Motorcycle accidents in Arizona
Riders are more likely to be seriously hurt in a crash and more likely to be blamed for it. Two rules come up in almost every motorcycle claim: the helmet law and the lane-splitting law.
Arizona’s helmet law
Only riders and passengers under 18 must wear a helmet.
Not wearing a required helmet can be raised to argue that part of a head injury was the rider’s own fault. It does not excuse the driver who caused the crash.
Source: Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-964
Lane splitting
Lane filtering is legal in limited conditions: between stopped vehicles, at 15 mph or less, on roads with a speed limit of 45 mph or less. Splitting moving traffic is not.
Source: Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-903
Bias against riders
The most common motorcycle crash is a car turning left across the rider’s path, with the driver saying they “never saw” the bike. Not seeing a vehicle that was there to be seen is a failure to keep a lookout, not a defense — but adjusters routinely open with the assumption that the rider was speeding.
Fault and deadlines
Under Arizona’s pure comparative fault rule, a driver found 30% at fault recovers 70% of their damages, and a driver found 80% at fault still recovers 20%.
Arizona’s injury deadline is 2 years (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-542).
Frequently asked questions
Is lane splitting legal in Arizona?
Lane filtering is legal in limited conditions: between stopped vehicles, at 15 mph or less, on roads with a speed limit of 45 mph or less. Splitting moving traffic is not.
Do I have to wear a helmet in Arizona?
Only riders and passengers under 18 must wear a helmet.
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This page is general information about Arizona law, reviewed September 2026. It is not legal advice, laws change, and the right answer for your claim depends on its facts. CaseChecker.ai is not a law firm; it connects people with independent attorneys licensed in their state.