Arizona Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Drivers in Arizona must leave at least three feet when they pass a bicycle. When one doesn't, the rider takes the worst of the injuries.
As bicycle accident lawyers, we represent cyclists and e-bike riders hurt by drivers anywhere in Arizona.
Arizona law on bicycle accident claims
Each point links to the statute or court decision it comes from.
Three feet to pass
A driver passing a bicycle must leave at least three feet until safely past it.
A.R.S. § 28-735 (opens in a new tab)A cyclist's place on the road
A person riding a bicycle on the road has the same rights and duties as the driver of a vehicle.
A.R.S. § 28-812 (opens in a new tab)Lights after dark
A bicycle ridden at night needs a white front lamp visible from 500 feet and a red reflector on the back. An insurer will ask whether yours had them.
A.R.S. § 28-817 (opens in a new tab)The 2024 numbers
ADOT counted 44 cyclists killed on Arizona roads in 2024.
ADOT Crash Facts, 2024 (opens in a new tab)
How a bicycle accident case works with us
- 1
A call with an attorney
Tell us where you were riding and what the driver did. We tell you on that call whether we'd take the case.
- 2
The bike, kept as it is
Don't repair the bike or throw out the helmet yet. The damage shows the direction and force of the impact.
- 3
Your own coverage, checked
Underinsured coverage on your auto policy can apply while you ride, which matters when the driver carries only the minimum.
- 4
Offers, and your decision
Each offer comes with our view of it, and you choose whether to accept it or go to court.
Why riders choose Saks Law for bicycle accident cases
We don't get paid unless you get paid
Our fee is a percentage of the recovery, set in writing before work begins. If the case ends without one, the costs of pursuing it are ours.
Direct access to Sam
Every client receives Sam's personal cell number when the case begins. Questions go straight to the attorney handling the case.
Sam has spoken up for Arizona cyclists
In 2023, Sam spoke to the press about the rising toll on Arizona cyclists.
Bicycle accident questions riders ask
If your question isn't here, call 480-440-3331.
Does an e-bike crash count as a bicycle accident?
In Arizona it usually does. State law treats most electric bicycles as bicycles, so riders need no license, registration or insurance of their own under A.R.S. § 28-819. A driver who hits an e-bike rider is held to the same rules as one who hits any other cyclist.
The driver says I came out of nowhere. Does that end my case?
It doesn't. Drivers have a duty to keep a lookout, and a careful driver sees a cyclist in the road. Witness statements and the damage to the bike often show where you were. If a jury found you partly at fault, Arizona's comparative fault rule reduces the award without ending the claim.
Who pays my medical bills right now?
Your health insurance can cover care while the claim is open, and some providers will treat you on a lien paid from the settlement. Medical payments coverage on your own auto policy may apply too. When the case resolves, we sort out who gets repaid and negotiate those amounts down.
How long do I have after a bike crash?
Most bicycle injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash, under A.R.S. § 12-542. If a city vehicle or a road defect is involved, written notice is due within 180 days. For a rider under 18, the deadline usually runs from their 18th birthday.
Can I bring a claim if I wasn't wearing a helmet?
You can. Arizona has no statewide helmet law for adult cyclists, so riding without one broke no law. An insurer may argue a helmet would have lessened a head injury and try to reduce that part of the award. It doesn't excuse the driver, and it has no bearing on a broken leg or wrist.
Bicycle accident cases across Arizona
We take bicycle cases anywhere in Arizona, including Tucson and Flagstaff, and on the canal paths and bike lanes of the Valley. Riders far from our office can meet with Sam by video.
Speak with an injury lawyer before you speak with the insurer.
The case review is free and confidential, and you decide afterward whether to retain us.
Call weekdays from 8:30am to 5pm, or send the form at any hour.