Santa Barbara Car Accident LAWYERS

Santa Barbara has the same concerns as any other city, including traffic and traffic crashes. Car accidents happen daily and often change the lives of Santa Barbara residents and visitors.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a car accident, you may be eligible to seek compensation for your medical bills and other losses through an auto accident claim. Contact the Santa Barbara car accident lawyers at Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos, LLP for a free consultation to discuss your case and your legal options.

Why Choose Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos, LLP as Your Car Accident Attorneys in Santa Barbara?

The personal injury attorneys at Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos, LLP represent a range of accident victims in Santa Barbara County who suffer injuries or lose loved ones due to another person or party's negligence. But car accident cases are an important practice area for our firm.

Clients turn to our firm after car accidents because:

• Our attorneys have more than 75 years of combined legal experience: Experience matters in car accident cases. Because our attorneys have a wealth of experience to draw on, we are not fazed by the challenges and surprises that can occur during cases like yours.
• This is our home field: Our firm knows the courts in Santa Barbara and the auto insurance companies that serve it. We also feel a personal responsibility to fight for a fair settlement or court award for our fellow Santa Barbara residents.
• Our former clients speak highly of us: Our client testimonials prove how hard our entire staff works on clients' behalf. Consider these reviews previews of your experience with Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos, LLP.
• We don’t ask for any upfront legal fees: We accept personal injury cases in Santa Barbara with no upfront compensation. We only get a fee if we get a successful result in your case.
• We fight for every dollar our clients deserve: Our law firm does not settle unless our client gets the financial recovery they deserve. We take cases to court when it is the right thing to do. For this reason, our clients can trust us to always act in their best interests.

With multiple personal injury lawyers on our staff, we will assign you the lawyer who is best suited to win your case. Whether you seek money through an insurance claim or lawsuit, your attorney will handle the entire process for you.

How Should I Choose an Attorney After a Car Accident in Santa Barbara?

We recommend you weigh several criteria when choosing an attorney for your car accident case.

You can ask yourself (and a prospective attorney) several questions to test their fitness, including:

1. Does your firm regularly handle car accident cases?
2. Will your firm take my case to trial if necessary?
3. Will I have a one-on-one relationship with my attorney?
4. Can I trust that your firm will act in my best interests?
5. Does your firm have relevant case results for clients who were in circumstances similar to mine?

If you ask these questions of our firm, we can answer with an unequivocal "yes."

Where do Car Accidents Happen in Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara is no stranger to car accidents. Last year, 356 people were injured or killed in car accidents here, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety. This corresponds to a rate of 3.99 accidents per 1,000 people.

Here are some of the most dangerous intersections and roadways in Santa Barbara, based on data from various sources, including the California Highway Patrol and local news reports:

INTERSECTIONS

• De La Guerra Street and Santa Barbara Street: This intersection has seen a high number of accidents, including several fatalities. The combination of heavy traffic, limited visibility, and complex turning movements can be dangerous.
• West Carrillo Street and Chapala Street: This intersection is known for its speeding drivers and confusing lane markings. It is also located near a popular tourist area, which can add to the congestion.
• Calle Real and Las Positas Road: This intersection is located in a hilly area with limited visibility. It also has a high volume of traffic, including trucks and large vehicles.
• De La Vina Street and Figueroa Street: This intersection is located in a busy downtown area with a lot of pedestrian traffic. It can be difficult for drivers to see pedestrians in the crosswalks, especially at night.
• US 101 and North Milpas Street: This is a busy freeway interchange with a lot of merging traffic. It is also located near a popular shopping center, which can add to the congestion.

ROADWAYS

• Highway 154: This scenic highway is known for its narrow lanes and sharp curves. It is especially dangerous during the rainy season when the road can become slick.
• Gibraltar Road: This winding road is located in the Santa Ynez Mountains and has a steep drop-off on one side. It is important to use caution and drive slowly on this road.
• Cachuma Lake Road: This narrow road leads to Cachuma Lake and can be busy with recreational traffic on weekends. It is important to be aware of bicycles and motorcycles on this road.

Do I Have a Santa Barbara Car Accident Claim?

Negligence is a fundamental concept in personal injury law and plays a crucial role in car accident cases. It refers to a legal theory that holds individuals or entities responsible for the harm they cause due to their failure to act reasonably or exercise a standard level of care in a given situation.

To have a successful car accident claim based on negligence, four key elements generally need to be established:

1. Duty of Care: The first element in proving negligence is establishing that the defendant (the party being sued, usually the at-fault driver) owed a duty of care to the plaintiff (the injured party). In car accident cases, this typically means that all drivers on the road owe a duty to operate their vehicles safely and follow traffic laws. The duty of care may vary depending on the circumstances, such as road conditions or the presence of pedestrians.
2. Breach of Duty: The plaintiff must show that the defendant breached their duty of care by failing to act as a reasonably prudent person would under similar circumstances. This involves demonstrating that the actions (or inactions) of the negligent driver fell below the standard of care expected in the situation. For example, a breach of duty might occur if a driver runs a red light or fails to yield the right of way.
3. Causation: The third element requires establishing a causal link between the defendant's breach of duty and the plaintiff's injuries. In other words, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant's actions directly led to the harm suffered. This often involves demonstrating that, but for the defendant's negligence, the accident and subsequent injuries would not have occurred.
4. Damages: Lastly, the plaintiff must show that they suffered actual damages as a result of the accident. Damages can include medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related losses. It's essential to provide evidence of the extent of these damages to support the personal injury claim.

If these four elements of negligence are successfully established, the plaintiff may have a valid personal injury claim in a car accident case.

However, it's important to consult a qualified attorney who understands personal injury law to assess the specific details of your case and help you navigate the legal process. Laws related to negligence and personal injury claims may vary, so it's crucial to seek legal advice tailored to your situation

Medical Expenses

We encourage our clients to receive the medical care they need. Your health is the priority, and our firm will fight for reimbursement of all your medical expenses.

Medical expenses a car crash victim may recover compensation for include:

• Emergency transportation
• Emergency medical treatment
• Surgery
• Hospitalization
• Medications
• Follow-up visits
• Medical imaging services
• Medical equipment
• Any other accident-related medical services

Getting medical care is notoriously expensive, even for those with health insurance. A lawyer from our firm will calculate the cost of medical care you've already received. We'll also project the cost of medical treatment, equipment, and medications you're likely to need.

LOST WAGES OR INCOME

Medical treatment and recovery for car accident injuries can keep you from working and, in some cases, may prevent you from returning to your job in the same capacity as before the accident. We will ensure your personal injury claim includes the lost earnings you deserve.

Pain and Suffering

Car accidents can cause psychological trauma, especially post-traumatic stress disorder.

Other forms of pain and suffering that can result from an accident include:

• Anxiety (including fear of traveling in motor vehicles)
• Depression
• Suicidal ideation (which may result from accident-related injuries)
• Substance misuse (to self-treat the physical and psychological pain that accidents cause)
• Lost quality of life

Our lawyers work with mental health professionals to help clients like you diagnose trauma. We’ll determine the cost of your pain and suffering. We’ll also calculate the cost of care that you need for your pain and suffering.

Property Costs

A car accident in Santa Barbara can damage:

• Your vehicle
• Any items fastened to the outside of your vehicle (including a spare tire, bicycle, luggage, or other items)
• Electronics within the vehicle (including your cell phone)
• Clothing
• Watches, jewelry, and other accessories
• Any items inside your vehicle at the time of the accident

When someone causes an accident, they should pay for your every expense. This includes damage to property, no matter how minor that damage might seem.

The Death of a Loved One

Our firm seeks justice for those who sadly lost a loved one in a fatal accident.

The wrongful death of a loved one causes immense grief and can also cause:

• The loss of a spouse
• The loss of a parent
• Loss of financial support
• Funeral expenses
• Other damages

Our firm will represent you with the utmost sensitivity if you lose a loved one to a car accident in Santa Barbara.

How Our Firm Will Fight for the Money You Deserve After a Car Accident

Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos removes the burden of a lawsuit or insurance claim from our clients.

In each case we handle, we do precisely what our client needs us to do, which often includes:

• Moving quickly to gather evidence: Evidence may disappear soon after your accident, so hire us as soon as possible. Our lawyers can work to secure any video footage, witness accounts, and other evidence that will benefit your case.
• Documenting your present and future damages: We’ll collect medical bills, invoices for property repairs, and other documentation of your damages. We may also work with professionals to project the cost of your future damages.
• Getting professionals to strengthen your case: A professional may testify to liability, reconstruct your accident, help us identify and value your future damages, or assist us in other ways. Any professional we hire will come at our expense, not yours.
• Managing the day-to-day duties of your case: Paperwork, phone calls, emails, and communications with the court will all be necessary. Our attorneys and paralegals work together to ensure prompt filing of your case, accurate and detailed paperwork, and an overall professional approach.
• Negotiating a settlement: When we serve as your lawyers, we also become your negotiators. Whether dealing with an insurance company or another party, we’ll fight to get the financial recovery you deserve.
• Completing a trial (when necessary): We don’t always go to trial, as we often resolve cases through settlements. However, if your case requires us to go to trial, we’ll lead your case from start to finish.

You also get our defense when you hire Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos, LLP. Our team will ensure that nobody—not an insurance company or another person’s attorney—takes advantage of you. As your case managers, anyone who wants to speak with you must come through us.

With our team on your case, you can have peace of mind during your recovery or grieving process.

How Our Client-Friendly Fee Structure Works

Our attorneys work for contingency fees, which favors the client while also providing our firm great incentive to win.

With this fee structure, you:

• Grant us a percentage of any financial settlement we secure for you
• Learn the percentage that we will receive before you agree to let us represent you
• Never pay us anything upfront
• Never pay for any case-related expenses out of your own pocket (we handle all case-related costs)

We take a risk with this legal fee structure. If we don't win your case, we won't get compensation for our time and effort. Nevertheless, we enter every car accident case confident that we will emerge victorious.

Call a Santa Barbara Car Accident Lawyer From Today

A car accident lawyer from our personal injury law firm in California is ready to work on your case in Santa Barbara. Once you complete your free consultation, we will have the green light to fight for you. Please don't wait to call us, as we may face a legal deadline for filing your lawsuit, which may also affect negotiations with insurance companies.
Contact us at Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos today at (650) 345-8484 for your free consultation.

Schedule A Free Consultation

SANTA BARBARA OFFICE

Address: 1020 State Street #107,
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone: (805)-617-1365
Fax: (805)-617-1365

Testimonial

Thank you so much for all of your legal help on my case. I’ve really enjoyed working with you and your professional team including Lisa and Mavis. I also appreciate your efforts in reaching a settlement on my behalf. I will definitely refer my clients and friends to your firm they are in need of legal representation in the future. Regards.

- ADRIAN C.