Who Is At Fault in a Phoenix Motorcycle Accident?

Motorcycle accident fault in Phoenix depends on who caused or contributed to the crash. In some cases, the driver of a passenger vehicle or commercial truck is clearly responsible. Other times, another driver, a vehicle manufacturer, a road contractor, or even the motorcyclist themself may share part of the blame.

The truth is, motorcycle accident fault in Phoenix is rarely as simple as pointing at the damage and guessing what happened. A full investigation is often required to get to the truth. Without an investigation, you may be left holding the bag for injuries you did not cause.

If you were hurt in a motorcycle accident in Phoenix, do not assume the insurance company or other involved drivers have the final word on fault. Insurance companies are known for trying to blame riders, even when evidence points somewhere else. This means they can have a real impact on how much compensation you are able to seek. Having a Phoenix motorcycle accident lawyer review your crash helps to protect your rights and allows you to pursue the full compensation you deserve.

Talk to a Motorcycle Wreck Lawyer in Phoenix for Free

If you were injured in a motorcycle crash in Phoenix or elsewhere in Arizona, call Burg Simpson at 602-777-7000 to schedule a Free and confidential case review today. We have more than 50 years of experience helping victims of serious injury seek justice. We know that bias against bikers is real, and we have no tolerance for it. We will stand by your side, fight for your rights, and work to secure every penny you are due.

How Motorcycle Accident Fault in Phoenix Is Determined

Motorcycle accident fault is determined by evidence. A police report can help, but it does not always tell the full story. Officers arriving after the crash might rely solely on statements. Without access to every camera angle, witnesses, or technical detail, this can leave a lot of vital information out.

In determining motorcycle accident fault, our Phoenix injury attorneys can look for additional evidence to support your claim. This may include:

• Photos of the scene
• Vehicle damage reports
• Skid marks and debris
• Traffic camera footage
• Dashcam, helmet cam, or surveillance video
• Witness statements
• Cell phone records
• Toxicology reports

Roadway design or maintenance reports may also come into play. Phoenix has a Road Safety Action Plan that uses crash data to identify problem locations where safety improvements should be prioritized. Some motorcycle crashes involve dangerous intersections, poor road design, inadequate lighting, or unsafe traffic patterns, not just negligent drivers.

The motorcycle accident lawyers at Burg Simpson work with internal legal professionals and external specialists, including crash reconstruction experts, to carefully review the facts of these crashes. We know motorcycle accident fault is not always properly assigned. We take every care to make sure the true cause of your crash is identified, and those responsible for your injuries are held to account.

Top Causes of Phoenix Motorcycle Accidents

ADOT’s 2024 motorcycle data shows that collisions with motor vehicles in transport were the most common cause of these accidents, accounting for over half of all motorcycle crashes. Left-turn collisions alone accounted for 518 crashes in 2024, with rear-end collisions accounting for another 546. Angle crashes, which occur when a bike and a larger vehicle collide at an angle other than parallel, are more often more injurious than rear-end collisions and accounted for 391 crashes that same year.

Establishing motorcycle accident fault in Phoenix may involve driver behavior such as:

• Turning left across a rider’s path
• Failing to check blind spots
• Drifting into the motorcycle’s lane
• Running a red light
• Speeding through intersections
• Driving distracted
• Driving impaired
• Tailgating a motorcycle
• Failing to yield while entering traffic

Determining the exact cause of your accident is essential for establishing fault in a motorcycle crash. This makes it all the more important to have an experienced and attentive motorcycle accident attorney on your side.

At Burg Simpson, our lawyers have decades of combined experience holding negligent drivers accountable and helping motorcyclists get the fair and full compensation they are owed.

Can the Motorcyclist Be Partly At Fault?

Yes. A motorcyclist can be partly at fault for a Phoenix crash. However, that does not automatically prevent the rider from recovering compensation.

Arizona follows comparative negligence. This means that if your own fault contributed to your injury, the full damages are reduced in proportion to your fault. So, for example, if you are awarded $500,000 in damages but found to be 20% at fault, your recovery may be reduced by 20%, leaving you $400,000 in damages.

Clearly, fault percentages matter. A small shift in fault can make a major difference in the value of your claim. Insurance companies know this. They may even try to push extra blame onto you to reduce what they owe. We do not accept this.

When you work with our motorcycle crash lawyers, we will push back against insurance claims, conduct a thorough investigation, and make sure fault is properly apportioned.

What If More Than One Party Is At Fault?

More than one person or company may share motorcycle accident fault in Phoenix. Parties who may share blame include:

• A negligent driver
• A rideshare or delivery driver
• A commercial trucking company
• A vehicle or motorcycle parts manufacturer
• A construction company that left hazards on the road
• A government entity responsible for unsafe road design
• A motorcyclist whose conduct contributed to the crash

It is important to identify each party that played a role. Stopping at the obvious driver might leave compensation you are owed on the table.

Does Helmet Use Affect Motorcycle Accident Fault in Phoenix?

You are required to wear a motorcycle helmet in Arizona if you are a rider or passenger under the age of 18. Provided you were operating within the law, if you are an adult, your helmet use should not play any particular role in establishing fault for your accident.

That said, helmet use can still become an issue in a damages dispute. If you suffered a head injury, an insurance company might argue that the lack of helmet use made the injury worse. That does not mean you caused the crash, but it might mean the defense can reduce the damages you are entitled to.

Having a solid legal team is essential not just for establishing liability, but for protecting you against the tactics insurance companies may use to reduce or deny your compensation.

With over five decades of proven success, Burg Simpson is here to stand by your side and stand up for your rights.

Our Phoenix Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Are Here to Help

At Burg Simpson, our award-winning lawyers know motorcycle crash cases can turn into a fight over fault almost immediately. Too often, injured riders are blamed before evidence is even reviewed. We do not allow insurance companies to write the story for our clients.

We can help in determining motorcycle accident liability in Phoenix by:

• Investigating the crash
• Preserving key evidence
• Reviewing the police report
• Interviewing witnesses
• Working with accident reconstruction experts
• Identifying all possible causes
• Challenging unfair blame
• Calculating the full cost of your medical bills, lost income, pain, and long-term harm
• Negotiating a fair settlement
• Litigating your case in front of a judge or jury, if needed

Trial-tested and established both in and out of the courtroom, our lawyers bring extensive legal knowledge and experience to every case. We have secured more than $2 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients, including millions for those injured in motorcycle accidents. When you need help, we are here to listen, provide actionable advice, and guide you toward the best course of action.

Reach Out for a Free Case Review With an Arizona Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Phoenix or anywhere else in Arizona, contact Burg Simpson online or call us today to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation with one of our attorneys. A nationally recognized law firm with more than five decades of success, we are ready to dig in, build your case, and fight for the results you deserve.