Nothing is more freeing than hopping on a motorcycle and tearing off down the road. Arizona is an increasingly attractive destination for motorcyclists, many of whom come over from Nevada or New Mexico for a day. Our excellent weather is a draw, as are the thousands of miles of open road.

Tempe motorcyclists are often struck on the open highway or downtown. Any motorcycle accident can lead to serious injuries. Call CLS Law, PLLC, if you were hurt in a motorcycle crash and need to talk with an attorney about whether you can seek financial compensation. A Tempe motorcycle accident lawyer is available to schedule a free consultation.

Motorcycle Crash Statistics

Motorcycles are popular in Arizona, so accidents involving them are not unusual. According to the Department of Transportation:

  • Arizona had almost 280,000 registered motorcycles in 2023. This number does not account for the thousands of people who ride into Arizona from other states.
  • 1.3% of all motor vehicle accidents in Arizona involved a motorcycle. However, 3.3% of all alcohol-related accidents involved a motorcycle, which is a sign that alcohol impacts motorcyclists more than other motorists.
  • 251 people were killed in motorcycle accidents in 2023, while 2,397 were injured. The number killed exceeded the number of people killed in passenger cars or pickup trucks.

These numbers are cause for concern. They illustrate the vulnerability of motorcyclists on the road. Thousands of people are hurt in collisions, and they often need expensive medical care to stabilize their condition before being shipped home to recuperate. Call CLS Law to speak with an attorney about your accident.

Motorcycle Injuries We Handle

Riding on a motorcycle should be an enjoyable experience, but thousands end up in the hospital with life-changing injuries, including:

  • Road rash or other abrasions. Road rash is an abrasion injury where exposed skin rubs across dirt or asphalt. The skin can peel back, and dirt and germs can be embedded beneath the skin. This is a serious injury which often requires stitches or possibly skin grafts. Infection is a complication.
  • Burns. A biker can burn any exposed body part when they fall off a bike and touch the exhaust.
  • Nerve damage. Any blunt impact trauma can damage nerves. “Biker’s arm” is a common motorcycle accident injury, when a person braces for impact. Nerve damage might be temporary, or it could last a long time.
  • Fractures. Broken bones in the legs, arms, and pelvis are common. Hip fractures are incredibly disabling and have serious complications, including compartment syndrome and bone loss.
  • Back injuries. Accidents can lead to sprains or strains, disc herniation, and fractures. Serious accidents can damage the spinal column and result in serious impairments.
  • Brain injuries. A helmet can reduce the risk of a serious brain injury by up to 70%. However, these are common injuries and can result in a loss of consciousness and various impairments.
  • Amputation. A person can suffer a horrifying injury to a limb, requiring amputation.

Receiving Compensation after a Tempe Motorcycle Accident

Accident victims can seek financial compensation from the person responsible for a crash. Often, the other party is a negligent driver. A person who is distracted or in a hurry could fail to stop in time, plowing into a motorcycle.

To win a case, you typically need to do the following:

1.       Document the accident. We’ll need to assign fault, which means responsibility for the accident. No one else is there, so document the accident as best you can. Take pictures of the car which hit you and where your bike ended up. If you hit a pothole or other road defect, get a picture. We want to see the condition of any defect on the day you were injured.

2.       Speak with witnesses. A witness at the scene can provide critical evidence. A witness to a motorcycle accident can explain how it happened. For example, a drunk driver might have run a red light and clipped you. You can certainly offer that testimony yourself, but third-party witnesses are very helpful.

3.       Receive medical care. This step is critical because it helps promote healing. You also document the seriousness of your injuries by heading to the hospital right after finishing at the accident scene. Of course, someone with life-threatening injuries will usually be raced to the emergency room in an ambulance.

4.       Make a demand on the at-fault party. Most defendants will be drivers who should have liability coverage. You will open a claim with them and then demand compensation.

5.       Negotiate over fault and damages. Insurers resist making a fair settlement offer. Instead, you need to go back and forth, showing how seriously you are struggling. Negotiation can take a year or longer.

6.       Attend mediation. In mediation, you meet with the defendant in a conference room to talk about the dispute with a neutral mediator. The objective is to see where the points of disagreement are.

7.       File a lawsuit. You probably won’t end up in court, but the statute of limitations is only two years in Arizona. If you go over this deadline, then you lose the ability to sue. A defendant might not offer fair compensation.

These are the critical steps. Hiring a lawyer should be included. At CLS Law, our Tempe motorcycle accident attorney can handle all these tasks for you, providing peace of mind and time to focus on your rehabilitation. Contact us.

How Much is Your Accident Case Worth?

After suffering a painful injury, many people are suddenly swamped with bills. Medical care is expensive—and only getting more so. Even worse, some people are in too much pain to get back to work. They watch as bills pile up on the kitchen table which they have no ability to pay. Many people call us up with fears of ending up homeless.

Someone who is responsible for your accident should pay compensation to cover all damages:

  • Reasonable and necessary medical care to treat your injuries. You might need surgery, rehabilitation, painkillers, or other medication. You should not have to pay.
  • Future medical care. Long-term injuries require future care. Someone who is paralyzed might need future surgeries, as well as help from an aide in the house.
  • Lost wages and loss of earning capacity. If you can’t work, you should receive compensation to make up for the shortfall in income. Someone with permanent injuries will need more income replacement. They might never work again or only work in a lower-paying industry.
  • Pain and suffering. Bodily injuries do more than cost a victim money. Your quality of life nosedives after a horrifying accident. In Arizona, victims can receive compensation for bodily pain, mental distress, and other suffering.
  • Motorcycle damage and other property loss. You can also request compensation for any property damage that occurred in the accident.

Let our law firm review how much you can request. A Tempe motorcycle accident lawyer will look at all relevant facts and use our experience to determine a fair amount. Some of our clients receive $10,000 for their accidents, while others might qualify for $1 million or more.

Speak with Our Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Tempe

Were you injured in a motorcycle wreck in Tempe? Contact CLS Law at (855) 257-9467 for a free, no-obligation consultation. We have negotiated many generous settlements for clients, with many six- and seven-figure awards for badly hurt men and women. Our firm respects motorcyclists and knows that insurance adjusters sometimes treat them unfairly. Let us advocate for you in court and in settlement talks. Our dedicated team of motorcycle accident lawyers is ready to fight for the compensation you deserve. Let us help you get back on the road to recovery.