Serving Payson and Rim Country · Gila County, Arizona
Payson personal injury lawyer.
Don’t fight the insurance company alone.
A collision on the Beeline Highway through town, an elk in the headlights east of Payson on SR 260, or a driver who had been drinking: tell Henry Beam, a former prosecutor, what happened. No fee unless we win, and the first call costs nothing.
No attorney fee without a recovery. Case costs and expenses remain your responsibility regardless of recovery.
Photo: Coconino National Forest, Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
- 5.0Google ratingRead reviews on Google
- 10.0Avvo ratingSuperb · October 2026
- 2019Super Lawyers Rising StarsArizona selection
- Top 100Trial LawyersThe National Trial Lawyers · 2014 and 2015
- 2014Avvo Clients’ ChoiceClient-nominated award
Recognitions are specific to the dates shown and are not guarantees of a case outcome. Links open the issuing organizations’ websites.
Hurt in Payson? Hire Henry.
Henry Beam is a Payson injury lawyer and former prosecutor. No fee unless we win. The consultation costs nothing, and when you book, your first call is with Henry. He handles your case himself and pursues the recovery Arizona law allows for your injuries.
Reviewed by Henry Beam, Arizona attorney · October 18, 2026 · Sources checked October 10, 2026
No fee unless we win
No attorney fee without a recovery. Case costs and expenses are separate and remain your responsibility regardless of recovery; the written agreement explains the terms.
Free consultation
Book a time and your first call is with Henry. Bring questions, not paperwork. Talking first creates no obligation.
Recognized Arizona lawyer
Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2019. Avvo rating 10.0. Rated 5.0 on Google. Recognitions are specific to the dates shown.
Former prosecutor
Henry started his career as a prosecutor. That background shapes how he reads evidence, police reports, and the other side’s version of events.
Personal attention
Henry handles your case himself. Once you hire him, you get his personal cell number.
How long is there to file after a Payson crash?
- Two years is the general Arizona limit for an injury lawsuit. A claim against the Town of Payson, Gila County, or the State needs written notice within 180 days and suit within one year of when the claim accrues.
Who pays for injuries from a Payson collision?
- Typically the liability insurer of the at-fault driver. Coverage on the injured person's own policy, such as uninsured or underinsured motorist limits, can also apply depending on the facts.
Does Henry come to Payson?
- Yes, when a Payson case calls for it. Henry handles each case himself, so the lawyer who takes the first call is the one who reads the report, deals with the insurers, and sits down with the client in person when that would help.
Questions about your Payson crash? Talk to Henry.
A free consultation with a former prosecutor who handles your case himself.
No attorney fee without a recovery. Case costs and expenses remain your responsibility regardless of recovery.
“Working with Henry Beam was very satisfying — he was professional and friendly. He kept good communication so that I never wondered what was happening with my case. I would highly recommend working with him.”
Individual experiences and results vary.
5.0Read reviews on GoogleA Rim Country town split by two state highways
- crashes within the Town of Payson, 2024 (ADOT)
- 226crashes within the Town of Payson, 2024 (ADOT)
- people injured in Payson crashes, 2024 (ADOT)
- 102people injured in Payson crashes, 2024 (ADOT)
- people killed in Payson crashes, 2024 (ADOT)
- 2people killed in Payson crashes, 2024 (ADOT)
- alcohol-related crashes in Payson, 2024 (ADOT)
- 13alcohol-related crashes in Payson, 2024 (ADOT)
ADOT recorded 226 crashes within the Town of Payson in 2024, and 2 people died in them. Gila County as a whole logged 918 crashes that year, with 8 people killed and 424 hurt, so roughly one in four of the county's crashes happened inside town limits. SR 87, known locally as the Beeline Highway, was built as a straighter, faster route between the Valley and Payson, in the words of an ADOT history post, and it carries on north toward Pine, Strawberry, and the Mogollon Rim. SR 260 heads east from town toward the top of the Rim.
Sources: ADOT 2024 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts, Table 2-5 (Gila County block); ADOT Blog: the Beeline Highway and SR 87 north of Payson (Mar. 12, 2020); ADOT news: SR 260 widening project east of Payson (June 2, 2026)
What happened in Payson?
01 / Beeline Highway crashes · Payson
Payson car accident lawyer: crashes on the Beeline Highway through town.
Inside Payson, driveways, signals, and side roads feed directly onto SR 87, a state highway.
- ADOT counted 66 injury crashes and 158 property-damage-only crashes in Payson during 2024.
- ADOT's resurfacing project on SR 87 between Green Valley Parkway and Crackerjack Road (mileposts 251 to 256), done with the Town of Payson, began in early August 2025.
- Its tentative schedule placed paving in spring 2026 and listed completion for late 2026, subject to change because of weather or unforeseen circumstances.
The SR 87 project covers new pavement, ADA sidewalk ramps, traffic-signal work as needed, and a realignment of West Aero Drive. ADOT scheduled its lane restrictions overnight, from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday nights through Friday mornings, with at least one lane to remain open in each direction. A crash near a lane shift or a coned-off driveway raises questions about how the zone was signed that night, which is why photographs from the scene carry weight. Arizona can split fault among several drivers, and an injured person's own share generally reduces the recovery rather than ending it.
Sources: ADOT 2024 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts, Table 2-5 (Gila County block); ADOT: SR 87 Payson street improvements (Green Valley Parkway to Crackerjack Road); ADOT project flyer: SR 87 Payson street improvements; A.R.S. § 12-2506 (fault among several parties); A.R.S. § 12-2505 (comparative fault)
Questions after a crash on SR 87 in town
- Which agency came to the scene, and what report number is on the card the officer handed over?
- Was the crash near cones, a closed lane, or a temporary signal setup left from the project work?
- Which side street, driveway, or intersection was the other driver entering or leaving?
02 / SR 260 & wildlife · Payson
Payson SR 260 accident lawyer: the road east to the Mogollon Rim, elk and deer included.
East of Payson, SR 260 climbs toward the Rim through country where elk and deer cross the highway.
- ADOT and Arizona Game and Fish built 11 underpasses, fencing, and other improvements on SR 260 east of Payson to cut down on crashes involving elk and deer.
- ADOT's Lion Springs widening, in Star Valley just east of Payson (mileposts 256 to 260), adds three more wildlife crossings; ADOT scheduled construction to start June 8, 2026.
- ADOT says the project closes the last two-lane gap, leaving nearly 30 miles of SR 260 between Payson and Rim Road with two lanes each way, and it lists completion for 2029.
ADOT expects about two and a half years of Lion Springs construction once its annual winter shutdown periods are counted. At the start, ADOT announced intermittent daytime restrictions from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 5 a.m. to noon on Friday, with flaggers and a pilot car when needed; az511.gov shows current conditions. When an animal strike leads to a second collision, or a driver swerves into another lane to avoid one, responsibility can fall on more than one person, and an injured driver's own policy may matter as much as anyone else's. Arizona insurers must offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, though a buyer can turn it down.
Sources: ADOT Blog: wildlife crossings on SR 260 east of Payson (Dec. 20, 2023); ADOT news: SR 260 widening project east of Payson (June 2, 2026); ADOT bulletin: SR 260 Lion Springs project (May 28, 2026); ADOT news: Northern Arizona 2026 highlights (Dec. 30, 2025); A.R.S. § 12-2506 (fault among several parties); A.R.S. § 20-259.01 (uninsured / underinsured motorist coverage)
Details to settle after an SR 260 crash
- What milepost, crossing, or landmark marks where the vehicles or the animal ended up?
- Were flaggers, a pilot car, or work-zone signs in place where it happened?
- Did another driver brake, swerve, or follow too closely after an animal entered the road?
03 / Impaired drivers · Payson
Payson drunk driving accident lawyer: a former DUI prosecutor looks at the claim.
Henry prosecuted DUIs as a Mohave County Deputy County Attorney, so he has worked these cases from the charging side and knows what evidence matters.
- Payson had 13 alcohol-related crashes in 2024, according to ADOT, leaving 9 people injured and none killed.
- Gila County as a whole had 57 alcohol-related crashes that year with 6 deaths, and ADOT's table records none of those deaths in Payson, Globe, or Miami.
- An injury claim against an impaired driver is a civil matter of its own and can move forward with or without a conviction.
A DUI charge belongs to the State, which decides how to prosecute it and when. The injured person's claim runs against the impaired driver, and that driver's insurer is usually the one that pays, so a plea bargain or a dismissed charge leaves the civil question open. Breath or blood test timing, field observations, and booking records from the criminal file can still become evidence in the injury claim.
Sources: ADOT 2024 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts, Table 2-5 (Gila County block); A.R.S. § 28-1381 (DUI)
What to find out about the impaired driver
- Was the other driver booked or cited, and which agency's officers made the stop?
- Has a victim advocate or prosecutor contacted anyone in the family about the case?
- What liability limits does the driver carry, and what extra coverage appears on the injured person's own policy?
You didn’t pick this fight. Don’t fight this alone.
No fee unless we win, and the consultation is free.
No attorney fee without a recovery. Case costs and expenses remain your responsibility regardless of recovery.
Your next steps
After a Payson crash: the first few tasks.
None of this has to happen at once, and a relative or friend can take on most of it.
Call 911 and hold on to paperwork
Get help for anyone injured. Discharge sheets and the records from each later visit show how the injury changed over time.
Note the agency and report number
The officer's card or exchange form shows which agency responded and the number needed to request the report.
Photograph the highway
When it is safe, capture cones, lane shifts, flaggers, milepost signs, vehicle positions, and damage.
Request the report
Payson Police reports come through the Town's online records portal. DPS says completed trooper reports reach its records unit within 14 days.
Slow down with the other insurer
Nothing requires a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer before a conversation with a lawyer.
Sources: Payson Police Department: police records; Arizona DPS: request records
Working with Henry
What Henry does on a Payson claim.
A Payson matter is organized around one lawyer from the start: Henry takes the first call, reads the file, and deals with the insurers himself.
Start with a booked phone call
Choose a time on Henry's calendar. During that consultation he goes through the crash, the injuries, and the insurance picture with you.
What the adjuster's letter means
An adjuster's letter or a medical bill goes to Henry, who reads it himself and explains what it means before the client responds.
Sitting down together
When a Payson case calls for a face-to-face conversation, Henry arranges a time and place that suits the client.
The insurance company fights to pay less. Henry fights for more.
Timing matters
Injury claim deadlines for Payson accidents.
Most Arizona injury lawsuits must be filed within two years. Claims against a city, county, or the state move much faster, and exceptions can shorten or extend these periods.
| Claim or duty | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary injury lawsuit after a Payson crash | 2 years | A.R.S. § 12-542 |
| Written notice of claim to the Town of Payson, Gila County, or the State | 180 days | A.R.S. § 12-821.01 |
| Lawsuit against those public entities, counted from when the claim accrues (usually the injury date) | 1 year | A.R.S. § 12-821 |
Deadlines generally run from when a claim accrues, and exceptions exist. This table is not a calculation of your deadline. If time may be short, seek prompt legal help rather than relying on a future calendar appointment.
Your lawyer’s background
From prosecutor to your lawyer.
Licensed in 2009, Henry began as a prosecutor and tried many cases there. In 2010 he came to the Tempe area, and in 2012 he opened Beam Law, PLC. He reviews Payson injury claims himself, with no staff attorney between the client and the file. Today he runs his own personal injury practice, with 17+ years of Arizona legal experience. The firm is based in Tempe and does not have a Payson office.
Once someone hires Henry, they get his personal cell number.
- 5.0 Rated 5.0 on Google
- Avvo rating 10.0
- Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2019
Ratings are specific to the dates shown by the issuing organizations and are not guarantees of a case outcome.
“When you hire me, you get me.”
Henry Beam · Former prosecutor · Arizona attorney since 2009
Your next step
Book a free consultation with Henry.
Pick a phone time
Book a 30-minute slot and tell Henry about the Payson crash in your own words. It costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
Get the Rim Country specifics
Henry covers which agency has the report, where treatment records sit, and how the deadlines run for a Payson claim.
Fee terms on paper
If Henry takes a Payson case, a written agreement sets out the contingency fee and how case costs are handled.
Henry’s calendar opens right on this page.
- Text HenryKeep it brief; don’t send records by text
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Leave your name and number and Henry will get back to you.
We'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Free consultation. No attorney fee without a recovery; case costs and expenses remain your responsibility regardless of recovery. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Before you reach out
Questions about hiring a Payson injury lawyer.
Direct answers about crash reports, fault, insurance, and working with Henry from Payson.
How can I get a Payson Police Department accident report?
The Payson Police Department Records Division takes requests through the Town's online public records portal, and accident reports are one of the listed request types. A confirmation email follows each submission, and requests are handled in the order received. Reports written by DPS troopers come from the DPS records unit instead.
Is Banner Payson Medical Center a trauma center?
Yes. The Arizona Department of Health Services lists Banner Payson Medical Center under Level IV Trauma Centers, with a designation running from November 2025 to November 2028. Its Level I list includes Flagstaff Medical Center and several Phoenix hospitals. Records from the emergency department and every later visit together document how an injury developed.
What road work is happening on SR 87 in Payson?
ADOT's resurfacing project, done with the Town of Payson, covers SR 87 from Green Valley Parkway to Crackerjack Road. It began in early August 2025 and includes ADA ramps, signal work, and a realigned West Aero Drive. The tentative schedule placed paving in spring 2026 and listed completion for late 2026, subject to change.
Where is the SR 260 Lion Springs work near Payson?
The Lion Springs work zone sits in the Town of Star Valley, just east of Payson, between Mayfield Canyon Road and Forest Road. ADOT says the widening finishes four-lane SR 260 from Payson to Rim Road and adds three wildlife crossings. Drivers can check az511.gov or call 511 for current conditions.
Do I need a police report or a complete medical file before calling?
No. Start with what happened, where it happened, and how the injury is affecting you. If you have a report number or insurance correspondence, mention it, but you do not need to assemble a complete case file before requesting a consultation. Do not send medical records or other sensitive documents through an initial text or website message.
What does a consultation cost, and how do attorney fees work?
Beam Injury Law offers a free consultation. The contingency fee is 33⅓% of the gross amount recovered if the matter resolves at or before mediation or settlement conference, whether before or after a lawsuit is filed. Filing a lawsuit alone does not increase the fee. If the matter does not resolve at or before mediation or settlement conference, the fee is 40% of the gross amount recovered, even if it later settles without a trial. The 40% rate also applies if the matter proceeds to trial or arbitration or results in a verdict, award, or judgment. No attorney fee is owed if there is no recovery. Case costs and expenses are separate and remain the client's responsibility regardless of recovery. Review the written agreement for the full terms before signing.