Santa Barbara Injury Law

Important facts about injury in California

Serious personal injuries are common and can be deadly. In 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there were a total of 404 fatal occupational injuries in California. 56 of them involved falls, six involved fires or explosions, and 42 involved exposure to harmful substances or environments. 84 of the fatalities involved assaults and violent acts.

Statistics of the Center for Disease Prevention and Control indicate that, in 2006, there were 11,375 deaths in California from accidents and unintentional injuries. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 3,434 traffic fatalities in California in 2008—and 37 of these fatalities occurred in Santa Barbara County, of which 19 involved alcohol and 11 involved speeding.

With all the accidents and injuries that occur, it is no wonder that personal injury lawsuits are the most common lawsuit in the United States today. An important fact to note is that most personal injury lawsuits are settled before trial. The personal injury law firm you hire can make a difference in what you recover for your injuries.

Bringing an injury lawsuit in Santa Barbara

The law firm of Maho & Prentice has dedicated more than 30 combined years of experience to representing all types of personal injury cases throughout California, including Santa Barbara. Injury law and helping injury victims on a daily basis are a focus of our practice.

Our Santa Barbara injury and wrongful death practice serves people who have suffered a personal injury or loss due to the following:

Seeking recovery in California

Under joint and several liability rules in California, regardless of the proportion of fault of each person for your injury, each and every person who was responsible for your injury can be found liable for the entire amount of your economic damages, including items such as medical expenses and lost earnings. Noneconomic damages—such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and damage to your family relationships—are shared by the people who caused your injury according to percentage of fault.

California comparative negligence law states that, if you were careless and your actions contributed to your injury, the amount you can recover is reduced in proportion to your carelessness. In California, you have two years to file a lawsuit against the person who injured you.  While certain types of injuries fall under different statutes of limitations, you should consult an attorney as soon as possible regarding your injury in Santa Barbara.

An experienced personal injury attorney can help

To schedule an intial consultation call us at 805.618.1367 or contact our Santa Barbara injury settlement attorneys at Maho & Prentice today if you have been injured, or if you have questions about accident litigation.