Find a brain injury lawyer in Tucson: care, proof and who can act for you
Tucson's state-designated Level I trauma centers are Banner University Medical Center and Carondelet St. Joseph's. Arizona gives you 2 years to sue over a brain injury, no matter which Tucson hospital treated you. A notice of claim against a public body such as the City or Pima County is due in 180 days. If the injured person cannot manage their affairs, time rules can change, so ask early.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (37)
Where do people with brain injuries get treated in Tucson?
| Stage of care | Tucson option | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Trauma | Banner University Medical Center, 1625 N. Campbell Ave. | State-designated Level I |
| Trauma | Carondelet St. Joseph's, 350 N. Wilmot Rd. | State-designated Level I |
| Trauma | Banner UMC South and Northwest Medical Center | State-designated Level III |
| Inpatient neuro care | TMC Neuroscience Center lists a 30-bed unit with neuro-certified nurses | 5301 E. Grant Road |
| Rehab | Banner Rehabilitation Hospital Tucson, 355 N. Wilmot Rd., lists brain injury rehabilitation | (520) 540-2001 |
Ask each place for records in writing. Banner uses MRO Patient Central for hospitals, offices and urgent care. Thinking and memory testing, called neuropsychological or neurocognitive testing, can show what a standard scan does not.
When is a head injury an emergency in Tucson?
A concussion can look mild at first, because symptoms may appear hours or days later. Call 911 or go to an emergency room if the person has a headache that gets worse, keeps vomiting, or cannot be woken up.
Even mild injuries should be seen by a provider. The person who was hurt may not notice the changes, so a spouse or co-worker's notes are valuable. Most people feel better within a couple of weeks, but a repeat injury may mean a longer recovery, and mild does not always mean minor.
How do I prove a brain injury claim in Tucson?
A brain injury is often hidden. Insurers know that a clean CT scan can be used against you. The stronger file shows the change in a person's life, from before to after.
- The first ambulance and ER notes. Look for confusion, memory gaps or passing out.
- A log kept by someone who lives with you.
- Work records that show mistakes or lost hours after the injury.
- School records for a child. Compare grades and teacher notes from before and after.
- A crash report. Tucson Police sells these through Crashdocs, and Arizona DPS has reports for state highways.
Moderate and severe injuries may need life-long care. A claim should count the future, not only the bills so far. A Tucson brain injury claim can count lifetime care with no damage cap in Arizona. Your award is reduced by your own share of fault, if any.
Who can act for someone with a brain injury in Tucson?
If your husband, wife or child cannot make decisions after an injury, the first step may be simpler than a court case. Power of attorney, a representative payee and a surrogate decision maker are less restrictive options.
- Ask the treating team about capacity. Generally a physician, nurse practitioner or registered nurse must recommend an evaluation for incapacity.
- Decide who will serve. Family members may serve as guardian and conservator.
- File adult guardianship or conservatorship papers with the Probate Clerk at 110 W. Congress, 1st Floor.
- If no one is able to serve, ask about the Pima County Public Fiduciary.
A guardian or conservator may also be the person who brings the injury claim. Ask a brain injury lawyer in Tucson how a claim and a guardianship should fit together.
How long do I have to file a brain injury claim in Tucson?
| Situation | Deadline |
|---|---|
| A driver, business or property owner | Generally 2 years |
| City of Tucson, including a city street or bus | Notice in 180 days, and it must state a specific amount |
| Any lawsuit against a government | 1 year |
| Injured person of unsound mind when the claim arose | Time is paused. Government notice is 180 days after the disability ends |
Do not rely on the pause without talking to a lawyer. The question of whether someone was of unsound mind is often disputed, and a confident "we have time" can cost a family its claim.
Who pays for brain injury care in Tucson?
Usually a mix. Health insurance and AHCCCS pay many bills up front, then a liable driver's or company's insurer may pay through a claim. Hospitals and other providers may have a lien on your recovery.
Medicare must be repaid for conditional payments. Ask for those numbers in writing before you agree to any settlement. If a commercial truck or a Tucson bus was involved, there may be more coverage than on a personal car policy.
Questions
How long do I have to sue for a brain injury in Tucson?
Generally 2 years. A claim against a government is due in 180 days.
Which hospitals are Level I trauma centers in Tucson?
Banner University Medical Center and Carondelet St. Joseph's, on the state's list.
Can I have a concussion if my CT scan was normal?
Yes. Providers can recognize a concussion without any scan.
Where do I file for guardianship in Pima County?
With the Probate Clerk at Pima County Superior Court, 110 W. Congress, 1st Floor.
Brain injury or concussion 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 (37)
- 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. § 12-542, checked 2026-11-09. “within two years after the cause of action accrues”
- A.R.S. § 12-821.01, checked 2026-11-09. “within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues”
- A.R.S. § 12-502, 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”
- CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “A scan of your brain (such as a CT scan) is not needed to spot a mild TBI or concussion”
- Pima County Superior Court, Guardianship and Conservatorship of an Adult, checked 2026-11-09. “Probate Clerk Pima County Superior Court 110 W. Congress, 1st Floor Tucson, AZ 85701”
- Arizona DHS, State Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-08. “Northwest Medical Center 6200 North La Cholla Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85741 12/05/25 12/05/26”
- Tucson Medical Center, Neuroscience Center, checked 2026-11-09. “30-bed inpatient unit staffed by neuro-certified nurses”
- Tucson Medical Center, checked 2026-11-09. “Tucson Medical Center is Tucson's locally governed, nonprofit hospital since 1944.”
- Banner Health, checked 2026-11-09. “Brain injury rehabilitation”
- Banner Health, Patient 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”
- CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “others may not appear for hours or days after the injury”
- CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “Have a headache that gets worse and does not go away”
- CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “Vomit repeatedly”
- CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “Lose consciousness, look very drowsy or cannot be woken up”
- 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. “most people with a mild TBI or concussion feel better within a couple of weeks”
- 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.”
- CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “Even so, the effects of a mild TBI or concussion can be serious.”
- Tucson Police, Request Public Records, checked 2026-11-08. “Collision reports are stored electronically in a secure database and are available for purchase at Crashdocs.”
- Arizona DPS, Request Records, checked 2026-11-08. “maintains records for collisions (accidents) that were investigated by DPS Troopers occurring on an Interstate or State Highway”
- CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “may lead to long-term or life-long health problems”
- Ariz. Const. art. 18, § 6, checked 2026-11-09. “the amount recovered shall not be subject to any statutory limitation”
- A.R.S. § 12-2505, checked 2026-11-09. “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”
- Pima County Public Fiduciary, FAQs, checked 2026-11-09. “Power of attorney, representative payee and surrogate decision maker are some examples of less restrictive alternatives.”
- Pima County Public Fiduciary, FAQs, checked 2026-11-09. “a physician, nurse practitioner, or registered nurse must recommend an evaluation for incapacity by the court”
- Pima County Public Fiduciary, FAQs, checked 2026-11-09. “family members may also serve as guardian and conservator.”
- Pima County, Public Fiduciary, checked 2026-11-09. “serves as a court-appointed guardian or conservator for vulnerable adults or people who are incapacitated”
- 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. § 12-821.01, 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. § 12-821, checked 2026-11-09. “shall be brought within one year after the cause of action accrues and not afterward”
- 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”
- 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”
- CMS, checked 2026-11-09. “because it must be repaid to Medicare when a beneficiary receives a settlement, judgment, award, or other payment”