Your Rights as a Survivor in Arizona
If you survived sexual abuse or assault, what happened was not your fault, and you have real rights — including the right to be believed, to keep your privacy, and to pursue a civil claim on your own terms, whether or not anyone was ever charged.
A claim that is yours
A civil claim is separate from any criminal case, and it is yours — you decide whether, when, and how to pursue it. It exists to hold those responsible accountable and to support your recovery, and it can reach both an abuser and any institution that failed to protect you. There is no pressure to decide anything today.
You can protect your privacy
Your privacy matters. In many situations survivors can pursue a claim while keeping their identity out of the public record. What is available depends on your state and circumstances, and we can explain it plainly and confidentially.
How we help
We listen, explain your options in plain language, and handle everything with care and confidentiality, at your pace. The conversation is free and private. Se habla español.
Frequently asked questions
It happened a while ago. Is it too late?
Maybe not. Deadlines for these claims can differ from an ordinary case, and some situations have extended or revived filing windows. Please do not assume the door is closed without a confidential conversation.
I have not told anyone. Can I still talk to a lawyer?
Yes. You do not need to have told anyone or reported anything. A conversation with us is private and confidential, with no obligation and no pressure to take any step you are not ready for.
Arizona law — what people ask
How long do I have to file an injury claim in Arizona?
Generally two years. But if a public entity is involved you must serve a formal notice of claim within 180 days and file suit within one year — and Arizona runs a much shorter one-year clock on dog-bite strict-liability claims specifically.
Can I still recover if I was partly at fault in Arizona?
Yes. Arizona applies pure comparative negligence, so fault reduces your recovery rather than ending the claim, and there is no percentage at which it cuts off. Arizona also treats fault questions as belonging to the jury rather than being resolved beforehand.
Does Arizona cap what I can recover?
No — and this sets Arizona apart from most states. Its constitution prohibits laws limiting damages for injury or death, and that applies to medical-malpractice claims too, where most states impose a cap. If you have read that pain and suffering is capped, that is not Arizona law.
What if more than one party was responsible?
Arizona generally applies several liability, so each responsible party answers for its own share rather than the whole judgment. That makes identifying every responsible party early a practical question about what is actually collectible.
The driver who hit me had no insurance. What now?
Your own uninsured or underinsured coverage is the usual route. Arizona also requires insurers to offer that coverage in writing — so if you were told your policy carries none, the underwriting file is worth checking before that answer is accepted.
Will the jury hear that my health insurance paid my bills?
Usually not — Arizona generally follows the collateral source rule. Medical-negligence cases are the statutory exception, where that evidence has been made admissible, which changes how medical damages are presented in those claims specifically.
Injury law in Arizona
Arizona injury law has some features that set it apart from its neighbors.
- Filing deadline: Arizona generally gives you two years from the injury to file, but only 180 days to serve a notice of claim on a public entity.
- Fault: Arizona follows pure comparative negligence — being partly, or even mostly, at fault reduces your recovery but does not bar it.
- Damage caps: Arizona is unusual: its constitution prohibits caps on injury or death damages, so a statutory cap does not limit what you can recover.
- Multiple defendants: Arizona generally applies several (not joint) liability, so each responsible party is accountable for its own share.
Related topics
California injury law
This is general information about Arizona injury law, not legal advice. Every case is different.
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