Broken bone claim in Tucson: where people get hurt and who is responsible
In Tucson, 66% of pedestrian crashes happened on just 4% of the city's streets. If a city street or sidewalk caused your break, a claim against the City of Tucson is due in 180 days. Most other injury lawsuits have 2 years. Suspect a hip, pelvis or upper leg break? Call 911.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (33)
Where do people get hurt on foot in Tucson?
A few streets cause most of it. Between 2014 and 2018, 66% of pedestrian crashes and 68% of fatal or incapacitating ones happened on 4% of city streets. About 40% of pedestrian crashes happen in the dark.
The City's pedestrian plan lists W Grant Rd and N Oracle Rd, E Grant Rd and N Alvernon Way, and N Stone Ave and E Speedway Blvd as Tier 1 locations. In 2024, Pima County had 237 pedestrian crashes, with 52 pedestrians killed and 196 hurt.
Who has to stop at a Tucson HAWK signal or an unmarked crosswalk?
A HAWK signal stays dark until a pedestrian presses the button. During the alternating flashing red, drivers may go only after a full stop and after making sure no pedestrian is in danger.
The City says there is an unmarked, legal crosswalk across any intersection unless signs prohibit crossing. That matters if a driver says you were not in a crosswalk.
Who is responsible when a Tucson sidewalk breaks your leg?
Tucson code requires the owner of the property next to a sidewalk to keep it in good order and repair. The code makes that owner liable to the City for the City's losses from sidewalk injuries. It does not say the injured person may sue the owner directly.
So there may be two targets, the City and the owner, and each has different rules. Report the hazard to Tucson 311 and photograph it first. A report creates a date.
What about a broken bone on a bike or the Loop in Tucson?
Pima County had 140 bicycle crashes in 2024, with 9 people killed and 132 hurt. Falls are the most common bike crash, and crashes with cars are the most serious.
The Chuck Huckelberry Loop has more than 138 miles of paved pathway. It runs through unincorporated Pima County, Marana, Oro Valley, Tucson and South Tucson, so the right office to file with depends on where you fell. Pima County's Clerk of the Board accepts claims on the county.
Where do I file a claim after a broken bone in Tucson?
| Where you were hurt | Who may be responsible | Where the claim goes |
|---|---|---|
| City street or sidewalk | City of Tucson, or the owner next to the sidewalk | City Clerk, 255 W. Alameda, 9th Floor, or [email protected]. 180 days. |
| County road or path | Pima County | Pima County Clerk of the Board accepts claims on the county. We found no published county instructions, so confirm the office before filing. |
| State highway | State of Arizona | Attorney General's office, 2005 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix. |
| Store or private lot | The property owner | Lawsuit within 2 years. |
A City claim with no answer in 60 days counts as denied. After that, you have one year to sue.
Who pays the hospital bills after a broken bone in Tucson?
Banner University Medical Center Tucson and Carondelet St. Joseph's are the two Level I trauma centers on the state list. Hospitals and ambulances can claim a lien on a recovery, and Medicare recovers its payments. Arizona lets you claim the full billed charge, without a cut for insurer write-offs.
Questions
What is compartment syndrome?
It is pressure that builds inside a limb, and the warning sign is pain far beyond what is expected. A cast or bandage that is too tight can cause it. Go back to the ER.
Can I still file if I crossed outside a crosswalk?
Yes. Arizona cuts your award by your share of fault and does not bar the claim.
How long do I have to sue after a broken leg?
Generally 2 years. Against a city or county, give notice in 180 days and sue within a year of a denial.
Does a break in a child change the deadline?
Yes. Time under 18 does not count toward the 2 years.
Broken bones in Tucson? See if you are owed money.
A free case review. $0 upfront. No fee unless you win.
See if I’m owed moneySources (33)
- City of Tucson, Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (2020), checked 2026-11-08. “Between 2014 and 2018, 66% of all pedestrian crashes and 68% of fatal and incapacitating injury pedestrian crashes occurred on just 4% of our streets.”
- City of Tucson, File a Notice of Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “Claimants have 180 days from an accident or injury to file a claim against the City.”
- A.R.S. § 12-542, checked 2026-11-08. “within two years after the cause of action accrues”
- MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “There is a suspected broken bone in the hip, pelvis, or upper leg.”
- City of Tucson, Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (2020), checked 2026-11-08. “| W Grant Rd & N Oracle Rd | Tier 1 |”
- City of Tucson, Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (2020), checked 2026-11-08. “| E Grant Rd & N Alvernon Way | Tier 1 |”
- City of Tucson, Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (2020), checked 2026-11-08. “| N Stone Ave & E Speedway Blvd | Tier 1 |”
- Tucson City Code 25-12, checked 2026-11-08. “required to keep the public sidewalks immediately abutting their property in good order and repair”
- Tucson City Code 25-12, checked 2026-11-08. “shall be liable to the city for all losses to the city or recoveries from the city”
- MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Pain that is much higher than expected with the injury”
- City of Tucson, Complete Streets Coordinating Council materials 04/22/2026, checked 2026-11-08. “40% of pedestrian crashes happen in the dark.”
- ADOT, 2024 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts, checked 2026-11-08. “| Pima | 237 | 51 | 186 | 52 | 196 |”
- City of Tucson, Bicycle & Pedestrian Push-Button Crossings, checked 2026-11-08. “The signals remain off until a pedestrian activates the system by pressing a button.”
- City of Tucson, Bicycle & Pedestrian Push-Button Crossings, checked 2026-11-08. “Drivers are allowed to proceed during the flashing red after coming to a full stop”
- City of Tucson, Pedestrian Safety brochure, checked 2026-11-08. “There is an unmarked, legal crosswalk across any intersection”
- City of Tucson, Street Maintenance Requests, checked 2026-11-08. “Damaged pavement markings: striping, crosswalks, or legends”
- ADOT, 2024 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts, checked 2026-11-08. “| Pima | 140 | 9 | 131 | 9 | 132 |”
- NHTSA, checked 2026-11-09. “There are two main types of crashes: the most common (falls), and the most serious (the ones with cars).”
- Pima County, About The Loop, checked 2026-11-09. “More than 138 miles of paved pathways and bike lanes have already been completed”
- Pima County, About The Loop, checked 2026-11-09. “The Loop extends through unincorporated Pima County, Marana, Oro Valley, Tucson, and South Tucson.”
- Pima County, Clerk of the Board, checked 2026-11-09. “accepts claims and litigation served on Pima County”
- Arizona Department of Administration, Risk Management, Notice of Claim Form, checked 2026-11-09. “Office of the Attorney General 2005 N. Central Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85004”
- beta.tucsonaz.gov, checked 2026-11-08. “It is your sole responsibility to confirm that the Clerk’s office has received your form.”
- A.R.S. § 12-821, checked 2026-11-08. “shall be brought within one year after the cause of action accrues and not afterward”
- Arizona DHS, State Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-08. “1625 N. Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719 11/11/24 11/11/27”
- Arizona DHS, State Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-08. “Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital 350 N. Wilmot Rd., Tucson, AZ 85718 01/14/25 01/14/28”
- 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”
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, checked 2026-11-09. “claims where the beneficiary must repay Medicare”
- Lopez v. Safeway Stores, Inc., 212 Ariz. 198 (App. 2006), checked 2026-11-09. “entitled to claim and recover the full amount of her reasonable medical expenses for which she was charged”
- MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “A cast or bandage that is too tight”
- 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”
- A.R.S. § 12-821.01, checked 2026-11-08. “within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues”
- 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”