1. Zanes Law
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, slip and fall, premises liability, catastrophic injuries
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle accidents, motorcycle vs. car collisions, motorcycle vs. truck collisions, lane filtering accidents, left-turn accidents, rear-end collisions, hit-and-run accidents, wrongful death from motorcycle crashes, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, loss of limbs, road rash injuries
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, accident reconstruction, evidence gathering, witness interviews, insurance claim negotiation, settlement negotiations, trial representation, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, medical specialist referrals
Background: Over 25 years of experience with a reported 99% win rate. The firm has obtained a $1,100,000 settlement for a motorcycle accident case. The firm handles cases on a contingency fee basis with no upfront fees. Offices in Phoenix and Tucson serve clients throughout Arizona including Gilbert.
Location: 3333 E Camelback Rd, Ste 250, Phoenix, AZ 85018 (serving Gilbert)
Contact: (866) 499-8989 | https://zaneslaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation and case evaluation available, contingency fee arrangement
2. Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, slip and fall, dog bites, nursing home abuse
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle accidents, motorcycle vs. car collisions, lane filtering accidents, left-turn accidents, rear-end collisions, intersection accidents, wrongful death from motorcycle crashes, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, road rash injuries, broken bones
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, accident reconstruction, evidence gathering, insurance claim negotiation, settlement negotiations, trial representation, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Nearly 20 years as personal injury lawyers with a reputation as one of the leading personal injury law firms in Arizona. The firm has recovered significant compensation for motorcycle accident victims and treats clients with respect while displaying strong work ethic.
Location: Gilbert, Arizona office location (serving Gilbert and Maricopa County)
Contact: (602) 977-1900 | https://lernerandrowe.com
Consultation: Free consultation available, contingency fee arrangement (approximately one-third of settlement value)
3. Simon Law Group
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, personal injury, car accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle accidents, motorcycle vs. car collisions, rear-end accidents, T-bone collisions, left-turn accidents, lane change accidents, head-on collisions, intersection accidents, wrongful death from motorcycle crashes, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, accident reconstruction, evidence gathering, insurance claim negotiation, settlement negotiations, trial representation, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Founder Craig J. Simon has over four decades of experience as a trial lawyer and more than 25 years as a motorcyclist himself. This combination of professional legal authority and personal passion for riding provides authentic perspective in motorcycle accident cases. The firm has a proven track record of achieving successful outcomes for motorcyclists throughout Maricopa County.
Location: Gilbert, Arizona (serving Gilbert and Maricopa County)
Contact: (480) 745-2450 | https://www.simonlawgroupaz.com
Consultation: Free consultation available
4. Sargon Law Group
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, pedestrian accidents, catastrophic injuries
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle accidents, motorcycle vs. car collisions, lane filtering accidents, left-turn accidents, rear-end collisions, intersection accidents, hit-and-run accidents, wrongful death from motorcycle crashes, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, evidence gathering including surveillance footage and witness statements, police report analysis, black box data retrieval, mobile device data analysis, insurance claim negotiation, settlement negotiations, trial representation, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims
Background: The firm has a track record of success in recovering major settlements and jury verdicts for clients. The team handles motorcycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients do not pay legal fees until after successful recovery of compensation.
Location: Gilbert and Phoenix, Arizona
Contact: https://www.sargonlawgroup.com
Consultation: Free consultation available, contingency fee arrangement
5. Goldberg & Osborne
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, slip and fall, medical malpractice, product liability
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle accidents, motorcycle vs. car collisions, motorcycle vs. truck collisions, rear-end collisions, intersection accidents, hit-and-run accidents, wrongful death from motorcycle crashes, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, road rash injuries
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, accident reconstruction, evidence gathering, insurance claim negotiation, settlement negotiations, trial representation, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Founded in 1989, the firm has been standing up for personal injury victims and has helped recover over $2 billion in compensation for tens of thousands of clients. Voted as one of the law firms in Arizona multiple years. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Location: Multiple Arizona locations serving Gilbert
Contact: 1-800-843-3245 (1-800-THE-EAGLE) | https://1800theeagle.com
Consultation: Free, no-obligation case review available
Motorcycle Accident Laws and Regulations in Arizona
Statute of Limitations: Under A.R.S. § 12-542, Arizona generally allows two years from the date of the motorcycle accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline typically results in the court dismissing your case regardless of its merits. If your claim is against a government entity (such as a city, county, or state agency), you have only 180 days to file a formal Notice of Claim as required by A.R.S. § 12-821.01.
Fault System: Arizona is an at-fault (tort) state for motor vehicle accidents. The party responsible for causing the accident is liable for damages. Injured motorcyclists can file claims against the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
Comparative Negligence: Arizona follows a “pure comparative negligence” rule under A.R.S. § 12-2505. This means that even if you as a motorcyclist were partially at fault for the accident, you can still recover compensation. However, your total award is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you would receive $80,000. Unlike Virginia’s contributory negligence rule, Arizona allows recovery even if you were up to 99% at fault.
Helmet Law: Arizona has a partial helmet law under A.R.S. § 28-964. Only riders and passengers under 18 years of age are required to wear helmets. Adults 18 and older are not legally required to wear helmets. However, not wearing a helmet can affect your injury claim through comparative negligence arguments, as insurance companies may argue your injuries would have been less severe with helmet use.
Eye Protection Requirements: Arizona does not mandate eye protection for motorcyclists, though it is recommended for safety.
Lane Filtering: Arizona recently legalized lane filtering (A.R.S. § 28-903.01), which allows motorcyclists to move between stopped or slow-moving vehicles in the same lane under certain conditions. Lane filtering is different from lane splitting (riding between moving traffic), which remains prohibited.
Motorcycle Insurance Requirements: Arizona requires all motorcyclists to carry minimum liability insurance coverage:
- $25,000 bodily injury per person
- $50,000 bodily injury per accident
- $15,000 (or $25,000 as of July 2020) property damage per accident
Riding without insurance can result in suspension of registration and driver’s license.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: While not mandatory, uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage is highly recommended. Approximately 20-22% of Arizona drivers are uninsured, making UM/UIM coverage particularly important for motorcyclists.
Motorcycle Licensing: Arizona requires a Class M license or motorcycle endorsement on a regular driver’s license to operate a motorcycle with an engine larger than 100cc. Licenses are issued by class and do not expire until age 65 (photo and eye test updated every 12 years).
Motorcycle Equipment Requirements: Motorcycles must have at least one rearview mirror, working headlights, and a muffler. Passengers require a proper seat and footrests. Modifying or removing the muffler is illegal.
Damage Caps: Arizona generally does not impose statutory caps on compensatory damages in most personal injury cases. There are no caps on economic or non-economic damages for motorcycle accident claims.
Punitive Damages: Arizona allows punitive damages in cases involving intentional misconduct, gross negligence, or willful and wanton conduct. There are no statutory caps on punitive damages.
Wrongful Death Claims: Arizona allows surviving family members to file wrongful death claims within two years of the death under A.R.S. § 12-542.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the statute of limitations for filing a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Gilbert, Arizona?
A1: Under Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-542, you have two years from the date of the motorcycle accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline will almost certainly result in your case being dismissed, regardless of how strong your evidence is. If your claim involves a government entity (such as the City of Gilbert, Maricopa County, or a state agency), you face an even shorter deadline. A.R.S. § 12-821.01 requires you to file a formal Notice of Claim within 180 days (approximately 6 months) of the incident. Some exceptions may apply, such as when injuries are not immediately discovered, but obtaining a judge’s permission for additional time is difficult. It is advisable to contact an attorney promptly after your accident to ensure all deadlines are met.
Q2: How does Arizona’s pure comparative negligence rule affect my motorcycle accident claim?
A2: Arizona follows a “pure comparative negligence” rule under A.R.S. § 12-2505, which is relatively favorable to injured motorcyclists. This means you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault for the accident, even up to 99% at fault. However, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. For example, if your damages total $150,000 and you are found 30% at fault (perhaps for speeding or not wearing protective gear), your compensation would be reduced to $105,000. Insurance companies often try to assign higher fault percentages to motorcyclists to reduce payouts. Having an attorney can help defend against these tactics and ensure fair fault allocation.
Q3: Is lane filtering legal in Gilbert and Arizona, and how does it affect accident liability?
A3: Yes, Arizona legalized lane filtering in 2022 under A.R.S. § 28-903.01. Lane filtering allows motorcyclists to pass between lanes of stopped or slow-moving traffic under specific conditions, including when traffic is stopped, the road has two or more lanes in the same direction, the speed limit is 45 mph or less, and the motorcyclist travels no faster than 15 mph while filtering. However, lane splitting (riding between moving traffic) remains illegal. If you are involved in an accident while legally lane filtering, the other driver may still be liable if they caused the collision. However, if you were lane splitting (traffic was moving) or exceeded the 15 mph limit, this could reduce your compensation under comparative negligence principles.
Q4: Does Arizona require motorcycle helmets, and can not wearing one affect my injury claim?
A4: Arizona has a partial helmet law under A.R.S. § 28-964 requiring only riders and passengers under 18 to wear helmets. Adults 18 and older can legally ride without helmets. However, while riding without a helmet is legal for adults, it can still impact your injury claim. Insurance companies frequently argue comparative negligence, claiming that if you weren’t wearing a helmet and suffered head or brain injuries, your injuries would have been less severe with a helmet. They may bring in medical experts to testify about how helmet use would have reduced injury severity. While not wearing a helmet won’t bar your claim, it could reduce your compensation for head-related injuries by 10-50% depending on how the jury perceives your actions. Wearing a helmet strengthens your legal position and demonstrates you took reasonable safety precautions.
Q5: What compensation can I recover after a motorcycle accident in Gilbert, and are there damage caps?
A5: Arizona motorcycle accident victims can pursue both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical expenses (past and future), lost wages and income, loss of earning capacity, property damage to your motorcycle and gear, and rehabilitation costs. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and loss of consortium. Arizona does not impose statutory caps on compensatory damages in personal injury cases, meaning there is no limit to the amount you can recover for economic or non-economic losses. Punitive damages may also be available if the at-fault driver’s conduct was especially egregious, such as drunk driving or intentional misconduct. Arizona does not cap punitive damages either. The total value of your claim depends on the severity of your injuries, the strength of evidence proving liability, and the insurance coverage available.