PTSD and emotional distress after an accident in Tempe: help first, then your options
For a crisis, 988 takes a call or a text, and Maricopa County also lists 602-222-9444. PTSD symptoms usually begin within 3 months, though sometimes later. In Arizona, a claim for mental anguish generally needs to show up as a physical injury. A suit against a private party is usually due in 2 years, and a claim against a public body in 180 days.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (20)
Where can I get help in Tempe right now?
- If you are in a crisis, 988 takes a call or a text. ASU students also have ASU Counseling Services, free at any hour. Maricopa County also lists 602-222-9444 and 1-800-631-1314, toll free.
- Tempe's CARE 7 offers free, confidential support to crime victims, including residents, students and visitors. You can call the CARE & HOPE line at 480-350-8004.
- CARE 7 also runs a 24-hour crisis response team.
- ASU students can reach ASU Counseling Services 24/7 at no cost.
You do not need a lawyer, a diagnosis or a police report to ask for help. Start there. The legal part can wait a week.
When does PTSD start, and how long does it last?
Symptoms usually begin within 3 months of the event, but they sometimes appear later. A diagnosis generally needs symptoms for longer than 1 month. Some people recover within 6 months. For others, symptoms last a year or more.
It is common after serious crashes. One hospital study found PTSD in 27.5% of people at 6 months. That is one study, not a Tempe number. It does show you are not alone.
Can I sue for PTSD in Arizona if I wasn't physically hurt?
It is harder. For negligent infliction of emotional distress, Arizona requires that the shock or mental anguish be shown as a physical injury. But an Arizona court has held that long-term mental disturbance can count as sufficient bodily harm. So the line is not always a broken bone.
| Situation | What Arizona asks for |
|---|---|
| You were in the crash | A physical or long-term mental injury tied to the event |
| You saw a loved one hurt | You were also in the zone of danger |
| You saw a loved one hurt | A close personal relationship with that person |
These are court rules, and they take judgment to apply. A short consultation with a lawyer is the safest way to learn which door your situation fits.
Whatever the legal route, a written record helps. Note nightmares, missed work, roads you now avoid and every provider visit, with dates. Those details show how the harm reaches into daily life.
Can crime victim money pay for counseling in Tempe?
Sometimes. Arizona's victim compensation fund covers medical costs, counseling, lost wages and more, and you apply through the county attorney's office. The offender does not have to be caught or convicted first.
This fits cases such as a drunk-driving crash or an assault. For a plain accident with no crime, it may not apply.
Is money for emotional distress taxed?
It can be. The IRS says emotional distress payments are taxable when they do not come from a physical injury. Ask a tax pro before you sign a settlement that splits the two.
Questions
Will I be able to drive again?
Many people do. Fear of driving after a crash is a common reaction, and a provider can help you build a plan.
Does my claim need a PTSD diagnosis?
A diagnosis can help show the harm, and it generally needs symptoms for longer than 1 month.
Can my employer or school help?
ASU students can use free counseling, and Tempe's CARE 7 serves residents and students.
PTSD and emotional distress in Tempe? See if you are owed money.
A free case review. $0 upfront. No fee unless you win.
See if I’m owed moneySources (20)
- Maricopa County, Mental Health and Substance Use, checked 2026-11-09. “National: Call 9-8-8”
- Maricopa County, Mental Health and Substance Use, checked 2026-11-09. “Maricopa County: Call 602-222-9444 or 1-800-631-1314 (toll free)”
- National Institute of Mental Health, checked 2026-11-09. “Symptoms of PTSD usually begin within 3 months of the traumatic event, but they sometimes emerge later.”
- Keck v. Jackson, 122 Ariz. 114 (1979), checked 2026-11-09. “the shock or mental anguish of the plaintiff must be manifested as a physical injury”
- A.R.S. § 12-542, checked 2026-11-08. “within two years after the cause of action accrues”
- Arizona Revised Statutes 12-821.01, checked 2026-11-08. “within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues”
- National Institute of Mental Health, checked 2026-11-09. “In Crisis? Call or Text 988”
- Monaco v. HealthPartners of Southern Arizona, 196 Ariz. 299 (App. 1999), checked 2026-11-09. “a physical injury, as well as a long-term physical illness or mental disturbance, constitutes sufficient bodily harm”
- Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, checked 2026-11-09. “Victim Compensation may help pay for out-of-pocket expenses including: medical costs, funeral expenses, mental health counseling, wage loss, transportation costs, and crime scene cleanup.”
- Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, checked 2026-11-08. “does not require the apprehension or conviction of an offender”
- ASU Counseling Services, checked 2026-11-09. “Counseling support for Sun Devils is available 24/7 at no cost.”
- City of Tempe, CARE 7 Victim Services, checked 2026-11-08. “Call the CARE & HOPE line 480-350-8004”
- City of Tempe, 24-Hour Crisis Response, checked 2026-11-08. “24-Hour Crisis Response Team”
- National Institute of Mental Health, checked 2026-11-09. “a person must have symptoms for longer than 1 month”
- National Institute of Mental Health, checked 2026-11-09. “Although some people recover within 6 months, others have symptoms that last for 1 year or longer.”
- PubMed Central (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “PTSD developed in 27.5 % (n=101) and 24.3 % (n=77) of the population at 6 and 12 months respectively”
- Keck v. Jackson, 122 Ariz. 114 (1979), checked 2026-11-09. “the plaintiff/bystander must himself have been in the zone of danger”
- Keck v. Jackson, 122 Ariz. 114 (1979), checked 2026-11-09. “must result from witnessing an injury to a person with whom the plaintiff has a close personal relationship”
- Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, checked 2026-11-09. “resides locally in each of Arizona's 15 county attorney's offices”
- IRS Publication 4345, checked 2026-11-09. “do not originate from a personal physical injury or physical sickness, you must include them in your income”