The Deadline That Ends Most Government Claims
This is the single most common way a good claim is lost. When a public entity is involved, the ordinary years-long deadline is replaced by a notice requirement measured in months — and all three states impose one, at different lengths.
| California | Arizona | New Mexico | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice deadline | About 6 months | 180 days | 90 days |
| Deadline to file suit | Shortened after denial | 1 year | 2 years |
| Notice must state a dollar amount | A claim form is required | Yes — a specific settlement sum | Written notice required |
| Punitive damages against the entity | Generally not | No | No |
| Ordinary deadline if no entity involved | 2 years | 2 years | 3 years |
Why the ordinary deadline misleads people
Someone hurt by a city bus reasonably assumes they have the same two or three years anyone else would. They do not. The notice requirement runs first, it is measured in months, and missing it can end the claim before the ordinary deadline is anywhere close.
New Mexico’s 90 days is the shortest
Ninety days can pass while someone is still in hospital. New Mexico offsets it with the longest ordinary deadline of the three — three years — which makes the contrast between the two routes especially sharp.
Arizona asks for a number, not just notice
Arizona requires the notice to state a specific amount for which the claim can be settled, with facts supporting it. A notice served on time but without a sum certain can still be held invalid, which is a trap that catches people filing without help.
What counts as a government entity
More than people expect: cities and counties, the state and its agencies, school districts, public universities, transit authorities, public hospitals — and their employees acting in the scope of their work.
Read the detail for your state
This page compares. These go into what actually applies where you were hurt.
Common questions
A city vehicle hit me. How long do I have?
Far less time than you would for a private driver. Roughly six months in California, 180 days in Arizona, 90 days in New Mexico — before you can sue at all.
I think I have already missed it.
Get it reviewed rather than assuming. Some circumstances affect when the period starts, and the analysis depends on facts rather than on the calendar alone.
Not sure which state’s law applies to you?
It is not always obvious — and it changes the answer. A free, confidential review sorts it out in about two minutes.
More state comparisons
- Can I Sue My Insurer Under a Statute? California vs. Arizona vs. New Mexico
- Can You Sue the Other Side’s Insurer? California vs. Arizona vs. New Mexico
- Which State Caps Your Damages? California vs. Arizona vs. New Mexico
- How Long Do You Have? California vs. Arizona vs. New Mexico
- Dog Bite Law Compared: California, Arizona and New Mexico
General information, not legal advice. Every situation is different, and which state’s law applies is itself a legal question.