Santa Maria Personal Injury Attorney - Car Accident Lawyer
Free Consultations - Call Michael Rehm at (800) 978-0754
Santa Maria is a perfect place to enjoy bird watching before mixing locally produced wines with California's best barbeque. Unfortunately, the community is also known for its high rate of traffic accidents.
The Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) compares the car crash rate of California communities of similar size. After adjusting for population and miles driven, the OTS ranked Santa Maria as having the ninth worst rate of accidents and fatalities among 58 comparable California cities.
Santa Maria's 30 bicycle accidents caused the OTS to rank the city as the 18th most dangerous for bicyclists. With 14 car crashes involving motorcycles, Santa Maria ranked 31st.
Santa Maria's ranking for pedestrian accidents is particularly distressing. The OTS ranked Santa Maria 29th on the basis of 48 pedestrian crash victims. However, a significant number of those victims were under the age of 15. Santa Maria had the fourth worst ranking for pedestrian accidents involving children.
Causes of Santa Maria Traffic Accidents
In the most recent year that the OTS analyzed, 587 car crash victims were injured or killed in Santa Maria. Two factors stand out as serious causes of those accidents.
First, a substantial percentage of Santa Maria accidents are speed related. The OTS ranked Santa Maria as having the third worst rate of speed-related accidents among 58 comparable cities.
Second, many of Santa Maria's accidents are caused by drivers who have been drinking. The OTS ranked Santa Maria as having the 14th worst record of alcohol-involved accidents. Santa Maria ranked 11th in the category of alcohol-involved drivers who are under the age of 21.
Drunk driving and speeding are examples of negligent driving. Santa Maria Auto Accident Attorney Michael Rehm can help recover expenses for medical expenses, future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages for those injured from the negligence of others.
Santa Maria Accident Lawsuits
When an injury claim involving a Santa Maria traffic accident does not settle, a personal injury lawyer will need to file a lawsuit. Most cases settle before that stage, but when a lawsuit must be filed, the case will be heard in the Superior Court for Santa Barbara County.
Injury lawsuits move through the court system at a reasonable speed in Santa Barbara County. Within one year, 73% of them have settled. Within two years, 92% have been resolved, either by settlement or trial.
Personal injury traffic accident trials are infrequent in Santa Barbara County. In the most recent year for which statistics are available, only one jury trial was held that involved a motor vehicle accident.
While most cases settle before trial, a significant number of motor vehicle accident lawsuits are filed in the Santa Barbara County Superior Court. In a recent year, injury victims filed 267 motor vehicle accident lawsuits. In that same year, 244 lawsuits that had been filed earlier were resolved.
It may not be necessary for injury victims to appear in court if the case does not go to trial. When they must appear, they may discover that it is a pleasure to visit the Santa Barbara County Courthouse. Located at 1100 Anacapa Street in Santa Barbara, the courthouse is a shining example of the Spanish architecture that contributes to the beauty of Santa Barbara.
Summary
Santa Maria Personal Injury Attorney Michael Rehm provides representation on all car, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian, boat, and wrongful death accidents in Santa Maria CA. For a free consultation, call (800) 978-0754 anytime.
Free Consultations - Call Michael Rehm at (800) 978-0754
Santa Maria CA Resources:
Marina Regional Medical Center
Areas served include Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Lompoc, Isle Vista, Carpinteria, Goleta, Guadalupe, Orcutt, Solvang, CA.