Find a birth injury lawyer in Scottsdale: what to ask for and how much time you have
Start by asking the hospital for your records, which a provider must act on within 30 days. In Arizona the time to sue a private doctor or hospital is generally 2 years, but it does not run while your child is under 18. A public hospital has a 180-day claim rule.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (28)
What should parents do first after a birth injury in Scottsdale?
Take care of your child and yourself first. Then ask for the records, because everything else depends on them. For your child's chart at HonorHealth, use its medical records request form and ask about copy fees first. A provider must act on a request within 30 days.
Ask for the mother's labor and delivery chart, the fetal monitor strips, the baby's NICU chart and any imaging. Arizona providers keep a child's records for at least 3 years after the child turns 18, or 6 years in other cases. Do not wait, though. Staff turn over and memories fade.
Where does a baby get specialized care near Scottsdale?
HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center has 434 beds and a Level III NICU. HonorHealth says it is the only one in the northeast Valley with that designation from the Arizona Perinatal Trust. For a child who needs trauma care, Phoenix Children's Hospital, at 1919 E. Thomas Rd., is the Level I pediatric trauma center on the state list.
The Mayo Clinic Building at 13400 E. Shea Blvd. in Scottsdale is outpatient, and Mayo Clinic Hospital is in Phoenix at 5777 E. Mayo Blvd. If you are not sure where your child's records are kept, ask each place for them.
How long do you have to bring a birth injury claim in Arizona?
| Who treated your baby | Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A private doctor or hospital | 2 years after the claim accrues | The clock can start when you should have known of the negligence; time does not run while the child is under 18 |
| A public hospital such as Valleywise | Notice of claim in 180 days | For a minor, 180 days after turning 18; claims go to the Clerk of the Board, 2601 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix |
| A federally funded health center | A written federal claim within 2 years | A claim must be presented before any suit; the federal list of health centers is searchable |
Do not rely on the child's extra time. A parent's own claim, such as one for medical bills, may be treated differently. Ask a lawyer to count each one.
What does a birth injury case need in Arizona?
It needs proof that the care fell below the standard and that the failure caused the injury. The claim must be filed with a written statement saying whether an expert is needed. If your delivery was an emergency covered by the federal emergency and labor law, the proof standard rises to clear and convincing.
Many cerebral palsy cases relate to events before or during birth, between 85% and 90%. That does not mean someone made a mistake.
Having a risk factor does not mean a child will have cerebral palsy, and brain injuries from low oxygen can range from no long-term effects to serious disability. An independent doctor looking at the chart can say what is likely. Arizona does not cap the amount recovered.
Who can you complain to about a Scottsdale doctor or hospital?
The Arizona Medical Board takes complaints about doctors at 1740 W Adams St, Suite 4000, Phoenix, or toll-free at (877) 255-2212. It publishes instructions for filing one. To raise a concern with the hospital itself, email HonorHealth Patient Relations at [email protected]. A complaint does not stop the clock on a claim.
What are the next steps after a birth injury in Scottsdale?
- Write a timeline now: due date, when labor started, who you saw, what you were told.
- Request records from the hospital, the OB office and the pediatrician.
- Keep every bill, test and therapy note.
- Count the deadlines for each provider, public or private.
- Talk to a lawyer who will have a doctor review the chart before filing.
Questions
Does my child's deadline pause until age 18?
For the lawsuit, yes. Time under 18 does not count. A parent's own claim may be treated differently, and a claim against a public hospital has a 180-day rule.
Can a birth injury case be capped in Arizona?
No. The amount recovered is not subject to a statutory limit.
Where can I file a complaint about a doctor?
With the Arizona Medical Board, toll-free at (877) 255-2212.
Can a community health center be sued like a hospital?
Some federally funded health centers are treated as federal employees, so a written federal claim comes first.
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See if I’m owed moneySources (28)
- 45 CFR 164.524, checked 2026-11-09. “no later than 30 days after receipt of the request”
- A.R.S. 12-542, checked 2026-11-09. “there shall be commenced and prosecuted within two years after the cause of action accrues”
- 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”
- A.R.S. 12-821.01, checked 2026-11-09. “within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues”
- 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”
- HonorHealth, checked 2026-11-09. “the only one in the northeast Valley with a Level III designation”
- Arizona Constitution, art. 18, sec. 6, checked 2026-11-09. “the amount recovered shall not be subject to any statutory limitation”
- HonorHealth, Request Medical Records, checked 2026-11-08. “Copy fees may apply.”
- A.R.S. 12-2297, checked 2026-11-09. “for at least three years after the child's eighteenth birthday”
- HonorHealth, checked 2026-11-09. “Scottsdale Shea Medical Center has 434 beds”
- Arizona Department of Health Services, checked 2026-11-09. “Phoenix Children’s Hospital | 1919 E. Thomas Rd., Phoenix,”
- Mayo Clinic, checked 2026-11-09. “The Mayo Clinic Building houses outpatient services on the Scottsdale campus.”
- Mayo Clinic, checked 2026-11-09. “Mayo Clinic Hospital 5777 E. Mayo Blvd. Phoenix, AZ 85054”
- Arizona Supreme Court, Walk v. Ring (2002), checked 2026-11-09. “whether the plaintiff by the exercise of reasonable diligence should have known of defendants”
- Valleywise Health, checked 2026-11-09. “Clerk of the Board of Directors Maricopa County Special Health Care District 2601 E. Roosevelt St. Phoenix, Arizona 85008”
- 28 U.S.C. 2401(b), checked 2026-11-09. “presented in writing to the appropriate Federal agency within two years after such claim accrues”
- HRSA, FTCA FAQ, checked 2026-11-09. “a claimant may not file suit before presenting an administrative claim”
- HRSA FTCA Search Tool, checked 2026-11-09. “searches a listing of recipients of Health Center Program grant funding that have been deemed as PHS employees”
- A.R.S. 12-563, checked 2026-11-09. “failed to exercise that degree of care, skill and learning expected of a reasonable, prudent health care provider”
- A.R.S. 12-2603, checked 2026-11-09. “shall certify in a written statement that is filed and served with the claim”
- A.R.S. 12-572, checked 2026-11-09. “emergency medical treatment and labor act”
- CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “CP related to events before or during birth is called congenital CP and describes the majority of cases (85%–90%).”
- CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “having a risk factor does not mean that a child will have CP”
- NINDS, checked 2026-11-09. “While some children who experience HIE at birth may not have any long-term consequences, others can experience mild to severe disabilities or even death.”
- Arizona Medical Board, checked 2026-11-09. “1740 W Adams St, Suite 4000 Phoenix, AZ 85007”
- Arizona Medical Board, checked 2026-11-09. “(877) 255-2212”
- Arizona Medical Board, checked 2026-11-09. “Here you will find instructions for how to file a complaint”
- HonorHealth, checked 2026-11-09. “please email us at [email protected]”