The Superstition Freeway moves tens of thousands of drivers through the East Valley every single day and it’s one of the most crash-prone stretches of highway in all of Maricopa County. If you were hurt in a collision on US-60 or AZ-87 near Mesa, a car accident lawyer in Mesa, AZ, from Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys can help you understand your options and pursue the compensation you may be entitled to.
In this blog, we’ll break down the highest-risk corridors on the Superstition Freeway, explain multi-vehicle pileup liability, and show you how to obtain both ADOT and police reports after an East Valley freeway accident.
Why a Car Accident Lawyer in Mesa, AZ, Sees So Many US-60 Cases
The Superstition Freeway, US-60, runs east through Tempe and Mesa before connecting to Loop 202, Loop 101, and AZ-87. With daily high traffic volume, these roads can be particularly dangerous due to:
- Maricopa County has a high traffic volume, as it is the most populated county in Arizona and had over 70% of car crashes in Arizona in 2024.
- Speeding
- Impaired driving
- Distracted driving
When speed, impairment, and distraction collide on one of Arizona’s busiest freeways, the result is often a personal injury claim. When this happens, a car accident lawyer in Mesa, AZ, is ready to help.
High-Risk US-60 Interchanges: A Car Accident Lawyer in Mesa, AZ, Explains
Not every part of the Superstition Freeway is equally dangerous. These are the areas where crashes happen the most:
- The US-60 and Dobson Road exit sees a lot of traffic, especially during busy times, which often leads to rear-end collisions and crashes as cars merge onto the ramp.
- On US-60 at Power Road, changing traffic patterns and fast lane changes often cause multi-vehicle accidents.
- The US-60 and Loop 202 interchange, known as the SuperRedTan Interchange, is a complicated four-level structure. The way cars merge and weave here can lead to higher risks for drivers.
- US-60 / Superstition Springs Boulevard has seen several fatal crashes, including a deadly road rage incident in December 2023.
Along with the interchanges mentioned above, AZ-87 near Mesa also connects to the Superstition Freeway and carries significant East Valley traffic. If you were involved in a crash here, a Mesa AZ-87 accident lawyer can evaluate whether road design, signage, or negligence contributed to your crash.
Understanding which stretches are the most dangerous can help you figure out how your crash occurred and who might be at fault.
US-60 Multi-Vehicle Pileup Crash Liability
US-60 crashes frequently involve more than two vehicles, and multi-car pileups raise liability questions that a standard two-car accident simply doesn’t. Under Arizona’s pure comparative fault rule, ARS 12-2505, fault is divided among all responsible parties — so even if you share some blame, you may still have a claim.
In these cases, key questions include:
- Who set off the chain reaction?
- Was any driver speeding, impaired, or distracted at the time?
- Does a trucking company share liability for their driver’s actions?
- Did a mechanical failure, such as faulty brakes, play a role?
Proving fault after a pileup takes more than a police report. Attorneys typically draw on witness accounts, traffic and dashcam footage, commercial vehicle black box data, and ADOT crash records. A Mesa freeway accident attorney can piece that evidence together and make sure every liable party is held accountable.
Freeway Ramp Accidents: Who’s at Fault?
Ramp accidents, including merging collisions, rear-end crashes during deceleration, and wrong-way events, are common on US-60. Under Arizona law, drivers merging onto a freeway are generally required to yield to existing traffic. But fault isn’t always one-sided. If a driver on the main freeway was speeding, or if poor signage or road design contributed to the crash, additional parties may share liability. Ramp accident claims can involve:
- The at-fault driver’s personal auto insurance
- ADOT or a municipality if road design or maintenance failures played a role
- Commercial trucking companies if a truck blocked merging lanes
If someone rear-ended you while you were slowing to take an exit or sideswiped you while merging onto the Superstition Freeway, don’t assume the fault determination is straightforward. A personal injury lawyer in Mesa can review the crash circumstances and help establish what actually happened.
Hit-and-Run on US-60: What to Do Next
Hit-and-run accidents happen frequently on Arizona freeways, and they leave victims in a difficult position — injured, shaken, and facing the possibility that the responsible driver may never be identified.
If you were involved in a hit-and-run on US-60 or a connected East Valley freeway, here’s what to do:
- Call 911 immediately: A police report is critical for any insurance or legal claim.
- Document everything you can: Note the fleeing vehicle’s color, make, direction of travel, and any partial plate numbers.
- Look for witnesses: Other drivers or bystanders may have captured dashcam or cell phone footage.
- Contact your own insurer: If the at-fault driver is never found, your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage may apply.
- Speak with a Superstition Freeway crash lawyer: An attorney can help you navigate your UM claim and identify any available traffic camera or ADOT footage.
ADOT Crash Reports vs. Police Reports
After a freeway accident in Mesa, you’ll likely need two separate documents to support your claim: the police report and the ADOT crash report.
Police Report: Mesa PD or Arizona DPS troopers on state highways file this on-scene report. It includes officer observations, driver and witness statements, road and weather conditions, and a preliminary fault assessment. The first document an insurance adjuster requests. You can request a Mesa PD crash report through the Mesa Police Department Records Unit or an Arizona DPS report through Arizona DPS if a state trooper responded.
ADOT Crash Report: ADOT compiles crash data from law enforcement agencies statewide into a centralized records system. Unlike a police report, which documents your specific crash, ADOT records can show the broader crash history of a particular interchange or freeway corridor. This report provides context if road design, signal timing, or a chronic hazard contributed to your collision. Individual crash records can be requested through ADOT’s online records request portal.
Why do you need both reports? The police report establishes the facts of your crash, while the ADOT record can help establish that a dangerous condition existed and that someone beyond the at-fault driver may share responsibility. Together, they give your car accident lawyer in Mesa, AZ, the most complete picture of what happened and why. Both should be requested as soon as possible—insurance companies and defense attorneys will already have them
FAQs: Car Accident Lawyer in Mesa, AZ
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Arizona?
Arizona’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally two years from the date of the crash under ARS 12-542. It’s important to speak with a car accident lawyer in Mesa, AZ, as soon as possible.
What if I was partially at fault for the US-60 crash?
Arizona’s pure comparative fault system means you may still recover compensation even if you share some responsibility. Your recovery would be reduced by your percentage of fault, but not eliminated. An East Valley car accident attorney can evaluate the full picture.
Do I need a lawyer if the insurance company already offered me a settlement?
Initial settlement offers are frequently lower than what an injury victim may be entitled to. Before accepting anything, have a Mesa personal injury lawyer review the offer—especially if you sustained serious injuries.
Can I sue ADOT or the City of Mesa if a road defect contributed to my crash?
Possibly. Under ARS 12-821.01, you typically have 180 days to file a notice of claim against a government entity. An attorney needs to evaluate these cases quickly.
Call a Car Accident Lawyer in Mesa, AZ, Today
Superstition Freeway crash victims can’t afford to wait, and neither can their evidence. Our team at Lerner and Rowe is available 24/7 to review your case at no cost.
To get started, you can call our Mesa or Phoenix office, connect through LiveChat, or complete our online contact form.
We’ve recovered billions of dollars for injury victims nationwide—including over a billion dollars in the past three years alone. And with no fees unless we win, there’s no risk in making that call.
The information on this blog is for general information purposes only. Nothing herein should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.