Phoenix Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Phoenix, Arizona: Help for Riders Hurt on Valley Roads
If you were hurt on a motorcycle in Phoenix, a motorcycle accident lawyer in Phoenix can explain your rights before an insurance company tells its version of the crash. Valley Accident Law serves Phoenix riders from our Scottsdale office, and Charles Paglialunga has 32 years of Arizona accident experience. Most Arizona injury claims must be filed within two years, so call early.
- Filing deadline
- 2 years from the crash
- A.R.S. 12-542(1)
- Lane filtering
- Stopped traffic, 45 mph or less limit, rider 15 mph or less
- A.R.S. 28-903(F), effective Sept 24, 2022
- Helmet law
- Required for riders under 18
- A.R.S. 28-964
- Fault rule
- Pure comparative fault, no percentage bar
- A.R.S. 12-2505
Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Phoenix: Riders Face a Different Fight
A rider has almost nothing between the body and the pavement, so even a low-speed crash can cause fractures, road rash, and head injuries. After the crash, the fight is often over fault. Insurance companies sometimes lean on the idea that riders take risks, and drivers who turned in front of a motorcycle often say they never saw it.
Valley Accident Law represents riders hurt across the Phoenix metro. We are in Scottsdale at 5635 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 170, Scottsdale, AZ 85250, and we serve Phoenix clients, starting by phone if you are still recovering. Charles Paglialunga is a Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum member. Our experienced and friendly attorney will explain your legal rights in plain language, and will tell you where a case is strong and where it is not. Request your free case review.
If you want the Scottsdale version of this page, see our Scottsdale motorcycle accident lawyer page. For the statewide guide, see our page for an Arizona motorcycle lawyer.
How Motorcycle Crashes Happen in Phoenix
These are patterns we see on Phoenix roads. Each one raises its own evidence questions.
- Left-turn crashes on wide arterials
A driver turns across Camelback Road, Indian School Road, or another wide street and misjudges the rider's speed or does not notice the motorcycle at all.
- Lane changes and merges on I-10 and I-17
Drivers merging from short ramps often miss a motorcycle in the blind spot.
- Stop-and-go freeway traffic
Rear-end crashes happen when traffic stops suddenly on I-10, SR-51, or Loop 101. Lane filtering questions can come up if the rider was moving between stopped vehicles.
- Dust, gravel, and monsoon conditions
Sudden rain and blowing dust in monsoon season, along with loose gravel on desert roads, are more serious for a motorcycle than a car.
- Heat and sun glare
Low sun on east-west streets can hide a rider from drivers at sunrise and sunset.
Arizona
Motorcycle Accidents in Deer Valley and the North Valley
If you were hurt in Deer Valley, a motorcycle accident lawyer can look at the roads, the lighting, and the camera footage that applies to your crash. For riders hurt anywhere in the North Valley, a motorcycle accident lawyer can start with the same evidence, then work outward from the report.
Deer Valley Road and Happy Valley Road
Wide arterials in north Phoenix with high speeds and left-turn traffic.
Loop 101 and I-17 in north Phoenix
Freeway merges and stop-and-go traffic near the interchange.
Cave Creek Road
A long north Phoenix route with commuter traffic and intersections.
I-10 and SR-51 near downtown
Dense freeway traffic where lane filtering and sudden stops come into play.
Phoenix Police Department and Arizona DPS
The Phoenix Police Department generally writes reports for crashes on city streets, and Arizona DPS generally handles freeway crashes.
Arizona Motorcycle Rules That Come Up in a Claim
Arizona's rules for riders are narrower than many people assume. Insurers will use anything they can, so the details matter. Our page on Arizona lane filtering law explains the rule in full.
| Rule | What it says | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Helmets | Required for operators and passengers under 18 | A.R.S. 28-964 |
| Eye protection | Required for operators unless the motorcycle has a windshield | A.R.S. 28-964 |
| Lane filtering | Allowed only in stopped traffic, on roads with two or more lanes in the same direction, with a speed limit of 45 mph or less, and the rider at 15 mph or less | A.R.S. 28-903(F) |
| Fault | Pure comparative fault, so a rider found partly at fault can still recover, reduced by that percentage | A.R.S. 12-2505 |
Source: Arizona Revised Statutes as cited. Lane filtering effective September 24, 2022.
Evidence That Helps a Phoenix Motorcycle Claim
These steps are about protecting your claim, not medical advice.
- Medical records starting with the first emergency visit, even if your symptoms seem minor
- Photos of the road, any debris or gravel, and the position of the vehicles, if safely possible before any vehicle is moved
- Names and phone numbers for witnesses, who matter because the other driver may say they did not see you
- The report number from the Phoenix Police Department or Arizona DPS
- Your helmet, jacket, and gear, kept exactly as they are after the crash
- Any helmet or dash camera video from your own motorcycle or a nearby vehicle
Fault and Deadlines for Phoenix Riders
Arizona is a pure comparative fault state (A.R.S. 12-2505). Insurance companies and attorneys often negotiate the percentage of fault, and in a motorcycle case they may try to assign a rider extra blame. Even if you are found partly at fault, you may still recover, reduced by your percentage.
Most injury claims must be filed within two years (A.R.S. 12-542). If a road defect or a government vehicle is involved, a notice of claim to the public entity is due within 180 days (A.R.S. 12-821.01). These rules have exceptions, so call us and we will explain how they apply to you. Our guide to talking to insurance adjusters explains what to avoid saying.
Arizona
The Court and Hospitals Behind a Phoenix Motorcycle Claim
Suits from Phoenix crashes are generally filed in Maricopa County Superior Court in downtown Phoenix. Motorcycle injuries are often serious enough to involve a trauma center, and our guide to Phoenix area trauma centers shows how those records fit into a claim.
Maricopa County Superior Court
Downtown Phoenix, East Court Building, 101 W. Jefferson St.
Valleywise Health Medical Center
A Level I trauma center in central Phoenix.
Banner University Medical Center Phoenix
A Level I trauma center and teaching hospital.
HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center
Serves north Phoenix.
St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
A Level I trauma center and home to the Barrow Neurological Institute.
Working With Valley Accident Law After a Motorcycle Crash
If you are looking for a motorcycle accident attorney in Phoenix, ask who will work on your case, how fees are explained, and how the firm will respond when an insurer blames the rider. Many people searching for a motorcycle accident lawyer in Phoenix, AZ are recovering from serious injuries and do not want a long sales pitch. We will keep it plain. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.
Phoenix motorcycle accident lawyers should be willing to say what they see in your facts, the good and the bad. Our experienced and friendly attorney will explain your legal rights and what your case may be worth. Call (602) 584-8054 or request your free case review. To see the other cases we take, return to our Phoenix personal injury lawyer page.
Related pages
Types of motorcycle accident claims
Questions
Questions about Phoenix motorcycle accident cases
Does not wearing a helmet hurt my claim?
Arizona requires helmets only for riders under 18. Insurers may still argue about it, and comparative fault can come into play, so tell us the facts and we will explain how it may apply to you.
Can I recover if I was lane filtering?
Arizona allows lane filtering only under specific conditions: stopped traffic, a road with two or more lanes in the same direction, a speed limit of 45 mph or less, and a rider at 15 mph or less. Whether you can recover depends on the facts, so call us.
What if the driver said they did not see me?
That is a common explanation. We look for evidence such as camera footage, witness accounts, and the position of the vehicles to test it.
Who writes the crash report in Phoenix?
The Phoenix Police Department generally writes reports for crashes on city streets, and Arizona DPS generally handles freeway crashes.
How long do I have to file?
Two years for most claims, and 180 days for notice of a claim against a government entity. These rules have exceptions.
What if my injuries seem minor?
Many injuries show no or seemingly minor symptoms at first. A call lets us explain your options before you agree to anything with an insurance company.
How much does it cost to hire you?
You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. We will explain how costs are handled during your free case review.
Free case review
Let Us Answer Your Questions About Your Motorcycle Crash
Call (602) 584-8054 or request your free case review. Our experienced and friendly attorney will explain your legal rights. The earlier you call, the better, but it's never too late to find out your legal rights.
Call any time. Office visits Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.
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