Don’t Miss the Deadline: Arizona’s Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury
If you have been injured in Phoenix, the most important thing you can do—aside from seeking medical care—is check the calendar.
Arizona law imposes strict deadlines for filing personal injury lawsuits. Miss the deadline by even one day, and you permanently lose your right to recover compensation. While many people believe they always have two years, a lesser known 180-day rule applies to many Phoenix injury cases and catches victims completely off guard.
The Standard Rule: Two Years for Most Private Claims
For most personal injury cases, Arizona law provides two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. This rule comes from A.R.S. § 12-542.
Common cases governed by the two year statute of limitations include:
• Car accidents involving private drivers
• Dog bites involving private owners
• Medical malpractice claims
• Slip and fall injuries on private property
If you miss this two year deadline, courts will almost always dismiss your case, no matter how serious your injuries are.
The Danger Zone: Arizona’s 180-Day Notice of Claim Rule
This is where many Phoenix residents lose their case before it ever begins.
If your injury involves a public entity or a public employee, Arizona law shortens the timeline dramatically. Under A.R.S. § 12-821.01, you must file a formal Notice of Claim within 180 days of the accident.
Failing to file this notice on time completely bars your claim—even if the government was clearly at fault.
What Counts as a Public Entity in Phoenix?
Many people are surprised by how often this rule applies. The 180-day deadline may be triggered if your injury involved:
Valley Metro
Accidents involving city buses or the Phoenix light rail system.
City or Government Vehicles
Phoenix garbage trucks, police vehicles, fire trucks, or city owned maintenance vans.
Public Property
Trip and fall injuries on cracked city sidewalks, crosswalks, public parks, or inside government buildings such as Maricopa County Superior Court.
Public Employees
Injuries caused by teachers, city inspectors, or state employees while performing their job duties.
If a government entity is involved, time is not on your side.
The One Year Lawsuit Deadline Against the Government
Even if you properly file your Notice of Claim within 180 days, the clock remains shorter.
Instead of the usual two years, Arizona law gives you only one year from the date of injury to file a lawsuit against a public entity or government employee.
Missing this deadline also permanently ends your case.
Are There Any Exceptions?
Arizona law allows a few limited exceptions that may pause, or “toll,” these deadlines. However, they are narrow and often disputed.
The Discovery Rule
If an injury was not immediately apparent—such as in some medical malpractice cases—the clock may start when the injury is reasonably discovered.
Minors
If the injured person is under 18, the statute of limitations is typically paused until adulthood.
Legal Incapacity
If a person is legally considered of unsound mind at the time of injury, the deadline may be paused until competency is restored.
Because these exceptions are frequently challenged, early legal review is critical.
Why You Should Act Long Before the Deadline
Even if you believe you have time, waiting can seriously damage your case.
• Evidence disappears
Traffic camera footage in Phoenix is often overwritten within 7 to 14 days.
• Witnesses move or forget
People relocate throughout the Valley, and memories fade quickly.
• Hidden government involvement
Determining whether a vehicle or property is government owned requires investigation. Discovering this on day 179 may be too late to file a valid Notice of Claim.
Don’t Let the Clock Run Out
If you were hit by a city vehicle or injured on public property in Phoenix, the clock is already ticking.
At Hartley Law, we move quickly to identify all responsible parties and ensure every notice and deadline is met correctly and on time.
Not sure whether the 180-day window applies to your case?
📞 Call 844-844-1444
📝 Visit https://hartleylawusa.com/contact-us/ for a free case review.
There are no fees unless we win, and your information is always secure.