Glendale Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Glendale, Arizona: Help After a Motorcycle Crash
A motorcycle accident lawyer in Glendale can explain who may be at fault, push back when an insurer blames the rider, and tell you which deadlines apply. Riders in Glendale share the Loop 101, Grand Avenue (US 60) and the arterials around State Farm Stadium, Westgate and historic downtown with drivers who often do not see them. Most Arizona injury claims must be filed within two years (A.R.S. 12-542).
- Filing deadline
- Generally 2 years from the crash
- A.R.S. 12-542(1)
- Lane filtering
- Stopped traffic, posted limit 45 mph or less, rider 15 mph or less
- A.R.S. 28-903(F)
- Helmet rule
- Required under 18; operators need eye protection unless there is a windshield
- A.R.S. 28-964
What a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Glendale Does After a Rider Is Hurt
A rider has no frame, no airbags and no crumple zone, so even a low-speed crash can mean a broken leg, road rash or a head injury. The cause is usually a driver who looked and did not see: a left turn across a rider's path, a lane change into the space beside a motorcycle, or a car pulling out from a parking lot.
A motorcycle injury lawyer in Glendale will go through the same questions every time. Who had the right of way? What did the other driver say at the scene? What will the insurance company say about the rider? Valley Accident Law is a Scottsdale firm, and we do not have an office in Glendale, but we take calls from riders across the West Valley and start by phone. Our statewide guide from an Arizona motorcycle lawyer covers the law in full, and our page for a personal injury lawyer in Glendale covers the other injury cases we see from the area.
Arizona
Where Glendale Riders Get Hurt and Who Holds the Records
Motorcycle claims often depend on a specific road, a specific signal and a specific report. These are the Glendale places that come up.
Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway)
Exits at 59th, 67th and 75th Avenues, Glendale Avenue and Cardinals Way (formerly Bethany Home Road). Traffic slows and bunches up near State Farm Stadium on event days, which is when riders are most exposed to sudden stops.
Grand Avenue (US 60)
A diagonal route with many cross streets. ADOT has built overpasses and underpasses at six former six-way intersections, but riders still share the surface sections with turning traffic.
59th Avenue and Olive Avenue
Described by the City of Glendale and residents as a hot spot for crashes, with raised medians planned to cut left-turn crashes. Left turns across a rider's path are a classic motorcycle crash.
Westgate Entertainment District and Desert Diamond Arena
More than 30 bars and restaurants, and event-day parking that is charged. Crowds and drivers leaving venues are a risk to riders in the surrounding streets.
Historic downtown Glendale and Catlin Court
Slower local streets with parked cars, pedestrians and drivers pulling out of angled spaces.
Glendale Police Department
Main station at 6835 North 57th Drive, with Foothills and Gateway stations. Ask the officer for the report number and which agency took the report.
Banner Thunderbird Medical Center
A Level I trauma center at 5555 W. Thunderbird Rd. Serious motorcycle injuries are often treated there.
Lane Filtering Versus Lane Splitting in Glendale
Insurers sometimes try to blame a rider for how the motorcycle was moving. Arizona law draws a clear line, and it matters to the percentage of fault.
Lane filtering (legal since September 24, 2022)
- Allowed only when traffic is stopped.
- The road needs at least two lanes in the same direction and a posted limit of 45 mph or less.
- The rider must stay at 15 mph or less (A.R.S. 28-903(F)).
- A road posted above 45 mph is outside the rule, so check the posted limit where the crash happened.
Lane splitting (illegal)
- Riding between moving vehicles or lanes of active traffic.
- Can lead to a reckless driving charge, a class 2 misdemeanor (A.R.S. 28-693, 28-903).
- An insurer may point to it to argue the rider caused the crash.
- Even then, Arizona's pure comparative fault rule means a rider with some blame may still recover, reduced by that share (A.R.S. 12-2505).
Common Motorcycle Crash Patterns Around Glendale
A motorcycle accident law firm serving Glendale hears the same stories again and again.
- The left turn
A driver turns left at a signal or driveway and does not see an oncoming rider. The city has been adding flashing yellow turn arrows at intersections and plans raised medians at some, partly because left-turn crashes are a problem.
- The sudden stop on the Loop 101
Stadium and Westgate traffic can stop a freeway lane abruptly. A driver following too closely (A.R.S. 28-730) may not have room to stop for a motorcycle that has already braked.
- The drunk or distracted driver after an event
A driver leaving a bar or a game may be impaired. A licensee that sold to an obviously intoxicated person may share responsibility under A.R.S. 4-311, and a claim against the establishment likely has a one-year deadline, so call immediately.
- The hit and run
Leaving the scene of a crash with injuries is a felony (A.R.S. 28-661, 28-663). If the driver is never found, your own uninsured motorist coverage may help, and physical contact is not required if you can corroborate what happened with a witness, video or scene evidence (A.R.S. 20-259.01(M)).
Helmets, Eye Protection and the Insurance Company
Arizona requires a helmet only for riders and passengers under 18, and operators need eye protection unless the motorcycle has a windshield (A.R.S. 28-964). An adult rider who was not wearing a helmet did not break the helmet law. Even so, an adjuster may raise it, so we expect the argument and prepare for it. Remember that Arizona's minimum liability limits are only $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident (A.R.S. 28-4009), which can fall short of a rider's medical bills. Our guide to Arizona car insurance minimums explains what your own coverage may add.
Step by step
What to Do After a Motorcycle Crash in Glendale
Your health comes first. These steps help protect the claim once you are safe.
- 1
Call 911 and get checked.
Many riders feel fine at the scene. Injuries can show no or seemingly minor symptoms at first, and a record from the day of the crash helps.
- 2
Ask for the report number.
If you believe you were not at fault, make sure you explain this to the officer. Glendale Police Records is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- 3
Photograph the scene and the motorcycle.
If safely possible, before any vehicle is moved, take photos of the road, signals, skid marks and damage. Keep your gear and helmet as they are.
- 4
Be careful with the other insurer.
You are not required to agree to a recorded statement. A quick remark about feeling fine can injure your legal rights later.
- 5
Call us before you sign anything.
We start by phone, so you do not have to travel while you recover.
Related pages
Types of motorcycle accident claims
Motorcycle accidents by city
Questions
Questions about Glendale motorcycle accident cases
How do I choose the best motorcycle accident attorney in Glendale for my case?
Ask who will explain your legal rights in plain language, how the fee works and what happens next. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. Be cautious of anyone who promises a result, because no honest lawyer can. Request a free case review and see whether the conversation feels right.
Who writes the report after a motorcycle crash on a Glendale street?
Glendale Police usually take the report for crashes on city streets. Records is at 6835 North 57th Drive and open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The city also points to an online records request form and to buycrash.com, and says there may be a fee. For a freeway crash, ask the officer which agency took the report.
Where do seriously injured riders from Glendale usually go for treatment?
Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, at 5555 W. Thunderbird Rd., is the Level I trauma center in Glendale on the state list. Dignity Health St. Joseph's Westgate holds a Level IV designation. The ambulance crew decides based on your injuries. See our Phoenix area trauma centers page.
Is lane filtering legal on the Loop 101?
Lane filtering is limited to roads with at least two lanes in your direction and a posted limit of 45 mph or less, and only when traffic is stopped, at 15 mph or less. Check the posted limit where you were riding. Passing between moving traffic is illegal lane splitting.
A Glendale city vehicle hit me. Is there a shorter deadline?
Yes. A written notice of claim against a public entity is generally due within 180 days (A.R.S. 12-821.01), and a lawsuit within one year after accrual (A.R.S. 12-821). The City Clerk's office is at 5850 W. Glendale Ave., and we confirm who may accept the notice.
Where would my motorcycle lawsuit be filed?
In Maricopa County Superior Court, which assigns civil cases to a judicial district by ZIP code. A 2018 administrative order uses the ZIP code of the plaintiff's lawyer when the plaintiff has one, so we confirm the current assignment when we file.
Free case review
Talk With Us About Your Glendale Motorcycle Crash
Call (602) 584-8054 or request your free case review. Our experienced and friendly attorney will explain your legal rights and what to do next. Call any time. Office visits Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. The earlier you call, the better, but it's never too late to find out your legal rights.
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