Serving Safford, Thatcher, the Gila Valley, and Clifton · Graham and Greenlee counties, Arizona
Safford personal injury lawyer.
Don’t fight the insurance company alone.
A wreck on US 70 between Thatcher and Safford, a collision on US 191 out toward Clifton and Morenci, or a crash caused by 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.
- 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 Safford? Hire Henry.
Henry Beam is a Safford 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.
Beam Injury Law · 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.
What filing deadline applies after a Safford crash?
- For most injury suits in Arizona, the filing window is two years. Claims against a city, county, or the State require written notice within 180 days and a suit within one year after the claim accrues.
Who writes the report after a crash near Safford?
- Safford police usually handle crashes on city streets. DPS keeps the reports its troopers write for crashes on state highways, and those usually reach its records unit within 14 days.
Questions about your Safford 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 GoogleSafford and Graham County crashes in 2024
- crashes reported inside Safford in 2024 (ADOT; city data may be incomplete)
- 35crashes reported inside Safford in 2024 (ADOT; city data may be incomplete)
- crashes across Graham County in 2024 (ADOT)
- 235crashes across Graham County in 2024 (ADOT)
- people killed in alcohol-related crashes in Graham County, 2024
- 7people killed in alcohol-related crashes in Graham County, 2024
- of Graham County's 16 traffic deaths in 2024 occurred outside city and town limits
- 15of Graham County's 16 traffic deaths in 2024 occurred outside city and town limits
ADOT's 2024 table lists 35 crashes reported inside Safford city limits. ADOT also notes that some individual city data may be incomplete because of late reporting or changed crash-reporting procedures, so the city row may undercount. Graham County as a whole logged 235 crashes that year, and Safford is the county seat.
Clifton, the Greenlee County seat on the San Francisco River, is covered from this page as well. Its town row in ADOT's table is too small to read anything into, so the county is the better measure: Greenlee County as a whole recorded 75 crashes in 2024, with 1 person killed and 37 injured (county figures). Along US 191, ADOT finished resurfacing a winding 13-mile stretch through Clifton and Morenci in September 2025.
Sources: ADOT 2024 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts, Table 2-5; ADOT: US 191 through Clifton and Morenci gets a fresh surface (Sept. 2025)
What happened in Safford?
01 / US 70 & US 191 crashes · Safford
Safford car accident lawyer: crashes on US 70 and US 191.
Two US highways, US 70 and US 191, meet in Safford. US 70 runs east-west through Thatcher and Safford, and ADOT calls US 191 north of town the Safford-Springerville Highway.
- In September 2025, ADOT announced a project to replace 4.4 miles of pavement on US 70 between Reay Street in Thatcher and 8th Street in Safford, and said it expected the work to be complete in spring 2026. The announcement also said signals would be turned off at times while law enforcement directed traffic.
- ADOT finished a pavement rehabilitation of US 191 in Safford, from milepost 117 near Old Country Club Road to milepost 121, in November 2024.
- ADOT advertised the project for bids, with bids due to open May 8, 2026, on northbound and southbound passing lanes for US 191 between mileposts 132.04 and 134.57 near Safford.
- In November 2025, ADOT completed a roundabout at Three Way, the US 191, SR 75, and SR 78 junction between Safford and Clifton, where a two-way stop had controlled traffic.
When signals are dark, lanes are shifted, or an officer is waving traffic through an intersection, the usual right-of-way rules get harder to apply after a collision. Arizona generally divides fault among everyone whose conduct contributed, so a driver, a road contractor, and a third motorist can each carry a separate share, and an injured person's own share generally reduces the recovery. Pictures of the signals, cones, and lane markings on the day of the crash may be the best proof of how the road looked.
Sources: ADOT: pavement improvements on US 70 in Safford and Thatcher (Sept. 2025); ADOT: US 191, Armory Road to US 70 (Safford); ADOT contracts: US 191 passing lanes near Safford (project 2025113); ADOT: US 191 roundabout at Three Way (Nov. 2025); A.R.S. § 12-2506 (fault among several parties); A.R.S. § 12-2505 (comparative fault)
Highway details to nail down
- Was the crash on US 70, on US 191, or on a side street in Safford, Thatcher, or Clifton?
- Were signals off, lanes narrowed, or construction crews working nearby?
- Which officer and agency took the report, and what number did they give?
02 / Impaired drivers · Safford
Safford drunk driving accident lawyer: a former DUI prosecutor reviews the case.
Henry prosecuted DUIs in Mohave County as a Deputy County Attorney, so he knows how these cases are built and what evidence they rest on.
- Across Graham County, ADOT counted 24 alcohol-related crashes in 2024; 7 people died in them (county figure, not Safford alone).
- Inside Safford, ADOT's 2024 table shows 2 alcohol-related crashes, with no one killed or injured in them (city data may be incomplete).
- The injury claim stands apart from the criminal case and does not require a conviction.
Prosecutors decide whether and how to charge an impaired driver, and they set the pace of that case. A person hurt by that driver brings a civil claim against the driver, and the driver's insurer usually pays it. Blood or breath test results, the arrest report, and body-camera footage from the criminal file can still matter as evidence in the civil claim.
Sources: ADOT 2024 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts, Table 2-5; A.R.S. § 28-1381 (DUI)
Points about the criminal case
- Did officers arrest or cite the other driver, and which agency was it?
- Has a victim advocate or the prosecutor's office made contact yet?
- What coverage does the injured person's own auto policy carry?
03 / Fatal crashes outside town · Safford
Safford wrongful death lawyer: fatal crashes on the roads outside town.
In Graham County, nearly every 2024 traffic death happened outside city and town limits.
- All 3 pedestrian crashes ADOT recorded in Graham County in 2024 were fatal (county figure).
- A.R.S. § 12-612 lets a surviving spouse, child, parent or guardian, or personal representative bring the wrongful-death action.
A family that has lost someone in a rural crash usually needs answers about two things: what the investigation shows about fault, and which relative has the legal right to bring the claim. A first conversation can cover both before anyone decides whether to file. Relatives who live outside Graham County can take part in it.
Sources: ADOT 2024 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts, Table 2-5; ADOT 2024 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts, Table 7-14; A.R.S. § 12-612 (who may bring a wrongful-death action)
What families can raise first
- Which agency is investigating, and has it released a report?
- Who in the family should be part of the decisions ahead?
- Has an insurance adjuster already called a family member?
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
The first 48 hours after a Safford-area crash.
Family members or friends can handle several of these while the injured person rests.
Call 911
Get emergency help for anyone hurt in either vehicle. Keep discharge papers and receipts from every visit, because those records document the injury.
Write down the agency
Note the officer's name, department, and report number. Those details show which agency, Safford police or DPS, will hold the report.
Photograph the scene
Capture damage, plates, skid marks, any dark signals or construction signs, and the nearest cross street or milepost.
Gather names and insurers
Get each driver's name, plate, and insurance company, along with phone numbers for anyone who saw the crash.
Request the report
Safford's records office is open Monday through Thursday, and public records requests go through the City Clerk. Clifton police take requests online or on a paper form at the station. DPS receives trooper reports within 14 days.
Pause before an adjuster interview
The other driver's insurer may ask for a recorded statement early. Speaking with a lawyer first is a sensible step.
Sources: City of Safford: police records; Town of Clifton: police department; Arizona DPS: request records
Working with Henry
A Safford claim with one lawyer on it, start to finish.
Henry works from the Tempe area, and a Safford case gets his personal attention: he reads the file, deals with the insurers, and watches the deadlines.
Phone consultation to start
During the scheduled call, Henry listens to how the crash happened and explains how fault, insurance, and the deadlines apply to it.
Henry goes over the photos
Photos, the crash report, and the medical records go to Henry, who goes over them himself and explains what they mean for the claim.
Henry stays on the file
Once hired, the file stays with Henry, and clients get his personal cell number for questions. A face-to-face meeting is arranged whenever it would help.
The insurance company fights to pay less. Henry fights for more.
Timing matters
Injury claim deadlines for Safford 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Suit against an at-fault driver or company | 2 years | A.R.S. § 12-542 |
| Notice of claim served on a city, county, or the State | 180 days | A.R.S. § 12-821.01 |
| Lawsuit against a public entity, one year from accrual of the claim | 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 as a Deputy County Attorney. He came to the Tempe area in 2010 and opened Beam Law, PLC in 2012, where he handles each injury case himself. Having prosecuted criminal cases, he checks a crash report line by line against what witnesses and photos show. 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 Safford 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 call slot
Choose a 30-minute time on Henry's calendar and give a short account of the Safford crash. Documents can come later.
An optional second conversation
If it would help, a second conversation with Henry gives the injured person or family room to ask questions before deciding anything.
Review the terms
If Henry can help, the fee terms and the scope of the work come in writing, with time to read them before signing.
Henry’s calendar opens right on this page.
- Text HenryKeep it brief; don’t send records by text
Prefer a callback?
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 Safford injury lawyer.
Direct answers about crash reports, fault, insurance, and working with Henry from Safford.
Which office in Safford handles police crash reports?
The Safford Police Department records office is at 523 S. 10th Avenue, open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Public records requests go through the City Clerk's Office at 717 W. Main Street. If a DPS trooper investigated the crash on a state highway, the DPS records unit holds that report.
What level trauma center is Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center?
Level III. ADHS lists Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center in Safford under Level III Trauma Centers, with the designation running into 2028. Level I centers on the state list include hospitals in Tucson and the Phoenix area. Records from each hospital, clinic, and therapy visit together document the injury and its course.
What work did ADOT plan on US 70 through Safford?
In September 2025, ADOT announced a pavement replacement on 4.4 miles of US 70, from Reay Street in Thatcher to 8th Street in Safford, and said it expected the work to be complete in spring 2026. Sidewalk ramps built to ADA standards, driveways, a box culvert, and drainage elements were part of the plan.
Did anyone die in a crash inside Safford in 2024?
ADOT's 2024 table records no traffic deaths inside Safford city limits and 11 people injured. ADOT cautions that some city figures may be incomplete because of late reporting, so the real number of injuries could be higher. Across Graham County, ADOT counted 16 traffic deaths that year.
Does Henry help people hurt in or around Clifton?
Yes. A crash in Clifton, Morenci, or elsewhere in Greenlee County starts the same way, with a scheduled phone consultation. For a Clifton police report, the injured person asks the department's records staff directly, since the responding officer cannot request it; a standard report takes 7 to 10 business days.
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.