Have you recently been involved in a car accident in Santa Barbara, Solvang, Goleta, Buellton, Santa Ynez, or elsewhere in Ventura County? If so, you have rights that you can exercise by hiring a dedicated lawyer to help you. Much like other cities, certain intersections of Santa Barbara are home to more accidents than others.
Pedestrians and cyclists have become more prevalent across Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties in recent years, sadly they are subject to a disproportionate amount of serious injuries and vehicle accidents. Read on to learn more about some of the most dangerous intersections in Santa Barbara and what you should do if you have been involved in an accident in one of these locations.
A recent Governor’s Highway Safety Association report determined that California is one of the states with the highest number of pedestrian related fatalities in 2016. Sharing the top spots with Florida, New York, and Texas, these states made up 42% of all pedestrian fatalities in just the first half of 2016. A greater number of people who enjoy getting to work on foot or taking advantage of cycling opportunities means increased accident risks.
A Santa Barbara personal injury attorney can assist you if you have been hurt in an accident caused by another person’s reckless or negligent behavior. This could be someone speeding through the intersection at Carrillo and De La Vina streets without checking the crosswalk and side-swiping a pedestrian or someone who is driving aggressively and not paying attention to their speed.
The most common intersections where accidents occur in Santa Barbara include:
While many of the dangerous intersections in Santa Barbara have been repaired in recent years and had new traffic lights installed, it is still the responsibility of any driver to pay attention to traffic signals.
Many accidents at intersections like the ones mentioned above are caused by drivers turning right on a red light or not paying attention and blowing through the intersection. It is often the car accident victim who pays the price for someone who is under the influence of alcohol, tired behind the wheel, or otherwise distracted behind the wheel.
According to research shared by the Transportation Inquiry Mapping System, drivers often failed to yield the right of way in Santa Barbara crosswalks up to 46% of the time. Furthermore, they failed to yield to pedestrians not in the crosswalk up to 8% of the time. Pedestrians are struck while crossing in the crosswalk more than 63% of the time in accidents.
Many accidents are caused by inattentive drivers who simply did not obey the rules of the road. No matter where you’re located in Santa Barbara, you have the right to file a personal injury claim if you have been critically injured. No one should have to suffer the consequences of another person failing to obey the rules of the road or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
You may be entitled to recover compensation for your injuries including lost wages, medical expenses, and more. The only way to be clear about your rights after a vehicle accident in Santa Barbara is to gather the associated evidence and to consult with a Santa Barbara car accident lawyer.
There are many different legal questions that can only be answered after a free consultation is provided by an attorney. Most Santa Barbara car accident lawyers will charge based on a contingency fee basis which allows you to worry about the medical treatment you’re receiving and not about the financial obligations of paying your attorney. If your attorney is successful in recovering compensation for your injuries, he or she will be paid out of the settlement.
If you’ve been hurt, you can’t afford to wait. Contact Santa Barbara’s record-breaking car accident lawyer today.