Arizona Auto Insurance

Frequency of Injury Claims: The number of people claiming to be injured in Arizona crashes is 26.5% higher than the national average.

Cost of Injury Claims: The cost to reimburse a person injured in vehicle crash is $113 more in Arizona than it is nationally.

Frequency of Comprehensive Claims: The frequency of comprehensive claims (primarily thefts, vehicle-wildlife collisions and windshield repair/replacement) is 170% higher in Arizona than it is nationally. Some consumers may not realize that when they share their insurance information with glass repair companies, the glass provider may actually be submitting a claim against their policy without the consumer’s knowledge.

Cost of Comprehensive Claims:  The average payout for a comprehensive claim in Arizona is $519 less than the national average.

Frequency of Collision Claims: The number of collision claims filed in Arizona is 16% less than it is nationally.

Cost of Collision Claims: The average payout for a collision claim in Arizona is $456 more in Arizona than it is nationally.

Frequency of Property Damage Liability Claims: The number of property damage liability claims filed in Arizona is 5% less than the national average.

Cost of Property Damage Liability Claims:  The average property damage liability payout in Arizona is $437 more than the national average.

Fatalities: Based on miles driven, Arizona’s fatality rate is 28.36% higher than the national average. Native Americans represent 4.84% of Arizona’s population, and 11.51% of its vehicle fatalities. Hispanics represent 25.24% of Arizona’s population, and 26.6% of vehicle fatalities.

Vehicle Theft: Based on vehicle thefts for every 100,000 residents, Arizona’s theft rate improved in 2005. Additional citizen participation in the Arizona Auto Theft Authority’s “Watch Your Car Program” and the use of “bait” cars in capturing thieves are major reasons for the improvement. Despite these efforts, Arizona’s theft rate is still 128% higher than the national average. The Phoenix-Mesa metropolitan area ranks fourth in the country for thefts, while Tucson ranks 15th, Yuma 33rd, Flagstaff 205th and Prescott 227th.

Traffic Density: Over 88% of Arizonans live in metropolitan areas. Only California, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Nevada, Rhode Island, Utah and Washington D.C. have a higher population concentration in urban areas.

Miles Driven Per Highway Mile: The number of miles driven in Arizona ranks as the 15th highest in the country, trailing California, Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Florida, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina and Georgia.

Insurance Fraud: Insurance fraud primarily involves individuals who, in collusion with unscrupulous attorneys and medical “mills,” file claims for injuries that either don’t exist or are greatly exaggerated. Claims for these types of “injuries” add $180 to the average auto premium in Arizona. Other forms of fraud prevalent in Arizona include glass repair companies attempting to bill insurance companies for work that was either not done, or for replacing windshields when, in fact, the windshield was repaired. Vehicle “give-ups” is prevalent as well. It occurs when a vehicle owner purposely has his vehicle stolen to collect insurance proceeds. Citizens suspecting insurance fraud should report their suspicions to the DOI Fraud Unit (602-912-8418) or the National Insurance Crime Bureau (1-800-TEL-NICB).

• While safety belt use has increased, there's more to do. In 2004, 292 unbelted drivers and 134 unbelted passengers died in Arizona. Another 4,600 were injured.
• The number of people claiming to be injured in vehicle collisions continues to be substantially higher in Arizona than it is nationally.
• Speeding and driver inattention continue to jeopardize safety on our roadways. Rear-end collisions represented 45.96% of all multi-vehicle crashes in Arizona. Speeding caused 18.65% of all crashes, 18.93% of all injuries and 18.34% of all fatalities. Drivers failing to yield the right-of-way was cited as the major driving error in 10.37% of all crashes, 12.05% of all injuries and 8.42% of all fatalities. Driver inattention was cited as the major cause of 5.59% of all crashes, 4.5% of all injuries and 2.68% of all fatalities.
• The DUI Task Forces in Arizona continue to remove impaired drivers from our roadways. In 1990, for instance, 9.68% of all crashes were alcohol-related. In 2004, 5.78% were alcohol-related.
• Between 80% and 85% of drivers and passengers in Arizona are wearing their safety belts. In fatal crashes in 2003 (latest available data), 73% of drivers and passengers who wore safety belts survived. Of those who did not wear safety belts, only 42% survived. It’s estimated that safety belts save 14,000 lives and $50 billion in medical care, lost productivity and other injury related costs nationwide annually.

Sources: Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Insurance Services Office, Arizona Auto Theft Authority, National Insurance Crime Bureau, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Bureau of Census