Riders struck by careless drivers along Sierra Drive in Tulare County should get to a safe place first, then contact 911. If the scene is secure and riders feel strong enough, they should gather evidence of what happened. Victims should take photos of the scene and the damage. They should also collect witness contact information and information from the other driver.
Afterwards, victims should alert their motorcycle insurance providers. They should also contact a skilled California motorcycle accident lawyer if they’ve suffered a serious injury like a bone fracture or a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
Motorcycle Collision Dangers on California’s Sierra Drive
Motorcyclists from across the U.S. mark Sierra Drive in California on their maps. It’s a popular route that offers plenty of steep grades and tight curves to challenge even the most experienced riders.
Plenty of motorists take Highway 198 or Route 216 out of Visalia to merge with Sierra Drive, cut around Lake Kaweah. It’s a great ride in the open air that eventually leads up into the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Sequoia National Park.
Unfortunately for defenseless riders, drivers in much bigger vehicles can get reckless on curves or lose focus on the lanes ahead and put others at risk. Drivers on narrow stretches can veer across the yellow lines to strike a motorcyclist head-on. They can stare at a cell phone and fail to see traffic stopped ahead to rear-end a vulnerable motorcyclist.
The injuries can be severe and even life-threatening. Car insurance companies representing these at-fault drivers are supposed to pay for every step of recovery. Unfortunately, they can instead, focus on ways they can avoid accepting blame. Insurers might try to blame motorcyclists for what happened or find a doctor who will say that the injuries are much less serious than they really are.
Victims might need a lot of evidence on their side to beat these tactics. And when an injury is serious, riders could need the help of a California motorcycle accident lawyer to make sure a settlement check contains everything they’ll need to pay for a full medical care now and in the future.
Checklist for Motorcycle Accident Victims on Sierra Drive
Right after a scary collision on a mountain road, riders should try to see to their safety and, if possible, gather some key evidence on the scene:
- Get out of the path of other vehicles if possible.
- Contact 911. If there’s no cell phone signal, ask someone to drive out to find a signal and call 911.
- Call for an ambulance if there are injuries involved and get fully checked out by paramedics. Go to the emergency room is necessary.
- Tell officers every detail you can remember about what led up to the accident.
- If you are feeling up to it, start taking photos of the scene with your phone. Get the damage to the car and your bike. Show any visible injuries. Show your helmet if you were wearing one.
- If you must leave the scene, ask someone with you or a helpful witness to take photos for you.
- Get contact information from witnesses.
- Get driver’s license and insurance information from the driver unless an officer provides it to you.
- See your own doctor in the days that follow, even if you have already been to the hospital.
- Keep all evidence. Don’t throw out your jacket, shoes, pants or shirt. Keep your damaged helmet if you were wearing one. Hang onto your damaged motorcycle for as long as necessary to settle your case.
- Contact your motorcycle insurance provider as soon after your crash as possible and let them know what happened.
Contact a California Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
If your motorcycle accident only results in some minor scrapes and soreness or only vehicle damage, you may not need a lawyer’s help. But when accidents result in more serious injuries, like a broken arm or brain trauma, and the fault lies with a careless driver, the protection of a skilled California motorcycle accident lawyer becomes much more important.
Contact Maison Law to talk with a real lawyer about your options in a free consultation. You’ll learn what your injury is worth and how to secure the compensation you need for a full recovery. There’s no obligation, but if you feel we can earn you much more for your claim, you’ll need no upfront money to hire Maison Law. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then, our fee comes out of the settlement an insurer must pay you.
