Injuries Reported in Madera County Motorcycle Crash
Major injuries were reported in a recent Madera County motorcycle crash. The motorcycle accident occurred on Road 274 near Road 225 in North Fork. A 41-year-old North Fork man was riding his 2004 Yamaha YZF-600R motorcycle behind a 2001 Jeep Wrangler driven by a 21-year-old Oakhurst man. For unknown reasons, the Jeep driver reportedly made a U-turn in front of the biker. The motorcycle rider attempted to take evasive action. Sadly, his efforts were unsuccessful, and he collided with the driver’s side door of the Jeep. The motorcyclist suffered serious injuries in the accident and was transported via air ambulance to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno. Updates regarding his condition were not immediately available.
What to Do After a Madera County Motorcycle Crash
Knowing what to do after a motorcycle collision can be overwhelming. This is especially true if you have suffered injuries. To protect your well-being and legal standing after a crash, follow these steps:
- Call Police: When an accident involves injuries and property damage, the police should be notified immediately. Those involved in a motorcycle crash should ask responding officers to take a traffic collision report and request a copy of it when it is ready. You will want to submit this to your insurance company to prove liability on the part of the other driver involved.
- Exchange Information: Contact information should be exchanged by all parties involved in a motorcycle accident. This includes names, addresses, insurance policy information, license plate numbers, and driver’s license numbers.
- Seek Medical Attention: Catastrophic injuries are often involved in motorcycle accidents. Receiving immediate medical treatment is essential. Injured bikers should follow the advice provided by their doctor and not miss any scheduled appointments. Allowing gaps in treatment or missing too many appointments may cause an insurance claims adjuster to dispute the severity of the injuries suffered.
- Look for Witnesses: If anyone witnessed the motorcycle collision, try to take down their statement and contact information. This is critical to have in any motorcycle accident case.
- Gather Evidence: Take pictures of the scene of the crash with a camera or cell phone, if possible. Include the motorcycle and the other car, their positions, and any marks in the roadway. If a road defect was involved in the motorcycle accident like an uneven road surface, take photos of this as well. Such evidence is necessary for proving the facts and circumstances of a motorcycle accident claim.
- Preserve Damaged Personal Property: A damaged motorcycle, helmet, and other equipment should be preserved after a collision. Such evidence is necessary for proving losses and injuries to an insurance company.
- Contact Your Insurer: Inform your insurance company of your motorcycle crash immediately. If you are contacted by the other driver’s insurer for a recorded statement, politely decline. These may be taken out of context. When this happens, the value of your personal injury claim may be affected. This is why it is critical to retain an experienced personal injury lawyer in Madera promptly.
Motorcycle accidents can result in a wide array of economic and noneconomic damages. To learn what these are and how they may be recovered in a personal injury claim, watch the below video.
Is There a Time Limit on Personal Injury Claims?
When an accident is caused by the negligence of another driver, it is essential to file a timely personal injury claim. This is because there are specific time limits that apply to motorcycle accidents. Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, a personal injury case must be brought within two years from the date of the crash. Once that time has passed, the court may dismiss the case, and there may be nothing that can be done. Also, witness recollection and evidence may fade over time. To ensure your chances of a favorable recovery, it is critical to get the right Madera personal injury attorney to work on your behalf immediately.
Personal Injury Lawyers in Madera
I’m Ed Smith, a Madera personal injury lawyer. A motorcycle accident has the potential to cause catastrophic injuries to those involved. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident caused by the carelessness of someone else, please call me at (559) 377-7676 or toll-free at (800) 404-5400 to receive my free, friendly case advice.
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See a list of past cases our law office has handled and their outcomes on our Verdicts and Settlements page.
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