What is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident in Phoenix?
1. The Paper Trail: Economic Damages
Economic damages are the quantifiable financial losses caused by your accident — the costs we can prove with invoices, medical records, and pay stubs.
In Phoenix, medical costs can escalate quickly. A simple ambulance ride and emergency room visit at a local hospital such as Banner Health or HonorHealth can easily exceed $10,000, even before you see a specialist.
Common economic damages include:
Immediate Medical Bills:
Ambulance transport, emergency room care, X-rays, imaging, and trauma treatment.
Future Medical Costs:
Surgery, physical therapy, rehabilitation, medications, and long-term care.
Lost Wages and Loss of Earning Capacity:
Not just the hours you missed this week, but the reduction in your future earning ability if your injuries prevent you from returning to your specific career.
2. The Personal Impact: Non-Economic Damages
This is where Phoenix personal injury cases differ from many other parts of the country. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering — the physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life caused by your injuries.
Arizona’s “No Cap” Advantage
Many states, including California and Texas, place legal limits (known as “caps”) on how much compensation a person can receive for pain and suffering. Arizona does not.
Under Article 2, Section 31 of the Arizona Constitution, it is illegal for the state to limit the amount of damages an injured person may recover in a personal injury case.
This means if your life has been permanently altered — if you can no longer hike in the Phoenix Mountains, play with your children, or live without chronic pain — a jury has the authority to award what is truly fair, not what a statute restricts.
How Is Pain and Suffering Calculated?
Because there is no receipt for pain, insurance companies and personal injury attorneys typically rely on one of two methods:
The Multiplier Method:
Your total medical bills are multiplied by a number (usually between 1.5 and 5) based on the severity and long-term impact of your injuries.
The Per Diem Method:
A daily dollar value is assigned to your pain and suffering from the date of the accident until you reach Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI).
One Major Factor: Pure Comparative Negligence
In Phoenix, your settlement value is also affected by pure comparative negligence. This Arizona rule allows you to recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident.
Example:
If a jury determines your case is worth $100,000, but finds you were 20% at fault, you would still recover $80,000.
Even if you were 90% at fault, Arizona law still allows you to recover the remaining 10%.
Why “Average” Settlement Numbers Don’t Matter
Most “average” settlement figures you see online — often cited between $15,000 and $30,000 — include minor fender-benders with little or no injury.
For serious injuries, such as broken bones, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), or spinal damage, Phoenix personal injury settlements frequently reach six and seven figures.
The value of your case depends on:
The clarity of fault (liability)
The total cost of your medical treatment
The insurance policy limits of the at-fault party
The skill of your attorney in presenting your case
Get a Real Valuation of Your Case
Don’t let an insurance adjuster tell you what your life is worth.
At Hartley Law, we know Phoenix courts, Arizona law, and how to fight for every dollar you are owed under the Arizona Constitution.
Ready for a real number?
📞 Call 844-844-1444 or
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