Phoenix Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Hear from a client whose case other lawyers turned down.

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Real Kent Law client, who gave written permission. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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Client: Unfortunately, I got into an accident. A lot of attorneys didn't want to take the case. Most of them didn't even want to pick it up. They want something real easy, drop in the bucket and you're done. Not Adam. Adam's like, "Bring it on. This is what I live for." Adam likes a challenge. And I wound up getting a settlement that was much nicer than I was expecting. If you need an attorney that isn't afraid of a challenge, that will start to work from day one and really, really go to work for you... Adam Kent is the one you want.

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

A motorcycle crash happens fast. One second you're riding. The next you're on the pavement, your bike is wrecked, and the other driver's insurance company is already looking for ways to blame you. If you're searching for a Phoenix motorcycle accident lawyer, this page is for you and your family. It covers what to do after a crash, the Arizona laws that shape your claim, how insurers use rider bias against you, and what you may be able to recover. Kent Law focuses on personal injury and represents injured riders across Phoenix and the East Valley. Call (480) 359-KENT for a free case review. We'll tell you where you stand.

What to do after a motorcycle crash in Phoenix

The steps you take in the first hours and days can shape your whole claim. Here's what to do.

1. Get safe and call 911. If you can move safely, get yourself out of traffic. Call 911 so police and paramedics come to the scene. Check on your passenger if you had one.

2. Get medical care the same day, even if you rode away. Adrenaline can hide pain. Some injuries, including brain injuries and internal injuries, may not show symptoms right away. Go to the ER, urgent care, or your doctor that day. A same-day visit creates a record that ties your injuries to the crash. Your health comes first, so get the care you need. Insurers may point to gaps in treatment, but if you had to wait or miss appointments, tell us. It's not a reason to give up on your claim.

3. Photograph everything. Take photos of the scene, the traffic signals and signs, skid marks, and debris. Photograph the other vehicle, its damage, and its license plate. Photograph your bike from every side. Photograph your helmet, jacket, gloves, and boots. Photograph your injuries, and keep taking photos as they heal.

4. Get witness names and phone numbers. Other drivers, pedestrians, and other riders may have seen what happened. Witnesses often leave quickly, so get their contact information before they go. Look for cameras on nearby businesses, homes, and gas stations, and tell us about them quickly, because footage can be recorded over.

5. Get the police report. On Phoenix city streets, Phoenix Police handles the report. On state highways and freeways, the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) does. Ask for the report number before you leave the scene.

6. Exchange information with the other driver. Get their name, phone number, insurance company, policy number, and license plate. Don't argue about who caused the crash.

7. Don't talk to the other driver's insurance company. The adjuster may call quickly and sound friendly. Their job is to pay you as little as possible. Call us before you give a recorded statement or sign anything. If you hire us, the adjuster deals with us.

8. Keep your gear and your bike as they are. Don't throw away or repair your helmet, jacket, gloves, boots, or motorcycle until we've documented them. A cracked helmet, scrapes on a jacket, and the angle of damage on the bike can help show how the crash happened and where the impact came from. If the insurer wants to inspect or total the bike, call us first.

9. Call Kent Law. The sooner we start, the sooner we can preserve evidence. Call (480) 359-KENT.

Arizona laws that affect your claim

Comparative fault (A.R.S. § 12-2505). Arizona uses pure comparative fault. If you were partly at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault. In most cases, your claim is not wiped out. For example, if a jury finds you 20 percent at fault, your award is reduced by 20 percent. That's why insurers work so hard to pin blame on riders. They may argue you were speeding, weaving, or following too close. Every percentage point they shift onto you lowers what they have to pay. We push back with evidence. There are exceptions, such as A.R.S. § 12-711 for some alcohol- or drug-related situations, so talk to us about your facts.

Helmets (A.R.S. § 28-964). Arizona requires riders and passengers under 18 to wear a helmet. Adults are not required to. Not wearing a helmet does not bar your claim. The insurer may argue that a helmet would have made some of your injuries less serious. That argument is about the extent of certain injuries. It doesn't change who caused the crash.

Lane filtering (A.R.S. § 28-903). Arizona allows motorcycle lane filtering only in limited situations: on roads with lower speed limits, when traffic is stopped. Even when a rider was filtering, the insurer may still try to blame the rider for being between cars. The details matter, and we look at them closely.

Deadlines (A.R.S. § 12-542). Most injury lawsuits in Arizona must generally be filed within 2 years. If a city, county, or state vehicle or employee was involved, such as a city bus or a government truck, the rules are stricter. A notice of claim is generally required within 180 days (A.R.S. § 12-821.01), and the lawsuit must generally be filed within 1 year (A.R.S. § 12-821). Miss a deadline and you can lose your claim.

Uninsured and underinsured drivers (A.R.S. § 20-259.01). If the driver who hit you has no insurance, or not enough to cover your losses, your own uninsured motorist (UM) or underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage may help. Arizona insurers must offer UM and UIM coverage in writing, and drivers can decline it. Your own insurer can fight a UM or UIM claim just as hard as the other driver's company. Learn more on our uninsured and underinsured motorist claims page.

Common types of motorcycle accident cases

Motorcycle crashes are a serious problem in Arizona. In 2024, there were 3,036 motorcycle crashes statewide (ADOT, 2024 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts, Section 8). That year, 219 motorcyclists were killed and 2,503 were injured, out of 1,228 people killed and 54,426 injured in 121,107 crashes of all kinds across the state (ADOT, 2024 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts, Table 1-1). Maricopa and Pima Counties together had 70.32% of the state's motorcycle fatalities (ADOT, 2024 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts, Section 8).

Most of our crash cases happen on city streets and at intersections, not on the interstates. These are some of the most common ways riders get hurt.

Left-turn crashes

A driver turns left across the rider's path at an intersection or into a driveway. Afterward, the driver says, "I didn't see the motorcycle." This is one of the most dangerous crashes a rider can face. In 2024, left-turn crashes were 518 of 2,032 multi-unit motorcycle crashes (25.49%) and 56 of 144 fatal ones (38.89%), the largest share of fatal crashes of any collision type (ADOT, 2024 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts, Table 8-14). We don't let "I didn't see you" end the conversation. We dig into sight lines, signals, timing, and what the driver was doing.

Rear-end crashes

A driver doesn't stop in time and slams into a rider waiting at a light or slowing for traffic. A car has bumpers and crumple zones. A rider has none. Even a low-speed rear-end crash can throw a rider off the bike. Many of the same issues come up in our Phoenix car accident cases.

Unsafe lane changes

A driver merges into the rider's lane without checking a mirror or blind spot. The rider gets forced into another lane, off the road, or into another vehicle. The driver may claim the rider "came out of nowhere." Video, witnesses, and the damage to both vehicles can show what really happened.

Crashes while lane filtering

A rider moves between stopped cars, and a driver opens a door, changes lanes, or pulls forward into the rider. Insurers may try to blame the rider for filtering at all. Whether the filtering was allowed, and what the driver did, both matter.

Crashes with trucks and large vehicles

Trucks and other large vehicles have big blind spots and need more room to stop and turn. When one hits a rider, the injuries can be severe. These cases can involve more insurance and more parties. See our truck accident page for more.

Evidence and damages

Some adjusters and jurors assume riders are reckless. They picture speeding and weaving, not a rider who was doing everything right when a driver turned in front of them. Insurers may use that bias to shift blame onto you and pay less. We don't accept it. We answer bias with evidence.

Evidence we gather

• The police report, including any statements, diagrams, and citations.
• Photos and video: your photos, scene photos, and footage from nearby cameras and dashcams.
• Witness statements from people who saw the crash.
• Vehicle damage on both the bike and the other vehicle, which can show the angle and force of the impact.
• Your helmet and riding gear, which can show how you hit and what you hit.
• Medical records and bills that connect your injuries to the crash.
• Proof of lost income, such as pay records and statements from your employer.
• Crash reconstruction experts and other expert witnesses when a case needs them, to analyze speed, timing, and sight lines.

Damages you may be able to recover

Motorcycle crashes can cause serious injuries. Common ones include road rash, which can be deep and painful and can leave scars; broken bones in the arms, legs, hips, and ribs; spinal injuries; and brain injuries, which can happen even when the rider wore a helmet. If you or a loved one hit your head, see our brain injury page. This is general information, not medical advice. Follow your doctor's care plan.

Depending on the facts of your case, you may be able to recover:

• Medical bills, including ER care, surgery, hospital stays, therapy, and medication.
• Future care you may need as you recover.
• Lost wages for the time you've missed from work.
• Lost earning capacity if your injuries limit the work you can do.
• Pain and suffering, including physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of the activities you enjoy, riding included.
• Property damage, including your motorcycle and your riding gear.

How Kent Law handles motorcycle accident cases

The insurance company has adjusters and lawyers working to pay you as little as possible. We fight just as hard for you. We don't back down, and we fight for every penny of compensation you deserve.

We move from day one. We gather the evidence early, answer rider bias with facts, and bring in crash reconstruction experts and other expert witnesses when a case needs them.

Here's what that approach has produced:

• Kent Law recovers millions of dollars for injured clients every year.
• We've handled thousands of injury cases.
• We handle negotiated settlements, mediation, arbitration and trial.
• We take on denied and stalled claims, including cases already at the litigation stage.
• Some insurance adjusters and defense attorneys have hired Kent Law for their own injury cases.

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Adam C. Kent founded Kent Law in 2011. He has practiced law in Arizona since 2006 and started his career as a prosecutor with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. Managing Attorney Jonathan Henry brings extensive trial experience to the cases that need to go to court.

Where your case is filed depends on court rules and the facts, such as where the crash happened and where the parties live. Phoenix-area and East Valley cases are usually filed in Maricopa County Superior Court, and we regularly file in Pima and Pinal counties too.

We have one office, in the Ahwatukee area of Phoenix, and we serve riders in Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, and Mesa from there. We usually meet at our office. If you can't get here, we can come to you at the hospital or at home, or meet by phone or video.

What it costs

Kent Law handles motorcycle accident cases on a contingency fee. No fee unless we win. Your case review is free. Before you sign anything, we explain the written fee agreement and answer your questions.

Talk with a Phoenix motorcycle accident lawyer

You ride with the risk that someone else won't pay attention. When a driver's mistake puts you on the pavement, you shouldn't have to fight the insurance company alone. Call Kent Law at (480) 359-KENT. We'll listen to what happened, look at the evidence, and tell you where you stand. Free case review. No fee unless we win.

Se habla español. Interpretation is always available.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different.