A statute of limitations is a statute, or law, that restricts the period of time, after certain events, that a person may initiate legal proceedings. These time limits vary depending on the type of case and the state where the particular cause of action occurred. After the time limit has passed, the injured person no longer has the right to sue to recovery money damages, unless a legal exception applies. The following provides a brief summary, in alphabetical order, of some of the limitations periods for the state of Arizona for those actions related to personal injury, medical malpractice, and some products liability. Please contact a qualified Arizona lawyer to find out how a statute of limitations applies to your situation.
Fraud:
Actions based on fraud must be filed within 3 years.
Libel-Slander-Defamation:
These types of actions must be filed within 1 year from the date of the action.
Medical Malpractice:
All actions against medical professionals must be filed within 2 years of the date of the act resulting in the injury.
Personal Injury:
Personal injury actions, including medical malpractice and products liability claims, must be filed within 2 years from the date of the injury.
Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Actions Chart
Product Liability:
Product liability actions must be filed within 2 years from the date of the injury, except that no product liability action may be filed if the cause of action accrues more than twelve years after the product in question was first sold, unless the claim is based upon the negligence of the seller or manufacturer.
Professional Malpractice:
All actions against professionals must be filed within 2 years of the date of the act resulting in the injury.
Wrongful Death:
Wrongful death actions must be filed within 2 years of the date of death.
Special Rules Tolling the Statute of Limitations:
A statute of limitations is tolled when certain conditions are present. When a statute is tolled, the limitations period is essentially put on hold for a period of time. Some typical reasons that a statute is tolled include situations when the victim of the injury was a minor at the time of the injury (minority), when the victim of the injury was mentally incompetent at the time of the injury (mental incompetence), and when the defendant has filed bankruptcy.
In Arizona, when the injured party is a minor the limitations period begins to run on that minor’s 18th birthday. When the injured party is either a minor or mentally incompetent, the limitations period does not begin to run until the party reaches the age of 18 or is deemed to be of sound mind. When the disability is removed, that person shall have the same amount of time to file his or her claim as is allowed to others.
