Find a car accident lawyer in Glendale, Arizona: what to do after a wreck

Last checked November 8, 2026

After a car wreck in Glendale, Arizona, a driver must report any injury crash right away.1 Glendale Police Records is at (623) 930-3100.2 On Loop 101, the report comes from DPS after at least 14 days.34 You generally have 2 years to sue,5 but only 180 days for a claim against a city.6

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Road map of Glendale, Arizona showing 51st Avenue and Camelback Road, an intersection on the Phoenix line ranked second for crash risk in the region
Bad signal or road in Glendale? A city claim is due in 180 days. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Who has my car accident report in Glendale, AZ?

Start with the paper the officer handed you at the scene. It names the agency, and that agency holds your report. On a Glendale street it is Glendale Police.7 On Loop 101, Loop 303 or another state highway it is Arizona DPS.38 On county land it is the Sheriff.9

  1. Order a Glendale Police report with the online records form or on BuyCrash.1011
  2. Want to know where your request stands? Call the Public Disclosure desk at (623) 930-3012.12
  3. Need to tell the officer something? Leave a message at (623) 930-3165 and enter the badge number from your paperwork.13
  4. For a DPS report, let 14 days pass before you call (602) 223-2230.4 By mail it runs $9.00 for the first nine pages.14

Each Glendale report goes past the officer and a supervisor before release, and the city gives no set wait.15 If you were in the crash, Arizona says the agency must give you a full copy when you ask, with some exceptions.16

I got hit on 43rd or 51st Avenue. Is that Glendale or Phoenix?

It could be either. Several of Glendale's busiest corners sit right on the Phoenix line, and the regional crash list names both cities when the boundary passes through an intersection.17

  • 51st Avenue and Camelback: 174 crashes from 2018 to 2022, ranked 2nd in the region.18
  • 43rd Avenue and Peoria Avenue: 185 crashes, ranked 21st.19
  • 43rd Avenue and Glendale Avenue: 176 crashes, ranked 42nd.20
  • 43rd Avenue and Northern: 158 crashes, ranked 51st.21
  • 67th Avenue and Olive: 179 crashes, ranked 52nd, and shared with Peoria.22

If your paperwork says Phoenix, use the Phoenix Police portal and pick Traffic Crash.23 A records request sent to the wrong city only costs you a few days. A notice of claim sent to the wrong city can cost far more, because the 180 days keep running.6

What if a dead signal or a bad road caused my wreck in Glendale?

Monsoon storms can knock out traffic lights. Glendale reminds drivers that a dark signal works like a four-way stop.24 A driver who blows through one may be at fault. If the road or the signal itself was the problem, a public agency may be part of your claim, and a much shorter clock applies.

We could not find a claim form or filing page from the City of Glendale. Phone the City Clerk at 623-930-2252, Option 1, to learn who accepts a notice of claim.25 Risk Management answers at 623-930-2270.26 Grand Avenue is different, because ADOT controls and maintains it.27 Northern Parkway is a partnership of the county, Glendale and other cities,28 so find out who owns the spot before you send anything.

How much will the other driver's insurance pay in Arizona?

Most Arizona policies only have to carry $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for injuries.29 A hospital stay can pass that fast. That is why your own uninsured coverage matters. Insurers have to offer it to you in writing.30

Some drivers carry nothing at all. Glendale Police can impound a car under the 20-day law when its driver crashes with no proof of insurance and a cancelled license.31 Ask your officer if that happened. It tells you early that your own policy may be the one to look at.

If your insurer stalls, you can complain to the state. A complaint does not stop any legal deadline,32 and the state usually steps back once you hire a lawyer or go to court.33

Can I still get paid if the wreck was partly my fault?

Yes. Arizona lowers what you receive by your share of the blame, but it does not end your claim.34 Insurance adjusters know this, so think before you give a recorded statement. Front-seat riders must buckle up in Arizona, though that law does not say how skipping a belt affects a claim.35

Of Glendale's 5,218 reported crashes in 2024, alcohol played a part in 224, and 2,064 people were hurt across all of them.36 If you noticed signs of drinking, tell the officer and write it down the same day.

How long do I have after a car accident in Glendale?

Who you are claiming againstTime limitGood to know
Another driverGenerally 2 years to sue5Do not count on insurance talks to stop this clock.
A public body, such as a city180 days for the notice37Then 1 year to file suit.38
A Valley Metro bus180 days6Send it to [email protected].39 After 60 days of silence, treat it as denied.40
Someone who was a child when hurtThe 2 years usually start at 1841Ask early anyway, because proof fades.

When should I talk to a car accident lawyer in Glendale?

  • You needed a hospital. Banner Thunderbird is on the state's Level I list, with renewal pending,42 and its records come through MRO Patient Central.43
  • The other driver's limits look too low for your bills.
  • The report blames you and you disagree.
  • A city truck, a bus, a signal or a road defect may be involved.

The size of a case shapes where it goes. Superior Court sends disputes under $50,000 to required arbitration.44 Claims of $10,000 or less can stay in a justice court,45 and Glendale City Court does not take injury lawsuits.46 Many injury lawyers work for a percentage, so ask how fees and costs are paid before you sign anything.

Questions

How do I get a car accident report in Glendale, AZ?

Use the Glendale Police online records form or BuyCrash.1011 For a state highway crash, ask DPS.3

How much does a Glendale accident report cost?

The city lists no set price for the public, only that a fee is possible.47 DPS charges $9.00 by mail for the first nine pages.14

Do I have to call the police after a car accident in Glendale?

If anyone is hurt or killed, the driver must report it right away.1 For anything short of an emergency, the line is (623) 930-3000.48

How long do I have to sue after a car wreck in Arizona?

Generally 2 years.5 A claim against a public body needs notice within 180 days.6

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Glendale

Car accident

Arizona

Sources

  1. A.R.S. § 28-666(A), checked 2026-11-08. “The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of a person shall give notice of the accident immediately by the quickest means of communication”
  2. Glendale Police, Public Records Request, checked 2026-11-08. “Glendale Police Department Main Station 6835 N. 57th Drive Glendale, AZ 85301 (623) 930-3100”
  3. Arizona DPS, Request Records, checked 2026-11-08. “maintains records for collisions (accidents) that were investigated by DPS Troopers occurring on an Interstate or State Highway”
  4. Arizona DPS, Request Records, checked 2026-11-08. “Please wait at least 14 days to check on report availability”
  5. A.R.S. § 12-542(1), checked 2026-11-08. “there shall be commenced and prosecuted within two years after the cause of action accrues, and not afterward, the following actions: 1. For injuries done to the person of another”
  6. Arizona Revised Statutes 12-821.01, checked 2026-11-08. “within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues”
  7. Arizona DPS, Request Records, checked 2026-11-08. “If the report you are requesting was the result of a collision that occurred on a town, city or county road, contact the law enforcement agency in that jurisdiction.”
  8. City of Glendale, Municipal Airport Strategic Plan, checked 2026-11-08. “The City of Glendale is bisected by two major Arizona State Highways, Loop 101 and Loop 303.”
  9. Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Report Request, checked 2026-11-08. “Unincorporated areas of Maricopa County (jurisdiction of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)”
  10. Glendale Police, Public Records Request, checked 2026-11-08. “To obtain a copy of a Traffic Accident or Incident Report fill out an online records request form”
  11. Glendale Police, Public Records Request, checked 2026-11-08. “if requesting a Traffic Accident you may also obtain a copy online at www.buycrash.com”
  12. Glendale Police, File an Online Police Report, checked 2026-11-08. “To check on the status of a public request, please contact the Public Disclosure desk at (623) 930-3012.”
  13. Glendale Police, File an Online Police Report, checked 2026-11-08. “You can leave a message with an Officer at (623) 930-3165.”
  14. Arizona DPS, Request Records, checked 2026-11-08. “Paper report via U.S. Mail - $9.00 for the first nine pages; $0.10 for each additional page”
  15. Glendale Police, Public Records Request, checked 2026-11-08. “Once the report is approved for release and redacted, Records will mail it to the requestor or call to inform the requester the report is ready for pickup.”
  16. A.R.S. § 28-667(C)(6)(a), checked 2026-11-08. “on request shall provide a copy of the unredacted report to the following: (a) A person who is involved in the accident”
  17. Maricopa Association of Governments, Top 100 Intersections 2018-2022, checked 2026-11-08. “Multiple agencies are shown where the agency boundary runs through the intersection.”
  18. Maricopa Association of Governments, Top 100 Intersections 2018-2022, checked 2026-11-08. “| 2 Glendale/ Phoenix | Glendale | 51ST AVE & CAMELBACK RD | 174 | 0.406 | 0.939 | 0.736 | 0.755 |”
  19. Maricopa Association of Governments, Top 100 Intersections 2018-2022, checked 2026-11-08. “| 21 Phoenix/ Glendale | Phoenix | 43RD AVE & PEORIA AVE | 185 | 0.431 | 0.535 | 0.597 | 0.525 |”
  20. Maricopa Association of Governments, Top 100 Intersections 2018-2022, checked 2026-11-08. “| 42 Phoenix/ Glendale | Phoenix | 43RD AVE & GLENDALE AVE | 176 | 0.410 | 0.430 | 0.547 | 0.454 |”
  21. Maricopa Association of Governments, Top 100 Intersections 2018-2022, checked 2026-11-08. “| 51 Phoenix/ Glendale | Phoenix | 43RD AVE & NORTHERN AVE | 158 | 0.368 | 0.441 | 0.473 | 0.431 |”
  22. Maricopa Association of Governments, Top 100 Intersections 2018-2022, checked 2026-11-08. “| 52 Glendale/ Peoria | Glendale | 67TH AVE & OLIVE AVE A | 179 | 0.417 | 0.417 | 0.469 | 0.430 |”
  23. Phoenix Police, Public Records, checked 2026-11-08. “The following 10 options are available on the portal to submit Public Record requests:”
  24. City of Glendale, Transportation Services, checked 2026-11-08. “A blacked-out intersection works the same as a four-way stop.”
  25. City of Glendale, City Clerk, checked 2026-11-08. “623-930-2252, Option 1”
  26. City of Glendale, Human Resources and Risk Management, checked 2026-11-08. “P:623-930-2270”
  27. Maricopa Association of Governments, US-60/Grand Avenue COMPASS Study, checked 2026-11-08. “US-60/Grand Avenue is an important facility controlled and maintained by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).”
  28. City of Glendale, Transportation Projects, checked 2026-11-08. “The project is a partnership between Maricopa County, the Cities of El Mirage, Glendale and Peoria, and the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG).”
  29. A.R.S. § 28-4009(A)(2)(b), checked 2026-11-08. “(i) $25,000 because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident. (ii) Subject to the limit for one person, $50,000 because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident. (iii) $15,000 because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident.”
  30. A.R.S. § 20-259.01(A), checked 2026-11-08. “Every insurer writing automobile liability or motor vehicle liability policies shall make available to the named insured thereunder and by written notice offer the named insured and at the request of the named insured shall include within the policy uninsured motorist coverage”
  31. Glendale Police, Towing Administration and Vehicle Impound, checked 2026-11-08. “The driver is in an accident, and has no proof of insurance, and a cancelled driver’s license.”
  32. Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions, Complaint Guide, checked 2026-11-08. “Deadlines Don't Stop: Filing a complaint with DIFI does not pause or extend any legal deadlines or limits in your policy.”
  33. Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions, Complaint Guide, checked 2026-11-08. “If you hire a lawyer or go to court over the issue, DIFI usually cannot keep working on your complaint.”
  34. A.R.S. § 12-2505(A), checked 2026-11-08. “the claimant's action is not barred, but the full damages shall be reduced in proportion to the relative degree of the claimant's fault”
  35. A.R.S. § 28-909(A), checked 2026-11-08. “Each front seat occupant of a motor vehicle that is designed for carrying ten or fewer passengers [...] shall either: 1. Have the lap and shoulder belt properly adjusted and fastened while the vehicle is in motion.”
  36. ADOT, 2024 Motor Vehicle Crash Facts, checked 2026-11-08. “| Glendale | 5,218 | 27 | 1,456 | 3,735 | 29 | 2,064 | 224 | 7 | 104 |”
  37. A.R.S. § 12-821.01, checked 2026-11-08. “within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues”
  38. A.R.S. § 12-821, checked 2026-11-08. “shall be brought within one year after the cause of action accrues and not afterward”
  39. Valley Metro, Notice of Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “Valley Metro Attention: Risk Management 101 N. 1st Avenue, Suite 1300 Phoenix, AZ 85003”
  40. Valley Metro, Notice of Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “If you do not receive a response to your claim within sixty (60) days of your submission, you can assume that the claim has been denied.”
  41. A.R.S. § 12-502, checked 2026-11-08. “the period of such disability shall not be deemed a portion of the period limited for commencement of the action”
  42. Arizona Department of Health Services, Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-08. “Banner Thunderbird Medical Center 5555 W. Thunderbird Rd, Glendale, AZ 85306 09/30/22 *09/26/26”
  43. Banner Health, Medical Records, checked 2026-11-08. “you can request your medical records from any Banner Health hospital, provider office, or urgent care location.”
  44. Maricopa County Superior Court, Arbitration, checked 2026-11-08. “Compulsory Arbitration is a mandatory program for disputes valued under $50,000.”
  45. Maricopa County Justice Courts, checked 2026-11-08. “small claims up to $5,000, and civil lawsuits for amounts up to $10,000”
  46. Glendale City Court, About Us, checked 2026-11-08. “The Glendale City Court adjudicates criminal misdemeanors, City Code violations, and certain juvenile offenses committed in the City of Glendale.”
  47. Glendale Police, Reporting, checked 2026-11-08. “There may be a fee for this service and certain restrictions apply.”
  48. Glendale Police, Phone Directory, checked 2026-11-08. “Non-Emergency | (623) 930-3000”

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