Day one through day seven
Days one and two: medical documentation. Getting evaluated promptly matters for health first, and it also creates the record that ties injuries to the crash. Gaps in treatment are a common point of dispute later.
Days two through four: preservation. Camera footage from intersections and nearby businesses on the US-60, the 202, Main Street, and the arterials is often overwritten within weeks. Written preservation requests, photographs of both vehicles before repairs, and witness contact information all belong in this window.
Days three through seven: coverage review. Every policy that may apply gets identified — the other driver's, yours, and any employer, rideshare, or household policy that could be involved. Arizona insurers must offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and your own declarations page is part of this review.
The whole week: communication decisions. Insurers may ask for a recorded statement early. You are not required to give one to the other driver's insurer, and it's reasonable to speak with a lawyer first.
The comparative fault rule, plainly
Arizona follows pure comparative negligence. If a claimant is found partly at fault, the recovery is reduced by that percentage — a claimant found 20 percent at fault recovers 80 percent of the damages — and the claim is not eliminated at any percentage. If partial fault comes up early in a claim, that is the rule that applies, and the evidence preserved in the first week is what supports or challenges the percentage.
Two deadlines Mesa drivers should know
Arizona generally allows two years from the date of a crash to file most injury claims. Claims involving a city, county, or state entity — a government vehicle, a roadway condition — require a notice of claim within 180 days. Raising that possibility in the first conversation costs nothing.
Questions worth asking any Mesa firm
Whether the firm can walk you through its own first-week plan in specifics. Whether it reviews your uninsured and underinsured coverage as a standard step. Who your point of contact will be and how often you'll hear from them. And whether the fee agreement is explained fully in writing before anything is signed.
Where we fit
Saguaro Injury Law's Mesa office handles car accident cases across the East Valley, and the first-week plan above is how we start every Mesa case. The details are on our Mesa car accident lawyer page, the law is covered in our Arizona car accident guide, and our personal injury guide for Mesa covers vetting for any injury case. A free consultation is available any hour — in English or Spanish. (602) 217-0000.