Phoenix Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Were You Injured by Careless Driving?

Most motorcycle accidents occur as a result of careless or negligent driving by others on the road. In cases like these, representation is key to maximum recovery. Rafi Law Group puts an experienced team of professionals on your side. Whether it is protecting your rights, negotiating with parties, or consulting with you, our firm cares for your legal needs.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Some common causes of motorcycle accidents:

• Unsafe lane changes
• Speeding
• Inexperienced drivers
• Lane splitting
• Sudden stops
• Left-turn accidents
• Road hazards

How Phoenix Motorcycle Accidents Happen

Not all motorcycle crashes happen the same way, and the cause matters when it comes to proving liability and recovering compensation.

Lane Change and Merge Crashes

Phoenix freeways like the I-10, I-17, and Loop 101 see a high volume of lane change crashes involving motorcycles. A driver moves into an occupied lane without an adequate mirror check. At highway speeds, there is very little margin for error.

Left-Turn Crashes

Left-turn collisions are the single most common type of serious motorcycle accident. A driver turning left at an intersection or into a driveway misjudges the speed of an oncoming motorcycle or fails to see it entirely. Because the turning driver has a legal obligation to yield, these cases tend to be among the clearest examples of driver negligence - and among the most severe in terms of injury.

Rear-End Collisions

A rear-end collision that causes a fender bender in a car can throw a rider off a motorcycle entirely. Motorcycles have shorter stopping distances than cars, and drivers who follow too closely often cannot react in time. Even moderate-speed rear-end crashes cause serious injuries.

Road Hazards

Gravel, sand, uneven pavement, and construction debris that pose no risk to a car can send a motorcycle down instantly. When a dangerous road condition contributed to your crash, there may be a claim against the City of Phoenix, Maricopa County, or ADOT depending on which road was involved.

Dooring

In urban areas of Phoenix - particularly near downtown, along Roosevelt Row, and in neighborhood commercial districts - riders face the risk of a parked driver opening a door directly into their path. These crashes happen fast and leave little time to react.

Distracted Driving

A driver looking at a phone for two seconds at highway speed travels nearly 200 feet without watching the road. Motorcycles are smaller targets than cars, and distracted drivers are far less likely to register them in time.

Our Phoenix motorcycle accident attorney offers a contingency-based pricing structure, which means that when you win, we all win. You do not owe us anything unless we are able to make a financial recovery for you.

Do You Have to Wear a Motorcycle Helmet in Arizona?

Arizona only requires people who are riding a motorcycle and are under the age of 18 to wear a helmet. This includes the operator and any passengers on the motorcycle. However, all riders, no matter their age, must wear eye protection like a face shield on a helmet, or protective glasses or goggles.

If you are over 18, wearing a helmet is your choice. However, it's strongly advised you do wear one as it could save your life if you get into an accident. It was found by the NHTSA that wearing a helmet can increase a rider's chance of surviving an accident by 37%. It's recommended to wear a DOT approved helmet as they are required to meet federal regulations in order to be DOT approved. 

Overall, a motorcycle helmet, along with other gear, will help protect you in the unfortunate event you get into an accident.

Arizona Motorcycle Laws That Affect Your Claim

Helmet Law and Comparative Fault

Arizona does not require adult riders (18 and older) to wear helmets under A.R.S. 28-964. If you were not wearing a helmet at the time of your crash, an insurance adjuster may try to use that against your entire claim. Under Arizona's pure comparative negligence system, the absence of a helmet is only relevant to head injury claims - it does not reduce your compensation for other injuries, and it has no bearing on who caused the crash. An experienced motorcycle attorney will address this directly rather than allowing an insurer to use it as a blanket defense.

Lane Filtering

As of 2022, Arizona law permits lane filtering, moving between lanes of stopped traffic at 15 mph or less, under A.R.S. 28-903. Lane splitting, which involves moving between lanes of moving traffic, remains illegal. If your crash occurred during legal lane filtering, this should not affect your ability to recover compensation.

Handlebar Height

Arizona law requires handlebars to be positioned no higher than the rider's shoulder level. Non-standard equipment is sometimes raised by insurers as a comparative fault argument. These arguments rarely succeed when properly contested.

Do I Really Need a Lawyer for My Motorcycle Accident Case?

Following a motorcycle accident that occurs due to no fault of your own, you are likely considering the multitude of options available to you in terms of pursuing the justice and compensation you deserve. During this time, many are confused and unsure of the best course of action to take for their specific needs. Though you may wish to independently approach this process without the guidance of a motorcycle accident attorney, there are some cases where failing to enlist these professional services may result in disaster. Even if your ultimate goal is to settle and not fight in court, a lawyer can provide invaluable counsel in your time of need.

Many people fail to consider the bigger picture when deciding not to work with an attorney. It is important to remember the insurance company will make every attempt to undercut what you deserve, as justice is not their goal. Despite how confident you may be in your own abilities to represent yourself, the insurance company will inevitably try to take advantage of your inexperience.

Not only will aligning yourself with the right legal team streamline this entire process, but it will ensure your case is resolved as fairly as possible. For example, without prior knowledge of how cases similar to yours are handled, there’s no way to guarantee what you are being offered is consistent with what your claim is worth. With a strong-minded and experienced Phoenix motorcycle accident lawyer on your side, the insurance company is far less likely to undervalue, dismiss, or manipulate the situation.

Settlements, court, and trial are words that are intimidating and daunting for the average citizen. That’s why Rafi Law Group will put together a customized plan based on your specific scenario to represent your case in an aggressive, fair, and clear case that prioritizes you getting just compensation.

Motorcycle Accident Injuries Are Different - And So Is Your Recovery Timeline

Motorcycle injuries are not just more severe than car accident injuries on average. They are also different in ways that directly affect your claim - particularly how long you should wait before settling.

Road Rash

Road rash is the most common motorcycle injury and the most routinely underestimated by insurance adjusters. At speeds above 30 mph, road rash penetrates through clothing into deeper tissue. Severe cases require debridement, wound care, and sometimes skin grafting, with full healing taking months. Permanent scarring is common. Because road rash does not show on an MRI, adjusters frequently lowball these claims - which is exactly why thorough photographic documentation from the day of the crash through the full healing process is so important.

Traumatic Brain Injury

TBI is a risk whenever a rider's head contacts the road, another vehicle, or a fixed object - with or without a helmet. Mild TBI and concussion are frequently missed in emergency settings and may not show their full symptoms for days or weeks. Headaches, cognitive fog, light sensitivity, sleep disruption, and mood changes can persist for months and affect your ability to work long before anyone has formally diagnosed them. If you experienced any loss of consciousness, confusion, or memory gaps around your crash, push for a neurological evaluation even if the ER cleared you.

Spinal Injuries

Spinal damage ranges from soft tissue injury in the cervical and lumbar regions, which may not appear clearly on early imaging, to fractures and cord injuries with permanent consequences. Because the full picture often takes weeks or months to emerge, settling a motorcycle accident claim before your spine has been fully evaluated by a specialist is one of the costliest mistakes injured riders make.

Orthopedic Injuries

Fractures of the wrist, collarbone, femur, and pelvis are common when riders brace for impact or are thrown from the bike. Surgical repair, hardware installation, and extended physical therapy push total medical costs well beyond what early settlement offers typically account for.

The common thread: motorcycle injuries take longer to fully develop and longer to treat than most car accident injuries. Do not close your claim until you have a complete picture of your medical future.

What Damages Could Be Recovered in a Motorcycle Accident Claim?

Economic Damages

• Medical expenses – emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, rehabilitation, medications, and future medical treatment
• Lost wages – income you missed while recovering
• Loss of future earning capacity – if your injuries limit your ability to work or force you into a lower-paying job
• Property damage – restoration or replacement of your motorcycle, helmet, and riding gear
• Out-of-pocket costs – travel for medical care, home modifications, or medical equipment

Non-Economic Damages

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress (anxiety, depression, PTSD)
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Loss of consortium – effect on your relationship with a spouse or partner

Punitive Damages

Contact Our Phoenix Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today

Our Phoenix motorcycle accident lawyer gives you a fair chance to share what really happened to help maximize your return. Not only do we have the experience to guide you when you consult with us, we have a track record of success that demonstrates the fact that Rafi Law Group will go above and beyond.