When a truck accident happens, the aftermath can be overwhelming. Medical bills, vehicle repairs, lost wages, and emotional stress pile up quickly. In the middle of all this, one detail is easy to overlook: the time limits for filing a truck accident claim. Missing these deadlines can mean losing your chance to recover compensation.
This guide explains how long you have to file, why deadlines matter, and what exceptions may apply.
Read more: How Long Do You Have to File a Claim for a Truck Accident?
The law sets deadlines, called statutes of limitations, to make sure claims are filed while evidence and witness memories are still fresh. If you wait too long, your case may be thrown out before it even starts.
For truck accidents, the rules are strict. Knowing the time limit for accident claims can make the difference between getting full compensation and receiving nothing at all.
Read more: When to Hire a Truck Accident Attorney
In most states, including Arizona, the general statute of limitations for truck accidents is two years from the date of the crash. This applies to both personal injury and property damage claims.
That means if you were injured or your car was destroyed in a collision with a commercial truck, you have two years to start your lawsuit in court. If you miss that deadline, your claim is usually barred forever.
Two years may sound like a lot, but truck accident cases are complex. They often involve multiple parties, drivers, trucking companies, insurers, and sometimes even manufacturers. Each party may try to shift blame. The sooner you file, the stronger your case.
Read more: Truck Accident with an Uninsured Truck Driver
Sometimes the truck involved belongs to a city, county, or state agency. For example, a garbage truck, utility truck, or highway maintenance vehicle. Claims against government entities come with shorter deadlines.
In Arizona, you must file a Notice of Claim within 180 days of the accident. After that, you have one year from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit.
Missing these deadlines is fatal to your case. Government claims are strict, and courts rarely make exceptions.
Here is the table:
| Type of Claim | Deadline to File | Special Rules |
| Standard Truck Accident Claim | 2 years from the date of the accident | Covers personal injury and property damage claims (A.R.S. § 12-542). |
| Government-Related Truck Accident (City, State, or County vehicle / poor road maintenance) | 180 days to file a Notice of Claim | Notice must be served on the correct government agency. |
| Government-Related Truck Accident (Lawsuit) | 1 year from the date of the accident | Must follow both the Notice of Claim and lawsuit deadlines. |
There are rare situations where courts may extend or pause the statute of limitations. These include:
Still, you should never assume you have more time. These exceptions are narrow and often argued in court.
Read more: Who Can Be Liable for a Truck Accident?
Meeting deadlines is only part of the battle. Here are the steps you should take after a truck accident to keep your case strong:
For more on protecting your rights, see How to File a Personal Injury Claim.
Read more: What to Do After a Truck Accident
Truck accident victims often lose their chance at compensation because of preventable mistakes. Avoid these pitfalls:
Each of these mistakes can cost you your entire claim.
Truck accident claims are more complicated than regular car crashes. They may involve federal trucking regulations, multiple defendants, and high-dollar damages. Evidence like driver logs, black box data, and surveillance footage can disappear quickly.
If you wait until the last minute, your attorney may not have enough time to investigate properly. Acting fast gives your legal team the best chance to build a strong case.
The time limits for filing a truck accident claim are strict, and missing them can cost you everything. For most cases, you have two years. For government-related accidents, you may have as little as 180 days. Insurance policies also require quick action.
Don’t risk your future by waiting too long. The sooner you act, the stronger your case will be.
Call Big Chad Law today for a free consultation with an experienced truck accident lawyer. We’ll explain your options, file on time, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Each policy is different, but most require notice “as soon as possible” or within a set number of days. Waiting too long may lead to denial of coverage.
Yes. Each policy sets its own rules. Many require you to report the crash immediately.
Your case may be dismissed, and you could lose all rights to compensation.
Yes. A lawyer can track deadlines, preserve evidence, and handle insurers while you focus on recovery. At Big Chad Law, our truck accident attorneys are ready to protect your rights from day one.
No. Arizona is an at-fault (tort) state. The driver who caused the crash (and their insurer) is responsible for injury and property-damage losses. That’s why evidence and liability proof matter in claims.
Generally 2 years from the date of injury (A.R.S. §12-542). If a public entity/employee is involved, you must serve a Notice of Claim within 180 days and file suit within 1 year (A.R.S. §12-821.01 and §12-821). Missing these cuts off your rights.
Yes, but your compensation is reduced by your share of fault. Arizona follows pure comparative negligence (§12-2505): even if you’re 20% at fault, your recovery can be 80% of damages (no recovery for intentional/wanton conduct).
Call the police whenever there are injuries, a citation, or significant damage. Under Arizona law, law enforcement must submit a written report when there’s injury/death or property damage ≥ $2,000; the report is typically filed within 24 hours after the investigation is completed. It’s smart to get a report even for “minor” crashes.
Minimum liability (required): $25,000 per person bodily injury, $50,000 per accident, $15,000 property damage (25/50/15).
UM/UIM: Optional but must be offered; if you reject, it’s typically in writing (consider keeping it—it protects you from uninsured/underinsured drivers).
PIP: Not required in Arizona. Many drivers add MedPay instead (optional first-party medical coverage that pays regardless of fault).