Statute of Limitations in Arizona
State-specific overview · Contract Law
Arizona enforces a 2-year deadline for personal injury claims and a 3-year limit for contract breaches.
How Arizona treats Statute of Limitations
Personal injury lawsuits must be filed within 2 years of the injury under Arizona Revised Statutes § 34-226. Written contracts have a 3-year statute of limitations, while oral contracts have a 6-year window. Arizona generally does not apply a discovery rule for personal injury cases; the clock starts when the injury occurs. Medical malpractice claims follow the 2-year rule but have a 3-year outer limit from the date of the negligent act, even if discovery comes later.
The general definition of Statute of Limitations
A law setting the maximum time period within which a lawsuit can be filed after an injury or breach occurs.
Every type of legal claim has a deadline. Once that deadline passes, you lose the right to sue, even if you have a valid claim. The statute of limitations varies depending on the type of case—contract disputes might have a different deadline than personal injury claims, for example. These time limits exist to protect defendants from being sued years or decades after an event, when evidence may be lost and memories fade. Once the deadline expires, the claim is essentially dead, and courts will dismiss any lawsuit filed after that point.
Read the full Statute of Limitations entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Arizona.