When you or someone you know has recently been injured in an accident in Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, Santa Maria, Goleta, or Ventura County, you have rights that need to be protected with the help of an experienced, proven* Santa Barbara personal injury attorney. Unfortunately, most car accidents are tied to another person’s reckless or negligent behavior.
When this happens to you in California, you have the legal right to file a claim to help recover compensation for your losses/damages. California law recognizes that victims of vehicle accidents often pay the price in the form of severe injuries. If this has happened to you, you have the right to contact a Santa Barbara car accident attorney immediately to discuss your potential for filing a claim.
An accident can turn your life upside down and when you find yourself in this situation, you cannot count on your car insurance company or the other party’s car insurance company to treat you fairly and pay you full value for your losses/damages. You need a committed and proven* Santa Barbara car accident lawyer to advocate your interests against these heartless, all-for-the-money insurance companies from the outset of your case.
Whether your claim is ultimately resolved in settlement or in litigation, you need an attorney who is comfortable with the process and who has helped other car accident victims recover the compensation they need to move on with their life.
Running over the details/shock/trauma of the car crash in your mind can be an overwhelming and all-consuming memory that prompts most people to contact a lawyer immediately.
The vast majority of car accidents in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties today are caused by driver error including speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, texting, drowsy driving, and reckless driving. When someone else is not paying attention behind the wheel or not giving you the proper concern and safety, you could be critically injured and your life changed forever.
Pedestrians may be sideswiped in a crosswalk, a bicyclist may be struck while using a bicycle lane, or a semi-truck could cause an accident with a passenger vehicle. All of these can render the victim of the accident completely unable to return to work and faced with the consequences of a crash for months or even years to come.
The goal of any insurance adjuster after an accident will be to minimize the settlement paid out to you. The less they pay you the more they get promoted and praised by their superiors. Even better yet, you might just go away and give up. This is why you need a Santa Barbara car accident lawyer who has experience handling these claims and can help you obtain a fair settlement. It may feel as though your life will never be the same after a critical vehicle accident but the right lawyer can help you navigate this complex process and restore your quality of life.
The manner in which a car accident in Santa Barbara impacts your life will depend upon the severity of the injuries you sustain. Undoubtedly, your injuries will require some form of medical treatment. This treatment may be costly. Because you did not expect to be injured in a car accident, odds are that you are not prepared to pay for your medical bills.
This is one reason to strongly consider reviewing your case with a Santa Barbara car accident lawyer shortly after being involved in an accident. You may be eligible to recover compensation that can ensure you do not absorb the cost of your medical care.
Other potential consequences of a Santa Barbara car accident include (but are not limited to) the following:
Lost wages
Your injuries can limit your mobility and your ability to perform various physical tasks. Thus, they can theoretically prevent you from returning to work and earning a wage.
Being unable to earn a paycheck until you make a full recovery will add to your already significant financial woes. While this will hopefully never happen to you, you should at least know that if it does, along with seeking compensation for your medical bills, you can seek compensation for your lost wages if you can demonstrate that your accident resulted from the negligence of another party.
Pain and suffering
Some of the losses resulting from a car accident in Santa Barbara, such as medical bills and lost wages, have objective monetary values. Others do not. That’s not to say you don’t deserve to be compensated for such losses.
For example, during your recovery, you may struggle with various forms of pain and suffering. This can include physical, mental, and emotional pain.
Assigning a dollar value to these experiences is not something you’re necessarily qualified to do on your own. This is another reason why it is important to coordinate with an experienced Santa Barbara car accident attorney when filing a claim or lawsuit. If it appears that you are eligible to recover compensation for such non-economic damages as pain and suffering, a lawyer can apply specialized methods to determine what these losses may be “worth.”
Loss of enjoyment of life
Once more, depending upon how severe your injuries are after a Santa Barbara car accident, they may prevent you from performing certain tasks at work.
They might also prevent you from participating in activities you once found enjoyable. Additionally, they can minimize your ability to tend to your daily needs and the needs of your loved ones with whom you may live.
Such struggles can have a negative impact on your overall enjoyment of life. This is another factor that a Santa Barbara car accident lawyer may account for when seeking representation on your behalf.
It is critical that you understand that no ethical attorney is able to guarantee that you will recover a specific amount of compensation when you settle your case or are awarded damages in court. Don’t trust a lawyer who promises that you will settle for an exact sum of money.
That said, you must know that research consistently shows that when personal injury claimants have legal representation, they are more likely to recover compensation, and the compensation they recover tends to be higher than that recovered by those who attempt to represent themselves.
Understanding your rights after a car crash is essential and having a free consultation provided by a dedicated Santa Barbara car accident lawyer can help you.
Gather Evidence From The Scene
Once the accident happens, contact the authorities, especially if someone is hurt. From there, you’ll want to file a police report and gather relevant evidence, like videos/photos of the scene, witness information/identification, and the other driver’s information, such as their car insurance policy information and their drivers’ license information.
Get Medical Attention
Some of the most serious injuries like brain injuries are often masked by the adrenaline and shock you feel at the accident scene. Being evaluated by a doctor locally can help you determine the severity of your injuries.
Get A Lawyer
Please be forewarned: If you try to represent yourself, you will also need to contact your car insurance company and file a claim. This is one of the hardest parts of the legal process for most accident victims since the insurance company will insist that you sign a release/waiver of all of your rights in exchange for the few dollars they offer.
Never provide any recorded statements directly to the insurance company, as this is not in your best interests and could later be used against you. Presenting your case to an experienced car accident lawyer immediately after the accident occurs is the best way for you to identify your legal rights and understand how to protect them.
If you are under the impression that you can handle your car accident claim yourself, you are right…just like you can drive your car with your feet…however, neither are very good ideas. If you are seriously injured and don’t want to be taken advantage of you really have only one choice: hire an attorney. Mr. Richards has 25 years of experience in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties helping seriously injured accident victims just like you and has earned a reputation as a record-setting advocate for the rights of the injured people in Santa Barbara County against insurance companies and they are highly trained stable of ruthless defense attorneys.
Collecting All Of The Relevant Evidence
There are many different types of evidence that may become important components of your car accident lawsuit, including statements from witnesses, pictures, videos, and vehicle damage. Gathering all this material and presenting it to attorney John B. Richards is one of the best ways to identify the issues involved at an early stage and whoever may be liable for the injuries you have sustained.
Negotiating With The Insurance Company
The insurance company is primarily concerned with protecting its bottom line and it can be difficult, if not impossible, to work with the insurance company when they are being unreasonable or unfairly denying or delaying your claim.
Having Mr. Richards serve as your legal representative can eliminate these problems and give you the time to focus on recovering from your injuries. Do not wait to get help from an experienced, proven* car accident attorney. The sooner you get help from an attorney the sooner your claim/case will be resolved, and the less damage you will do to your own claim/case.
Negotiating Settlements
John B. Richards has extensive experience in this field and has helped to negotiate numerous record-setting 7-figure settlements. Furthermore, in the event the insurance company is unwilling to pay fair value for your losses/damages, you will want a lawyer who has a reputation for taking his cases to trial when necessary.
Santa Barbara Car Accident Attorney
“I would highly recommend John Richards for any motor vehicle accident or personal injury case. He was very professional, responsive, and successful in mediating and settling my case. Not only did he guide me through the legal process, but he was also an advocate for me getting the care that I needed. He was there to support me and assist me with the decisions that had to be made. After the case was successfully settled, he helped me settle with the creditors that needed to be paid. I am very pleased to have had John in my corner during this difficult time and will always refer my friends and acquaintances to him.”
Sally R.
It can be difficult to recall basic elements of the accident later on, so it is strongly recommended that you bring: 1) all of your documents and other evidence; 2) an outline/chronology of the events and memories from the incident with you when you come to our offices, immediately after the accident occurs. You deserve to have clarity and peace of mind about all of these issues…however your ability to do so relies on your contacting an attorney right away.
Your choice of lawyer makes a difference. Not all personal injury attorneys are also trial lawyers. Not all personal injury attorneys focus their time and effort only on personal injury matters. Working with John B. Richards will give you the peace of mind that you need to get on with the rest of your life…even while your claim/case continues to move forward.
You have a limited period of time in which you can file an accident claim in California so it is imperative that you find an attorney you trust who focuses his/her law practice only on personal injury matters. Whether you have sustained broken bones, brain damage, a spinal cord injury, whiplash, or any other type of serious or catastrophic injury caused by a car accident, you have rights that deserve to be protected. Let us help you. We love our work and will do everything we can to earn your trust and protect your precious legal rights.
Understanding your rights after a car crash is essential and having a free consultation provided by a dedicated Santa Barbara car accident lawyer can help you.
Once the accident happens, contact the authorities, especially if someone is hurt. From there, you’ll want to file a police report and gather relevant evidence, like videos/photos of the scene, witness information/identification, and the other driver’s information, such as their car insurance policy information and their drivers’ license information.
Some of the most serious injuries like brain injuries are often masked by the adrenaline and shock you feel at the accident scene. Being evaluated by a doctor locally can help you determine the severity of your injuries.
Please be forewarned: If you try to represent yourself, you will also need to contact your car insurance company and file a claim. This is one of the hardest parts of the legal process for most accident victims since the insurance company will insist that you sign a release/waiver of all of your rights in exchange for the few dollars they offer.
Never provide any recorded statements directly to the insurance company, as this is not in your best interests and could later be used against you. Presenting your case to an experienced car accident lawyer immediately after the accident occurs is the best way for you to identify your legal rights and understand how to protect them.
If you are under the impression that you can handle your car accident claim yourself, you are right…just like you can drive your car with your feet…however, neither are very good ideas. If you are seriously injured and don’t want to be taken advantage of you really have only one choice: hire an attorney. Mr. Richards has 25 years of experience in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties helping seriously injured accident victims just like you and has earned a reputation as a record-setting advocate for the rights of the injured people in Santa Barbara County against insurance companies and they are highly trained stable of ruthless defense attorneys.
There are many different types of evidence that may become important components of your car accident lawsuit, including statements from witnesses, pictures, videos, and vehicle damage. Gathering all this material and presenting it to attorney John B. Richards is one of the best ways to identify the issues involved at an early stage and whoever may be liable for the injuries you have sustained.
The insurance company is primarily concerned with protecting its bottom line and it can be difficult, if not impossible, to work with the insurance company when they are being unreasonable or unfairly denying or delaying your claim.
Having Mr. Richards serve as your legal representative can eliminate these problems and give you the time to focus on recovering from your injuries. Do not wait to get help from an experienced, proven* car accident attorney. The sooner you get help from an attorney the sooner your claim/case will be resolved, and the less damage you will do to your own claim/case.
John B. Richards has extensive experience in this field and has helped to negotiate numerous record setting 7 figure settlements. Furthermore, in the event the insurance company is unwilling to pay fair value for your losses/damages, you will want a lawyer who has a reputation for taking his cases to trial when necessary.
It can be difficult to recall basic elements of the accident later on, so it is strongly recommended that you bring: 1) all of your documents and other evidence; 2) an outline/chronology of the events and memories from the incident with you when you come to our offices, immediately after the accident occurs. You deserve to have clarity and peace of mind about all of these issues…however your ability to do so relies on your contacting an attorney right away.
Your choice of lawyer makes a difference. Not all personal injury attorneys are also trial lawyers. Not all personal injury attorneys focus their time and effort only on personal injury matters. Working with John B. Richards will give you the peace of mind that you need to get on with the rest of your life…even while your claim/case continues to move forward.
You have a limited period of time in which you can file an accident claim in California so it is imperative that you find an attorney you trust and focuses his/her law practice only on personal injury matters. Whether you have sustained broken bones, brain damage, a spinal cord injury, whiplash, or any other type of serious or catastrophic injury caused by a car accident, you have rights that deserve to be protected. Let us help you. We love our work and will do everything we can to earn your trust and protect your precious legal rights.
Contact us today for a free consultation about your Santa Barbara car accident claim.
Attorney John B Richards track record speaks for itself. He has successfully represented clients, including: