Maison Law helps people that have been injured in motorcycle accidents on some of California’s most popular routes. An accident can happen to you anytime you ride your motorcycle, whether that’s on a route like the Central Yosemite Highway or in your own neighborhood. The question then becomes, what should you do? Our team at Maison Law can answer these questions and help you from there. Contact us for a free consultation.
What Should I Do After a Motorcycle Accident on the Central Yosemite Highway?
When you head out for a ride on the Central Yosemite Highway, you’re likely expecting beautiful scenery and a peaceful ride toward Yosemite National Park–not an accident. But with winding roads, heavy tourist traffic, and unpredictable weather, accidents can happen, even to the most experienced riders. If you’re involved in one of these accidents, here’s what you should do:
- Call 911 ASAP – If you’re able, move to a safe area away from traffic and call 911 for emergency assistance. Paramedics can evaluate your injuries and transport you to the nearest hospital if necessary.
- Report the accident to police – Request that the dispatcher send out the California Highway Patrol (CHP) or local law enforcement. Officers will take care of the accident scene, manage traffic, and should prepare an official report that can support your claim.
- Swap information with others – Collect the contact and insurance details from all other drivers involved. If there are witnesses, ask for their names and phone numbers–they may provide valuable third-party accounts.
- Be careful with statements – Don’t admit fault or discuss the details of the crash with anyone other than the police. Provide only the necessary facts and avoid making statements that could hurt your claim. Also, keep from posting about the accident on your social media.
- Document the scene yourself – Use your phone to take photos and videos of the crash site, vehicle damage, road conditions, and any relevant signage. This evidence can help prove liability.
- Save evidence – Keep all documentation related to the accident, including medical bills, repair estimates, and receipts. Do not repair your motorcycle until the damage has been thoroughly recorded.
Because the Central Yosemite Highway is remote and can be challenging to get through–especially after an accident–it’s often difficult to manage everything on your own. This is only increased when you’re injured, which in a motorcycle accident, is unfortunately nearly certain. But there is a legal process in place, and that starts with an important question: who’s responsible for the accident?
Who’s Liable For My Damages From a Motorcycle Accident?
No matter where your accident happens, there’s an extremely important part of the legal process that needs to be established: liability. In legal terms, this tells you who is:
- Responsible for the accident
- Legally responsible for paying for your “damages.”
To hold someone else accountable for your motorcycle accident on the Central Yosemite Highway, you’ll need to prove they were responsible for causing it. To do that, you just have to show that:
- The other person had a responsibility to act safely but failed to do so by acting carelessly–like speeding or not fixing a pothole. This, in turn, caused the accident and your injuries. As a result, you suffered financial and personal losses, including medical bills, lost wages, and damage to your motorcycle.
While these are the legal standards, what really matters is what happened at the scene. So, liability for your motorcycle accident on the Central Yosemite Highway is likely going to fall on:
- Drivers who collided with you, often because they weren’t watching for motorcycles.
- Reckless motorcyclists who caused a crash through unsafe riding.
- Manufacturers if a defective part on your bike contributed to the crash.
- Caltrans or local agencies if the road was unsafe due to poor maintenance, debris, or missing signage.
Once liability is established, you can move forward with your injury claim. But here again, you have different options you can take, and it’s going to depend on your needs.
What Options Do You Have After a Motorcycle Accident on the Central Yosemite Highway?
You obviously never want to be in a motorcycle accident. Yet, this is something that’s unfortunately common throughout California, and especially on certain parts of the Central Yosemite Highway. But again, when these accidents happen and someone else is responsible, you have legal options for getting financial support from them. To do that, you can either file:
- An insurance claim – This is often the first step and may resolve things faster, but insurance companies are focused on minimizing payouts. Their initial offer may not cover everything you’ve lost.
- A personal injury lawsuit – Filing a lawsuit is a more formal process, but it can lead to larger financial support for both economic and non-economic damages, like:
- Medical bills (current and future)
- Lost income or reduced earning capacity
- Repair or replacement of your motorcycle and gear
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Funeral expenses (in fatal accidents)
In California, you typically have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim. If you miss this deadline, you may lose your right to seek damages. This process can be overwhelming, which makes having legal support a big plus. That’s where our motorcycle accident lawyers at Maison Law come in. We can help you by:
- Explaining your legal rights and the next steps.
- Investigating the crash and collecting strong evidence.
- Dealing with insurance companies on your behalf.
- Filing a lawsuit and representing you in court, if needed.
Time is of the essence, so if you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle accident on the Central Yosemite Highway, contact us today for a free consultation so you can get your recovery process started.
