A motorcycle crash in Phoenix is rarely close in outcome. The rider has none of the structural protection a driver has, and any contact with a vehicle, a barrier, or the road translates almost directly to the body. The injuries we see in motorcycle cases include traumatic brain injury, spinal damage, road rash that requires grafting, fractures, and amputations.
The legal fight in most motorcycle cases is not really about whether the driver was at fault. It is about insurance company assumptions that the rider must have done something wrong because the rider got hurt. Valley Accident Law has spent 29 years pushing back on that.
Founder Charles Paglialunga handles every motorcycle case personally. He is a member of the Multimillion Dollar Advocates Forum.
Most of the cases we see involve a driver who:
Single-vehicle motorcycle cases also exist (defective road conditions, defective parts, debris) and we handle those as well, though they are evidence-heavy and require different proof.
Arizona requires motorcycle riders to carry liability insurance and a valid motorcycle endorsement. Helmets are required for riders under 18 but not for adult riders. Lane splitting is not legal in Arizona. Eye protection is required unless the bike has a windscreen.
These rules occasionally come up in defense arguments. The most common one is “the rider was not wearing a helmet.” Helmet status does not change who caused the crash. It can affect head-injury damages in some cases, and we address that with medical experts when it matters.
Insurance adjusters often assume the rider was at fault. Speeding, lane splitting (illegal in Arizona), aggressive lane changes, weaving, and “loud pipes” all show up in the claim notes whether the evidence supports them or not.
We document the actual scene. Skid marks (or lack of them), debris field, witness statements, traffic camera footage, vehicle damage patterns, and accident reconstruction usually tell the truer story. Arizona is pure comparative fault, so even if the rider shares some responsibility, recovery is reduced by that percentage and not eliminated.
Categories of damages include:
Insurance limits matter. Arizona minimum liability coverage is low and often not enough to cover serious motorcycle injuries. Your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage frequently makes the difference between a real recovery and one that exists only on paper.
If you can, document the scene. Photograph the bike, the vehicles, the road, the helmet (if you were wearing one), and your gear. Get the other driver’s insurance information and witness contact information. Get medical attention immediately, including for injuries that feel minor. Save the bike and gear. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance.
Most Arizona motorcycle injury cases must be filed within two years. Government-vehicle cases require a notice of claim within 180 days. Wrongful death claims also follow the two-year rule.
Charles handles every motorcycle 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.
It does not affect liability for the crash. It can affect head-injury damages in some cases, and we handle that with medical experts when it comes up.
Driver statements are not evidence. We work with reconstruction and the actual scene record, which usually tells a different story.
Your own UM/UIM coverage may apply. We look at every layer, including any household policies and umbrella coverage.
Correct. If lane splitting was a factor, we deal with it. Comparative fault rules still let riders recover when the driver caused the crash.
Most cases resolve in 9 to 24 months. Serious injury cases sometimes longer, because we wait for medical treatment to stabilize before valuing future care.