Find a motorcycle accident lawyer in Scottsdale: the rules, the report and your deadline

Last checked November 8, 2026

After a motorcycle wreck in Scottsdale, get the report from whoever responded: Scottsdale Police on city streets,1 Arizona DPS on Loop 101.2 You generally have 2 years to sue.3 An adult without a helmet did not break the helmet law,4 but whether that counts as fault is unsettled in Arizona.5

See if you are owed money

$0 upfront. No fee unless you win.
Road map of Scottsdale showing Loop 101 at Shea Boulevard and Scottsdale Road at Shea, two busy crash locations in the city's count
Maricopa County had 123 motorcycle deaths in 2024. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

How common are motorcycle accidents around Scottsdale?

ADOT counted 1,960 motorcycle crashes in Maricopa County in 2024. In those crashes, 123 people died and 1,586 were hurt.6 We could not find a Scottsdale-only motorcycle count. The city's collision report breaks out bikes and people walking, but not motorcycles.7

Places matter more than totals for a rider. Scottsdale Road and Shea tied for the most crashes that killed or badly hurt someone at any intersection, with 3 in two years.8 Shea from Frank Lloyd Wright to 124th had 4 on one stretch of road, the most of any segment.9 Loop 101 at Frank Lloyd Wright led all intersections with 106 crashes.10

Afternoons are the hard hours. Each hour from 2 to 6 p.m. held at least 8% of crashes the city counted.11 A rider in that traffic faces more turning cars, and a left turn in front of a bike is a claim where a witness can change everything. Get names at the scene if you are able.

What are the motorcycle laws that affect a Scottsdale claim?

RuleWhat Arizona saysWhy an insurer cares
HelmetRequired for riders and passengers under 18, not for adults4An adult without one did not break this rule
Eye protectionGlasses, goggles or a face shield, unless the bike has a protective windshield12May come up if the insurer argues you could not see
Full laneA motorcycle gets the full lane, and drivers may not crowd it13Supports a claim against a driver who squeezed you
Lane filteringOnly past stopped traffic, where safe, on streets at 45 mph or less, at 15 mph or less14Outside those limits, expect a fault argument

Filtering in Scottsdale needs care, because the rule depends on the posted limit where you were. Write down the street and the speed limit sign near your crash. If you filtered within the rule, say so plainly when an adjuster asks.

Can I get money in Scottsdale if I was not wearing a helmet?

You can still bring a claim. Arizona reduces an award by your share of the fault, and no statute says whether skipping a helmet counts as fault. That point is unsettled.5 Expect the insurance company to raise it anyway, especially for a head injury.

State numbers show why they try. In ADOT's 2024 table of operators, 7.11% of riders wearing a helmet had a fatal injury, compared with 12.75% of those without one.15 Those are statewide figures, and they say nothing about your crash or your injuries. Medical records from your own treatment matter far more.

Who has my motorcycle crash report in Scottsdale?

  1. City street: Scottsdale Police, through CARFAX CRASHDOCS, using the DR number and the crash date.1617
  2. Loop 101 lanes or another state highway: Arizona DPS. Wait at least 14 days, then call (602) 223-2230.18 The first nine pages cost $9 by mail.19
  3. County land: the Maricopa County Sheriff. Serious crash reports are not online, so you will need to ask directly.20
  4. Records counter help: call Scottsdale Police Records at 480-312-1999, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.21

Can I ride my motorcycle on Scottsdale trails?

No. The city bans motorized vehicles, including motorcycles and ATVs, on its trails and in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.22 If you were hurt on one, the owner of that land may argue you had no right to be there. Arizona limits what an owner owes a trespasser to avoiding intentional or reckless harm.23 Talk to a lawyer before you assume you have no claim, because the facts decide this.

What should I do in the first week after a Scottsdale motorcycle crash?

  • Get care right away. HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn is a state-designated Level I trauma center.24 Ask for your records with its request form.25
  • Keep the bike as it is until someone documents it. If police towed it, call All City Towing at 480-833-7278.26
  • Watch storage. It runs $53.50 a day, on top of a $65 tow.27
  • Save your helmet, jacket and boots unwashed and unrepaired.
  • Check your uninsured motorist coverage. Insurers must offer it in writing, and a low-limit policy on the other side is common.28

What should I ask a motorcycle accident lawyer in Scottsdale?

  • How often do you handle cases where the insurer blames the rider?
  • How will you answer a helmet argument, since Arizona law is unsettled on it?
  • Should we hire someone to read the crash data or the road layout?
  • What does the deadline look like if a city vehicle or road defect played a part? A claim is due within 180 days.29

Questions

How long do I have to sue after a motorcycle accident in Scottsdale?

Generally 2 years.3 A claim against a public agency is due within 180 days.29

Is lane splitting legal in Scottsdale?

Arizona allows passing stopped traffic in a lane only where safe, on streets of 45 mph or less, at 15 mph or less.14

Do adults have to wear a helmet in Scottsdale?

Arizona's helmet law applies to riders and passengers under 18.4

Are there Scottsdale-only motorcycle crash numbers?

We could not find any. ADOT reports Maricopa County numbers.6

Find out if you are owed money.

A free case review. $0 upfront. No fee unless you win.

See if I’m owed money

Keep reading

Scottsdale

Motorcycle accident

Arizona

Sources

  1. Arizona DPS, Request Records, checked 2026-11-08. “If the report you are requesting was the result of a collision that occurred on a town, city or county road, contact the law enforcement agency in that jurisdiction.”
  2. Arizona DPS, Request Records, checked 2026-11-08. “maintains records for collisions (accidents) that were investigated by DPS Troopers occurring on an Interstate or State Highway”
  3. A.R.S. § 12-542, checked 2026-11-08. “within two years after the cause of action accrues”
  4. A.R.S. § 28-964(A), checked 2026-11-08. “An operator or passenger of a motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle or motor driven cycle who is under eighteen years of age shall wear at all times a protective helmet”
  5. A.R.S. § 12-2505(A), checked 2026-11-08. “the claimant's action is not barred, but the full damages shall be reduced in proportion to the relative degree of the claimant's fault”
  6. ADOT, 2024 Arizona Crash Facts, checked 2026-11-08. “Maricopa 1,960 123 1,523 314 123 1,586”
  7. City of Scottsdale, 2024 Traffic Volume and Collision Report, checked 2026-11-08. “involved bicyclists and 141 involved pedestrians”
  8. City of Scottsdale, 2024 Traffic Volume and Collision Report, checked 2026-11-08. “SCOTTSDALE SHEA 72,900 3 1.5 0.056 1”
  9. City of Scottsdale, 2024 Traffic Volume and Collision Report, checked 2026-11-08. “SHEA FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT 124TH 40,900 1.25 4 2.0 0.11 1”
  10. City of Scottsdale, 2024 Traffic Volume and Collision Report, checked 2026-11-08. “101 FREEWAY FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT 59,700* 106 53.0 2.43 1”
  11. City of Scottsdale, 2024 Traffic Volume and Collision Data, checked 2026-11-08. “Each hour-long period from 2 PM to 6 PM was recorded to contain 8% or more of total traffic collisions”
  12. A.R.S. § 28-964(A), checked 2026-11-08. “An operator of a motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle or motor driven cycle shall wear at all times protective glasses, goggles or a transparent face shield of a type approved by the director unless the motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle or motor driven cycle is equipped with a protective windshield.”
  13. A.R.S. § 28-903(A), checked 2026-11-08. “All motorcycles are entitled to the full use of a lane. A person shall not drive a motor vehicle in such a manner as to deprive any motorcycle of the full use of a lane.”
  14. A.R.S. § 28-903(F), checked 2026-11-08. “The operator of a two-wheeled motorcycle may overtake and pass another vehicle that is stopped in the same direction of travel and in the same lane as the operator and may operate the motorcycle between lanes of traffic if the movement may be made safely [...] Has a speed limit that does not exceed forty-five miles per hour. 2. Travels at a speed that does not exceed fifteen miles per hour.”
  15. ADOT, 2024 Arizona Crash Facts, checked 2026-11-08. “Fatal Injury 126 7.11% 63 12.75% 26 3.11% 215 6.93%”
  16. Scottsdale Police, Records Request, checked 2026-11-08. “The Scottsdale Police Department has partnered with CARFAX CRASHDOCS.org to provide our collision reports online for convenience and secure access.”
  17. Scottsdale Police, Records Request, checked 2026-11-08. “You will need the last name of an involved party, date of collision, the departmental report number (DR#) and a valid credit card”
  18. Arizona DPS, Request Records, checked 2026-11-08. “Please wait at least 14 days to check on report availability”
  19. Arizona DPS, Request Records, checked 2026-11-08. “Paper report via U.S. Mail - $9.00 for the first nine pages; $0.10 for each additional page”
  20. Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Report Request, checked 2026-11-08. “Allow seven (7) business days after the accident for the report to be uploaded.”
  21. Scottsdale Police, Records Request, checked 2026-11-08. “Phone: 480-312-1999 - Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.”
  22. City of Scottsdale, Paths & Trails, checked 2026-11-08. “The city prohibits the use of motorized vehicles, including ATVs and motorcycles, on Scottsdale's trails and in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.”
  23. A.R.S. § 12-557(A), checked 2026-11-08. “A possessor of real property, including an owner, easement holder, lessee, renter or other occupant, does not owe a duty of care to a trespasser except to refrain from causing intentional, wilful or wanton injury.”
  24. Arizona Department of Health Services, Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-08. “7400 E. Osborn, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 10/27/24 10/27/27”
  25. HonorHealth, Request Medical Records, checked 2026-11-08. “Copy fees may apply.”
  26. Scottsdale Police, Vehicle Impound Unit, checked 2026-11-08. “Call All City Towing at 480-833-7278 to verify where your vehicle is stored”
  27. Scottsdale Police, Vehicle Impound Unit, checked 2026-11-08. “Storage fee: $53.50 per day”
  28. A.R.S. § 20-259.01(A), checked 2026-11-08. “Every insurer writing automobile liability or motor vehicle liability policies shall make available to the named insured thereunder and by written notice offer the named insured and at the request of the named insured shall include within the policy uninsured motorist coverage”
  29. Arizona Revised Statutes 12-821.01, checked 2026-11-08. “within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues”

Editorial policy

See if I’m owed moneyNo fee unless you win
AccidentsCitiesStatesGuides
See if I’m owed money