Santa Barbara Car Accident Lawyer

Santa Barbara Dangerous Intersections

For all that it has to offer, Santa Barbara’s roadways can be dangerous, especially when drivers are distracted, fail to stop or yield or are intoxicated. Highway 101 bisects Santa Barbara from the southeast to the northwest. By far, it leads Santa Barbara County in auto accident injuries and deaths. Some of the most dangerous intersections in and around Santa Barbara are Rt. 101 and Los Posadas Road, Rt. 101 and North Milpas Street, De La Guerra Street and Santa Barbara Street and Carrillo Street at Anacapa Street.  

Common Causes of Santa Barbara Car Accidents

Nearly all car accidents in and around Santa Barbara are caused by driver carelessness and negligence. That translates into simple driver error. Here are a few examples of driver error:

• Speeding: Traveling at excessive speeds reduces the time and distance that a driver has to react to a hazard on the road ahead.

• Distracted Driving: Talking on a cell phone, texting or using an infotainment center all distract a driver’s attention from the cognitive, manual and physical tasks involved in driving safely.

• Drunk Driving: Operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated or otherwise impaired is one of the major causes of serious accidents, injuries and fatalities in Santa Barbara County.

• Failure to Yield: Drivers who fail to yield the right-of-way or otherwise disobey stop signs or traffic signals endanger the safety of everybody around them.

• Drowsy or Fatigued Driving: As per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, driving while drowsy or fatigued is as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. Unlike driving under the influence of alcohol, there really isn’t any way of proving that the driver of a car who caused an accident was sleep deprived.

What to Do After Being Injured in a Car Crash

Call 911 immediately after an accident. Ask that both police and paramedics get sent to the scene. Never get talked out of reporting an accident under any circumstances. Police will compile a written report of the crash, and paramedics can stabilize you and get you to a nearby emergency room for care and treatment. Report the accident to your insurer, and don’t worry about your premiums increasing if the accident wasn’t your fault. It’s against the law for an insurer to do that in California. Then, contact our Santa Barbara car accident lawyer at Maison Law, and you can arrange for a consultation and case evaluation at no cost whatsoever to you.

After being injured as a result of the carelessness and negligence of somebody else, you’re entitled to pursue compensation for your injuries and damages. That compensation can include:

• Payment of past and future medical bills.
• Lost earnings or diminished earning capacity.
• Pain and suffering.
• Any permanent disfigurement or disability.
• Loss of a normal life.
• Payment of other valuable damages in the event of a wrongful death.