We represent victims hurt in accidents involving YARTS buses on tours into the mountains. Maison Law of Fresno helps injured victims through the process of filing a claim with YARTS insurers and demanding help with medical bills and other damages. We can help victims, no matter where they may live.
You can contact Maison Law of Fresno for a free case consultation to talk over your options and how to get complete compensation as quickly as possible. This no-risk, informational meeting comes with no obligation and is an easy way to learn how to hold the business fully responsible for a careless bus driver.
When You Should Have a Lawyer for a YARTS Accident Claim
If your accident on a bus only results in very minor injuries, or if your car is struck and only vehicle damage is involved, you may not need the help of a lawyer to earn compensation.
However, when your injuries are more serious, a lawyer can prove a critical protection against Insurance Providers and Lawyers for YART, looking to devalue your case. A more serious injury means an insurance settlement must be worth more, and this increased value leads to a bigger fight over who will accept blame.
If you are thrown around the inside of a bus and hurt, or struck by a bus and injured, a lawyer could potentially win you much more.
A lawyer can help with cases involving these types of injuries and circumstances:
- An accident involving a broken bone, such as a wrist fracture or a broken leg
- An accident involving a Traumatic Brain Injury, including a serious concussion
- An accident involving a neck injury, including a serious case of whiplash
- An accident involving a back injury with pain that doesn’t go away
- An accident involving an injury to your child or another family member
- If you are hurt and insurance adjusters want to blame you for what happened
Instead of helping injured victims and paying what’s fair, tour businesses will often use lawyers and adjusters to find ways to escape or reduce blame. A lawyer collects all evidence in an accident, and then forces bus administrators to accept fault and pay victims what they require to fully recover.
Victims can always file an injury claim on their own, but when taking on opposing lawyers and adjusters, it’s a good idea for victims to have strong legal representation.
YARTS Bus Dangers in Yosemite National Park
The Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) takes sightseeing guests into the mountains from several area locations, including stations in Fresno and Merced. The buses travel several curving, windy roads, including Highway 41 and Highway 140.
The views will be spectacular, but the drive can be challenging, especially if drivers get distracted or a bit reckless. Buses with careless drivers can strike pedestrians and cyclists in Yosemite National Park. Buses can ram cars, SUVs, pickups, and motorcycles to cause devastating injuries.
A speeding driver can run off the road, overturn a bus, or strike a tree or building. This exposes passengers inside buses to extreme forces, whether they are wearing a seat belt or not.
Tours are supposed to be amazing experiences, but there’s plenty of risk when taking a trip into the mountains and relying on a bus driver to keep you safe. After you’ve been hurt, an experienced lawyer with Maison Law fully investigates the accident and determines where blame should be pointed. Your lawyer determines who is responsible and seeks 100%
Determining Who Is Responsible If I’m Hurt on a YARTS Tour Bus
YARTS is operated by a Board of Governors with help from an Authority Advisory Committee made up of representatives from Fresno and Merced, the National Park Service, California DOT, and others.
These and other entities all provide YARTS with funding and must accept responsibility for accidents.
As a common carrier, a means of public transportation, YARTS is held to a higher “duty of care” for all customers and passengers. It means they are responsible for any action or lack of action that puts their guests in danger.
That might include a lack of maintenance on buses, like worn tires or brake pads, that leads to an impact. It might involve the hiring of a bus driver with a dangerous record, without a proper background check.
A skilled attorney can help you prove that a bus company and a driver were at fault for an accident and then hold them responsible for the physical, emotional, and financial consequences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do to help my case right after an accident?
After you are safe and the scene is secure, you should try to get photos of the damage to all vehicles or other stationary objects struck. Show any visible injuries and damage to your clothing. Get checked out by paramedics, no matter how minor you feel your injuries are. Go to the emergency room if necessary. Get checked out by your own physician once you get back home. Get the contact information of witnesses, who may be other passengers. Alert the investigating officer to any odd behavior shown by the driver before the crash. Contact a nearby lawyer to talk over what you should do next.
What if I’m from another state and hurt on a YARTS bus?
Maison Law can still represent you for your accident claim. We would litigate your case with as little disruption to you and your recovery process as possible. If there are court proceedings to handle, we can often appear for you, so you can stay comfortably at home. We handle the entire frustrating settlement negotiation process and fight to earn you the most possible for what you’ve been through.
What should a bus accident claim provide for my family and me?
YART should be responsible for all of your medical costs, both current and those expected in the future. Your lost time at work should be reimbursed. The physical pain and emotional trauma that an accident and difficult recovery put you through must earn support. Families can also demand wrongful death support if a loved one is killed in a bus accident.
How long do I have to file a claim after a YARTS bus accident?
Since YARTS is a government entity, the deadlines will come much quicker than in normal accidents. Victims will only have around 6 months to file a notice of claim to alert YARTS administrators that they are seeking support. If the deadline is missed, victims can lose their chance to file a claim. A skilled lawyer can make sure you meet all sneaky deadlines and ensure that all complicated paperwork is filed out correctly.
Contact a Fresno Bus Accident Lawyer
After you’ve suffered a serious injury due to a bus driver’s mistake, it’s a good idea to take advantage of a free case review. Contact us to set up a meeting with a Fresno Bus Accident Lawyer. We can help you if you were hurt in Fresno County, Merced County, or anywhere else around the park. We can handle your claim, no matter where you live, even if you live in another part of the world.
It’s a no-risk opportunity to discuss your options with a real lawyer. If you need our help to force a tour bus operator to take full responsibility for an accident, Martin Gasparian, our founder, is ready to take on government lawyers and insurers. Mr. Gasparian works to win much more than you might’ve thought possible, so you can stop worrying and focus on returning to your normal life.
You also shouldn’t have to worry about paying for legal representation while dealing with recovery and your medical bills. It’s why Maison Law requires no payment up front. We are only paid if we win your case for you. Then our fee comes from the settlement check that YARTS insurers must write.
