Santa Rosa Car Accident Lawyer

Drivers trying to get to work, to class, or to a wine tasting in Santa Rosa probably use the very same roads every day. There’s a good chance their trip utilizes one of the major thoroughfares like Highway 101 and Highway 12. Navigation may also guide motorists through one of the many dangerous intersections in Santa Rosa like Sebastopol Road at Stony Point Road. These busy spots all have one thing in common…an endless flow of careless and reckless drivers. You may take pride in the caution and restraint you show on the road, but a mistake by another driver can still send you into an unavoidable collision. The recovery from a resulting injury will be difficult. The sudden arrival of enormous medical bills could be alarming. It’s important you know where to turn when a driver’s error threatens to erase your savings.

Car Accident Dangers in Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa is the fifth-largest city in the Bay Area, and the popularity led to at least one local road ranking as some of the most congested and dangerous in the region. The Press Democrat points out that Highway 101’s run from Hopper to Baker Avenue ranks in the top 50 of frustrating freeway segments in the Bay Area. The California Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) records accidents each year in Sonoma County. In 2020, they documented 491 traffic accidents across Santa Rosa. What’s more, 28 of those accidents involved a pedestrian, 34 accidents involved a bicyclist, and 27 accidents involved motorcyclists. Six people lost their lives in those accidents and 689 people were injured. Each accident and tragic death represents victims left to heal from injuries and families forced to mourn the loss of a loved one. When careless drivers are responsible for these collisions, it should be their insurance companies coming to the aid of patients and mourning families to provide everything possible in the aftermath.

Common Types of Collisions in Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa can strive for a small-town feel, but the city undeniably has big city traffic issues and dangers. Drivers who cause accidents can simply be careless, or they may make a dangerous decision that puts more than just themselves at risk. This is only a partial list of some of the most dangerous impact angles, mistakes, and outcomes possible in Santa Rosa accidents:

• Rollover Accidents: A powerful impact that sends a car over on its side or top is one of the most dangerous for occupants. Motorists can suffer severe injuries while taking multiple blows from doors, front seats, car dashes, and roofs.
• Head-On Collisions: These collisions are thankfully rare, but they unleash powerful forces on victims. The impacts factor in the speed of both cars to double the force of a collision. Broken bones and traumatic brain injuries are common.
• Rear-end Impacts: A very common crash angle usually caused by drivers not paying attention to traffic that may be slowed or stopped ahead. Whiplash and other spine and neck injuries are often treated after rear-end accidents.
• Sideswipes: A glancing blow might still lead to serious injuries. The collision can occur on driver’s or passenger’s doors where metal isn’t as thick and the protection for occupants is minimal.
• DUI Drivers: A driver choosing to take the wheel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol puts all motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists in danger. Steering clear of a drunk driver is almost impossible because their moves are so unpredictable. An impaired driver is also a threat to cause a wrong-way accident that often ends in a dangerous head-on impact.

What to Do After a Car Accident in Santa Rosa

With the possibility of such devastating accidents and potential injuries, building a strong case is absolutely vital to your chances of earning insurance support after a Santa Rosa car accident. A police report stating your innocence may not be enough to prevent an insurance company from attempting to deny your demand for financial support. To give an insurance adjuster little room to try to blame you for an accident, it’s a good idea to grab as much evidence on the scene as possible. Some of these important details will only be available in the moment after a crash. Accident scenes will be cleared and cleaned up shortly after your crash and evidence will disappear. If you’re feeling up to it, try to gather these important details after a collision:

• Tell police officers everything you can remember about how the accident occurred, including if the at-fault driver was looking at a cellphone or driving recklessly.
• Use the phone on your cellphone to get photos. Image damage to vehicles, street signs, traffic lights, and lane markings. Show any visible injuries.
• Discuss what happened with witnesses. Get contact information.
• Look over the area for security cams at businesses or homes. Get the addresses so your Santa Rosa Personal Injury Lawyer can request the footage later.
• Exchange information with drivers involved but don’t make statements about fault or the extent of your injuries. Insurance companies can use these statements against you later.
• Get checked out by paramedics and once you leave the scene make an appointment with your doctor. Do everything the doctor tells you and save all medical invoices.
• Keep evidence like any damaged clothing and personal items.

Contact a Santa Rosa Car Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been injured by someone else’s negligence in a car accident in Santa Rosa, contact Maison Law for assistance getting your life back on track. Your call earns you a free Santa Rosa Car Accident case consultation. You are under no obligation to use our services, but you should learn about all of the benefits available to you and your family. Attorney Martin Gasparian, Esq., is the founder of Maison Law, and he has worked at some of the most prestigious firms in the nation, including the largest law firm in Los Angeles. Today, he works for those that have been injured and need someone to stand up for them. He understands what you are up against and won’t rest until you are back on your feet, physically and financially.  

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I’m struck by a rideshare or delivery driver?

You may be able to secure injury compensation from the driver and the company they work for. Drivers for companies like Uber or Amazon may have their own insurance and also be covered by their employers. A car accident lawyer can help you determine who to file against.

What if I’m struck by a hit-and-run driver?

If hit-and-run drivers are caught you can file a claim for damages against their insurance providers without having to wait on any criminal proceedings. If the hit-and-run driver remains unidentified, you may have to rely on the uninsured motorist coverage on your car insurance policy to earn support.

Do I have to go to court to get compensation for my injury?

Usually not. Only a small percentage of car accident cases are resolved in court. Your attorney will contact the insurance company for the at-fault driver and work towards a fair settlement. It’s only when an insurance company refuses to offer what’s fair that a court date may be necessary.