Hurt in a crash in Phoenix: what to do first and who has your report

Last checked November 8, 2026

Phoenix Police handle crashes on city streets.1 Arizona DPS handles I-10, I-17 and other freeways.2 Your report comes from whichever agency responded. In Arizona you generally have 2 years to sue.3 If a city, county or Valley Metro vehicle was involved, you may have only 180 days to file a claim.4

What happened?

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Road map of Phoenix, Arizona, showing its freeways and main streets
The main roads of Phoenix. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Who has your Phoenix crash report?

Where it happenedWho has itHow to get itCostWait
Phoenix city streetPhoenix PoliceOnline at phxpublicsafety.phoenix.gov.5 In person at 100 W. Washington St., Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 602-534-1127.6$0.25 per printed page, free as a digital copy.7 Online requests can add a $5 upfront portal fee.8No set wait. Requests go in the order received.9
I-10, I-17, Loop 101 or a state highwayArizona DPS RecordsCall (602) 223-2230 or (602) 223-2236 to check if it is ready.10$9 for the first nine pages, 10 cents for each extra page.11Wait at least 14 days.10
Unincorporated Maricopa CountyCounty SheriffOnline through BuyCrash. Serious, fatal or criminal crash reports are not online.12Shown at checkoutAllow seven business days.12

Phoenix's fee schedule and its portal list slightly different per-page prices, so check the total before you pay.8

Your deadlines after a crash in Phoenix

If the other side isDeadlineWhere it goes
A person or a company2 years to file a lawsuit3Superior court
The City of Phoenix180 days to file a claim13City Clerk, 200 W. Washington St., 15th Floor, or [email protected].14 Each person needs a separate form.13
Maricopa County180 days to file a claim4Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 301 W. Jefferson, 10th Floor. The Sheriff and other elected officials have separate addresses on the form.15
Valley Metro bus or light rail180 days to file a claim4Risk Management, 101 N. 1st Ave., Suite 1300, or [email protected].16
Any public agency, if you then sue1 year to file the lawsuit17Court

A child's deadline usually does not start until age 18.18 Ask a lawyer before relying on that.

Where crashes happen in Phoenix

The Arizona Department of Transportation counted 37,472 crashes in Phoenix in 2024. They killed 278 people and injured 15,057.19 The city uses a different method and reports 224 fatal crashes that year, compared with ADOT's 265.20

  • 67th Avenue and McDowell Road ranks first among the Phoenix region's 100 highest-risk intersections, with 229 crashes from 2018 to 2022.21
  • 99th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road had the most crashes in the top 10: 429 over the same years.22
  • 78 of those 100 intersections are in Phoenix.23
  • On I-10 from the Deck Park Tunnel to the I-17 Split, there were nearly six crashes a day from 2020 through 2024, mostly rear-end and sideswipe.24
  • More than 300,000 vehicles pass through the Broadway Curve on an average weekday.25

Hit while walking in Phoenix

Pedestrians were involved in 41% of Phoenix's fatal crashes from 2020 through 2024.26 The city's High Injury Network is 31.9 miles of road, under 1% of Phoenix streets, and it holds 11% of all fatal and serious injury crashes.27

If a driver hit you, get the report number from the officer and ask nearby businesses for camera video soon, before it is recorded over. If a broken signal, missing crosswalk or road defect played a part, the 180-day city deadline may apply, not the 2-year one.13

What to do this week in Phoenix

  1. Get your records. Phoenix has five state-designated Level I trauma centers, including Valleywise Health, St. Joseph's and Banner University Medical Center.282930 Valleywise records: (602) 344-5266, and it responds within 30 days.31 Banner records go through MRO Patient Central.32
  2. Find your car. If a city contract tow took it, call the tow company to find the lot and the bill.33 A mandatory impound needs release information from Phoenix Police at 602-495-2096.34
  3. Hurt on a bus? Tell the operator or call Valley Metro at (602) 253-5000.35 On light rail, use the Alert VM app, a security officer or an emergency call button.36
  4. Bitten by a dog? Call Maricopa County Animal Care and Control at 602-506-7387, any day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.37

What if you were partly at fault in Arizona?

You can still get paid. Arizona does not bar your claim because you share the blame. Your money is reduced by your share of the fault.38 If you were 20% at fault for a $100,000 loss, you could recover up to $80,000.

Which court hears a Phoenix injury case?

Maricopa County justice courts hear small claims up to $5,000 and civil lawsuits up to $10,000.39 Superior Court sends disputes under $50,000 to mandatory arbitration.40 You cannot bring a small claims case against the state or a city.41

Watch it in 1 minute

Read the transcript

If you were hurt in a crash in Phoenix, here is what matters first. On city streets, Phoenix Police has your report. On I-10, I-17 and other freeways, it is Arizona DPS, and you should wait at least 14 days. In Arizona, you generally have two years to sue. But if a city vehicle, a county vehicle or Valley Metro was involved, you may have only 180 days to file a claim. If you want to know whether you are owed money, a lawyer can review your case for free. There is nothing to pay upfront, and no fee unless you win.

Questions

How do I get a police report for a car accident in Phoenix?

If it happened on a city street, request it from Phoenix Police at phxpublicsafety.phoenix.gov and choose Traffic Crash.5 If it happened on a freeway, it comes from Arizona DPS.2

Can I sue the City of Phoenix after an accident?

Possibly, but you must first file a claim with the City Clerk within 180 days.13 A lawsuit must follow within one year.17

Which hospitals in Phoenix are Level I trauma centers?

Valleywise Health, St. Joseph's, Banner University Medical Center, HonorHealth John C. Lincoln and HonorHealth Deer Valley.2829304243

How long does a Phoenix police report take?

Phoenix publishes no fixed wait. Requests are handled in the order received, and time depends on size and complexity.9

Find out if you are owed money.

A free case review. $0 upfront. No fee unless you win.

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Keep reading

Accidents in Phoenix

    Arizona

    Sources

    1. 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.”
    2. 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”
    3. A.R.S. § 12-542, checked 2026-11-08. “within two years after the cause of action accrues”
    4. Arizona Revised Statutes 12-821.01, checked 2026-11-08. “within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues”
    5. phoenix.gov, checked 2026-11-08. “The following 10 options are available on the portal to submit Public Record requests:”
    6. phoenix.gov, checked 2026-11-08. “Public Record and Services Bureau 100 W. Washington St. Phoenix, AZ 85003”
    7. phoenix.gov, checked 2026-11-08. “$10.00 flat fee $0.25 per page (printed only) Traffic Crash +$0.25 per page Free for digital release”
    8. phxpublicsafety.phoenix.gov, checked 2026-11-08. “some requests require an upfront portal convenience fee of $5.00”
    9. phoenix.gov, checked 2026-11-08. “Various factors affect processing time including the request size, complexity, and nature of the records sought.”
    10. Arizona DPS, Request Records, checked 2026-11-08. “Please wait at least 14 days to check on report availability”
    11. 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”
    12. Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Report Request, checked 2026-11-08. “Allow seven (7) business days after the accident for the report to be uploaded.”
    13. phoenix.gov, checked 2026-11-08. “Be filed with the City Clerk Department within 180 days after the cause of action accrues,”
    14. phoenix.gov, checked 2026-11-08. “a copy of the claim form to: City of Phoenix City Clerk Department 200 W. Washington Street, 15th Floor Phoenix, AZ 85003”
    15. Maricopa County, Notice of Claim form (rev. 09/16/2024), checked 2026-11-08. “return by mail or hand-delivery to: Clerk of the Board of Supervisors 301 W. Jefferson 10th Floor Phoenix AZ 85003”
    16. Valley Metro, Notice of Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “Valley Metro Attention: Risk Management 101 N. 1st Avenue, Suite 1300 Phoenix, AZ 85003”
    17. A.R.S. § 12-821, checked 2026-11-08. “shall be brought within one year after the cause of action accrues and not afterward”
    18. 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”
    19. ADOT, 2024 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts, checked 2026-11-08. “| Phoenix | 37,472 | 265 | 10,449 | 26,758 | 278 | 15,057 | 1,351 | 95 | 822 |”
    20. City of Phoenix, 2025 Road Safety Action Plan Annual Report, checked 2026-11-08. “crashes started to decline from 257 in 2023, 224 in 2024, and *preliminary 2025 data”
    21. Maricopa Association of Governments, Top 100 Intersections by Crash Risk 2018-2022, checked 2026-11-08. “| 1 Phoenix | Phoenix | 67TH AVE & MCDOWELL RD | 229 | 0.534 | 0.986 | 1.038 | 0.886 |”
    22. Maricopa Association of Governments, Top 100 Intersections by Crash Risk 2018-2022, checked 2026-11-08. “| 10 Phoenix | Phoenix | 99TH AVE & LOWER BUCKEYE RD | 429 | 1.000 | 0.234 | 0.829 | 0.574 |”
    23. Maricopa Association of Governments, Top 100 Intersections by Crash Risk 2018-2022, checked 2026-11-08. “## Top 100 Intersections Ranked by Crash Risk Using 2018-2022 Crash Data (MAG Region)”
    24. azdot.gov, checked 2026-11-08. “from 2020 through 2024, there were nearly six crashes a day in the study area, with most being rear-end and sideswipe crashes.”
    25. azdot.gov, checked 2026-11-08. “With more than 300,000 vehicles passing through the I-10 Broadway Curve area on an average weekday”
    26. City of Phoenix, 2025 Road Safety Action Plan Annual Report, checked 2026-11-08. “41% involved PEDESTRIANS”
    27. City of Phoenix, 2025 Road Safety Action Plan Annual Report, checked 2026-11-08. “31.9 MILES (81 SEGMENTS) are identified on roadways”
    28. Arizona DHS, State Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-08. “Valleywise Health 2601 E. Roosevelt, Phoenix, AZ 85008 12/19/24 12/19/27”
    29. Arizona DHS, State Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-08. “St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center 350 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85013 11/20/24 11/20/26”
    30. Arizona DHS, State Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-08. “Banner - University Medical Center 1111 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85006 11/18/25 11/18/27”
    31. valleywisehealth.org, checked 2026-11-08. “Contact our Release of Information office at (602) 344-5266.”
    32. Banner Health, Patient Medical Records, checked 2026-11-08. “you can request your medical records from any Banner Health hospital, provider office, or urgent care location.”
    33. phoenix.gov, checked 2026-11-08. “Contact the tow company to determine which lot they have stored your vehicle.”
    34. phoenix.gov, checked 2026-11-08. “Contact the City of Phoenix Public Records and Services Unit to request release information at 602 495-2096.”
    35. Valley Metro, Safety, checked 2026-11-08. “On buses, report issues to the operator or a Valley Metro employee, or contact Customer Service at (602) 253-5000”
    36. Valley Metro, Safety, checked 2026-11-08. “On rail, riders can use the Alert VM app, speak with a security officer or Customer Experience Representative, or use emergency call buttons on trains or at stations”
    37. Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, Our Field Team, checked 2026-11-08. “You or your pet are the victim(s) of a dog bite or attack?”
    38. A.R.S. § 12-2505, 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”
    39. Maricopa County Justice Courts, About, checked 2026-11-08. “small claims up to $5,000, and civil lawsuits for amounts up to $10,000”
    40. Maricopa County Superior Court, Compulsory Arbitration, checked 2026-11-08. “Compulsory Arbitration is a mandatory program for disputes valued under $50,000.”
    41. Arizona Revised Statutes 22-503, checked 2026-11-08. “Actions against this state, its political subdivisions or an officer or employee of the state or its political subdivisions in his official capacity.”
    42. Arizona DHS, State Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-08. “250 E. Dunlap Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85020 04/24/24 04/24/27”
    43. Arizona DHS, State Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-08. “HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center 19829 N. 27th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85027 05/17/25 06/13/28”

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