Arizona Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims
In Arizona, you have a limited amount of time to file a personal injury lawsuit after an accident. Miss the deadline and you lose your right to sue entirely, no matter how strong your case is.
The Deadlines
Personal injury: 2 years from the date of the accident (A.R.S. 12-542)
Wrongful death: 2 years from the date of death (A.R.S. 12-611)
Property damage: 2 years from the date of damage (A.R.S. 12-542)
Claims against a city or county: Notice of claim within 180 days (A.R.S. 12-821.01)
Claims against the state: Notice of claim within 180 days (A.R.S. 12-821.01)
Why Two Years Is Less Time Than You Think
Two years sounds like plenty of time, but accident cases take months to build properly. Medical treatment needs to reach a point where doctors can give a final prognosis. Evidence needs to be collected before it disappears. Witnesses need to be interviewed before their memories fade. Experts need to be retained and reports prepared.
If you wait 18 months to contact a lawyer, you are asking them to do in 6 months what normally takes 12 to 18 months. This often means either a weaker case or having to file a lawsuit just to preserve the deadline, which increases costs for everyone.
Government Claims Are Different
If your accident involved a government vehicle, a government employee on duty, or a dangerous road condition that a government agency was responsible for maintaining, you have only 180 days (about 6 months) to file a notice of claim. This is not a lawsuit. It is a required first step before you can sue. Miss it and your case is over.
This catches many people off guard. A pothole caused your accident? City bus hit you? Government vehicle ran a red light? You have 180 days, not 2 years.
Do not wait. Call (480) 937-2116 for a free consultation.
