Arizona injury rights, deadlines, and help

If you were hurt in Arizona, you probably want one answer first: how long do I have to act? This page gives you Arizona's main injury deadlines, what to do right now, and where free help is.

We are the injured person's advocate. Our help is always free to you.

The deadline box: Arizona's key time limits

Arizona's general clock is average, but its government claim rule is one of the shorter ones in the country. Here are the main deadlines.

• Personal injury lawsuit: 2 years. Under Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-542, most injury lawsuits must be filed within 2 years. This is the statute of limitations (the legal deadline to file a lawsuit). (Source)
• Work injury, report to your employer: right away. Under Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 23-908(E), you must report a work injury "forthwith," which means immediately. There is no fixed day count, so the safe move is a written report the same day. (Source)
• Work injury, file the claim: 1 year. Under Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 23-1061(A), a workers compensation claim (the state system that pays for work injuries) must be filed within 1 year after the injury or after the right to compensation accrued. One year is short compared to many states. (Source)
• Injury involving the government: 180 days for the notice, 1 year for the lawsuit. Under Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-821.01(A), a notice of claim must be filed with the public entity within 180 days. The lawsuit itself must then be filed within 1 year. Two clocks, both shorter than the normal 2 years. (Source)

One more caution. Medical claims against doctors or hospitals can run on different, often shorter deadlines. Do not assume the 2-year rule covers a hospital or doctor case.

What to do first

1. Get medical care now. Your health comes first, and the records also document your injury.
2. If it happened at work, report it to your employer today, in writing. Arizona expects the report immediately. Keep a copy.
3. Write down what happened while it is fresh: date, time, place, people, and conditions.
4. Take photos of the scene, your injuries, and anything involved (a vehicle, a floor, a machine, a dog).
5. Get names and contact information for witnesses.
6. Do not sign anything from an insurance company before you understand your full costs.
7. Note who owns the place where you were hurt. If a city, county, or state agency is involved, the 180-day clock is already running.

Common situations in Arizona

Hurt at work. Arizona's workers compensation system pays medical costs and part of your wages, but the 1-year claim deadline catches people who wait to see if they heal. Report immediately, then file the claim with the Industrial Commission well inside the year. Do not let an employer talk you into "keeping it off the books."

Hurt on the road. Arizona uses pure comparative negligence (a rule that reduces your recovery by your share of fault instead of blocking it). Under Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-2505, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, but some fault does not erase your claim. (Source) The other side's insurer still profits from every point of fault it can shift onto you, so early photos and witness names protect your recovery.

Hurt on someone's property. Falls and unsafe conditions follow the 2-year lawsuit clock. Dog bites work differently. Under Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 11-1025(A), a dog owner is liable for a bite even if the dog never bit anyone before. (Source) But there is a trap: a claim brought under that statute can run on a shorter 1-year clock, because Arizona gives claims created by statute only 1 year. A regular negligence claim for the same bite gets the normal 2 years. Which path fits your case is exactly the kind of question to ask early, not at month thirteen.

A true story: two days late, case over

Brandon Galloro said he was bitten by a dog on August 8, 2022, at a hotel in the Toledo, Ohio area. Ohio gave him two years to sue. His complaint was filed on August 10, 2024, two days past the deadline. He was handling the case himself, without a lawyer. He said he had really filed earlier and pointed to a filing receipt, but he never attached it to his complaint, so the court could not consider it. The trial court threw out the whole case as too late, and in 2025 the appeals court agreed and ordered him to pay the costs of the appeal. He never got to argue about the dog, the hotel, or his injuries. (Source: CourtListener)

His story is from Ohio, but the lesson lands hard in Arizona, where a statutory dog bite claim can have only 1 year. Courts count deadline days exactly. The system is unforgiving about time. That is not your fault. It is simply why acting early protects you.

What we can help with

We are on your side, and our help is free to injured people. We can help you:

• Understand which Arizona deadlines apply to your situation
• Report your work injury correctly, today
• Spot the short clocks, like the 180-day government notice
• Organize your records, photos, and timeline
• Find the right next step: medical care, therapy, state benefits, or a licensed attorney when your case needs one
• Prepare questions to ask before you hire any lawyer

We do not give legal advice, and we never take money from injured people. We explain your rights in plain language and connect you with licensed help when you need it.

Tell us what happened

If you or someone you love was hurt in Arizona, you do not have to sort this out alone. Tell us what happened. It is free, private, and there is no pressure.

Sources

• Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-542 (personal injury time limit)
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 23-908 (workers comp report)
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 23-1061 (workers comp claim deadline)
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-821.01 (government claim notice)
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 11-1025 (dog bite statute)
• Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-2505 (comparative fault)

Last reviewed: 2026-08-16

This is general information, not legal advice. Deadlines can change or vary with the facts. A licensed attorney can confirm the rule for your situation.