Santa Barbara Intersection Accident Attorneys
Injured by a Driver at an Intersection in Santa Barbara?
Intersections are some of the most dangerous roadways in the state of California. Drivers can easily become impatient, reckless, or careless, resulting in costly collisions. Other drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists can all injured and hospitalized because one driver failed to yield the right of way or stop at a red light. No one should have to face such serious consequences for someone else’s blatant act of negligence.
If you were injured at an intersection due to a negligent driver, then you may be able to recover compensation in an auto accident claim. Your best option after a collision is to reach out to the Santa Barbara intersection accident attorneys at NordstrandBlack PC. Our law firm has been serving clients in the Santa Barbara area for more than 30 years and has the necessary legal knowledge to get you the compensation you need right now. Contact our office at (866) 298-2041 and schedule a no-cost consultation with an experienced team of car accident lawyers.
Why Intersection Accidents Happen
Intersection accidents are the result of poor driving practices such as speeding, impatience, and a simple lack of awareness. The crossflow of traffic at intersections requires drivers to pay extra attention to the vehicles around them, as well as cyclists and pedestrians in crosswalks. Most intersection accidents occur because a driver was attempting to make a dangerous maneuver, such as an illegal U-turn, or because of inattentiveness.
The types of behaviors that can contribute to an intersection accident include:
- Drivers becoming distracted by their phones, radio, or passengers
- Driving while intoxicated
- Dangerous turns
- Drivers failing to yield the right of way
- Speeding
- Illegal U-turns
- Running red lights or stop signs
Poor maintenance is another major factor in intersection accidents. Many California drivers do not maintain their vehicles. The wear and tear leads to low tire pressure, unresponsive brakes, and broken turn signals. While some of these issues may lead to a single-car accident or minor fender bender, they can also cause serious collisions. Semi-trucks in particular need regular maintenance and inspection to ensure the driver can maintain complete control over the vehicle. However, if the driver or owner of the truck failed to inspect and/or schedule routine maintenance and a truck accident occurs, they can be held liable for your injuries.
However, some intersections are not the result of negligent or reckless drivers. We have all come to a roadway that seemed poorly designed, lacked traffic signs, or had fallen into disrepair. These dangerous roadways can have a major impact on our driving abilities and can cause catastrophic injuries at intersections. A lack of traffic signs may cause hazardous merges at freeway exits, or a center divide could make it difficult for a driver to see cross-traffic. In these instances, it is often not the driver who is at fault for your injuries, but actually the local government agency that designed the roadway or failed to perform maintenance on it.
The Impact of an Intersection Accident
Because of the heavy amount of traffic at most Santa Barbara intersections, these accidents often involve substantial damage, multiple accident victims, and lifelong injuries. When a driver acts negligently at an intersection, everyone around them can be seriously injured, whether they are the passenger in a pickup or a cyclist in a crosswalk. Such negligent or reckless action should be considered in an auto accident claim.
The flow of traffic through intersections can easily result in a multi-car accident. Drivers who fail to break at a stoplight can collide with the car in front of them, causing a chain-reaction collision that impacts an entire lane of vehicles. In addition, if the same driver ran a red light, they could T-bone cross traffic. T-bone accidents, or side-impact collisions, are extremely dangerous. Our vehicles are designed to absorb impacts in the front and back, but the sides of a vehicle are more vulnerable. This can lead to severe injuries on the part of the driver and passenger.
But intersection accidents do not only involve vehicles. Drivers also need to pay attention to crosswalks and bike lanes, for pedestrians and cyclists. Bike riders can easily be side swiped when drivers are making right-hand turns or be struck by a speeding driver when they are crossing the road. The same dangers are prevalent for pedestrians, and both groups can suffer catastrophic injuries because of a single driver’s lack of awareness.
Lastly, when a large vehicle like a van, truck, or SUV loses control at an intersection, either due to a dangerous turn or a collision, those vehicles could rollover. Rollovers are some of the most dangerous types of accidents, as vehicle occupants can suffer catastrophic trauma if they strike the vehicle’s ceiling or are crushed in the crash.
Intersection Accidents and Recovering Damages
A serious auto accident can result in a variety of injuries, ranging from brain damage to herniated discs to complex fractures. Depending on your injuries, you may have required multiple surgeries, weeks of physical therapy, and even a lifelong disability. These costs can easily build up into a mountain of medical debt that is it impossible to pay out of pocket. In addition, you could be looking at weeks to months out of work as you recover, as well as a great deal of emotional trauma. Many accident victims suffer from anxiety or PTSD because of the trauma they have suffered, which can last for years.
In the state of California, all of the costs and damages you have suffered can be compensable in an auto accident claim. If a negligent driver or government agency caused your intersection accident, you could file a claim for:
- Medical bills, past and future
- Lost wages, past and future
- Lost career opportunities if you had to change careers
- Renovations to your home if you were left disabled
- Pain and suffering
- Mental trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Securing Compensation After a Santa Barbara Intersection Accident
Recovering these damages is rarely simple after an intersection accident, and you shouldn’t have to worry about meeting insurance claim deadlines or arguing with an insurance adjuster about the value of your injuries. Your focus should be on recovering from your injuries and getting back to your daily routine. Sadly, insurance companies are rarely ever charitable and may make an early low settlement offer before you are completely healed to avoid paying you full compensation. Instead of accepting a low offer, reach out to a Santa Barbara car accident attorney at NordstrandBlack PC. With an experienced attorney who has a proven track record of positive case results, you may be able to recover compensation with little added stress, so that you can focus on your recovery and getting the medical care and treatment you need.
Our legal team has years of experience representing victims after accidents throughout Santa Barbara and can provide thorough legal guidance during the claims process and to conclusion. NordstrandBlack PC is dedicated to serving our clients’ needs and getting them the compensation they need after a collision. To learn how we can represent you in a car accident claim, contact our office at (866) 298-2041 and schedule a free consultation.