Find a car accident lawyer in Scottsdale: your report, your insurance and your deadline

Last checked November 8, 2026

After a car wreck in Scottsdale, the agency that came decides where your report is. Scottsdale Police reports sell through CARFAX CRASHDOCS.1 Troopers on Loop 101 file with Arizona DPS, and that copy costs $9.23 You generally have 2 years to sue a driver,4 but only 180 days to file a claim against the city.56

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Road map of Scottsdale showing Loop 101 at Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard, the intersection with the most crashes in the city's 2023 and 2024 count
Crashed at Loop 101 in Scottsdale? Your report may be city or DPS. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

How do I get a car accident report in Scottsdale?

Look at the slip the officer handed you. If it says Scottsdale Police, go online to CARFAX CRASHDOCS. Have ready one driver's last name, the crash date, your DR number and a credit card.7 The city does not list the online price.1 You can also go to the Records counter at 8401 E. Indian School Road,8 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.9 Scottsdale publishes no wait time for records.10

If a state trooper came, the report is with Arizona DPS. Give it at least 14 days, then call (602) 223-2230.11 Long reports add 10 cents a page after the first nine.3 Crashes on county land go to the Sheriff, whose reports are online about seven business days later.1213

Which Scottsdale intersections have the most car wrecks?

PlaceCrashes in 2023 and 2024
Loop 101 at Frank Lloyd Wright10614
Scottsdale Road at Loop 1017315
Hayden and Northsight6116
Hayden and Thomas5817
Scottsdale Road and Shea5718
Loop 101 at Shea5119

Three of those six sit at the freeway. Those counts are crashes Scottsdale Police recorded,20 so a wreck at the light beside a ramp can have a city report even though the freeway overhead belongs to DPS. Do not assume. Check the agency name before you pay for a copy.

The freeway itself has changed. ADOT added one lane each way on Loop 101 between Princess Drive/Pima Road and Shea, finishing construction in early 2026.21 If your crash happened near a lane shift or new striping, take photos soon, while the road still looks the same as it did that day.

I got rear-ended in Scottsdale. Is my claim simple?

It is the most common kind of crash in the city's report, and the usual one had no injuries.22 That can work against you. An insurer may treat a rear-end hit as minor by habit, even when your neck or back says otherwise. See a doctor soon and tell them every place that hurts.

Timing is another local pattern. The typical Scottsdale collision happened between 4 and 5 p.m. in March,23 and each hour from 2 to 6 p.m. held at least 8% of crashes.24 If you were hit in afternoon traffic, ask nearby shops about camera video the same week, because many systems record over old footage.

Fault can be shared. Arizona lowers your money by your share of the blame, but it does not shut you out.25 An adjuster who says you were 20% at fault is making an argument, not stating a final answer.

What insurance pays after a car accident in Scottsdale?

  • The other driver's policy, which in most cases must have at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for injuries.26
  • Your own uninsured motorist coverage, if you have it. Insurers must offer it to you in writing.27
  • Your health insurance, for treatment while the claim is open.

Scottsdale had 2,113 people hurt in crashes in ADOT's 2024 count.28 A serious injury can pass $25,000 quickly. HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn, a Level I trauma center at 7400 E. Osborn, may hold your first records.29 Ask for them with the HonorHealth request form, and ask about copy fees.30

What if a road problem or city vehicle caused my Scottsdale crash?

The clock is far shorter. A claim against the City of Scottsdale has to meet Arizona's notice law,6 which allows 180 days.5 Safety and Risk Management gives out a Notice of Claim form if you ask.31 The City Clerk is at 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., 480-312-2412, but the city's page does not say where the form goes, so confirm before you file.32 After that, you have one year to sue.33

Where is my car after a Scottsdale police tow?

  1. Call All City Towing at 480-833-7278 to learn where the car is stored.34
  2. Move fast. The tow is $65 and storage runs $53.50 a day.35
  3. Take photos of the damage before any repair. Keep the estimate.

What should I ask a car accident lawyer in Scottsdale?

  • Which agency has my report, and have you read it yet?
  • Could anyone besides the other driver share the blame?
  • How much of my settlement goes to medical liens and fees?
  • Will you handle the notice of claim if the city is involved?
  • Which court would hear my case? Maricopa Superior Court sends disputes under $50,000 to arbitration.36

Questions

How long do I have to sue after a car accident in Scottsdale?

Generally 2 years.4 If a public agency is involved, a claim is due within 180 days.5

Who has my report if I crashed at Loop 101 and Scottsdale Road?

It depends on who came. Check the slip. Scottsdale Police recorded many crashes there,1520 and DPS handles the freeway.2

Do I have to report a crash that hurt someone?

Yes. A driver must report it right away to police, the sheriff or the highway patrol.37

Can I still get money if I was partly at fault?

Yes. Arizona reduces the award by your share of the fault.38

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Scottsdale

Car accident

Arizona

Sources

  1. Scottsdale Police, Records Request, checked 2026-11-08. “The Scottsdale Police Department has partnered with CARFAX CRASHDOCS.org to provide our collision reports online for convenience and secure access.”
  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. 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”
  4. A.R.S. § 12-542, checked 2026-11-08. “within two years after the cause of action accrues”
  5. Arizona Revised Statutes 12-821.01, checked 2026-11-08. “within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues”
  6. City of Scottsdale, Safety and Risk Management, checked 2026-11-08. “A person wishing to make a claim against the City of Scottsdale will need to comply with ARS 12-821.01.”
  7. Scottsdale Police, Records Request, checked 2026-11-08. “You will need the last name of an involved party, date of collision, the departmental report number (DR#) and a valid credit card”
  8. Scottsdale Police, Records Request, checked 2026-11-08. “In Person: Police/Fire headquarters (Lou Witzeman Public Safety Building)”
  9. Scottsdale Police, Records Request, checked 2026-11-08. “Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.”
  10. Scottsdale Police, Records Request, checked 2026-11-08. “making us unable to estimate the fulfillment timeline”
  11. Arizona DPS, Request Records, checked 2026-11-08. “Please wait at least 14 days to check on report availability”
  12. Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Report Request, checked 2026-11-08. “Unincorporated areas of Maricopa County (jurisdiction of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)”
  13. 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.”
  14. City of Scottsdale, 2024 Traffic Volume and Collision Report, checked 2026-11-08. “101 FREEWAY FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT 59,700* 106 53.0 2.43 1”
  15. City of Scottsdale, 2024 Traffic Volume and Collision Report, checked 2026-11-08. “SCOTTSDALE 101 FREEWAY 66,500* 73 36.5 1.50 2”
  16. City of Scottsdale, 2024 Traffic Volume and Collision Report, checked 2026-11-08. “HAYDEN NORTHSIGHT 40,200 61 30.5 2.08 3”
  17. City of Scottsdale, 2024 Traffic Volume and Collision Report, checked 2026-11-08. “HAYDEN THOMAS 58,000 58 29.0 1.37 4”
  18. City of Scottsdale, 2024 Traffic Volume and Collision Report, checked 2026-11-08. “SCOTTSDALE SHEA 72,900 57 28.5 1.07 5”
  19. City of Scottsdale, 2024 Traffic Volume and Collision Report, checked 2026-11-08. “101 FREEWAY SHEA 89,500* 51 25.5 0.78 7”
  20. City of Scottsdale, 2024 Traffic Volume and Collision Report, checked 2026-11-08. “collision data utilized within this report was based on crashes recorded by the City of Scottsdale”
  21. ADOT, Loop 101 Princess Drive/Pima Road to Shea Boulevard Improvements, checked 2026-11-08. “widened Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) between Princess Drive/Pima Road and Shea Boulevard by one general-purpose lane in each direction”
  22. City of Scottsdale, 2024 Traffic Volume and Collision Report, checked 2026-11-08. “predominant vehicle collision was a rear-end type crash with no injuries”
  23. City of Scottsdale, 2024 Traffic Volume and Collision Data, checked 2026-11-08. “the average, citywide collision occurred between 4 – 5 PM in March”
  24. City of Scottsdale, 2024 Traffic Volume and Collision Data, checked 2026-11-08. “Each hour-long period from 2 PM to 6 PM was recorded to contain 8% or more of total traffic collisions”
  25. 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”
  26. 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.”
  27. 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”
  28. ADOT, 2024 Motor Vehicle Crash Facts, checked 2026-11-08. “| Scottsdale | 4,219 | 15 | 1,421 | 2,783 | 15 | 2,113 | 226 | 6 | 128 |”
  29. Arizona Department of Health Services, Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-08. “7400 E. Osborn, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 10/27/24 10/27/27”
  30. HonorHealth, Request Medical Records, checked 2026-11-08. “Copy fees may apply.”
  31. City of Scottsdale, Safety and Risk Management, checked 2026-11-08. “will provide a Notice of Claim form upon request”
  32. City of Scottsdale, City Clerk, checked 2026-11-08. “3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd Scottsdale, AZ 85251”
  33. A.R.S. § 12-821, checked 2026-11-08. “shall be brought within one year after the cause of action accrues and not afterward”
  34. Scottsdale Police, Vehicle Impound Unit, checked 2026-11-08. “Call All City Towing at 480-833-7278 to verify where your vehicle is stored”
  35. Scottsdale Police, Vehicle Impound Unit, checked 2026-11-08. “Storage fee: $53.50 per day”
  36. Maricopa County Superior Court, Arbitration, checked 2026-11-08. “Compulsory Arbitration is a mandatory program for disputes valued under $50,000.”
  37. 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”
  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”

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