Find a lawyer when your child is hurt at a Tucson school or daycare
If your child is hurt at a Tucson Unified school, the claim goes through the district. Risk Management at 1010 E. Tenth St. handles claims. TUSD says it does not pay for accidental injuries on campus, so check other coverage. The notice of claim is due in 180 days, and for a minor it can run from age 18.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (23)
Where does a notice of claim go when a TUSD student is hurt?
To the district, within 180 days. TUSD Risk Management handles claims at 1010 E. Tenth St., 520-225-6601. Board Policy EHC says the Office of General Counsel and Governing Board supervisory staff may accept notices of claim naming the district.
Arizona's notice has to state a specific settlement amount, with the facts that support it. A claim without it can be rejected, so get help before you send it.
A University of Arizona class is different. The University cannot accept notices of claim. They go to the Arizona Board of Regents, 2700 N. Central Ave., Suite 400, Phoenix 85004. We did not find claim rules for the other school districts around Tucson, so ask each district's office before you send anything.
How long do you have to act after your child is hurt at school?
| Situation | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Public school, notice of claim | 180 days |
| Child under 18, notice of claim | 180 days after the child turns 18 |
| Lawsuit after the district denies the claim | 1 year |
| Private school or daycare, lawsuit | Generally 2 years |
| Lawsuit for a child, private defendant | The clock waits until age 18 |
Do not rely on the child's age to wait. Evidence disappears long before 18.
Does TUSD's student accident insurance cover the bills?
Only if your family bought it. The coverage is voluntary and paid by the family. TUSD also says it does not pay for accidental injuries on campus or during extracurricular functions.
That does not close the door on a negligence claim. Arizona's high court has said a school's duty covers risks at school or under the school's control. Use your own health plan for treatment and keep every bill.
What should you do right after your child is hurt at a Tucson school?
- Get medical care first. Banner - University Medical Center Tucson is a state-designated Level I trauma center.
- Ask the school for the written incident report. Ask who saw it and where it happened.
- Photograph the injury, the equipment or the spot. Keep clothing and shoes.
- Write down what your child says in their own words, with the date.
- Send a notice of claim to the district with a specific amount within 180 days.
- Do not sign a release. A child's settlement needs a judge's approval anyway.
What rules apply to a Tucson daycare or preschool?
- Arizona requires daycare centers to carry at least $300,000 in insurance.
- A parent and the state must be told right away about a serious incident.
- Records stay on file 12 months after a child leaves.
- You can look up a center in AZ Care Check. Centers are inspected at least once a year.
- Complaints to the Arizona Department of Health Services must be in writing. The surveyor-on-duty line is (602) 364-2539.
Who do you call if a child was hurt on purpose at school?
Call the Arizona Department of Child Safety hotline at 1-888-SOS-CHILD or the police. Your child's safety comes first. Take the time that helps your child. A separate rule applies when a school employee commits a sexual offense against a minor.
Questions
Can I sue a Tucson school district?
Yes, but the notice of claim comes first and is due in 180 days. Then you have 1 year to sue after a denial.
Who accepts a notice of claim for TUSD?
TUSD Policy EHC names the Office of General Counsel and Governing Board supervisory staff. Risk Management also handles claims.
Does a daycare have to tell me right away about an injury?
Arizona rules say the parent and the Department are told immediately.
Does my child's settlement need a judge?
Yes. A settlement for a minor is not binding unless a judge approves it.
Child hurt at school or daycare 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 (23)
- Tucson Unified School District, Risk Management, checked 2026-11-09. “520-225-6601 | fax: 520-225-6631 | 1010 E. Tenth St., Tucson, AZ 85719”
- Tucson Unified School District, Risk Management, checked 2026-11-09. “TUSD does not pay for accidental injuries sustained on campus or during extracurricular functions.”
- A.R.S. § 12-821.01, checked 2026-11-08. “within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues”
- A.R.S. 12-821.01, 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”
- Tucson Unified School District, Governing Board Policy EHC, checked 2026-11-09. “authorized to accept service on behalf of Governing Board members of formal court papers and notices of claim which name the Tucson Unified School District as a party to the action.”
- Tucson Unified School District, Risk Management, checked 2026-11-09. “Student Accident Insurance is a voluntary coverage that must be elected and paid for directly by covered individuals.”
- A.R.S. 12-821.01, checked 2026-11-09. “a specific amount for which the claim can be settled and the facts supporting that amount”
- Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure, Rule 53, checked 2026-11-09. “no settlement of a claim brought on behalf of a minor or an adult in need of protection is binding on the minor or the adult in need of protection unless it is approved by a judicial officer.”
- Arizona Board of Regents, Service of Process, checked 2026-11-09. “The universities (ASU, NAU or UArizona) are not authorized to accept service of lawsuits or notices of claim naming the Arizona Board of Regents or its universities.”
- A.R.S. § 12-821, checked 2026-11-08. “shall be brought within one year after the cause of action accrues and not afterward”
- A.R.S. § 12-542, checked 2026-11-08. “within two years 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”
- Arizona Supreme Court, Dinsmoor v. City of Phoenix (2021), checked 2026-11-09. “encompassing risks such as those that occur while the student is at school or otherwise under the school's control”
- 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 child care rules, R9-5-308, checked 2026-11-09. “General facility liability insurance of at least $300,000”
- Arizona DHS child care rules, checked 2026-11-09. “Notifies the enrolled child's parent and the Department immediately after the accident”
- Arizona DHS child care rules, checked 2026-11-09. “on facility premises for 12 months after the date of the child's disenrollment”
- Arizona Department of Health Services, checked 2026-11-09. “Using the search tool, you may find any licensed child care program in Arizona and read recent inspection reports.”
- Arizona Department of Health Services, checked 2026-11-09. “Child care centers and public school child care programs are to be inspected at least once a year.”
- Arizona Department of Health Services, Child Care Facilities Complaint FAQs, checked 2026-11-09. “Complaints must be filed in writing.”
- Arizona Department of Child Safety, Report Child Abuse or Neglect, checked 2026-11-09. “1-888-SOS-CHILD (1-888-767-2445)”
- Arizona Department of Health Services, checked 2026-11-09. “Department of Child Safety (DCS) or local law enforcement”
- A.R.S. 12-820.05, checked 2026-11-09. “A sexual offense if the victim is a minor or a child with a disability”