Phoenix Personal Injury
Personal Injury Lawyer in Phoenix, Arizona: Help After a Serious Accident
If you were hurt in a crash, a dog attack, or another accident in Phoenix, a personal injury lawyer in Phoenix can explain your rights before you talk to an insurance company. Valley Accident Law serves Phoenix clients from our Scottsdale office, and Charles Paglialunga has 32 years of Arizona accident experience. Most Arizona injury claims must be filed within two years, so the earlier you call, the better.
- Filing deadline
- 2 years from the injury, for most claims
- A.R.S. 12-542(1)
- City of Phoenix or another public entity
- Notice of claim within 180 days
- A.R.S. 12-821.01
- Fault rule
- Pure comparative fault, no percentage bar
- A.R.S. 12-2505
- Where suits are filed
- Maricopa County Superior Court, downtown Phoenix
- East Court Building, 101 W. Jefferson St.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Phoenix: Where Your Claim Starts
Phoenix is the center of a metro area where almost every commute runs on I-10, I-17, SR-51, or one of the Loop freeways. When one of those drives ends in a serious injury, the claim that follows has a lot of moving parts: a police report from the Phoenix Police Department or Arizona DPS, an insurance adjuster who calls within days, and medical bills that begin at a trauma center and keep coming.
Valley Accident Law represents people hurt in the Phoenix metro. Our office is at 5635 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 170, Scottsdale, AZ 85250, and we serve Phoenix clients from there, so you do not need to come to us for the first conversation. Charles Paglialunga has 32 years of Arizona accident experience and is a Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum member. Our experienced and friendly attorney will explain your legal rights in plain language. Request your free case review.
This page is the starting point for injuries in Phoenix. If you want the Scottsdale side of what we do, see our personal injury work in Scottsdale.
Arizona
Phoenix Injury Cases by Type
Each kind of accident has its own evidence, its own insurance rules, and its own Phoenix hazards. Choose the page closest to what happened to you.
- Car accidents in Phoenix
- Truck accidents in Phoenix
- Motorcycle accidents in Phoenix
- Uber and Lyft accidents in Phoenix
- Pedestrian accidents in Phoenix
- Wrongful death in Phoenix
- Dog bites and attacks in Phoenix
- Brain injuries in Phoenix
- Bicycle accidents in Phoenix
- Spinal cord injuries in Phoenix
- Slip and fall in Phoenix
- Golf cart accidents in Phoenix
- Bus accidents in Phoenix
- Catastrophic injuries in Phoenix
- Swimming pool accidents in Phoenix
- Nursing home abuse in Phoenix
Arizona
Where Serious Accidents Happen in Phoenix
Knowing the road matters because it tells us what evidence to look for, from signal timing to freeway camera footage, and which agency wrote the report. These are corridors in Phoenix where serious accidents are common.
I-10 and the Broadway Curve
A heavy freight and commuter route through Phoenix and Tempe, where lane changes and sudden slowdowns cause rear-end and sideswipe crashes.
I-17 and the Durango Curve area
Curves and merges close to downtown that leave drivers little room to react.
SR-51 and Loop 101
Stop-and-go commuter traffic at the interchanges where the Piestewa Freeway meets the Loop.
Loop 202 and US-60
Higher-speed freeway driving on Loop 202, plus Grand Avenue, which is US-60 and cuts across the northwest street grid at angles.
Camelback Road and Indian School Road
Wide arterials with heavy turning traffic, long crossings for pedestrians, and frequent T-bone crashes.
The light rail corridor on Central Avenue and downtown streets
Shared space among trains, cars, bicycles, and people on foot.
Who Handles What After a Phoenix Accident
Phoenix claims touch more than one agency. Knowing which one holds your records saves time and helps protect evidence before it is lost.
| Situation | Who is usually involved | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Crash on a Phoenix city street | Phoenix Police Department | Writes the crash report that insurers read first |
| Crash on a freeway such as I-10, I-17, SR-51, or a Loop | Arizona Department of Public Safety | DPS generally handles freeway crashes, so the report comes from the state, not the city |
| A claim against the City of Phoenix or a public bus | The public entity, by written notice of claim | Notice is due within 180 days, much sooner than the usual deadline |
| A lawsuit that will be filed in state court | Maricopa County Superior Court, East Court Building, 101 W. Jefferson St., downtown Phoenix | The court where most Phoenix injury suits are filed |
| A serious injury that needs emergency care | A Level I trauma center | The first medical record becomes the foundation of your claim |
Source: Public agency roles as generally understood; confirm specific cases with the agency
Arizona
Phoenix Hospitals Where Injured People Are Treated
When a crash is serious, paramedics usually take people to a trauma center. These are the Level I trauma centers in Phoenix we most often see in the medical records. Our guide to Phoenix area trauma centers explains how those records fit into a claim.
Valleywise Health Medical Center
A Level I trauma center in central Phoenix.
Banner University Medical Center Phoenix
A Level I trauma center and teaching hospital.
HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center
Serves north Phoenix.
St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
A Level I trauma center that is also home to the Barrow Neurological Institute.
Arizona
Choosing a Phoenix Personal Injury Attorney
People often search for the best personal injury lawyer in Phoenix. No search can answer that for you, but these questions help you compare honestly.
- Who will actually return your calls, and how quickly?
- Does the firm explain fees in writing before you sign anything?
- Will the attorney explain the weak points of your case as plainly as the strong ones?
- Does the firm have real experience with the kind of injury you have?
- Are you being pushed to accept a quick settlement from the other side's insurance company?
- Will you be told when to expect updates, and who will give them?
Deadlines That Can Injure Your Legal Rights
Most Arizona injury claims must be filed within two years (A.R.S. 12-542). If the City of Phoenix, a public bus, or another public entity may be responsible, a written notice of claim is due within 180 days (A.R.S. 12-821.01), and a lawsuit generally must follow within one year after the claim accrues (A.R.S. 12-821). Wrongful death claims run two years from the date of death.
These rules have exceptions, so call us and we will explain how they apply to you. It is never too late to find out your legal rights, but earlier is always better. Our guide to the Arizona statute of limitations has the details.
Other Injuries We Help With in Phoenix
Not every case fits a single page. These come up often.
- Bicycle accidents
Phoenix cyclists face cars turning across bike lanes and crossings at canal paths. Arizona has no statewide bicycle helmet law, and fault is often argued anyway. See our page for a bicycle accident lawyer in Phoenix.
- Whiplash and soft tissue injuries
Often show no or seemingly minor symptoms at first. Our guide to whiplash injury claims explains why.
- Back and neck injuries
Frequently follow freeway rear-end crashes. Read about back and neck injury claims.
- Questions about the process
Our guide to the personal injury claim process shows what happens after you call.
Working With Valley Accident Law From Phoenix
You do not need an office visit to get started. Call (602) 584-8054 or request your free case review and we will talk through what happened, what evidence matters, and what your next step could be. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. Our experienced and friendly attorney will explain your legal rights and what your case may be worth.
Insurance companies and attorneys often negotiate the percentage of fault, and the facts that decide that number are easiest to protect early. If you are comparing a personal injury attorney in Phoenix against other firms, or looking at an accident attorney in Phoenix, AZ, ask for plain answers, and compare more than one firm before you decide. We will give you ours. For the practical first steps, read what to do after a car accident.
Questions
Questions about Phoenix personal injury
Do you have an office in Phoenix?
Our office is in Scottsdale, at 5635 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 170, Scottsdale, AZ 85250. We serve clients across Phoenix and the rest of the Valley, and we can start by phone.
How long do I have to file an injury claim in Phoenix?
Two years for most claims, but a claim against a city, a public bus, or another public entity requires written notice within 180 days. These rules have exceptions, so call us and we will explain how they apply to you.
Which police agency writes my crash report?
The Phoenix Police Department generally writes reports for crashes on city streets, and Arizona DPS generally handles freeway crashes. Either way, ask for the report number at the scene.
Where would my lawsuit be filed?
Most injury suits from Phoenix are filed in Maricopa County Superior Court, in the East Court Building at 101 W. Jefferson St. in downtown Phoenix. Many claims settle before anyone files.
What if I was partly at fault?
Arizona is a pure comparative fault state. You can still recover, reduced by your share of fault, and insurers often try to push that share higher.
How much does it cost to hire you?
You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. We will explain how costs are handled during your free case review.
Free case review
Talk to Us About Your Phoenix Injury
Call (602) 584-8054 or request your free case review. Our experienced and friendly attorney will explain your legal rights. The earlier you call, the better, but it's never too late to find out your legal rights.
Call any time. Office visits Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.
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