Arizona Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If you were recently injured in a motorcycle accident, Esquire Law will help you determine the next steps and seek compensation for your losses. As a trusted Arizona motorcycle accident lawyer, we don’t take shortcuts. We put in the hard work required to get the results you want. That’s how you know we’re the right firm for the job. Take a look below to see why Esquire Law is the trusted motorcycle crash lawyer among Arizona residents.

The Risks Motorcyclists Face in Arizona

Arizona is a popular state among motorcycle enthusiasts. In fact, it ranks 11th among states with the highest number of registered motorcycles. The open roads, warm weather, and scenic views are ideal for year-round riding. Unfortunately, the higher number of motorcycles on the road results in a higher risk of motorbike accidents.

Motorcyclists face unique challenges on the road. Motorcycles lack many of the modern safety features that motor vehicles have, like seat belts and airbags. As a result, motorcyclists are more vulnerable to severe injuries when accidents occur. Another challenge is that other motorists aren’t always mindful of nearby motorcyclists and can put them at risk without realizing it. Here are some statistics to help you understand the risks Arizona motorcyclists face.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcycle riders and passengers are 29 times more likely to die in a collision than drivers and occupants of other motor vehicles.
In 2020, a total of 2,317 motorcycle crashes were reported, resulting in 1,921 injuries and 160 fatalities. A minimum of 73 operators or passengers weren’t wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
Arizona saw a 36.5% increase in fatalities from 2021 to 2022, with 167 fatalities reported in 2021 and 228 fatalities reported in 2022. 42% of the fatalities included operators and passengers who did not wear helmets.
36% of motorcyclists who were involved in a fatal accident in 2021 did not have a valid motorcycle license.
43% of motorcyclists who died in single-vehicle crashes in 2021 were alcohol-impaired.

Knowing what causes motorcycle crashes can help you reduce your risks while on the road. These are some of the most common causes of motorbike accidents.

Distracted driving
Aggressive driving (tailgating, speeding, weaving in and out of lanes)
Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Failing to yield or signal
Limited visibility
Disobeying traffic signs.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Phoenix

After a motorcycle accident in Phoenix, knowing the right steps to take can be pivotal in protecting your rights and ensuring you receive fair compensation. Motorcyclists often face unique challenges in these cases due to the higher risk of severe injury and potential biases against riders. Here’s how to take control of your situation immediately following the motor vehicle accident.

Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Motorcycle accidents often lead to serious injuries, from fractures to traumatic brain injuries, even if they’re not apparent right away. Seek medical care as soon as possible, regardless of how you feel. Medical records not only safeguard your health but also provide essential proof that directly links your injuries to the crash, forming a cornerstone of your compensation claim.
Contact Law Enforcement
Arizona law requires that accidents involving injury, death, or substantial property damage be reported to the police. When officers arrive, they will document the accident scene and create an official accident report, which is crucial for your case. This report can establish important details, such as road conditions and the behavior of other drivers, supporting your claim. Ensure that your statement reflects what happened accurately, and obtain a copy for your records.
Gather Evidence Specific to Motorbike Accidents
Evidence from the scene plays a significant role in proving fault, especially for motorcycle accidents. Take clear photos or videos of the accident site, your bike, and any protective gear you wore, including helmets or jackets. Document any visible injuries as well. If there are witnesses, ask for their contact information, as their statements can be valuable in overcoming potential biases against motorcyclists. Details such as skid marks, vehicle positions, and damage to the bike can help clarify exactly how the accident unfolded.
Exercise Caution with Insurance Adjusters
Insurance companies may contact you quickly, often aiming to settle before the full extent of your injuries is understood. Avoid giving recorded statements or signing any documents without consulting a lawyer. Insurance adjusters often view motorcyclists as high-risk and may try to minimize your payout. A skilled motorcycle accident attorney understands these tactics and can help you navigate these conversations, protecting your interests and securing fair compensation.
Consult a Phoenix Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Engaging an experienced motorcycle crash lawyer familiar with Arizona’s specific laws can be crucial. Arizona follows a comparative negligence rule, allowing you to recover damages even if you share part of the fault. An attorney can evaluate your case, advise on potential compensation types—including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering—and negotiate directly with insurance companies on your behalf. They’ll also address any prejudices against motorcyclists that could impact the case.
Keep a Detailed Record of Your Physical and Emotional Recovery
Motorcycle injuries often involve prolonged recovery periods, and documenting your journey can be vital to your claim. Maintain records of medical treatments, prescriptions, and therapy sessions. Also, keep a personal journal describing your pain, mobility challenges, and any lifestyle changes you’ve had to make. These records serve as concrete evidence of your suffering and losses, giving your attorney powerful information to strengthen your case.

Taking these steps can make a profound difference in the outcome of your motorcycle accident claim. By proactively documenting your experience and seeking legal support, you enhance your chance of securing fair compensation and focusing on your recovery journey.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Arizona

In Arizona, a significant number of motorcycle accidents (45.38%) are reported with “No Improper Action,” meaning many crashes occur despite responsible riding. This suggests that external factors, such as other drivers’ actions or environmental conditions, play a substantial role in motorcycle incidents. When these factors lead to injury, understanding the common causes of motorcycle accidents can help victims pursue rightful compensation.

Speed and Unsafe Driving: Speed-related issues are a primary cause, with 22.06% of accidents involving riding too fast for conditions. This behavior alone contributes to 22.81% of fatal crashes, underscoring the danger of speeding. Additionally, unsafe lane changes and failure to stay in the proper lane account for 7.24% of incidents, exposing motorcyclists to the unpredictable movements of other drivers. When another motorist’s speeding or erratic lane changes cause an accident, Arizona’s comparative negligence rules allow injured riders to seek compensation, even if they share partial fault.
Failure to Obey Traffic Rules: Disregarding traffic signals or failing to yield the right-of-way also contributes significantly to motorcycle crashes, with 2.34% of accidents linked to failure to yield and 1.32% to disregarded traffic signals. Such actions often leave motorcyclists vulnerable at intersections or stop signs, where sudden, unanticipated movements by other drivers can lead to severe injuries. Proving fault in these situations typically involves demonstrating the other party’s failure to comply with Arizona’s traffic laws, a crucial factor in compensation claims.
Aggressive and Reckless Driving: Though less frequent, aggressive driving behaviors—including tailgating, weaving, and other risky maneuvers—pose a serious threat to motorcyclists. While aggressive driving accounts for only 0.52% of cases, the severity of injuries in these crashes tends to be high. Victims can seek damages by showing that another driver’s reckless actions created an unsafe environment, violating the standard duty of care required by law.
Arizona’s pure comparative negligence system permits motorcyclists to recover compensation even if they bear some responsibility for the accident, with awards adjusted based on their percentage of fault. Our personal injury attorneys work with all types of motorcycle accident cases, from speeding and unsafe lane changes to failure-to-yield and aggressive driving incidents, and more.

Common Injuries Sustained in Motorcycle Accidents

Injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents can have long-term effects on victims and their loved ones—whether they be physical, mental, emotional, financial, or a combination of these. Injuries can range from mild to severe, and some can even be fatal. These are some of the most common injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents.

Road rash
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
Spinal cord injuries
Broken or fractured bones
Burn injuries
Soft tissue injuries

Compensation for Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Financial compensation cannot fully erase the trauma of a motorcycle accident, but it plays a critical role in helping accident victims and their families manage the extensive costs that follow. Compensation typically covers both economic and non-economic damages, enabling victims to recover from tangible expenses and the intangible impact of the accident.

Economic Damages

Economic damages refer to objective, calculable losses that directly result from the accident. These may include:

Medical Expenses: Coverage for surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, and ongoing medical treatment.
Lost Wages: Compensation for income lost due to time away from work, as well as projected loss of future earnings if injuries prevent long-term employment.
Property Damage: Costs associated with repairing or replacing the motorcycle or any other damaged property.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages address the subjective, often incalculable effects of the wreck. These may include:

Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical pain experienced during and after the accident.
Mental and Emotional Trauma: Coverage for the psychological impact, such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD that can arise from the accident.
Scarring and Disfigurement: Recognizes the lasting impact of visible injuries on a victim’s self-esteem, relationships, and overall quality of life.

By covering both economic and non-economic damages, compensation aims to ease the financial burden of a motor vehicle accident and provide support for the various ways it disrupts the lives of those involved.

Understanding Arizona’s Motorcycle Laws

Motorcycle License Requirement

In addition to a standard driver’s license, motorcyclists in Arizona must also obtain a valid motorcycle license, showing they know the rules of the road and how to safely operate a motorcycle. You must be 16 years of age or older to apply for and obtain a motorcycle license.

Helmet Laws

Motorcyclists under the age of 18 must wear a helmet while operating the motorcycle. Motorcyclists aged 18 and older are not required to wear a helmet while operating a motorcycle, although it’s still highly recommended for safety purposes. If a motorcyclist who is younger than 18 years old gets in an accident while not wearing a helmet, they can still seek compensation.

That’s because Arizona is a pure comparative negligence state. If the motorcyclist—or plaintiff—wasn’t wearing a helmet, their compensation would simply be reduced based on their percentage of fault. For example, if a plaintiff is assigned 20% of the fault by failing to wear a helmet, and the total damages awarded amount to $100,000, the plaintiff will receive $80,000. Under pure comparative negligence, the plaintiff can still seek compensation even if they’re up to 99% at fault for the accident.

Protective Gear Recommendations

While not required, we recommend that motorcyclists wear additional protective gear, like gloves, long pants, and boots. Motorcyclists are required to wear protective eyewear, like goggles, glasses, or a face shield. A protective windshield on the motorcycle is an acceptable substitute.

Equipment Laws

Just like cars and trucks, motorcycles must be equipped with certain safety features to be considered street-legal. These safety features include:

A seat for the driver and any passengers
Footrests
At least one rearview mirror
Turn signals (or, if absent, the use of hand signaling)
Taillights
Front and rear brakes
A horn
Two mirrors

Lane Splitting Regulations

Lane splitting is when a motorcyclist drives between two vehicles in adjacent lanes. Under Arizona’s current lane-splitting requirements, motorcyclists can only split lanes when nearby vehicles are stopped and the motorcyclist does not exceed 15 mph. Lane splitting is only allowed on roads with a speed limit of 45 mph or less.

Minimum Liability Insurance

Arizona motorcyclists must have an insurance policy with minimum liability coverage. This coverage prevents motorcyclists from being held financially responsible for any damages that result from an accident. It also protects the at-fault party from having to cover costs out-of-pocket. Instead, the insurance company of either or both parties foots the bill—up to the policy limit

Here’s a breakdown of the minimum liability coverage allowances in Arizona.

$15,000 for bodily injury per person
$30,000 for bodily injury per accident
$10,000 for property damage per accident

How Esquire Law Can Help

We know how difficult the aftermath of a motorcycle accident can be. These accidents impact you physically, financially, mentally, and emotionally. You’re not a fact or a figure to us. You’re a person with complex needs. We’ll be there to provide support however you need it every step of the way. After all, we’re not just a group of lawyers. We’re a team of trusted legal advocates ready to help get your life back on track as your Arizona motorcycle accident lawyer. Here’s a breakdown of the services our lawyers provide to every client.

Conduct an Initial Case Evaluation

The first thing we do is evaluate your case—free of charge. During this process, we’ll also explain your legal rights and provide legal advice. With no upfront fees, you can get the justice you deserve without worrying about how to pay for our services.

Determine Fault and Assess Damages

The next step is to determine who caused the accident and calculate your economic and non-economic losses. Our attorneys will achieve this by investigating the accident, gathering and evaluating evidence—including but not limited to photos and videos of the crash scene, medical bills and scans, and a police or accident report—and interviewing witnesses.

Establishing negligence in a motorcycle accident case involves four elements.

Duty: The motorist owed the motorcyclist a duty of care.
Breach: The motorist breached their duty of care to the motorcyclist
Causation: The motorist’s breach of duty caused the motorcyclist’s injuries
Damages: The motorcyclist suffered a form of identifiable harm—whether physical, mental, or emotional—as a result of their injuries

Secure Maximum Financial Compensation

Compensation can’t cure your pain, alleviate your emotional trauma, or make up for lost time. It can, however, ease the financial burden of paying for accident-related expenses and safeguard your financial future.

Before pursuing litigation, we’ll try to reach a fair settlement with the defendant. The settlement process involves negotiations between two or more parties, which involves the insurance provider of one or both parties. Our team will handle all negotiations.

File a Lawsuit

If a settlement can’t be reached, we’ll help you file a lawsuit, which is a civil action filed with a court of law. Our team will prepare legal documents like a complaint and a summons. A complaint summarizes the case and justifies reasons for filing a lawsuit. A summons lets the defendant know they’re being sued and tells them how to respond.

Represent You in Court

If you choose to file a lawsuit, one of our skilled attorneys will represent you in court until justice is achieved and compensation is secured.

Why Choose Esquire Law as Your Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Arizona?

We’re Experienced at What We Do

Our personal injury lawyers focus on motorcycle accident cases, meaning they know a thing or two about how to handle them the right way. We understand the challenges of motorcycle accident claims and know how to overcome them. We also know Arizona’s motorcycle laws like the back of our hand. You can rest easy knowing we’re the law firm equipped with the knowledge and resources needed to win your case.

We’re Committed to Justice

At Esquire Law, we’re dedicated to fighting for your rights as your Phoenix motorcycle accident attorney.. You shouldn’t be responsible for expenses that resulted from an accident someone else caused. That’s why we hold the at-fault party accountable for their actions.

We’re not afraid to cut through red tape or stand up against powerful insurance companies to get the justice and compensation you deserve. While insurance companies try to cheat you out of your rightful compensation, we have your best interest at heart. We’ll make sure you don’t settle for less than what you deserve.

We Have a Track Record of Success

We don’t just handle cases. We win them. As a leading Arizona motorcycle accident attorneys,, our results speak for themselves. Here are just a few of our successful case outcomes. We won:

$475,000 for a client who was rear-ended while driving on the highway
$350,000 for a client who was rear-ended while on the way to work
$325,000 for a client who was rear-ended while stopped in traffic

With a track record like that, you can count on us to win your case, too.

Our Clients Recommend Us

See what some of our former clients have to say about working with Esquire Law personal injury law frim.

“Hands down the best law firm I have ever encountered. Kyle is amazing! He is a pit bull, he doesn’t back down. They were in constant contact to keep me updated and all around honestly cared about me personally. I wasn’t just a number or another client. Thank you to Kyle and the team at Esquire Law. You gave me my life back!!”

-Blake Byers

“It was truly a blessing being represented by Esquire Law. Words can’t explain how efficient these guys were when it came to client care. My case wasn’t only handled with care but felt like I was truly part of this family. From day 1 Melissa kept constant contact with me, making sure I was ok physically, and was there any time I had any questions or concerns. Everyone within Esquire Law made sure the process went smoothly. I’d definitely recommend everyone and anyone who has a case that needs attention from professionals that truly love what they do to contact Esquire Law.”

-Danny Joseph

“I brought my case over from a different attorney’s office who tried to settle it for no money with no treatment because of my work schedule. Andrew and Estevan were able to schedule me for Saturday appointments with a provider and even complete my MRIs. I highly recommend this law firm to anyone trying to get some real help in regard to medical treatment and compensation. There were moments when their boss stepped in to help, and I appreciate her being a straight shooter. Thank you, Melissa. You guys earned my business, and I will definitely send people your way.”

-Gilberto Ibanez

Contact Our Arizona Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today

If another driver’s negligence or recklessness caused the accident that resulted in your injuries, it’s time to claim the compensation you’re entitled to. Contact an Arizona motorcycle accident attorney to schedule a free consultation and case evaluation and discuss the details of your case. Don’t wait. Take the first step today.

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