Arizona Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Arizona’s year-round riding weather, scenic highways, and breathtaking desert landscapes make the state a motorcyclist’s paradise. From cruising through Phoenix to winding through mountain passes, riding a motorcycle offers freedom and adventure that no other form of transportation can match. Unfortunately, that freedom comes with serious risks. When a motorcycle accident occurs in Arizona, riders almost always suffer severe injuries that forever change their lives.
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident in Arizona, you already know that the challenges go far beyond your physical injuries. You’re dealing with serious medical bills, lost income, and an insurance system that seems stacked against motorcyclists. Insurance companies and even juries often harbor unfair prejudices against riders, assuming you were driving recklessly or “asking for trouble” simply because you chose to ride a motorcycle. These biases can unfairly reduce your compensation—unless you have an experienced attorney who knows how to combat them.
At Eddington Law, our Arizona motorcycle accident attorneys have spent decades fighting for riders’ rights. We understand the unique challenges motorcyclists face, we know how to overcome prejudice and stereotypes, and we have a proven track record of securing maximum compensation for injured riders throughout Arizona. With our Phoenix office conveniently located and our commitment to aggressive advocacy, we’re here to stand up for you and fight for the justice you deserve.
Why Motorcycle Accidents Are So Dangerous in Arizona
Motorcyclists face unique vulnerabilities on Arizona’s roads that make accidents particularly devastating:
No Protection from Impact
Unlike passenger vehicles with protective steel frames, airbags, and crumple zones, motorcycles offer virtually no protection during a crash. Riders are exposed to the full force of impact, making even “minor” accidents potentially catastrophic.
Size and Visibility Issues
Motorcycles are smaller and less visible than cars, making it harder for other drivers to see them. This is especially problematic in Arizona’s bright desert sun, which can create glare and blind spots.
Road Hazards More Dangerous for Riders
Potholes, gravel, oil slicks, debris, and uneven pavement that cars easily navigate can cause motorcyclists to lose control and crash.
Arizona’s Extreme Weather Conditions
Arizona presents unique hazards for motorcyclists:
- Extreme heat: Can cause tire blowouts and rider fatigue
- Monsoon storms: Create slippery roads, reduced visibility, and sudden dangerous conditions
- Dust storms: Can appear suddenly, creating zero-visibility situations
- Desert winds: Strong crosswinds can destabilize motorcycles
High-Speed Arizona Highways
Arizona’s highways—including I-10, I-17, and Loop 101—have high speed limits. At highway speeds, motorcycle accidents are often fatal or result in catastrophic injuries.
Distracted and Negligent Drivers
Despite the “Look Twice for Motorcycles” campaign, many Arizona drivers fail to watch for motorcyclists. Distracted driving, failure to check blind spots, and failure to yield right-of-way cause countless motorcycle accidents.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Arizona
Most motorcycle accidents in Arizona are caused by other drivers’ negligence, not rider error. Understanding what caused your accident is crucial to holding the right parties accountable.
Left-Turn Accidents
One of the most common and dangerous types of motorcycle accidents occurs when a driver turns left across a motorcyclist’s path. Drivers often misjudge the motorcycle’s speed or simply don’t see the rider at all. These collisions frequently result in severe injuries or death.
Lane Change and Merging Accidents
Drivers who fail to check blind spots before changing lanes or merging often strike motorcyclists. These sideswipe accidents can cause riders to lose control and crash.
Rear-End Collisions
Distracted or inattentive drivers rear-end stopped or slowing motorcycles, often with devastating results for the rider.
Opening Car Doors (Dooring)
Drivers or passengers who open car doors into traffic without checking can strike passing motorcyclists, causing serious crashes.
Road Hazards and Poor Road Conditions
Potholes, gravel, debris, uneven pavement, construction zones, and poor road maintenance pose serious dangers to motorcyclists. Government entities may be liable when road defects cause accidents.
Drunk or Impaired Drivers
Impaired drivers have reduced reaction times and impaired judgment, making them particularly dangerous to vulnerable motorcyclists.
Speeding and Aggressive Driving
Drivers who speed, tailgate, or drive aggressively give themselves less time to react to motorcycles and are more likely to cause serious accidents.
Failure to Yield Right-of-Way
Many motorcycle accidents occur when drivers fail to yield at intersections, pulling out from parking lots, or entering traffic from side streets.
Distracted Driving
Drivers texting, talking on phones, eating, or otherwise distracted often simply don’t see motorcyclists until it’s too late.
Following Too Closely
Tailgating drivers who follow motorcycles too closely can’t stop in time when the rider brakes, causing rear-end collisions.
Vehicle Defects
Sometimes motorcycle accidents result from defective parts:
- Tire defects or blowouts
- Brake failures
- Throttle malfunctions
- Defective helmets or safety gear
Manufacturers can be held strictly liable for defective products that cause accidents.
Common Injuries in Arizona Motorcycle Accidents
Due to the lack of protection, motorcycle accident injuries are typically severe and often life-altering:
Road Rash and Skin Injuries
When riders slide across pavement, friction causes severe abrasions that damage skin and underlying tissue. Serious road rash can require skin grafts and cause permanent scarring.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Motorcycle accidents frequently cause multiple fractures, including:
- Broken arms, legs, wrists, and ankles
- Shattered pelvis
- Broken ribs
- Facial fractures
- Broken collarbones
Many fractures require surgery, metal plates, screws, or rods, and extensive rehabilitation.
Head Injuries and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Even with helmets, riders can suffer concussions and traumatic brain injuries. Severe TBIs can cause:
- Cognitive impairment
- Memory loss
- Personality changes
- Seizures
- Permanent disability
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or complete paralysis, changing every aspect of the victim’s life and requiring lifetime medical care.
Internal Injuries
Blunt force trauma can damage internal organs, cause internal bleeding, and create life-threatening medical emergencies.
Amputation and Loss of Limb
The severe nature of motorcycle crashes may necessitate amputation or result in such extensive damage that limbs cannot be saved.
Severe Burns
If a motorcycle’s fuel tank ruptures and ignites, riders can suffer devastating burn injuries requiring extensive treatment and multiple surgeries.
Nerve Damage
Impacts and crush injuries can damage nerves, causing chronic pain, numbness, tingling, and loss of function.
Shoulder and Biker’s Arm
When riders instinctively put out their arms to break a fall, they often suffer severe shoulder injuries and nerve damage to arms.
Psychological Trauma
Many motorcycle accident victims develop PTSD, anxiety, depression, and fear of riding that requires long-term psychological treatment.
Wrongful Death
Tragically, many motorcycle accidents prove fatal. Surviving family members may be entitled to wrongful death compensation for their devastating loss.
These serious injuries often require extensive medical treatment, multiple surgeries, long-term rehabilitation, and result in permanent disability. Accurate case valuation by an experienced attorney is crucial to ensuring you receive compensation for all future needs.
Overcoming Motorcycle Prejudice in Arizona
One of the most frustrating aspects of motorcycle accident cases is the unfair prejudice riders face from insurance companies, adjusters, and even juries.
Common Stereotypes and Biases
Motorcyclists are often unfairly stereotyped as:
- Reckless or thrill-seeking
- Dangerous or irresponsible
- “Asking for trouble”
- Violating traffic laws
- Speeding or driving aggressively
These prejudices persist despite statistics showing that in most motorcycle accidents, the other driver—not the motorcyclist—is at fault.
How Insurance Companies Use These Biases
Insurance companies exploit these prejudices to:
- Shift blame to the motorcyclist
- Claim the rider was speeding or driving recklessly
- Argue the rider “assumed the risk”
- Reduce settlement offers
- Pressure riders to accept lowball settlements
How We Combat Rider Prejudice
At Eddington Law, we know how to overcome these unfair biases:
We Gather Strong Evidence: We thoroughly document the accident scene, obtain witness statements, secure surveillance footage, and work with accident reconstruction experts to prove the other driver’s fault.
We Emphasize Traffic Laws: We demonstrate that you were following all traffic laws, wearing proper safety gear, and riding responsibly.
We Educate Decision-Makers: We educate insurance adjusters and juries about motorcycle operation, visibility issues, and the realities of riding.
We Highlight the Other Driver’s Negligence: We focus on the specific negligent actions of the at-fault driver—texting, failure to yield, left turns across your path—rather than letting the case become about motorcycles in general.
We Present You as a Real Person: We humanize you to decision-makers, showing your family, your occupation, your responsible riding history, and the real impact the accident has had on your life.
We’ve been fighting motorcycle prejudice for decades, and we know how to protect riders’ rights and maximize compensation despite these unfair biases.
Arizona Motorcycle Laws and Your Rights
Understanding Arizona’s motorcycle laws is important for protecting your rights after an accident.
Arizona Helmet Laws
Arizona does not require adult riders (18+) to wear helmets. However, insurance companies will often try to use your lack of a helmet against you, claiming it contributed to your injuries. We know how to counter these arguments—Arizona law specifically prohibits using failure to wear a helmet as evidence of contributory negligence unless the helmet would have prevented the specific injury claimed.
Lane Splitting
Lane splitting (riding between lanes of traffic) is not legal in Arizona. If you were lane splitting at the time of your accident, it may affect your case under comparative negligence rules.
Motorcycle Equipment Requirements
Arizona law requires motorcycles to have:
- At least one rearview mirror
- Working headlight and taillight
- Turn signals (for bikes manufactured after 1973)
- Functional brakes
Licensing Requirements
Arizona requires motorcyclists to have either a Class M license or a motorcycle endorsement on their driver’s license.
Arizona’s Comparative Negligence Rule
Arizona follows “pure comparative negligence,” meaning you can recover compensation even if you were partially at fault. However, your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurance companies will aggressively try to shift blame to you to reduce their payout—that’s why you need an experienced attorney to minimize your assigned fault.
Statute of Limitations
You have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit in Arizona. Don’t wait—evidence disappears and witnesses’ memories fade.
Types of Motorcycle Accidents We Handle in Arizona
At Eddington Law, we represent injured riders in all types of motorcycle accidents throughout Arizona:
- Highway and freeway accidents
- Intersection collisions
- Left-turn accidents
- Lane change and merging accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Sideswipe accidents
- Single-vehicle accidents caused by road defects
- Accidents caused by road debris or hazards
- Parking lot accidents
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Multi-vehicle crashes
- Accidents involving commercial vehicles
- Product liability cases (defective motorcycles or parts)
- Wrongful death cases
No matter how your accident occurred, if another party’s negligence was responsible, we can help you pursue compensation.
Compensation Available in Arizona Motorcycle Accident Cases
Motorcycle accident victims in Arizona may be entitled to substantial compensation:
Economic Damages
Medical Expenses: All past and future costs, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, ICU care, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medication, assistive devices, prosthetics, home modifications, and lifetime care needs for catastrophic injuries.
Lost Income: All wages, salary, bonuses, and benefits lost due to missing work during recovery.
Lost Earning Capacity: If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous occupation or reduce your future earning ability, you can recover compensation for this diminished potential.
Property Damage: Cost to repair or replace your motorcycle, custom parts, safety gear, and other damaged property.
Out-of-Pocket Expenses: All accident-related costs, including transportation to medical appointments.
Non-Economic Damages
Pain and Suffering: Physical pain, discomfort, and ongoing symptoms from your injuries.
Emotional Distress: Anxiety, depression, PTSD, and psychological trauma.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Inability to ride or participate in activities you enjoyed before the accident.
Loss of Consortium: Compensation to spouses for loss of companionship and intimacy.
Disfigurement and Scarring: Permanent scarring and physical changes affecting your appearance and self-image.
Arizona does not cap non-economic damages in motorcycle accident cases, allowing full compensation for your suffering.
Punitive Damages
When the at-fault party’s conduct was particularly egregious—such as drunk driving, extreme recklessness, or road rage—Arizona courts may award punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior.
The value of your case depends on the severity of your injuries, medical expenses, lost income, how the accident impacts your life, the strength of evidence, available insurance coverage, and your attorney’s skill. We thoroughly evaluate every aspect of your case to pursue maximum compensation.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Arizona
The steps you take immediately after an accident can significantly affect your ability to recover compensation:
Check for Injuries and Call 911
Your safety comes first. Check yourself for injuries and call 911 immediately. Even if you feel okay, adrenaline can mask serious injuries—get medical attention.
Move to Safety If Possible
If you’re able to move and it’s safe to do so, get yourself and your motorcycle out of traffic to prevent additional accidents.
Call Law Enforcement
Ensure police respond to the scene and file an accident report. This official documentation is crucial for your claim.
Exchange Information
Get the other driver’s name, contact information, driver’s license number, license plate, insurance company, and policy number. Also get contact information from witnesses.
Document the Scene
If you’re physically able, document the scene by:
- Taking photos of all vehicles, damage, the accident scene, road conditions, traffic signs, skid marks, and your injuries
- Taking photos of your motorcycle and safety gear
- Writing down your recollection of how the accident happened
- Noting weather and traffic conditions
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Even if you don’t think you’re seriously hurt, see a doctor right away. Some injuries like internal bleeding, concussions, or organ damage have delayed symptoms. Delaying medical care also gives insurance companies ammunition to claim you weren’t really injured.
Preserve Evidence
Don’t repair or dispose of your motorcycle, helmet, or riding gear. Don’t wash bloody or torn clothing. All of this is evidence.
Don’t Admit Fault
Don’t apologize or admit fault at the scene. Be careful what you say to other drivers, witnesses, or police—stick to facts.
Be Careful with Insurance Companies
Report the accident to your insurance company but provide only basic factual information. Don’t give recorded statements or accept settlement offers before consulting an attorney.
Don’t Post on Social Media
Don’t discuss your accident or post photos on social media. Insurance companies monitor social media and will use your posts against you—even innocent posts can be taken out of context.
Contact an Arizona Motorcycle Accident Attorney Immediately
The sooner you have legal representation, the better. An attorney can protect you from unfair tactics, preserve evidence, and handle communications with insurance companies from day one.
Why Choose Eddington Law for Your Arizona Motorcycle Accident Case
Choosing the right attorney can make all the difference in the outcome of your case:
We Understand Riders and Riding
We understand the freedom of the road and the unique challenges motorcyclists face. We don’t judge you for riding—we defend your right to ride.
We Fight Motorcycle Prejudice
We have decades of experience combating unfair stereotypes and biases against motorcyclists. We know how to present your case effectively to overcome these prejudices.
We Know Arizona Motorcycle Laws
We thoroughly understand Arizona’s motorcycle-specific laws and regulations and know how to use them to protect your rights.
We Investigate Thoroughly
We conduct comprehensive investigations to gather evidence proving the other driver’s fault and minimizing any attempt to blame you.
We Calculate True Case Value
We accurately value all your damages, including future medical needs and lost earning capacity, ensuring you pursue full compensation.
We Negotiate Aggressively
Insurance companies know we’re experienced trial lawyers who aren’t afraid to go to court. This reputation gives us leverage to negotiate favorable settlements.
We’re Trial-Ready
If settlement negotiations fail, we’re prepared to present your case to an Arizona jury and fight for maximum compensation.
Phoenix Office Convenience
Our Phoenix office is conveniently located to serve motorcycle accident victims throughout the Valley and all of Arizona.
Contingency Fee Representation
No upfront costs—we only get paid if we win your case. Your consultation is free.
Compassionate Personal Service
We treat you with the respect and personal attention you deserve during this difficult time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arizona Motorcycle Accidents
How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident claim in Arizona?
You have two years from the accident date to file a lawsuit. However, don’t wait—evidence can disappear and witnesses’ memories fade. Contact us immediately.
What if I wasn’t wearing a helmet?
Arizona doesn’t require adult riders to wear helmets, and state law prohibits using failure to wear a helmet as evidence of fault unless the helmet would have prevented your specific injuries. We know how to handle these arguments.
What if I was partially at fault for the accident?
Arizona’s comparative negligence rule allows you to recover compensation even if you were partially responsible. Your recovery will be reduced by your fault percentage, which is why it’s crucial to have an attorney who can minimize your assigned fault.
How do you overcome bias against motorcyclists?
We gather strong evidence proving the other driver’s fault, emphasize your compliance with traffic laws, educate decision-makers about motorcycles, and present you as a real person whose life has been dramatically affected.
What if the driver who hit me doesn’t have insurance?
You may be able to recover through your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. We’ll explore all available options for compensation.
How much is my motorcycle accident case worth?
Every case is unique. Value depends on your injuries, medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other factors. We’ll provide an honest evaluation during your free consultation.
Should I accept the insurance company’s settlement offer?
Never accept a settlement without consulting an experienced attorney first. Initial offers are almost always far below what your case is truly worth.
Do I really need a lawyer?
Yes. Motorcycle accident cases involve unique challenges including rider prejudice, serious injuries, and complex liability issues. Having an experienced attorney dramatically increases your chances of receiving fair compensation.
How long will my case take?
Some cases settle within months, while complex cases involving severe injuries may take longer. We work efficiently while ensuring you receive full compensation.
What if I can’t afford a lawyer?
You can afford us. We work on contingency—no upfront fees, and we only get paid if we win. Your consultation is completely free.
Contact an Arizona Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident anywhere in Arizona, don’t face the insurance companies and their prejudices alone. You need an experienced attorney who understands riders’ rights, knows how to overcome bias, and will fight aggressively for the compensation you deserve.
At Eddington Law, we’ve spent decades protecting Arizona motorcyclists’ rights and securing maximum compensation for injured riders. We understand the unique challenges you face, we know how insurance companies operate, and we have the proven track record to get results. With our Phoenix office conveniently located, we’re here to help you through this difficult time.
Time is critical. Evidence can disappear, witnesses’ memories fade, and Arizona’s statute of limitations is strict. The sooner you contact us, the better we can protect your rights.
Your consultation is completely free and confidential. We’ll listen to your story, answer your questions, explain your legal options, and give you an honest assessment of your case. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Don’t wait another day. Contact Eddington Law today:
- Call our Phoenix office for immediate assistance
- Visit eddington.law to learn more about our firm
- Stop by our Phoenix office for a face-to-face consultation
We serve motorcycle accident victims throughout Arizona, including:
- Phoenix
- Scottsdale
- Tempe
- Mesa
- Chandler
- Glendale
- Peoria
- Gilbert
- Surprise
- Tucson
- Flagstaff
- Cave Creek
- Fountain Hills
- And all surrounding communities
You’ve been through enough. Let us handle the legal fight from here.
No fees unless we win. Call today.
We’re ready to stand up for you, combat unfair prejudice, and fight for the justice and maximum compensation you deserve.