.
What an Anthem car accident claim can recover
Arizona personal injury claims cover medical expenses past and future, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, vehicle repair or replacement, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. In cases involving reckless conduct — impaired driving, street racing — punitive damages may also be available. Arizona's minimum liability coverage is $25,000 per person (A.R.S. § 28-4009), which isn't close to enough for a serious injury. When the at-fault driver is underinsured, your own UM/UIM coverage becomes critical.
The filing deadline
You have two years from the accident date to file a lawsuit (A.R.S. § 12-542). Surveillance footage from businesses along Daisy Mountain and I-17 gets overwritten quickly, and witnesses scatter. Two years sounds long; it moves fast when you're also dealing with medical care and an insurance dispute. See our post on the Arizona statute of limitations for personal injury for exceptions — crashes involving government vehicles have a 180-day notice requirement.
After a crash in Anthem
Call 911. Arizona law requires reporting accidents involving injury or property damage (A.R.S. § 28-667). Get medical attention the same day — whiplash and concussions often don't show symptoms immediately, and a gap in treatment is one of the first things an adjuster uses against you. Photograph the scene, vehicles, road conditions, and your injuries. Get the other driver's insurance information and witness contact details. Don't give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer before speaking with an attorney.
Our car accident attorneys handle claims throughout the North Valley and Phoenix metro on a contingency fee basis. No fee unless we win. Call (480) 418-SHER (7437) or reach out online.