Find a brain injury lawyer in Tempe: where to get care and how to prove a concussion
The state lists no designated trauma center at a Tempe address. Banner Desert in Mesa is Level I. Brain injury symptoms can appear hours or days later. You generally have 2 years to sue in Arizona, and a claim against a public agency is due in 180 days.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (35)
Where do people with brain injuries in Tempe get treated?
Not usually in Tempe, for the worst injuries. HonorHealth Tempe has an emergency department but is not on the state's trauma list. Paramedics may take you to one of these Level I centers on the state list.
| Level I trauma center | Address |
|---|---|
| Banner Desert | 1400 S. Dobson Rd., Mesa |
| Chandler Regional | 1955 W. Frye Rd., Chandler |
| HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn | 7400 E. Osborn, Scottsdale |
| Valleywise Health | 2601 E. Roosevelt, Phoenix |
| Banner University Phoenix | 1111 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix |
| St. Joseph's | 350 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix |
For recovery, Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix offers inpatient and outpatient neuro-rehabilitation, with work and school re-entry programs. It also treats post-concussion symptoms. ASU students can see sports medicine on the Tempe campus, which treats concussions and has ImPACT testing.
Bad crashes here often involve people with no protection around them. Tempe's plan counted 317 serious injury crashes in five years, and 88 involved motorcycles. In Tempe, riders under 18 must wear a helmet on a bike, e-bike or scooter.
Do I really have a concussion if I felt fine at first?
You might. Symptoms can come hours or days later. A mild brain injury still needs to be seen by a provider. Many people do not notice their own problems, so ask someone close to you what has changed. And a mild injury is not a small thing, because the effects can be serious.
A second hit can mean a longer recovery. Tell your doctor about every earlier blow to the head. Go to the ER right away for a worsening headache, repeated vomiting, or if a person cannot be woken up.
How do I prove a brain injury after a Tempe crash?
Insurers like to say a normal scan means no injury. It does not. Your case gets stronger with careful records of how your life changed.
- See a provider within a day or two, even if you did not black out.
- Ask Tempe Fire for the patient care report if they treated you. It can show confusion at the scene.
- Get your hospital records. Banner uses MRO Patient Central.
- Ask your doctor about neuropsychological testing, which can measure thinking problems.
- Keep a daily log of headaches, memory lapses, sleep and mood.
- Ask a coworker, teacher or family member to write down what they have seen.
- Get your police report on BuyCrash or from Tempe Police Records.
Who pays for a brain injury in Tempe?
| How it happened | Who may pay | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Car crash | The other driver's insurer, then your own uninsured coverage | Arizona's minimum is only $25,000 per person. |
| Fall at a store or apartment | The property owner's insurer | Your share of fault cuts the award. |
| Injury at work | Workers' comp, file within one year | An outside company may also owe you. |
| Valley Metro bus or train | The agency, by notice of claim | Send to Risk Management. |
| City street or park | City of Tempe | City Clerk within 180 days. |
Hospitals may claim a lien on what you recover from the person who hurt you. Get that sorted out before you settle. Long-term brain care is expensive, so do not settle until a doctor can say what your future needs look like.
Can a brain injury change my deadline in Tempe?
Sometimes. Arizona pauses the time limit for someone of unsound mind when the claim arises. For public claims, a person who is incompetent has 180 days after the disability ends. Do not count on either. These rules are fought over, and a family member should act as soon as possible.
| Against | Time limit | Remember |
|---|---|---|
| A driver or business | 2 years | A minor usually gets more time. |
| City of Tempe or Valley Metro | 180 days for the claim | Must state a specific amount. |
| Lawsuit against a public agency | 1 year | Superior court |
What should I ask a brain injury lawyer in Tempe?
- Have you handled concussion claims when scans came back normal?
- Which specialists do you suggest we see for proof?
- How will you estimate my future care and lost work?
- Who will speak for me if my memory is not reliable?
Questions
Is there a trauma center in Tempe?
The state list shows none at a Tempe address. Banner Desert in Mesa is listed as Level I.
How long after a crash can concussion symptoms start?
Hours or days later.
How long do I have to file for a brain injury in Tempe?
Generally 2 years, or 180 days for a claim against a public agency.
Where can an ASU student get a concussion checked?
ASU Health Services sports medicine, on the Tempe campus, treats concussions.
Brain injury or concussion 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 (35)
- Arizona Department of Health Services, Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-08. “Banner Desert Medical Center 1400 South Dobson Rd., Meza, AZ 85202 06/10/24 06/10/27”
- CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “others may not appear for hours or days after the 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”
- Arizona Revised Statutes 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.”
- 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”
- HonorHealth Tempe Medical Center, checked 2026-11-08. “The emergency entrance is on the West side of Mill Avenue.”
- Arizona Department of Health Services, Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-09. “1955 W. Frye Rd., Chandler, AZ 85224”
- Arizona Department of Health Services, Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-09. “7400 E. Osborn, Scottsdale, AZ 85251”
- Arizona Department of Health Services, Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-09. “Valleywise Health 2601 E. Roosevelt, Phoenix, AZ 85008”
- Arizona Department of Health Services, Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-09. “1111 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85006”
- Arizona Department of Health Services, Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-09. “St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center 350 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85013”
- Barrow Neurological Institute, Neuro-Rehabilitation Center, checked 2026-11-09. “medically managed inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services, work and school re-entry programs”
- Barrow Neurological Institute, Brain Injury and Sports Neurology, checked 2026-11-09. “the diagnosis and treatment of post-concussion symptoms”
- ASU Health Services, Sports Medicine, checked 2026-11-09. “On-site resources include digital X-ray, ImPACT testing, and laboratory services.”
- Tempe Safety Action Plan, checked 2026-11-08. “Serious Injury (A) 134 88 36 65 317”
- City of Tempe, Bike and Scooter Safety, checked 2026-11-08. “Riders under the age of 18 are required to wear a helmet if operating a bike, e-bike, or scooter.”
- CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “People with a mild TBI or concussion need to be seen by a healthcare provider.”
- CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “A person may not recognize or admit that they are having problems”
- CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “Even so, the effects of a mild TBI or concussion can be serious.”
- CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “A person with a history of multiple or repeated mild TBIs or concussions may experience a longer recovery or more severe symptoms.”
- Tempe Fire Medical Rescue, Medical Records, checked 2026-11-08. “Record requests by phone 480-858-7262”
- Banner Health, Medical Records, checked 2026-11-08. “you can request your medical records from any Banner Health hospital, provider office, or urgent care location.”
- CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “These tests are called "neuropsychological" or "neurocognitive" tests”
- Tempe Police, Public Records Request, checked 2026-11-08. “Accident reports approved for public release are available online from November 1, 2021 to the present.”
- Tempe Police, Public Records Request, checked 2026-11-08. “Tempe Police Department – Records 120 E. 5th Street Tempe, AZ 85281 Lobby Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.”
- 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.”
- A.R.S. § 12-2505, checked 2026-11-08. “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”
- Industrial Commission of Arizona, checked 2026-11-08. “An injured worker must file a claim in writing with the Commission within one year after the injury occurred.”
- Valley Metro, Notice of Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “Valley Metro Attention: Risk Management 101 N. 1st Avenue, Suite 1300 Phoenix, AZ 85003”
- City of Tempe, Risk Management, checked 2026-11-08. “claims must be filed with the City Clerk's Office within 180 days after the cause of action accrues”
- 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”
- Arizona Revised Statutes 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”
- 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”
- A.R.S. § 12-821, checked 2026-11-08. “shall be brought within one year after the cause of action accrues and not afterward”