Tempe Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Tempe, AZ Motorcycle Accident Lawyer: Guidance After a Motorcycle Crash
A motorcycle accident lawyer in Tempe can explain who was at fault, push back when an insurer blames the rider and tell you which deadlines apply, usually 2 years from the injury (A.R.S. 12-542(1)). A motorcycle accident in Tempe often starts with a driver who never saw the rider, on Loop 101, Loop 202, US 60 and I-10 or on the streets around the ASU campus, Mill Avenue and Tempe Town Lake. Your first call is a free case review.
- Filing deadline
- 2 years from the injury
- A.R.S. 12-542(1)
- Lane filtering
- Stopped traffic, 45 mph limit or less, rider 15 mph or less
- A.R.S. 28-903(F), effective Sept 24, 2022
- Helmet law
- Required under 18, operator and passenger
- A.R.S. 28-964
Why a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Tempe Looks at Visibility First
Most claims after a motorcycle crash come down to one sentence from the driver: I did not see him. A rider is a narrow target in a wide field of cars, and Tempe puts a lot of cars in front of that rider. Loop 202 follows the Salt River along the north side of the city, Loop 101 runs south as the Price Freeway, and I-10 and US 60 split in the middle of town. Off the freeways, the blocks around the ASU campus, Mill Avenue and Tempe Town Lake are crowded with students, rental scooters and drivers looking for parking.
The usual pattern is a driver who turns left across a rider's path, changes lanes into the rider or pulls out from a side street or a parking lot. We start with the rider's account, the position of the bike after impact and any video from the area.
Arizona
Motorcycle Crash Numbers Behind the Risk
The most recent statewide figures from the Arizona Department of Transportation show how much more exposed riders are than drivers. They are statewide, not Tempe totals.
| Measure | Figure | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcyclist fatalities in Arizona | 258, the highest in 20 years and up 11.2% | 2023 |
| Growth in motorcycle registrations | 33% since 2019 | 2023 |
| All traffic fatalities in Arizona | 1,307 | 2023 |
| Fatalities where speed contributed | 446 | 2023 |
Source: Arizona Department of Transportation, 2023 traffic safety data
Lane Filtering and Lane Splitting: What Arizona Law Allows
Insurers sometimes try to shift blame by saying the rider was splitting lanes. The law draws a clear line, and the facts decide which side of it a rider was on.
Lane filtering (allowed)
- Traffic is stopped.
- The road has two or more lanes in the same direction.
- The speed limit is 45 mph or less.
- The rider is going 15 mph or less.
- Effective Sept 24, 2022 (A.R.S. 28-903(F)).
Passing between moving traffic (not allowed)
- Riding between moving vehicles or lanes of active traffic is illegal.
- It can lead to a reckless driving charge, a class 2 misdemeanor (A.R.S. 28-693, 28-903).
- Insurers raise it to argue the rider caused the crash.
Arizona
Where Tempe Riders Get Hurt and Where They Are Treated
A Tempe motorcycle claim usually turns on a specific road and the agency that responded to it. These are the roads and places that come up most often.
Loop 202 and Loop 101 interchange
Freeway lanes merge here as the Pima Freeway becomes the Price Freeway, and a rider in a blind spot has little room to react.
US 60 and I-10
The Superstition Freeway runs east and west through the center of the city, and I-10 splits from it inside Tempe.
University Drive from 52nd Street to Hardy Drive
A Tempe safety corridor on the 2024 list, selected from three years of serious and fatal crash locations.
Rural Road from 6th Street to Playa del Norte
Another 2024 safety corridor near the campus, under stricter enforcement.
Mill Avenue and Tempe Town Lake
Event days at Tempe Beach Park and Mill Avenue put drivers who are looking for parking next to riders.
Banner Desert Medical Center and Chandler Regional Medical Center
The Level I trauma centers closest to Tempe, in Mesa and Chandler. The state's December 2025 list shows none with a Tempe address.
Evidence That Matters in a Motorcycle Claim
Choosing a motorcycle accident law firm for a Tempe crash is partly about who will gather this evidence before it disappears.
- Your gear and your bike
Do not repair or sell the motorcycle, and keep the helmet, jacket and gloves as they are. Scuffs and cracks show how you fell and how hard you were hit.
- Helmet or handlebar camera video
If you ride with a camera, save the original file and do not edit it.
- The police report
Tempe Police usually writes the report for crashes on city streets, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety may hold the report for a freeway crash. See how to get a police report in Arizona.
- Business and traffic cameras
Shops and restaurants along Mill Avenue and the campus streets may record the road, but many overwrite video quickly.
- Witnesses
A driver who saw the crash can explain what the other driver did, which is often the whole case.
Helmets, Fault and the Insurer's Playbook
Arizona requires a helmet for a motorcycle operator and passenger under 18, and eye protection for operators unless the motorcycle has a windshield (A.R.S. 28-964). The statute's helmet requirement is for riders under 18, but an insurer may still raise helmet use. Arizona uses pure comparative fault, so a rider who shares some blame can still recover, with the compensation reduced by their percentage (A.R.S. 12-2505). Insurance companies and attorneys often negotiate the percentage of fault, and a rider who is blamed for 30 percent loses 30 percent.
A motorcycle accident attorney in Tempe also checks for other coverage. If the other driver had no insurance or too little, the rider's own uninsured or underinsured coverage may apply, and written notice to your own insurer is due within 3 years (A.R.S. 12-555). Our guide to talking to insurance adjusters explains why an early recorded statement is risky, and agreeing to one can injure your legal rights.
If a Road Defect or a City Vehicle Was Involved
A gravel patch, a pothole or a missing sign on a public road can cause a crash that has nothing to do with another driver. A notice of claim against a public entity generally must be filed within 180 days after the claim accrues, with a lawsuit generally following within one year (A.R.S. 12-821.01, 12-821). These rules have exceptions, so call us and we will explain how they apply to you. For more, read our notice of claim guide.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Crash in Tempe
Riders often hurt more than they realize in the first hour, and a motorcycle injury lawyer in Tempe will tell you not to judge your injuries by how you feel at the scene.
- 1
Get medical care.
Many injuries show no or seemingly minor symptoms at first, and adrenaline hides pain.
- 2
Explain your side to the officer.
If you believe you were not at fault, make sure you explain this to the officer and ask for the report number.
- 3
Document the scene.
If safely possible, before any vehicle is moved, photograph the lane position, the other vehicle and any debris.
- 4
Say little to the insurer.
Send the adjuster to us instead of giving a statement.
- 5
Call us.
We will explain your legal rights. People who search for a bike wreck lawyer in Tempe are looking for the same help, and you can reach us any time by phone at (602) 584-8054.
Courts, Distance and Neighboring Cities
A lawsuit over a motorcycle crash is filed in Maricopa County Superior Court, with a Central Court Building at 201 W. Jefferson in Phoenix and a Southeast location at 222 E. Javelina Ave. in Mesa. The court's assignment rules decide where a case is heard, and we confirm that when we file. See our guide to Maricopa County courts. Our office is at 5635 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 170, Scottsdale, AZ 85250, about 7.7 miles by road from downtown Tempe, and we start by phone.
If you were hurt just across a city line, we also handle motorcycle claims in Mesa, Chandler and Phoenix. The statewide rules are in our guide from an Arizona motorcycle lawyer, and the city overview is on our personal injury lawyer in Tempe page.
Arizona
Other Tempe Injury Pages
A motorcycle crash can involve other kinds of claims too.
Related pages
Types of motorcycle accident claims
Motorcycle accidents by city
Questions
Questions about Tempe motorcycle accident cases
Who writes the report after a motorcycle crash in Tempe?
Tempe Police usually writes the report for crashes on Tempe city streets, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety may hold the report for a freeway crash. Ask the officer for the report number and the agency to contact.
Does a Tempe rider have to wear a helmet?
State law requires one for an operator or passenger under 18, with eye protection for operators unless there is a windshield (A.R.S. 28-964). Not wearing one does not end a claim, because fault is decided on the facts.
The insurer says I was lane splitting. What now?
Lane filtering in stopped traffic at the speeds in the statute is lawful, and passing between moving vehicles is not (A.R.S. 28-903(F), 28-693). We gather video, witness accounts and the bike's damage to show what happened.
Which hospital would treat a seriously hurt rider from Tempe?
The state's trauma center list from December 2025 shows none with a Tempe address. The closest Level I centers are Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa and Chandler Regional Medical Center in Chandler, and emergency crews choose the destination.
Where would my injury lawsuit be heard?
In Maricopa County Superior Court, which has locations in downtown Phoenix and in Mesa. We confirm which location applies when we file.
How much does it cost to talk with you?
You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. Request a free case review and we will explain how costs are handled.
Free case review
Talk With Us After Your Tempe 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. 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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