Hurt in a Tempe crash on foot, on a bike or in a car: your report and deadlines

Last checked November 8, 2026

Tempe Police reports are sold on BuyCrash, with your GO number, or directly from Records.12 Tempe does not list the base price in plain view.3 Reports for fatal crashes and DUIs are not on BuyCrash.4 Arizona generally gives you 2 years to sue a driver.5 A claim against the City of Tempe goes to the City Clerk within 180 days.6

What happened?

$0 upfront. No fee unless you win.

Road map of Tempe, Arizona, showing its freeways and main streets
The main roads of Tempe. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

In Tempe, the people hurt worst are not inside cars

Tempe's safety plan looked at crashes from fiscal 2020 to 2024. There were 17,735 in all and 392 that killed or seriously hurt someone.78 Only 158 of those 392 involved motor vehicles alone.9

  • Motorcycles: 112 fatal or serious crashes, out of 481 total.10 In fiscal 2024 they matched crashes involving only cars.11
  • People walking: 88 fatal or serious, out of 465.12
  • Bicycles: 44 fatal or serious, out of 538.13

Night is the risky time. More than half of pedestrian crashes, and two in five bike crashes, happened between 6 p.m. and midnight.14 About 20.4% of the worst crashes involved alcohol, compared with 6% of all crashes.15

E-bikes and scooters: the rules an insurer will quote at you

Tempe changed its rules in July 2026. On a sidewalk you cannot go over 10 mph, and you must drop to 5 mph to pass someone walking.16 Riders under 18 need a helmet.17

Tempe also gives e-bike and scooter riders the same rights and duties as bicyclists.18 So a driver cannot wave you off because you were on a scooter. Expect the driver's insurer to ask how fast you were going and where you were riding. Even if you broke a rule, Arizona only reduces your payment by your share of fault.19

Tempe itself warns that drivers leaving a driveway often roll across the sidewalk to see the road.20 If that happened to you, take a photo of the driveway and look for cameras. Since 2024, Tempe police can review footage from hundreds of city cameras after a traffic incident, so ask about it early.21

A council group has been studying e-bike and scooter safety. Its last listed meeting was April 22, 2026.22

Who has your Tempe report

Crash onAgencyHowCost
A Tempe street or pathTempe PoliceBuyCrash, for reports since November 1, 2021.1 Bring your GO number, the date and a card.2 Or ask Records through JustFOIA, or at [email protected].23We could not open the base fee schedule. Extra pages are 25 cents each after 20.3 BuyCrash shows its price at checkout.
I-10, Loop 101, US-60 or Loop 202Arizona DPSWait at least two weeks and call (602) 223-2236 or (602) 223-2230.24$9 for nine pages, then 10 cents each.25
County landSheriff's OfficeBuyCrash, seven business days after.2627At checkout

Records is at 120 E. 5th Street, and the lobby is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.28 City pages list two phone numbers, 480-350-8588 and 480-350-8598, so try both.2930

Tempe deadlines you cannot miss

AgainstTime limitWhere to file
Another driver or rider2 years5Superior court, or justice court for a smaller case
City of Tempe180 days6City Clerk, 31 E. 5th Street, 2nd Floor. Book hand delivery at 480-350-8242 or [email protected].31
Valley Metro, including light rail180 days32Send it to [email protected] or to Risk Management at 101 N. 1st Ave., Suite 1300, Phoenix.33 Valley Metro treats 60 days of silence as denial.34
A public agency you end up suing1 year35Superior court

A rider or walker under 18 usually has until adulthood before the two years start.36

Tempe's most dangerous streets

About half of the mid-block crashes that killed or seriously hurt someone, 105 of 209, took place on just 20.7 miles of road.37 That is 3.9% of Tempe's road miles.38

Tempe says these safety corridors are in force from Oct. 1 until Dec. 31, and they change every quarter: University from College to Hardy, Broadway from Rural to Price, Rural from US60 to Guadalupe, and Baseline from Priest to Kyrene.39

On the regional list of the 100 highest-risk intersections, Broadway and Price is 31st with 144 crashes, Elliot and Kyrene 58th with 98, Broadway and Hardy 62nd with 65, and Baseline at I-10 68th with 257.40414243 ADOT's 2024 total for Tempe is 6,637 crashes, 32 people killed and 3,007 hurt.44

This week if you were hurt in Tempe

  1. Ask for your hospital records. The state list shows no trauma center at a Tempe address. Banner Desert in Mesa is a Level I center nearby.45 Banner records go through MRO Patient Central.46
  2. Light rail, bus or streetcar? Report it to Valley Metro at (602) 253-5000. Tempe's own page sends transit complaints there too.4748 The streetcar runs in traffic on Mill and Ash, so get the car number if one hit you.49
  3. Find your car. Call the Impound Unit at 480-350-8465 before going to a yard.50 Appointments are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays, and they call back within three business days.51
  4. A 20-day impound costs $150, plus tow and storage.52 Even a wrecked car needs valid registration or a salvage title before release.53 The tow yard needs paperwork from police.54
  5. Dog bite? Report it to the county at 602-506-7387.55 Tempe 311, 480-350-4311, handles urgent animal needs during business hours.56

Tempe injury cases and court

County justice courts handle small claims to $5,000 and civil suits to $10,000.57 Superior Court sends disputes under $50,000 to arbitration.58 Small claims cannot be used against the city.59 Tempe Municipal Court is at 140 E. Fifth Street.60

Questions

Can I claim if I was hit on an e-scooter in Tempe?

Yes, you can. Tempe gives scooter riders the rights of bicyclists,18 and fault only reduces what you can recover.19

Why can I not find my fatal crash report on BuyCrash?

Tempe keeps fatal and DUI crash reports off BuyCrash. Ask Records directly.423

What number do I need for a Tempe crash report?

Your GO number, the accident date and a credit card.2

How long do I have to file against the City of Tempe?

180 days, filed with the City Clerk.631

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

Accidents in Tempe

    Arizona

    Sources

    1. Tempe Police, Public Records Request, checked 2026-11-08. “Accident reports approved for public release are available online from November 1, 2021 to the present.”
    2. Tempe Police, Public Records Request, checked 2026-11-08. “You will need the Tempe Police Department report number (GO#), date of accident, and a valid credit card”
    3. Tempe Police, Records, checked 2026-11-08. “Requester will be notified if additional fee applies. ($0.25 per each page over 20)”
    4. Tempe Police, Public Records Request, checked 2026-11-08. “accidents involving criminal reports such as DUIs and fatal traffic accident reports are not available”
    5. A.R.S. § 12-542, checked 2026-11-08. “within two years after the cause of action accrues”
    6. City of Tempe, Risk Management, checked 2026-11-08. “claims must be filed with the City Clerk's Office within 180 days after the cause of action accrues”
    7. City of Tempe, Safety Action Plan (final, October 2026), checked 2026-11-08. “there were a total of 17,735 crashes”
    8. City of Tempe, Safety Action Plan (final, October 2026), checked 2026-11-08. “to FY 2024, including 392 FSI crashes (2.2 percent of”
    9. City of Tempe, Safety Action Plan (final, October 2026), checked 2026-11-08. “Motor Vehicles Only 16,271 91.6% 158 39.3%”
    10. City of Tempe, Safety Action Plan (final, October 2026), checked 2026-11-08. “Motorcycle-involved 481 2.7% 112 27.9%”
    11. City of Tempe, Safety Action Plan (final, October 2026), checked 2026-11-08. “Notably, the number of motorcycle FSI crashes equaled”
    12. City of Tempe, Safety Action Plan (final, October 2026), checked 2026-11-08. “Pedestrian-involved 465 2.6% 88 21.9%”
    13. City of Tempe, Safety Action Plan (final, October 2026), checked 2026-11-08. “Bicyclist-involved 538 3.0% 44 10.9%”
    14. City of Tempe, Safety Action Plan (final, October 2026), checked 2026-11-08. “the evening and late at night; more than half of pedestrian”
    15. City of Tempe, Safety Action Plan (final, October 2026), checked 2026-11-08. “About 20.4 percent of FSI crashes during the study period”
    16. City of Tempe, Bike and Scooter Safety, checked 2026-11-08. “When riding on a sidewalk, riders cannot exceed 10 mph and must slow down to 5 mph to pass pedestrians.”
    17. City of Tempe, Bike and Scooter Safety, checked 2026-11-08. “Riders under the age of 18 are required to wear a helmet if operating a bike, e-bike, or scooter.”
    18. City of Tempe, Bike and Scooter Safety, checked 2026-11-08. “Those riding e-bikes and scooters are granted all of the rights of and are subject to all of the duties applicable to those riding bikes”
    19. A.R.S. § 12-2505, 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”
    20. City of Tempe, Bike and Scooter Safety, checked 2026-11-08. “Motorists exiting driveways often drive across the sidewalk to get a better view of traffic”
    21. City of Tempe, Vision Zero, checked 2026-11-08. “so that police can easily review footage to determine what occurred at traffic incidents”
    22. City of Tempe, Motorized and Electric Mobility Device Safety Subcommittee, checked 2026-11-08. “The most recent Council Subcommittee meeting was held on April 22, 2026.”
    23. Tempe Police, Public Records Request, checked 2026-11-08. “Email to [email protected]”
    24. Arizona DPS, Request Records, checked 2026-11-08. “Please wait at least 14 days to check on report availability”
    25. 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”
    26. Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Report Request, checked 2026-11-08. “Unincorporated areas of Maricopa County (jurisdiction of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)”
    27. 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.”
    28. Tempe Police, Public Records Request, checked 2026-11-08. “Tempe Police Department – Records 120 E. 5th Street Tempe, AZ 85281 Lobby Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.”
    29. Tempe Police, Public Records Request, checked 2026-11-08. “480-350-8588 (7 days a week, 5 a.m.–midnight)”
    30. Tempe Police, Department Directory, checked 2026-11-08. “Records Section: 480-350-8598”
    31. City of Tempe, Risk Management, checked 2026-11-08. “City of Tempe City Clerk's Office 31 E. 5th Street, 2nd Floor Tempe, AZ 85281”
    32. Arizona Revised Statutes 12-821.01, checked 2026-11-08. “within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues”
    33. Valley Metro, Notice of Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “Valley Metro Attention: Risk Management 101 N. 1st Avenue, Suite 1300 Phoenix, AZ 85003”
    34. Valley Metro, Notice of Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “If you do not receive a response to your claim within sixty (60) days of your submission, you can assume that the claim has been denied.”
    35. A.R.S. § 12-821, checked 2026-11-08. “shall be brought within one year after the cause of action accrues and not afterward”
    36. A.R.S. § 12-502, checked 2026-11-08. “the period of such disability shall not be deemed a portion of the period limited for commencement of the action”
    37. City of Tempe, Safety Action Plan (final, October 2026), checked 2026-11-08. “percent, took place along the 20.7 miles that comprise the Segment HIN”
    38. City of Tempe, Safety Action Plan (final, October 2026), checked 2026-11-08. “3.9 percent of the total road miles in Tempe.”
    39. City of Tempe, Vision Zero, checked 2026-11-08. “Starting Oct. 1, the below safety corridors will be active until Dec. 31:”
    40. Maricopa Association of Governments, Top 100 Intersections 2018-2022, checked 2026-11-08. “| 31 Tempe | Tempe | BROADWAY RD & PRICE RD | 144 | 0.336 | 0.619 | 0.387 | 0.490 |”
    41. Maricopa Association of Governments, Top 100 Intersections 2018-2022, checked 2026-11-08. “| 58 Tempe | Tempe | ELLIOT RD & KYRENE RD | 98 | 0.228 | 0.583 | 0.281 | 0.419 |”
    42. Maricopa Association of Governments, Top 100 Intersections 2018-2022, checked 2026-11-08. “| 62 Tempe | Tempe | BROADWAY RD & HARDY DR | 65 | 0.152 | 0.555 | 0.398 | 0.415 |”
    43. Maricopa Association of Governments, Top 100 Intersections 2018-2022, checked 2026-11-08. “| 68 Tempe | Tempe | BASELINE RD & I 010155 | 257 | 0.599 | 0.216 | 0.581 | 0.403 |”
    44. ADOT, 2024 Motor Vehicle Crash Facts, checked 2026-11-08. “| Tempe | 6,637 | 29 | 2,049 | 4,559 | 32 | 3,007 | 295 | 5 | 225 |”
    45. Arizona Department of Health Services, Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-08. “Banner Desert Medical Center 1400 South Dobson Rd., Meza, AZ 85202 06/10/24 06/10/27”
    46. Banner Health, Medical Records, checked 2026-11-08. “you can request your medical records from any Banner Health hospital, provider office, or urgent care location.”
    47. Valley Metro, Safety, checked 2026-11-08. “On buses, report issues to the operator or a Valley Metro employee, or contact Customer Service at (602) 253-5000”
    48. City of Tempe, Transit, checked 2026-11-08. “Call 602-253-5000 for bus, Orbit, light rail, streetcar and express route complaints”
    49. Valley Metro, Tempe Streetcar, checked 2026-11-08. “differs from light rail in that it shares the roadway with vehicle traffic”
    50. Tempe Police, Tow Company Information, checked 2026-11-08. “please contact the Tempe PD Vehicle Impound Unit at 480-350-8465”
    51. Tempe Police, Vehicle Impound Unit, checked 2026-11-08. “Our Vehicle Impound Hearing Specialists are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, by appointment only.”
    52. Tempe Police, Vehicle Impound Unit, checked 2026-11-08. “A $150.00 Administrative Fee is required for all vehicles lawfully impounded under the 20-Day Tow Law (A.R.S. 28-3511).”
    53. Tempe Police, Vehicle Impound Unit, checked 2026-11-08. “A current vehicle registration or a valid salvage or dismantle certificate of title is required by law.”
    54. Tempe Police, Vehicle Impound Unit, checked 2026-11-08. “the towing company is not allowed to release an impounded vehicle without paperwork from the Tempe Police Department”
    55. Maricopa County, Our Field Team, checked 2026-11-08. “You or your pet are the victim(s) of a dog bite or attack? Contact the Call Center (602-506-7387) or submit an online report”
    56. City of Tempe, Office of Animal Welfare, checked 2026-11-08. “If you have a time-sensitive, animal-related need during business hours, please contact Tempe 311 at 480-350-4311.”
    57. Maricopa County Justice Courts, checked 2026-11-08. “small claims up to $5,000, and civil lawsuits for amounts up to $10,000”
    58. Maricopa County Superior Court, Arbitration, checked 2026-11-08. “Compulsory Arbitration is a mandatory program for disputes valued under $50,000.”
    59. Arizona Revised Statutes 22-503, checked 2026-11-08. “Actions against this state, its political subdivisions or an officer or employee of the state or its political subdivisions in his official capacity.”
    60. Tempe Municipal Court, Contact Us, checked 2026-11-08. “140 E. Fifth Street Tempe, AZ 85281 Main Number - 480-350-8271”

    Editorial policy

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