The law requires that you file a lawsuit within a specified period of time depending on the nature of the claim and the entity that caused your injury. This is referred to as the statute of limitations. Generally, for personal injury and wrongful death claims, the statute of limitations in Arizona is two years from the time of injury or death.

The period of limitations usually runs from the time the injury occurred. Special rules, however, apply in some situations. If the claimant is under the age of eighteen, mentally incompetent, or imprisoned, the two­year limitation period is tolled.

For lawsuits brought against public entities, there are statutes which often require lawsuits be brought within a very short period of time, and only after written notice of the injury has been given to the government.