Watsonville Personal Injury Attorney – Car Accident lawyer
Michael Rehm – (831) 431-0986
Free Consultations
Surrounded by mountains, forests, and beaches, Watsonville is a city of natural beauty. It's almost a shame that roads are allowed to spoil the Pajaro Valley. Still, most residents use streets and highways when they travel to work or take a shopping trip to downtown Watsonville, while visitors use them to drive to the Strawberry Festival and the Nature Center.
While Watsonville has been spared much of the traffic congestion that plagues other California cities, it is not free from traffic accidents. During the most recent year analyzed by the Office of Traffic Statistics, 173 people were injured or killed in Watsonville collisions. The OTS ranked Watsonville as having the 29th worst accident rate of 102 comparable cities, after adjusting for population and miles driven.
Watsonville CA Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents
While most Watsonville traffic accidents involve car crashes, 13 accident victims were hit by a car while riding bicycles. Watsonville had the 23rd worst bicycle accident ranking for a city of its size.
Pedestrian accidents accounted for Watsonville's worst ranking. Thirty of Watsonville's traffic accident victims were pedestrians. Six of those victims were under the age of 15. The OTS ranked Watsonville as the fifth worst city for overall pedestrian accidents and the second worst for pedestrian accidents involving children.
Causes of Watsonville Traffic Accidents
In 37 of Watsonville's 173 injury accidents, a driver was speeding. Watsonville had the 10th worst ranking for speed-related collisions.
Alcohol was involved in 22 of Watsonville's traffic accidents. The OTS ranked Watsonville as the 27th worst city of 102 comparable California cities for alcohol-related traffic accidents.
Hit-and-Run Accidents in Watsonville
Sixteen Watsonville accidents were hit-and-runs. That number is surprisingly high for a city of Watsonville's size. Compared to other cities in the same class, the OTS ranked Watsonville as having the 21st worst rate of hit-and-runs.
Obtaining compensation for hit-and-run accidents can be challenging. Many hit-and-run drivers are uninsured. Many others are never identified. Fortunately, collision victims can often make a claim against their own uninsured motorist coverage if they are injured by a hit-and-run driver.
Lawsuits for Watsonville Traffic Accidents
While insurance companies often resist paying for hit-and-run injuries, an experienced attorney can assist victims in making a claim for the compensation they deserve. Michael D. Rehm Car Accident Lawyer can help victims of Watsonville accidents bring claims against their own insurance companies or against the company that insures the driver who caused their injuries.
Most insurance claims settle without filing a lawsuit. When a lawsuit must be filed for a traffic accident in Watsonville, it is filed in the Superior Court for Santa Cruz County. While there is a courthouse in Watsonville, injury cases are typically heard at the courthouse in Santa Cruz. That courthouse is located at 701 Ocean Street.
The Santa Cruz Superior Court is not particularly busy. In the most recent fiscal year for which statistics have been reported, only 88 motor vehicle accident cases were filed. A total of 79 motor vehicle accident lawsuits were resolved. Nearly all were settled within a year or two of filing, but three of the 79 cases went to trial.
For more information on how the law surrounding accidents applies to your case, call Accident Attorney Michael Rehm at (831) 431-0986.
Watsonville Accident Attorney – Car Crash lawyer
Michael Rehm – (831) 431-0986
Free Consultations
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