Phoenix Personal Injury Settlement Calculator
Maricopa County Superior Court — largest US county court system by filings. Arizona PURE comparative fault. No damage caps. 180-day gov notice. Heat Safety Ordinance (2024) negligence per se
Last reviewed: April 2026
🌵 Phoenix Maricopa: Pure comparative fault. No caps. 180-day Notice of Claim. Heat Safety Ordinance 2024 = negligence per se for outdoor worker injuries.
Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
Phoenix Personal Injury
Maricopa County Superior Court — largest county court system in US by filings. PI cases assigned to individual judges; mandatory arbitration under $65K.
Arizona Pure Comparative Fault (A.R.S. §12-2505): plaintiff can recover even if 99% at fault — damages reduced proportionally. More plaintiff-friendly than Texas/Florida (modified/51% bar). NO caps on compensatory damages in Arizona PI cases. 2-year SOL (A.R.S. §12-542).
Phoenix Outdoor Worker Heat Safety Ordinance (March 2024): requires shade + water + rest breaks for contracted outdoor workers (~10,000 City-contracted). Violations establish negligence per se in heat injury/death claims. Extended to air-conditioned vehicle access May 2025. 2025: AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes investigating Phoenix landlord heat death — expanding heat-related liability to property owners. Settlement ranges: AZ average jury award $820,486 (skewed). Minor $15K-$60K. Moderate (surgery) $100K-$400K. Construction fatality $1M-$5M+. No caps = full recovery of economic + non-economic.
Phoenix Personal Injury FAQs
How much is a personal injury settlement worth in Phoenix?
Minor $10K-$50K. Moderate $75K-$300K. Serious $300K-$2M+. Arizona has NO damages caps — full recovery including future medical + wage loss.
How do I sue the City of Phoenix or Valley Metro?
File formal Notice of Claim with City Clerk or agency within 180 days of injury (A.R.S. §12-821.01). HARD DEADLINE — miss = claim barred. After 60 days, you may file suit in Maricopa County Superior Court.
What's the SOL for PI in Phoenix?
2 years for private parties (A.R.S. §12-542). 1 year for claims against City/government entities after the Notice of Claim process. 180-day NOC deadline is separate + comes first.
Are heat-related injuries covered?
YES — expanding area. Phoenix 2024 heat safety ordinance creates negligence per se framework. If employer violated heat-protection rules + worker injured = liability easier to establish. 2025 AZ AG investigation of Phoenix landlord heat death signals expansion beyond workplace to property owners.
How long do Phoenix PI cases take?
Simple cases 8-18 months. Complex/litigated 2-4 years. Maricopa County court backlog moderate — faster than LA.
Why is Arizona's comparative fault rule plaintiff-friendly?
Arizona uses PURE comparative fault — unlike Texas/Illinois (modified/51% bar), plaintiff can recover even if MOSTLY at fault. Damages simply reduced by % responsibility. 99%-at-fault plaintiff recovers 1%. Significantly more favorable than neighbors.
Are Phoenix PI verdicts capped?
NO. Arizona has no caps on compensatory damages for general PI. No cap on non-economic damages. Punitive damages: available with clear + convincing evidence but subject to due process proportionality.
Do I need a local Phoenix attorney?
YES. 180-day Notice of Claim deadline is short + fatal. Maricopa County Superior Court local rules. Heat ordinance + construction industry practice require local expertise. Phoenix plaintiff bar increasingly specialized in heat-injury cases.