Motorcycle AccidentUpdated March 2026

Been in a Motorcycle Accident in Phoenix?

Riders face unique risks and unique legal challenges. Here's what to do next.

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Key Takeaways

  • Call 911 immediately and do not remove your helmet unless you must to breathe — improper removal can worsen a neck or spinal injury, and adrenaline after a motorcycle crash can mask serious injuries for hours.
  • Arizona's statute of limitations is 2 years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit (A.R.S. § 12-542), with a shortened 180-day Notice of Claim deadline if a government entity is involved (A.R.S. § 12-821.01).
  • Under Arizona's pure comparative fault system (A.R.S. § 12-2505), you can recover damages even if partially at fault — this is critical for motorcyclists because insurance companies frequently try to assign riders a higher share of blame.
  • Phoenix's year-round riding season and wide, high-speed arterials like Camelback Road and Indian School Road create constant danger, with motorcycle crashes peaking during the 4-5 PM rush hour and the I-10/I-17 "Stack" interchange being particularly hazardous.
  • Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance without first speaking to an attorney — adjusters are trained to minimize motorcycle claims and will be especially aggressive about assigning fault to the rider.
  • Most motorcycle accident attorneys offer free consultations and work on contingency, and they can counter the anti-rider bias that insurance adjusters and juries often carry against motorcyclists.
1

Get medical attention — this is urgent

Motorcycle accidents produce some of the most severe injuries on the road. Without the protective shell of a car, riders absorb the full force of impact. Road rash, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and internal bleeding are all common — and can be life-threatening.

Call 911 immediately. Do not remove your helmet unless you must to breathe — removing it improperly can worsen a neck or spinal injury. Let paramedics assess you at the scene.

Even if you think your injuries are minor, get to a hospital. Adrenaline after a motorcycle crash is intense and can mask serious injuries for hours. Phoenix's Level I trauma centers — Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center (with the Barrow Neurological Institute), Valleywise Health Medical Center, Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, and HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn — are equipped to treat the most severe motorcycle crash injuries.

2

Stay at the scene and report the accident

Arizona law requires you to remain at the scene of any accident involving injuries. Call the Phoenix Police Department (PPD) for crashes on city streets, or the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) for freeway incidents. A formal police report is essential evidence for your claim.

If no officer responds, you must file a written report with ADOT within 24 hours for accidents involving injury or death, or within 72 hours for property damage only.

3

Document everything

If you're physically able, photograph the scene: your motorcycle and all damage, the other vehicle(s), the road surface and conditions, skid marks, debris, traffic signals, and your injuries (including road rash and damaged gear). Get the other driver's information — name, phone, insurance, license number, and plate. Collect witness names and phone numbers.

Do not admit fault or apologize. In many motorcycle accidents, the driver of the car will claim they didn't see the motorcycle. Your evidence helps establish what actually happened.

4

Understand the bias against motorcyclists

Here's an uncomfortable truth: insurance adjusters and juries often carry a bias against motorcycle riders. They may assume you were speeding, weaving through traffic, or riding recklessly — even when the other driver was entirely at fault. This bias can reduce your settlement or verdict.

This is one reason documentation matters so much. Photographs, witness statements, the police report, and your riding history all help counter the assumption that you were the reckless party. If you were wearing a helmet and proper riding gear, make sure that's documented.

5

Know Arizona's motorcycle helmet law

Arizona requires helmets for riders under 18 (A.R.S. § 28-964). Adult riders are not legally required to wear a helmet. However, if you weren't wearing a helmet and suffered a head injury, the other side may argue that your injuries were worsened by your choice — potentially reducing your compensation under Arizona's pure comparative fault system.

Arizona also requires motorcyclists to wear eye protection (glasses, goggles, or a face shield) unless the motorcycle has a windscreen (A.R.S. § 28-964).

6

Understand Arizona's pure comparative fault system

Arizona follows a pure comparative fault rule (A.R.S. § 12-2505). This means you can recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident. Your award is reduced by your percentage of fault, but there is no bar threshold — even a rider found 80% at fault can still recover 20% of their damages.

This is especially important for motorcyclists, because insurance companies frequently try to assign riders a higher percentage of fault. An attorney can fight to minimize the fault assigned to you, directly increasing your compensation.

7

Know the 2-year statute of limitations

Under A.R.S. § 12-542, you have two years from the date of the motorcycle accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Arizona. For wrongful death claims, the deadline is two years from the date of death.

If your accident involved a government entity (a city vehicle, a state road defect, etc.), you must file a Notice of Claim within 180 days (A.R.S. § 12-821.01). Missing this deadline bars your claim entirely.

8

Talk to a motorcycle accident attorney

Motorcycle accident cases require an attorney who understands the unique dynamics of motorcycle crashes and the bias that riders face. A good motorcycle accident attorney will know how to counter anti-rider prejudice, document the full extent of your injuries, identify all liable parties, and negotiate aggressively with insurance companies.

Most motorcycle accident attorneys offer free consultations and work on contingency — you pay nothing unless they win your case.

Phoenix Motorcycle Accident Facts

Year-Round Riding

Phoenix's warm climate means motorcycles are on the road 12 months a year — and so are the risks

ADOT crash data

2 Years

statute of limitations for motorcycle injury claims in Arizona

A.R.S. § 12-542

Pure Comparative Fault

No bar threshold — recover damages even if partially at fault

A.R.S. § 12-2505

Peak Crash Hours: 4–5 PM

Motorcycle crashes in Arizona peak during late afternoon rush hour

ADOT 2024 Motor Vehicle Crash Facts

Why Phoenix is dangerous for motorcyclists

Phoenix's year-round warm weather supports a large and active motorcycle community. But the same conditions that make riding attractive also create risks. The Valley's wide, high-speed arterial roads — Camelback Road, Indian School Road, McDowell Road, Bell Road, Scottsdale Road — are designed for car traffic and often lack adequate visibility for motorcycles. Drivers on these roads frequently fail to check for motorcycles before changing lanes or making left turns. Freeway riding on I-10, I-17, Loop 101, and Loop 202 presents additional hazards: high speeds, heavy traffic, construction zones, and aggressive lane changes. The I-10/I-17 "Stack" interchange is particularly dangerous for motorcyclists due to rapid lane shifts and merging traffic. Phoenix's extreme summer heat also creates unique dangers. Pavement temperatures can exceed 150°F, softening road surfaces and creating uneven conditions. Heat exhaustion can impair rider judgment and reaction time. Monsoon season brings sudden dust storms and rain that dramatically reduce visibility and traction.

Common causes of motorcycle accidents in Phoenix

The most frequent causes of motorcycle crashes in the Phoenix metro area include drivers making left turns across motorcycle paths (the single most common collision type), drivers failing to check blind spots before lane changes, rear-end collisions at intersections (when a car doesn't see a stopped motorcycle), distracted driving (texting and phone use), speeding on arterial roads and freeways, road hazards like gravel, potholes, and uneven pavement (especially in construction zones), and monsoon-related debris and wet road surfaces.

Lane splitting is illegal in Arizona

Unlike California, Arizona does not permit lane splitting (riding between lanes of stopped or slow traffic). If you are injured while lane splitting, the other side will argue you were violating the law, which could increase your percentage of fault under the comparative fault system. However, Arizona does allow "lane filtering" in limited circumstances under a 2022 law (A.R.S. § 28-903.01) — motorcyclists may filter between stopped vehicles at a red light when traffic is stopped and the rider's speed does not exceed 15 mph.

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Motorcycle Accident FAQ — Phoenix & Arizona

Arizona requires helmets only for riders under 18 (A.R.S. § 28-964). Adults are not required to wear helmets. However, not wearing a helmet can be used against you in an injury claim — the insurance company may argue it contributed to the severity of your head injuries, potentially reducing your compensation.

Yes. Arizona's pure comparative fault system (A.R.S. § 12-2505) means you can still recover damages even if not wearing a helmet contributed to your injuries. Your award may be reduced by a percentage attributed to the helmet decision, but you are not barred from recovery.

"I didn't see the motorcycle" is the most common excuse from drivers in motorcycle accidents. This does not excuse their negligence — drivers have a legal duty to watch for all vehicles, including motorcycles. Your attorney can use evidence like intersection cameras, witness testimony, and accident reconstruction to prove the driver failed to exercise reasonable care.

Lane splitting (riding between lanes of moving traffic) is illegal in Arizona. However, Arizona does permit limited lane filtering at red lights under A.R.S. § 28-903.01 — you may filter between stopped vehicles when traffic is fully stopped and your speed does not exceed 15 mph.

Arizona's statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of the accident (A.R.S. § 12-542). If a government entity is involved, you must file a Notice of Claim within 180 days (A.R.S. § 12-821.01).

You may be entitled to medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage (including your motorcycle and gear), loss of enjoyment of life, and in some cases punitive damages. Arizona has no statutory cap on any of these categories.

Motorcycle crashes frequently result in road rash (from sliding across pavement), broken bones and fractures, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, internal bleeding, ligament and joint damage, and amputation in severe cases. Because riders have no protective shell, injury severity tends to be much higher than in car accidents.

No. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company without first speaking to an attorney. Their adjusters are trained to minimize your claim, and they will be especially aggressive about assigning fault to the motorcyclist.

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Hit-and-Run in Phoenix
Pedestrian Accident in Phoenix
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InjuryNextSteps.com provides general informational content and is not a law firm. The information on this page does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Every accident is different. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice, consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. The legal information on this page references Arizona statutes and is current as of 2025 but may change. Always verify with a qualified attorney.

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