Skip to content
Motorcycle Accident

Tempe Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Helping victims of motorcycle accidents get justice for their injuries

There’s nothing like the joy of the open road for motorcycle riders. For many owners, their motorcycles are an affordable alternative to driving a car. Unfortunately, even the most experienced motorcycle riders are no match for a distracted car driver or a tired truck driver. Motorcycle crashes are usually more fatal and cause more serious injuries that other accidents because motorcycles offer virtually no physical protection in case of a crash.

At Plattner Verderame, P.C., our experienced Tempe motorcycle accident lawyers guide victims and families through each stage of an accident claim. We fully investigate the cause of the accident, how the accident occurred, and determine who is responsible. Our team works with your physicians to verify the seriousness of your injuries, your pain and suffering, and your prospects for a full or partial recovery. We artfully negotiate with insurance adjusters. When adjusters make unfair settlement offers, we try you case before a judge and jury.

Practice Areas

Fast facts about motorcycle crashes in Tempe

Arizona Department of Transportation statistics for 2018 confirm that there were 2,378 motorcycle crashes in Arizona in 2018:

  • Over half of the crashes involved a collision with another vehicle
  • 671 involved a motorcycle overturning
  • 296 involved a collision with a fixed object
  • 150 were fatal
  • 663 involved speeding

Driver distraction, drunk driving, and driver fatigue are also common reasons why motorcycle operators lose control of the vehicle and why other cars and trucks lose control of their vehicles.

Motorcycle riders don’t have a roof, front hood, trunk, or bumpers to protect them. When a crash occurs, the passengers are often thrown to the hard ground or into the vehicle that struck them. Survivors often require a lifetime of care. Many victims never fully recover.

Common catastrophic injuries from motorcycle wrecks

Neck and back injuries are also common when motorcycle accidents occur. Internal bleeding and damage to organs may also result.

Tempe helmet laws

While most states require that motorcycle riders must wear a helmet, Arizona does not require helmet use unless the rider is under 18 years of age. Even though the law does not require helmet use, if you are hit by a vehicle or overturn your motorcycle, a helmet may help protect you.

Who’s liable in a Tempe motorcycle crash?

Many different people may be liable for a motorcycle accident depending on how the accident occurred:

  • Another driver. If a car, truck, or other vehicle accident causes a motorcycle accident, then the driver of that vehicle should be held accountable for your injuries.
  • The owner of a vehicle. The owner of the vehicle operated by a driver who caused and accident is usually liable if the driver was liable and the driver had permission to use the vehicle.
  • The motorcycle driver. If the motorcycle driver is responsible for a crash, then any passengers on the motorcycle would have the right to file a claim against the driver.
  • Manufacturers. If the motorcycle accident was caused by a defective motorcycle part; then the manufacturers, parts distributors, and retailers may be strictly liable if the defect was the proximate cause of any injuries or death. Strict liability means that there is no requirement to prove fault provided there was a defect which was the cause of the harm.
  • Liquor licensees. Establishments that serve liquor may be liable to any injury victim if they served alcohol to someone who was visibly intoxicated or to a minor, the customer drank the alcohol, and the alcohol was the cause of the accident and the injuries/death.

If roads are poorly designed, the state of Arizona, the county of Maricopa, the city of Tempe, or other agencies may be liable if the defective road caused the motorcycle accident and other conditions are met. Contact our personal injury lawyers as soon as you can if you wish to file a claim against a government agency, because the statues of limitations for these types of claims are often much shorter.

Plattner-Rule

What damages are allowed in Tempe motorcycle accident cases?

Motorcycle accident survivors are entitled to compensation from at-fault defendants for:

  • All reasonable and necessary medical bills including hospital stays, doctor visits, treatments with therapists, medications, and medical devices
  • All past and future income loss due to the motorcycle injuries
  • Their physical pain and loss of suffering which can often be excruciating
  • Disfigurement and scarring damages
  • Loss of consortium
  • Damage to the motorcycle

When defendants wantonly disregarded your safety, you may be entitled to punitive damages.

Gorgeous and colorful 3D rendered computer generated image of a
Plattner-Rule

Schedule an appointment with an experienced Tempe motorcycle accident today

Delay can hurt your case. It’s important to investigate the scene of an accident as quickly as possible. Skid marks, potholes, and other evidence may disappear or be repaired if you wait too long. The memories of witnesses fade with time, At Plattner Verderame, P.C., we work with investigators, product safety experts, physicians, and others to help prove your claim and document your damage. To speak with a skilled Tempe motorcycle accident call us at 602.266.2002 or contact us today to arrange to speak with a lawyer. We represent clients on a contingency fee basis.