Brain injury or concussion in Phoenix: care, proof and what to ask a lawyer

Phoenix has five state-designated Level I adult trauma centers, and Phoenix Children's is the Level I center for kids. Concussion signs can appear hours or days later. A suit against a private driver or owner generally has a 2-year limit. If a city, county or state body is involved, give notice within 180 days.

Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (36)

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Road map of Phoenix showing Thomas Road, McDowell Road, Roosevelt Street and Dunlap Avenue near its Level I trauma centers
Concussion signs can appear hours or days after the injury. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Which Phoenix hospitals treat serious brain injuries?

HospitalState designationAddress
Valleywise HealthLevel I2601 E. Roosevelt
St. Joseph's HospitalLevel I, designation date ends 11/20/26350 W. Thomas Rd.
Banner University Medical Center PhoenixLevel I1111 E. McDowell Rd.
HonorHealth John C. LincolnLevel I250 E. Dunlap Ave.
HonorHealth Deer ValleyLevel I19829 N. 27th Ave.
Phoenix Children's HospitalLevel I pediatric1919 E. Thomas Rd.

The hospital you go to can matter later too, because your records live there. For Valleywise records, call its Release of Information office at (602) 344-5266. Banner uses MRO Patient Central. Valleywise is a public system, so a claim about care there is on a shorter clock.

For recovery, Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix runs a brain injury and sports neurology center for adults and teens and a 46-bed inpatient rehab unit. Barrow reports that Arizona recorded 97 brain injuries per 100,000 people, compared with 79 nationally.

What brain injury symptoms should send me back to a Phoenix ER?

Go back or call 911 for a headache that gets worse and will not go away, or if the person cannot be woken up. Even a mild injury can be serious, and people with a mild brain injury need to be seen by a provider.

Tell the people around you what happened, because a person with a brain injury may not notice their own changes. Ask them to write down what they see: forgetfulness, mood swings, trouble at work, light sensitivity.

How do you prove a concussion claim in Phoenix?

  • A normal CT does not end the question. An MRI can pick up subtle changes a CT may miss.
  • Neuropsychological or neurocognitive tests measure thinking and memory.
  • A daily journal shows how your life changed.
  • Statements from family and coworkers fill in what you cannot remember.
  • Crash and scene records tie the injury to the event: Phoenix Police portal or DPS for freeways.

Insurers often point to a clean scan or a short ER visit and say the injury was minor. That is why steady follow-up care matters, and why a gap in treatment can hurt your claim.

How long do I have to file a brain injury claim in Phoenix?

SituationDeadlineNote
Private party, such as a driver or store2 yearsFiled in Superior Court in Phoenix
City of Phoenix, Maricopa County, Valley Metro180 days for a claimIt must state a specific amount. One year to sue
Injured person of unsound mind when the claim arisesTime is pausedDo not rely on this without a lawyer
Public agency claim for an incompetent person180 days after the disability endsProof of incapacity will be needed
A childUsually starts at 18Medical care should not wait

My husband cannot manage his affairs after a brain injury in Phoenix. What do we do?

This is a hard spot, and there is a path. A guardian has legal authority to care for someone, and a conservator manages their money. The Probate court in Maricopa County appoints them for people who need that help because of a disability. If a settlement comes, a court may need to approve how it is held. Ask a lawyer early so the claim and the guardianship work together.

Who pays for brain injury care in Phoenix?

  1. At first, your health plan or AHCCCS usually pays the hospital. Your own auto medical coverage may also help.
  2. Check who caused it. The at-fault driver's or property owner's insurer may owe you, but Arizona's car minimum is only $25,000 per person.
  3. If you were hurt at work, file with the Industrial Commission.
  4. Watch for liens. Providers may claim a lien on an injury recovery.
  5. Your own share of fault lowers an award. Arizona bars any cap on injury damages.

Questions

How long do I have to sue for a brain injury in Phoenix?

Generally 2 years. A claim against a public agency needs notice within 180 days.

My CT was normal. Can I still have a brain injury?

Yes. An MRI can pick up subtle changes a CT may miss. Ask your doctor about follow-up.

Where can my child get care for a head injury in Phoenix?

For a child, Phoenix Children's (1919 E. Thomas Rd.) is the Level I pediatric trauma center designated by the state.

Do I need a guardian to file a claim?

Not always. If the injured adult cannot make decisions, the Probate court can appoint someone to help.

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Sources (36)

  1. Arizona DHS, State Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-08. “Valleywise Health 2601 E. Roosevelt, Phoenix, AZ 85008 12/19/24 12/19/27”
  2. Arizona DHS, State Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-08. “St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center 350 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85013 11/20/24 11/20/26”
  3. Arizona DHS, State Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-08. “Banner - University Medical Center 1111 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85006 11/18/25 11/18/27”
  4. Arizona DHS, State Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-08. “250 E. Dunlap Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85020 04/24/24 04/24/27”
  5. Arizona DHS, State Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-08. “HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center 19829 N. 27th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85027 05/17/25 06/13/28”
  6. Arizona DHS, State Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-09. “| Phoenix Children’s Hospital | 1919 E. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, | AZ 85016 08/31/25 | 08/31/28 |”
  7. CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “others may not appear for hours or days after the injury”
  8. A.R.S. § 12-542, checked 2026-11-08. “within two years after the cause of action accrues”
  9. Arizona Revised Statutes 12-821.01, checked 2026-11-08. “within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues”
  10. CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “People with a mild TBI or concussion need to be seen by a healthcare provider.”
  11. A.R.S. § 12-502, checked 2026-11-09. “either under eighteen years of age or of unsound mind, the period of such disability shall not be deemed a portion of the period limited for commencement of the action”
  12. Maricopa County Superior Court, Guardianships and Conservatorships, checked 2026-11-09. “The Probate court appoints guardians and conservators for these persons”
  13. valleywisehealth.org, checked 2026-11-08. “Contact our Release of Information office at (602) 344-5266.”
  14. Banner Health, Patient Medical Records, checked 2026-11-08. “you can request your medical records from any Banner Health hospital, provider office, or urgent care location.”
  15. Barrow Neurological Institute, Brain Injury and Sports Neurology Center, checked 2026-11-09. “for adults and adolescents with concussions, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and spinal cord injuries”
  16. Barrow Neurological Institute, Inpatient Neuro-Rehabilitation, checked 2026-11-09. “Our 46-bed inpatient neuro-rehabilitation unit”
  17. Barrow Neurological Institute, Neurotrauma Program, checked 2026-11-09. “recorded an incidence rate of 97 traumatic brain injuries per 100,000 people in the state, compared to a national average of 79 per 100,000 people”
  18. CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “Have a headache that gets worse and does not go away”
  19. CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “Lose consciousness, look very drowsy or cannot be woken up”
  20. CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “Even so, the effects of a mild TBI or concussion can be serious.”
  21. NINDS, checked 2026-11-09. “MRI is more sensitive and can pick up more subtle brain changes that a CT scan may miss.”
  22. CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “These tests are called "neuropsychological" or "neurocognitive" tests”
  23. phoenix.gov, checked 2026-11-08. “The following 10 options are available on the portal to submit Public Record requests:”
  24. Arizona DPS, Request Records, checked 2026-11-08. “Please wait at least 14 days to check on report availability”
  25. A.R.S. § 12-542, checked 2026-11-09. “within two years after the cause of action accrues”
  26. A.R.S. § 12-821.01, checked 2026-11-09. “within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues”
  27. A.R.S. § 12-821.01, checked 2026-11-09. “The claim shall also contain a specific amount for which the claim can be settled and the facts supporting that amount.”
  28. A.R.S. § 12-821, checked 2026-11-09. “shall be brought within one year after the cause of action accrues and not afterward”
  29. A.R.S. § 12-821.01, checked 2026-11-09. “a minor or an insane or incompetent person may file a claim within one hundred eighty days after the disability ceases”
  30. A.R.S. § 12-502, checked 2026-11-08. “the period of such disability shall not be deemed a portion of the period limited for commencement of the action”
  31. Maricopa County Superior Court, Guardianships and Conservatorships, checked 2026-11-09. “A guardian is someone who has the legal authority to care for another, and a conservator is someone who manages another’s financial affairs.”
  32. A.R.S. § 28-4009(A)(2)(b), checked 2026-11-08. “(i) $25,000 because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident. (ii) Subject to the limit for one person, $50,000 because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident. (iii) $15,000 because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident.”
  33. Industrial Commission of Arizona, checked 2026-11-08. “Phoenix: 800 W Washington St, Phoenix AZ 85007 - Phone: (602) 542-4661”
  34. A.R.S. § 33-931, checked 2026-11-09. “is entitled to a lien for the care and treatment or transportation of an injured person”
  35. A.R.S. § 12-2505, checked 2026-11-09. “the claimant's action is not barred, but the full damages shall be reduced in proportion to the relative degree of the claimant's fault”
  36. Ariz. Const. art. 18, § 6, checked 2026-11-09. “the amount recovered shall not be subject to any statutory limitation”

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