How Long Will My Arizona Personal Injury Case Take? A Lawyer Explains What Really Goes On Behind the Curtain
If you’ve been in an automobile accident anywhere across the East Valley or greater Phoenix, you probably want one thing more than anything else: for this mess to be over. Fast.
But here’s the truth that nobody puts on a billboard: Personal injury cases in Arizona don’t run on wishful thinking or TV timelines. They run on real injuries, real facts, real law, and real delays.
I’m attorney Daniel Marco, and I’ve been helping injury victims across Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Apache Junction, Scottsdale, and Phoenix, AZ for decades. This is my straightforward breakdown of how long these cases take, what slows them down, and how to navigate them without losing your shirt or your mind.
Simple Cases: Minor Injuries, Clear Fault, Fast Resolution (3 Months to 1 Year)
If your car accident involved a low-speed impact, no broken bones, and nobody arguing over who did what, congratulations—you might be in the fast lane.
These cases often wrap up in 6 to 12 months. That’s because the injuries are usually soft-tissue (muscle strains, whiplash), and the at-fault party is obvious.
But even in a simple Mesa fender-bender, there’s a potential slowdown: medical liens.
Let me translate: If your health insurance, hospital, or chiropractor wants a cut of your settlement, we have to negotiate those liens before you get paid. That takes time. And skill. And sometimes a little muscle.
Moderate Cases: More Damage, More Questions (1 to 2 Years)
Now we’re talking about bigger injuries or messier facts. Maybe it was a T-bone collision in Gilbert, and the police report is ambiguous. Maybe there are two cars, and each driver claims the other was at fault in the accident. Maybe your back injury won’t stabilize.
These cases can last one to two years, depending on how long it takes you to reach something called Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI), which means your condition is stable, even if it’s not perfect.
Insurers love to drag their feet in these situations. And mediation might be required to avoid a trial. That’s not a bad thing—a smart lawyer can often push mediation to get a decent settlement without spending years in litigation.
Complex Cases: Serious Injury or Wrongful Death (2 to 5+ Years)
Let’s say you’re in Chandler or Scottsdale and suffer life-changing injuries.
Maybe you’re facing surgeries, permanent disability, or worse, you’ve lost a loved one. In these cases, litigation may become necessary, but not always.
While I no longer personally handle courtroom trials, my office is equipped to guide your case right up to that point. When trial becomes likely, I refer clients to seasoned litigation attorneys I trust—lawyers who specialize in taking these cases the rest of the way.
Here’s a glimpse at what the litigation process looks like:
– Discovery: Both sides exchange evidence and documents
– Depositions: Sworn interviews under oath
– Hearings and Motion: Sometimes more than one
– Expert Witnesses: Medical pros, accident reconstructionists, economists
– Scheduling: Courts in Phoenix and Maricopa County are packed
– Trial and Appeal: Sometimes the verdict isn’t the end
It’s a long road, and in some cases, the courtroom is the only path to justice.
That’s why it’s critical to have a lawyer who knows when to push, when to settle, and when to bring in the right trial team to carry it forward. If you want fair compensation, especially in cases involving traumatic brain injuries or wrongful death, you’re looking at a long haul.
What Does Arizona Law Say About Deadlines?
We call these statutes of limitations. If you blow these timelines, your case is dead, no matter how righteous you are.
– Two Years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. (A.R.S. § 12-542)
– 180 Days to file a Notice of Claim if your case is against a city, county, or state (say, a Gilbert city truck that ran a red light)
– One Year to sue after the notice. (A.R.S. § 12-821)
You’d be shocked how many people call me *after* these time bombs explode. Don’t be one of them.
What Slows These Cases Down?
It’s not always the other side. Sometimes the delay is baked into the process.
1. Ongoing Medical Treatment
If you’re still in physical therapy, we wait. Settling too soon could mean leaving thousands (or more) on the table.
2. Disputes Over Fault
He said/she said accidents with no traffic cam or witnesses often require accident reconstruction or litigation.
3. Medical Liens
Your insurance company or hospital might want a piece of the pie. And they usually don’t work fast.
4. Court Backlog
Courts in Maricopa County (Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler) have tight calendars. A simple hearing might take months to schedule.
5. Defense Tactics
Insurance lawyers delay on purpose. They bank on you needing cash before you’re ready to fight.
Want to Speed Things Up? Here’s What You Can Do:
– Call a Lawyer Early. Time kills evidence. Witnesses forget. Security cam footage gets deleted. An experienced personal injury lawyer can preserve your case from day one.
– Follow Medical Advice Missed appointments or ignoring your doctor hurts your case more than you know. Insurers use that to claim you’re not really hurt.
– Be Organized Keep bills, reports, photos, and notes. The more we have, the faster we can push for results.
Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure: A Word to the Wise
Once a lawsuit is filed, Rule 16 of the Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure kicks in.
This rule governs how the court schedules and manages the case. There are deadlines for disclosures, discovery, and trial setting. Miss one? You might tank your own case.
Also, Rule 26.1 requires both sides to share relevant evidence up front—no trial by ambush. These rules are designed to keep things moving, but also make it easier to mess up if you’re not careful.
How Do We Work at The Law Offices of Daniel J. Marco, PLLC?
You call, we answer. You come in, we listen. Whether you’re in Apache Junction or Scottsdale, our job is to keep your case moving and get you the settlement you deserve, and if trial becomes necessary, ensure you’re referred to the right litigation team.
We don’t sit on our hands. We negotiate with insurance companies, fight with hospitals over liens, and—when the time comes—make sure you’re connected with a trial attorney who can pick up the baton and take your case all the way.
Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Phoenix: We’re in Your Corner
Arizona is a big state, but the East Valley is our home turf. We know the roads, the adjusters, the courts, and the tricks. If you’ve been in a car accident, truck crash, motorcycle wreck, or any personal injury situation, give us a call.
Final Word: Reputation You Can Trust
Your injury case is part legal claim, part chess match, and part marathon. There are no shortcuts, but there is strategy. The best thing you can do is find a lawyer who tells you the truth, not just what you want to hear.
We don’t just say we stand by our clients—we prove it. With a 4.9-star rating, our clients across Mesa, AZ, Chandler, Gilbert, AZ, Apache Junction, AZ, Scottsdale, AZ, and Phoenix, AZ repeatedly share that they felt “in good hands… extremely professional.” That’s not ad talk—it’s real feedback, in your words.
Call us today or visit
www.marcoinjurylaw.com
http://www.marcoinjurylaw.com to schedule your free consultation.
