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Phoenix Brain Injury Lawyer

Brain Injury Lawyer in Phoenix, Arizona: Help After a Head Injury Changes Everything

If you or someone you love suffered a brain injury in an accident in Phoenix, a brain injury lawyer in Phoenix can explain your rights and help protect the evidence that shows how the injury changed daily life. 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 call early.

Free case reviewCall (602) 584-8054
A brain MRI scan displayed on a monitor in a dim clinic room, a clinician's hand pointing, no face
Filing deadline
2 years from the injury, for most claims
A.R.S. 12-542(1)
Discovery rule
The clock can start when you knew or should have known of the injury and its cause
Arizona case law
Child victims
The clock may be paused until age 18
A.R.S. 12-502
Damage caps
None on personal injury damages
Ariz. Const. art. 2 sec. 31
An MRI scanner room seen through a control room window, soft blue light, nobody in frame

Brain Injury Lawyer in Phoenix: Injuries That Do Not Always Show

A brain injury can follow a crash, a fall, or a blow to the head, sometimes with no or seemingly minor symptoms at first. The effects can show up later as memory trouble, headaches, mood changes, difficulty working, or a feeling that you are not yourself. Insurers know that these injuries are hard to see on a simple scan and may argue that they are minor or unrelated.

Valley Accident Law represents people hurt across the Phoenix metro. We are in Scottsdale at 5635 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 170, Scottsdale, AZ 85250, and we serve Phoenix clients, starting by phone if you are still recovering. Charles Paglialunga 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.

If you want the Scottsdale version of this page, see our Scottsdale brain injury lawyer page. For the statewide guide, see our page for a brain injury lawyer in Arizona.

How Brain Injuries Happen in the Phoenix Area

These are common causes. The setting matters because it shapes the evidence and who is responsible.

A cracked bicycle helmet resting on a hospital bedside table beside a cup of water
Freeway crashes on I-10, I-17, SR-51, and Loop 101

High-speed impacts and sudden stops can cause head injuries even when the driver was wearing a seat belt. Arizona DPS generally handles freeway crashes.

Intersection crashes on Camelback Road and Indian School Road

T-bone and left-turn crashes on wide arterials can strike the side of the head against the window or frame. The Phoenix Police Department generally writes these reports.

Motorcycle and bicycle crashes

Arizona requires helmets only for riders under 18 (A.R.S. 28-964), and a helmet does not make every injury preventable. Our page on Phoenix motorcycle accident claims covers fault questions.

Pedestrian crashes

A person hit by a car may strike the hood, windshield, or pavement. See our page on Phoenix pedestrian accident claims.

Falls and other accidents

Falls from unsafe property conditions and workplace accidents can also cause serious head injuries, and each has its own rules.

Arizona

Phoenix Hospitals Where Head Injuries Are Treated

Serious head injuries are usually treated at a trauma center, and the early medical record is important evidence. Our guide to Phoenix area trauma centers explains how those records help.

  • St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center

    A Level I trauma center and home to the Barrow Neurological Institute.

  • Banner University Medical Center Phoenix

    A Level I trauma center and teaching hospital.

  • Valleywise Health Medical Center

    A Level I trauma center in central Phoenix.

  • HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center

    Treats many patients from north Phoenix.

  • Phoenix Children's Hospital

    Treats children injured in Phoenix.

What an Insurer May Say and What the Evidence Can Show

Brain injury claims turn on proving something that cannot always be seen. This is how that fight often looks.

What an insurer may argue

  • The scan was normal, so the injury is minor.
  • The symptoms started too late to be from the crash.
  • The problems come from stress, a prior condition, or something else.
  • You are recovering faster than you say.

What we look at

  • The first emergency record and anything that happened at the scene, such as a blow to the head or loss of consciousness.
  • Evaluations by treating doctors and other professionals over time.
  • How family, coworkers, and friends describe changes in you.
  • Work records, missed days, and changes in what you can do.

Records and Evidence That Help a Brain Injury Claim

These steps are about protecting your claim. We do not give medical advice, and your doctors decide your care.

  • Medical records from the first emergency visit onward, including imaging and follow-up appointments
  • The Phoenix Police Department or Arizona DPS report number, and any scene photos taken if safely possible
  • A simple notebook of symptoms, missed work, and daily difficulties, written when they happen
  • Names of family, friends, and coworkers who have seen changes
  • Pay stubs, schedules, and employer records that show time lost
  • Any insurance letters and calls, kept without agreeing to a recorded statement
An MRI scanner room seen through a control room window, soft blue light, nobody in frame

Deadlines and Why Timing Matters in a Brain Injury Case

Most Arizona injury claims must be filed within two years (A.R.S. 12-542). The clock can sometimes start when you knew or should have known of the injury and its cause, which can matter when the effects of a brain injury appear later. For a child, Arizona generally pauses the clock until age 18 (A.R.S. 12-502).

If a public entity may be responsible, a notice of claim is due within 180 days (A.R.S. 12-821.01). Arizona is a pure comparative fault state (A.R.S. 12-2505), so shared fault does not end a claim. These rules have exceptions, so call us and we will explain how they apply to you. Suits from Phoenix are generally filed in Maricopa County Superior Court in downtown Phoenix.

A brain MRI scan displayed on a monitor in a dim clinic room, a clinician's hand pointing, no face

Working With Valley Accident Law After a Brain Injury

If you are looking for brain injury attorneys in Phoenix, ask who will work on your case, how fees are explained, and how the firm will present injuries that do not show on a simple scan. A traumatic brain injury lawyer in Phoenix should be willing to say what they see in your facts, the good and the bad. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.

Some people search for a brain injury attorney in Phoenix, AZ for a parent, a spouse, or a child, and some are still recovering themselves. A Phoenix traumatic brain injury attorney should be patient with that. Our experienced and friendly attorney will explain your legal rights and what your case may be worth. Call (602) 584-8054 or request your free case review. To see the other cases we take, return to our Phoenix personal injury lawyer page.

Related pages

Brain injury by city

Other practice areas in Phoenix

Questions

Questions about Phoenix brain injury cases

What if my symptoms started days after the accident?

Many brain injuries show no or seemingly minor symptoms at first. The records from the first visit and the ones that follow help show the connection.

How long do I have to file a brain injury claim in Arizona?

Two years for most claims, with some exceptions such as the discovery rule and the rules for children. A notice of claim against a government entity is due within 180 days. Call us and we will explain how these apply to you.

Does a normal scan mean I have no claim?

Not necessarily. Some brain injuries do not show on a standard scan, and an insurer may still argue that they are minor. We look at the whole record.

What if a child was hurt?

Arizona generally pauses the limitations clock for a minor until age 18, though notice rules differ. Do not wait, because evidence and memories fade.

Where are Phoenix injury suits filed?

Most are filed in Maricopa County Superior Court, at the East Court Building, 101 W. Jefferson St., in downtown Phoenix. Many claims settle before anyone files.

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

Let Us Answer Your Questions About a Brain Injury Claim

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.

(602) 584-8054

Call any time. Office visits Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.

Free and confidential. No obligation.

Call (602) 584-8054Free case review