Motorcycle accidents happen fast. The decisions you make in the first few minutes and hours directly determine the outcome of your insurance claim. Here's what actually matters, no filler.
At the scene
Move yourself and the bike to safety if you can do so without causing more harm. Call 911, request both police and paramedics. A Phoenix Police or Arizona DPS officer will complete a crash report with a DR number, which becomes the foundation of your claim. Even if you feel fine, let the paramedics evaluate you, adrenaline masks pain, and TBIs, internal injuries, and spinal damage frequently produce no symptoms at the scene.
Before you leave: photograph all vehicles, the crash scene, road conditions, traffic signals, and your visible injuries. Get the other driver's name, license, plate, and insurance information. Get names and contact information from every witness you can find. Note the locations of any traffic cameras or business surveillance in the area, that footage gets overwritten in 24 to 72 hours.
That same day
Get medical care even if you were cleared at the scene. Emergency treatment often misses injuries that a follow-up exam with your primary care doctor or an orthopedic specialist will catch. The medical record that ties your injuries to the crash needs to be established promptly, gaps give insurers arguments to claim the crash didn't cause your injuries.
Don't give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer. They will call quickly and sound cooperative. Decline. You have no obligation to provide one, and every word can be used to minimize your claim. Don't post about the crash or your injuries on social media.
In the days that follow
Contact a motorcycle accident attorney before accepting any offer or making decisions about the claim. Insurance adjusters routinely exploit motorcycle bias, the assumption that riders are always partly at fault, to reduce liability findings and settlement values. An attorney who handles motorcycle cases specifically will push back on that narrative from the start.
The filing deadline
Arizona gives most personal injury victims two years from the accident date (A.R.S. ยง 12-542). See our post on the Arizona personal injury statute of limitations.
Our motorcycle accident attorneys handle claims throughout Phoenix and Scottsdale on a contingency fee basis. No fee unless we win. Call (480) 418-SHER (7437) or reach out online.