Tempe Car Accident Lawyer

Trusted car accident lawyers serving clients across Tempe, AZ and the surrounding area.

Car accidents are the most common type of personal injury claim. If you were hit by a negligent driver, Arizona law allows you to seek compensation for losses like property damage, medical bills, missed work, and more.

Yearin Law Office has represented injured Arizonans since 1991. Our Tempe, AZ car accident lawyer can handle the legal aspects of your claim while you focus on healing. We only represent victims, never insurance companies. Consultations are free, and we charge no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Car Accident Lawyer Tempe, AZ

A car accident lawyer is a personal injury attorney who represents people hurt in collisions and pursues compensation from the at-fault driver and that driver’s insurer. The work covers investigation, medical record collection, claim valuation, negotiation, and trial when an insurance company refuses to pay what a case is actually worth.

Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle in Tempe

Every car accident case is different. Some involve a single negligent driver and one insurance policy. Others involve commercial vehicles, rideshare companies, or multiple layers of coverage that must each be identified and pursued. Our firm handles the full range for Tempe clients, including:

• Rear-end collisions. These are among the most common crashes on Tempe streets, often at signals along Rural Road or Baseline Road. Whiplash and back injuries from these wrecks can linger long after the bumper is repaired.
• Distracted driving accidents. NHTSA reports that distracted driving claimed 3,208 lives nationwide in 2024. We obtain phone records and witness statements to prove the other driver was not watching the road.
• Drunk driving accidents. Impaired drivers cause some of the most violent collisions we see. Punitive damages may be available on top of compensation for your other losses.
• Truck accidents. Collisions with commercial vehicles raise questions of federal safety rules, driver logs, and company liability. These cases demand fast evidence preservation before records disappear.
• Motorcycle accidents. Riders suffer disproportionate harm in crashes and then face unfair bias from adjusters. We push back on both.
• Bicycle accidents. Tempe’s bike lanes see heavy daily use, and drivers regularly fail to yield to cyclists at intersections and driveways.
• Scooter accidents. Rented scooters are everywhere around Mill Avenue. Claims involving them raise unusual insurance coverage questions that most riders never anticipate.
• Uber accidents. Rideshare collisions involve tiered commercial policies that depend on what the driver’s app showed at the moment of impact.
• Lyft accidents. Whether you were a passenger, another driver, or a pedestrian, we identify every policy that applies to your injuries.
• Wrongful death. When a crash takes a life, surviving family members may bring a claim for their losses. We handle these cases with care and resolve.

Why Choose Yearin Law Office as My Car Accident Lawyer in Tempe, AZ?

Recognition Earned Over 36 Years of Trial Work

Don Yearin founded our firm and has tried injury cases in Arizona courts since 1991. Martindale-Hubbell has given him its AV Preeminent Rating, the highest mark available for legal ability and ethical standards. The National Trial Lawyers has named him a Top 100 Civil Plaintiff attorney, and in 2025 he was selected for Premier Lawyers of America, an invitation-only organization limited to a small fraction of attorneys nationwide. He is an Arizona native who earned his business degree from Arizona State University in 1986 and his law degree from the UA College of Law in 1990.

Results for Injured Clients

Insurance companies know which firms are willing to take a case to trial, and that reputation affects how they negotiate. Our firm has tried injury cases to verdict for more than three decades. That willingness has produced millions of dollars recovered for our clients through verdicts and settlements, including trial wins after insurers refused to make fair offers. Car accident representation sits at the center of our work as a personal injury lawyer in Tempe, AZ, and every case is handled on a contingency basis. You pay nothing up front, and you owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. When an insurer delays or denies a valid claim, we respond with documented demands, and we are prepared to present the case to a jury when negotiation fails.

What Is Important to Understand About a Car Accident Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Car Accident Cases

Arizona law allows an injured person to recover for the losses a crash causes. Compensation generally falls into a few categories:

• Medical expenses, covering both past bills and the projected cost of future care
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity when injuries keep you away from work
• Pain and suffering, including physical pain and the loss of activities you once enjoyed
• Property damage to your vehicle and personal belongings
• Punitive damages in limited cases involving reckless conduct, such as drunk driving

Liability is decided on negligence, which means the failure to use reasonable care behind the wheel. Arizona follows a pure comparative negligence rule under A.R.S. 12-2505. If you share some fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage, but it is not eliminated. A driver found 20 percent at fault still recovers 80 percent of proven damages. The Arizona Constitution also prohibits laws capping the damages recoverable for personal injury or death, which keeps full compensation available in serious cases. Insurers know these Arizona fault laws well and often inflate your share of blame to shrink the payout.

What Are Important Aspects of a Car Accident Case?

Strong cases are built on evidence. A few elements matter more than all the rest:

• Medical care that starts early. Seeing a doctor right away ties your injuries to the crash and protects your health. Gaps in treatment hand the insurer an argument.
• Evidence preserved quickly. Photos, witness contact information, and other evidence from the scene fade fast. We move early to lock it down.
• A full picture of your injuries. Some harm, including concussions, takes days or weeks to reveal its true severity. Settling before you know the extent of your condition is a mistake that cannot be undone.
• Caution with the insurance company. Adjusters often push that first offer before you know what your care will cost. Early settlements are usually low settlements.

What Is the Car Accident Case Timeline?

Every claim moves at its own pace, but most follow a familiar process from crash to resolution:

• Investigation and treatment. We gather records and evidence while you complete medical care, often over several months.
• Demand and negotiation. Once your condition stabilizes, we send a demand package and negotiate with the insurer.
• Filing suit. If the insurance company will not pay fair value, we file a lawsuit, typically in Maricopa County Superior Court.
• Discovery. Both sides exchange documents and take depositions, a phase that can run six months to a year.
• Resolution. Most cases settle. Those that do not go to trial, and we prepare every file as if it will.

What Should You Bring to Your Car Accident Consultation?

You do not need evidence to meet with us. Bring any documentation you have:

• The police report or the report number from your crash
• Photos of the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries
• Your insurance policy and any letters or voicemails from adjusters
• Medical records, or simply the names of the providers who treated you

The consultation is free and confidential. We will review the facts, give you a straight assessment from a Tempe car accident attorney, and explain your options before you make any decision.

What Are Important Arizona Legal Resources for Car Accident Cases?

Arizona publishes its statutes and crash data online, and a few official sources are worth knowing. These cover the filing deadlines, fault rules, and damages principles that shape most injury claims.

• A.R.S. 12-542 sets a two-year limitation period for most Arizona injury lawsuits, measured from the date of the crash.
• The Arizona Legislature’s Title 12 index collects the state’s civil filing deadlines and negligence statutes in one place.
• ADOT’s 2024 Crash Facts report recorded 1,228 traffic deaths and more than 121,000 crashes statewide in 2024.

Deadlines can be shorter in certain situations, including claims against government entities, so it pays to confirm your specific timeline promptly with a car accident lawyer in Tempe.

Reach Out to Yearin Law Office to Schedule a Consultation

If another driver’s carelessness caused your crash, talk to us before you talk to their insurer. The consultation costs nothing, and you owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us through our website, and we will respond promptly, usually within one business day. A car accident lawyer serving Tempe, AZ will review your situation and explain your options.

Car Accident Statistics in Tempe

Tempe recorded 6,637 motor vehicle crashes in 2024, resulting in 2,049 injuries and 29 fatalities. Those figures come from ADOT crash data and place Tempe among the highest-volume crash cities in the Phoenix metro area, behind only Phoenix and Mesa. Maricopa County as a whole accounted for 88,094 crashes that year, roughly three out of every four collisions statewide.

Nationally, NHTSA estimated 39,345 traffic fatalities in 2024. Speeding was a factor in 29 percent of those deaths, according to NHTSA speeding data. Alcohol impairment accounted for another 11,904 fatalities, per NHTSA impaired driving data. The density of Tempe’s road network, its proximity to multiple freeway interchanges, and the daily influx of university commuters all contribute to a crash rate that remains consistently high for a city of its size.

Mistakes That Can Damage Your Car Accident Claim in Tempe

Even a well-supported case can lose value through avoidable errors. The period immediately after a car accident in Tempe, AZ is when most of these mistakes happen, and insurance adjusters count on them.

1. Delaying medical treatment.

Waiting to see a doctor gives the insurer room to argue that your injuries were not caused by the crash or are less serious than claimed. Gaps in treatment create doubt, and doubt reduces settlement value. Conditions like brain injuries and soft tissue damage do not always present symptoms on the day of impact.

2. Giving a recorded statement without legal counsel.

Adjusters from the other driver’s insurance company often reach out within the first few days. The call is friendly. The questions seem routine. But the goal is to get you on record saying something that can be used to reduce or deny your claim. Insurers are trained to undermine your claim through carefully directed questions, and anything you say can become part of their file.

3. Posting about the accident on social media.

Anything you share publicly can be used against you. A photograph showing you at a social event, a comment about feeling fine, or a location check-in can be taken out of context and presented as evidence that your injuries are not as severe as reported. Defense attorneys and adjusters routinely monitor claimants’ social media accounts.

4. Accepting the first settlement offer.

The initial offer from an insurance company almost always falls short. These offers arrive before the full scope of medical treatment is known. Accepting early often means lost wages, future care costs, and pain and suffering go uncompensated.

5. Failing to document the scene.

Photos of vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signals, and visible injuries are among the most useful forms of evidence in a car accident claim. Without them, liability arguments come down to one driver’s word against the other’s. Even a few smartphone photos taken at the scene can make a material difference.

6. Not filing a police report.

Arizona law does not require a police report for every collision, but the absence of one makes it harder to establish what happened. The report typically includes the officer’s observations, statements from both drivers, and a preliminary assessment of fault. Without it, the insurer has less to work with and more room to dispute your version of events.

7. Waiting too long to contact a car accident attorney.

Evidence deteriorates quickly. Witnesses forget details. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses gets overwritten. Contacting a car accident lawyer in Tempe early gives your case the strongest possible evidentiary foundation. A common misstep is trying to negotiate directly with the insurer, then seeking legal counsel only after the process stalls and evidence has gone cold.

8. Repairing or disposing of your vehicle before it is documented.

Vehicle damage is physical evidence. It shows the angle and force of the collision, which insurers and their engineers use to evaluate injury claims. Repairing or scrapping the car before it has been photographed and, in serious cases, inspected removes evidence that a Tempe car accident attorney may need to support your case.

Tempe Car Accident Lawyer FAQs

How much does a car accident attorney in Tempe cost?

Our firm handles these cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront attorney fees, and you owe nothing unless we recover compensation for you. This fee structure applies to every car accident case we take.

How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Arizona?

Arizona’s statute of limitations gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit under A.R.S. 12-542. Claims involving government vehicles or property may carry shorter notice deadlines. Missing the window eliminates your right to recover.

What should I do if the other driver’s insurance company calls?

You are not required to give a recorded statement. Adjusters are trained to ask questions designed to minimize claim value. We recommend speaking with a car accident lawyer in Tempe, AZ before providing any statement to the opposing insurer.

Can I recover compensation if I was partly at fault?

Yes. Arizona follows pure comparative negligence under A.R.S. 12-2505. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, but not eliminated. A driver found 25 percent at fault still collects 75 percent of proven damages.

What if the at-fault driver has no insurance?

Arizona requires liability coverage, but not every driver complies. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage under your own policy may apply. We review every available policy to identify the full amount recoverable after a car accident in Tempe.

How is the value of a car accident settlement determined?

There is no fixed formula. Value depends on injury severity, total medical costs, income losses, the degree of fault, available policy limits, and the strength of the supporting documentation. Each case requires a fact-specific analysis based on Arizona car accident laws and prior case outcomes.

Do I need a lawyer for a minor car accident in Tempe, AZ?

It depends on whether the collision actually caused injuries. Some conditions that appear minor at first require months of physical therapy or additional treatment. A free consultation can help you understand whether legal representation would benefit your claim.

Will my Tempe car accident case go to trial?

Most cases settle before trial. Those that do not typically involve disputed liability or an insurer that undervalues the claim. We prepare every file for trial from the start, and that preparation influences how insurers negotiate.

What if my injuries appear days after the car accident?

Delayed-onset symptoms are common after car accidents, particularly for concussions, herniated discs, and internal soft tissue damage. The important step is to seek medical care as soon as symptoms appear and to keep records that connect those injuries to the collision.

Can a pre-existing condition affect my car accident claim?

A pre-existing condition does not bar recovery. Arizona recognizes the eggshell plaintiff doctrine. If the crash aggravated a pre-existing condition, you are entitled to recover for the worsening, not just for injuries that started from zero.

Local Information for Tempe Car Accident Cases

Most Dangerous Locations for Car Accidents in Tempe

Several Tempe roadways appear consistently in crash data reported to ADOT and the Tempe Police Department. The following areas carry elevated collision risk for drivers:

• Loop 202 (Price Freeway) interchanges. High-speed merging near the Broadway Road and Baseline Road exits produces frequent rear-end and sideswipe collisions.
• US-60 (Superstition Freeway) corridor. Daily congestion generates chain-reaction crashes, particularly during morning and evening commute windows.
• Rural Road and University Drive. Vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic converge near the ASU campus, creating a high-conflict zone with limited reaction time for drivers.
• Apache Boulevard. Heavy cross-traffic, transit stops, and frequent signal changes make this surface street one of Tempe’s highest-risk corridors for car accidents.
• McClintock Drive. A north-south arterial with crash-prone intersections and steady commuter volume throughout the day.
• Mill Avenue. Nightlife pedestrian traffic, rideshare pickup congestion, and limited sight lines increase accident risk during evening and late-night hours.
• Baseline Road. Wide lanes and fast-moving traffic create hazardous conditions for left-turning drivers and for vehicles entering from side streets.

What Are Important Local Resources for Tempe Car Accident Cases?

The following organizations serve Tempe residents involved in car accidents and may be useful during recovery or the claims process. Inclusion on this list is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement by Yearin Law Office.

• Tempe Police Department (non-emergency), 480-350-8311. File or obtain a copy of your crash report.
• HonorHealth Tempe Medical Center (emergency department), 480-784-5500. Located at 1500 S. Mill Avenue, Tempe, AZ.
• Arizona MVD Crash Report Retrieval via BuyCrash.com for online access to completed accident reports statewide.

About Yearin Law Office

Don Yearin is an active member of the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association and the Maricopa County Bar Association. Beyond the courtroom, the firm supports students through the Helping the Injured Scholarship, an annual award for those committed to helping people affected by serious injuries. In car accident matters specifically, our results include a $1,075,000 recovery and a $598,790 trial verdict obtained in September 2025 after the insurer refused to settle within policy limits.

What Our Clients Say

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I reached out to Don in November of 2024 after I was rear ended based on a recommendation from a friend. Don was very prompt to respond to me and gave me an estimate accurate of what I could expect regarding the process and settlement which was accurate (almost to the cent) by the time everything was complete. Don also works with an incredible network of doctors, some of the best I’ve had. Don will be my first call in the future in the event I or a family member are involved in an incident.”

Zachary Van Kanegan

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Contact Yearin Law Office

If another driver caused your car accident in Tempe, we are prepared to help. Consultations are free, and we charge no fees unless we recover compensation for you. During the initial meeting, a Tempe, AZ car accident attorney will review the circumstances of your crash, identify every insurance policy that applies, and explain your legal options clearly. Contact us to schedule a consultation. We respond to most inquiries within one business day.