If you are injured by an employee of a public entity, or on property owned by a public entity, you should consult with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
In the vast majority of states, you have two years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This applies to injuries caused by public or private entities. But not in Arizona.
In 1994, Arizona’s Notice of Public Claim law was passed. If you intend to file a claim against a public entity in Arizona, you have just 180 days from the time of the injury to file a notice that you intend to sue that entity. If you do not act within 180 days of your injury, your claim will be automatically dismissed.
If you are injured by a public entity, you must secure an attorney and file a Notice of Claim with that 180-day window. Otherwise, you will not be able claim any damages in a suit against that entity.
Under the law, a Notice of Claim can only be filed with an employee of that public entity who is authorized to be served notice. In addition, your Notice of Claim must state a specific dollar amount that you would be willing to settle for.
See the problem? Within that 180-day window, you may not even know the full extent of your injuries yet. Lost wages, medical expenses, physical therapy and other costs associated with an injury can accrue for many months or even years after an injury.
Here’s another reason why you need the assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer: From the moment when your Notice of Claim is accepted by that public entity, you have just one year to sue.
While you have up to two years (24 months) to file suit against a private entity that injures you, Arizona’s Notice of Public Claim statute truncates the entire process to as little as 18 months to sue a public entity. And again — you may not even know the full extent of your injuries within that time frame, or how much you are entitled to in damages.
The window to sue for damages that you are rightly entitled to is closing quickly! In addition, the deadlines and filing procedures are a confusing mess — designed to trip you up!
You need an experienced personal injury attorney on your side who knows how to navigate this complex law. Contact East Valley Injury Law immediately if you have been injured by a public entity or an employee of a public entity!
