Injured by a government vehicle or employee? Arizona has strict 180-day notice requirements.
If your injury involved a government entity or employee in Arizona, you face much stricter deadlines than typical personal injury cases. Missing these deadlines will permanently bar your claim.
Arizona Revised Statute § 12-821.01 establishes special procedures and deadlines for claims against public entities and their employees. These rules apply to all claims against government entities, including:
Before you can file a lawsuit, you must serve a written Notice of Claim within 180 days after your cause of action accrues (typically the date of injury).
The Notice of Claim must include:
⚠️ Warning: If the Notice of Claim is not served within 180 days, your claim is permanently barred and no lawsuit may be filed. Arizona courts strictly enforce this requirement.
After serving the Notice of Claim, you must file your lawsuit within 1 year from the date the cause of action accrued (not from the date you filed the notice).
This is half the time allowed for claims against private parties (which have a 2-year statute of limitations).
Government Response Timeline: The public entity has 60 days to respond to your Notice of Claim. If they don't respond within 60 days, the claim is deemed denied, and you may proceed with filing your lawsuit.
Accident Date: January 1, 2025
Notice of Claim Deadline: June 30, 2025 (180 days)
Lawsuit Filing Deadline: January 1, 2026 (1 year)
Result: If you miss the June 30th notice deadline, you cannot sue. If you miss the January 1st lawsuit deadline, you cannot sue.
Accident Date: March 15, 2025
Notice of Claim Deadline: September 11, 2025 (180 days)
Lawsuit Filing Deadline: March 15, 2026 (1 year)
Result: You must file the Notice of Claim by September 11th and file the lawsuit by March 15th of the following year.
A.R.S. § 12-821.01 applies to claims against:
Arizona courts have consistently held that the Notice of Claim requirements under A.R.S. § 12-821.01 are mandatory and jurisdictional. This means:
At Shapiro Injury Law, we have extensive experience handling claims against government entities in Arizona. We ensure:
If your injury involved a government entity, contact us immediately. We'll protect your rights and ensure all deadlines are met.
Call (602) 232-2000 NowYou must file a written Notice of Claim within 180 days of the accident or injury. Missing this deadline bars your claim entirely under A.R.S. § 12-821.01.
You have only 1 year from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit against a government entity in Arizona, not the standard 2 years for private parties.
This includes the State of Arizona, counties, cities, towns, school districts, police departments, fire departments, transit authorities, and their employees acting in official capacity.
The Notice of Claim must include: (1) facts sufficient to show the basis of liability, (2) a specific dollar amount for settlement, and (3) facts supporting that amount.
Your claim is permanently barred. Arizona courts strictly enforce this deadline with no exceptions. You will not be able to file a lawsuit or recover any compensation.
Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis—you only pay if we win your case. Given the strict deadlines, it's critical to consult with an attorney immediately after your injury.