Cyclists in Phoenix and Scottsdale ride year-round. The roads are not always built for it. Wide lanes, fast traffic, and drivers who do not check their right-side blind spot before turning create the conditions for serious crashes. A crash between a 200-pound rider and a 4,000-pound vehicle is rarely close in outcome.
Valley Accident Law represents cyclists hit by drivers across the Phoenix metro. Founder Charles Paglialunga has 29 years of Arizona personal injury experience and handles every case personally.
Most bicycle accident cases we see follow a pattern:
Arizona treats bicycles as vehicles for most road purposes. Cyclists have the right to use the road, including a full lane when conditions require it, and drivers are required to share the road. A few specifics matter for the case:
Arizona is a pure comparative fault state. Even if the cyclist was partially responsible, they can recover damages reduced by their percentage of fault. Adjusters routinely try to inflate that percentage. We push back with police reports, witness statements, and accident reconstruction when needed.
Bicycle injury cases tend to involve severe damage. Common categories:
Recoverable damages include past and future medical bills, lost wages, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and in some cases punitive damages when the driver was impaired or fled. Wrongful death damages apply where the cyclist did not survive.
Call 911 if you can. Get medical attention immediately, even for injuries that seem minor. Photograph the bike, the vehicle, the scene, and your gear. Get the driver’s insurance information and license plate. Save the bike and helmet, do not throw them out. Get witness names and phone numbers.
Do not give a recorded statement to the driver’s insurance company. You are not required to.
Most Arizona bicycle injury claims must be filed within two years. If a government vehicle was involved (city bus, police, ADOT), the notice-of-claim deadline is 180 days. If the cyclist did not survive, the wrongful death statute also runs two years from the date of death.
Charles handles every bicycle accident case personally. The first consultation is free, and we work on contingency. No fee unless we recover for you.
Call 1-602-584-8054 for a free consultation.
Adults are not required to wear helmets in Arizona. Adjusters often argue it should reduce the case, especially for head injuries. We argue the actual cause of the crash. Helmet use rarely changes the liability picture in court.
Yes, often through your own uninsured motorist coverage if you have it on any household auto policy.
Driver statements at the scene are common and not the end of the case. Police reports, witness statements, video, and reconstruction usually tell the truer story.
Yes, do not throw it out. Damage to the bike and helmet is evidence of impact severity and helps document the case.
Most resolve in 6 to 18 months. Serious injury cases sometimes take longer while treatment finishes.