SANTA BARBARA LYFT & UBER ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS

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Santa Barbara Rideshare Accident Lawyers

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car wreck involving an Uber or Lyft driver, you can pursue financial compensation for your medical expenses, ongoing rehabilitation, and lost wages. The ridesharing phenomenon has certainly made getting from place to place in Santa Barbara much less of a hassle. Drinking and driving has decreased thanks in part to ridesharing's surge in popularity. It has also provided many people with a new income stream in the gig economy of today.

But as the rideshare industry grows, so have the number of accidents involving Uber and Lyft drivers. Even worse, insurance companies are often unaware the insured party is using their vehicle for ridesharing. This means they might be unwilling to fully compensate victims.

Since ridesharing is so new, the legal waters around Lyft and Uber auto accidents are murky at best.

This is why you'll benefit from having the Santa Barbara Lyft and Uber accident attorneys at M.R. Parker Law, PC in your corner. Uber and Lyft are major publicly-traded companies pulling in billions of dollars. Unlike many drivers carrying only state minimum liability coverage of $15,000 for injury or death on their auto insurance, Uber and Lyft drivers carry $1 million in liability insurance + uninsured/underinsured coverage. But rideshare companies will look at varying details like whether or not their driver was signed into the app and accepting rides at the time of the accident/incident took place.

Considering how much liability coverage Lyft and Uber drivers carry, anyone injured in an accident involving a ridesharing driver could be entitled to more compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain, suffering and emotional trauma tied to the accident. This applies to passengers injured in a ridesharing car, regardless of whether their driver was or wasn’t at-fault.

The car accident lawyers at M.R.Parker Law, PC specialize in Lyft and Uber accidents. Contact us today for a free consultation with one of our Lyft/Uber accident lawyers in Santa Barbara.

SANTA BARBARA DISTRACTED DRIVING CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS

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Texting & Driving Accidents

Distracted driving is a major cause of different types of auto accidents. Accidents caused by distracted driving range from very serious - it is the number one cause of highway fatalities and wrongful death lawsuits - to minor rear-end accidents or fender-benders.

According to research, sending or receiving a tex message increases the risk of a car accident by as much as 25 times.

Studies have also concluded that the average driver takes their eyes off the road for 4.6 seconds to send or read a text message. If driving 55 mph, that equates to driving the distance of a football field blindfolded.

In the state of California, it's against the law for someone driving a car to use their cell phones to make a call, talk without a hands-free setup, and read or type out a text message while driving.

Although texting while driving is what all of us instantly think of when a distracted driver is mentioned, there are other common types of distracted driving still prevalent. They include: following the directions on an electronic navigation system like GPS or Google Maps, using a handheld cell phone, fiddling around with a radio or CD player, putting on makeup, vaping or smoking, taking selfies or recording a video. and eating as they are driving.

If you've been injured in an accident with a distracted driver, contact M.R. Parker Law, PC to discuss legal help for your injuries.

Santa Barbara DUI Accident Attorneys

Were you or someone you love hit by a drunk driver in Santa Barbara? What follows this negligent act and reckless behavior is devastating.

Nearly one-third of fatalities on U.S. roads and highways are brought on by drunk driving. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs isn’t just against the law, it’s a moral breach of conduct that risks the lives of others. Someone driving under the influence has trouble focusing, impaired muscle coordination, mental confusion, a lack of alertness, and a delayed response time.

Someone who survives being hit by a drunk driver often has very bad injuries to deal with. This includes both bodily injury and emotional trauma or mental distress.

Victims of drunk driving accidents can pursue financial compensation. Not only can they seek standard compensation – things like medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering – but punitive damages may also be paid out. Judges and jurors can be hard on drunk drivers and compensation in DUI cases can be very significant.

If you’ve been injured in an accident brought on by an impaired driver, contact the Santa Barbara drunk driving accident attorneys at M.R. Parker Law, PC for a free consultation.

Santa Barbara High Speed Collision Attorney

Driving beyond the speed limit – or driving too fast for road conditions – is second to only distracted driving as the leading contributing factor to most auto crashes.

Speeding increases the force of impact. The higher the speed at the time of the crash, the greater the force of the collision. This usually means more serious injuries and more deaths. Speeding also contributes to higher dollar property damage.

When you’re behind the wheel, you're taking a leap of faith. You're trusting those you're sharing the road with. You're trusting that they are responsible drivers and demonstrate enough reasonable care to avoid collisions. A driver that speeds is neglecting this responsibility and puts everyone at risk - especially pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists.

If you’ve been injured in a high-speed collision in Santa Barbara, and it can be proven the other party was speeding, you may be entitled to compensation.

Let the high-speed collision lawyers at M.R. Parker Law, PC fight to maximize your compensation for medical expenses, ongoing therapy and care, lost wages, pain, suffering, and emotional trauma.

Contact our Santa Barbara high-speed collision attorneys today for a free case evaluation.

Santa Barbara Rear-End Car Collision Lawyers

It's one of the most common accidents. You come to a sudden stop but the vehicle behind you doesn't stop. Your car is rear-ended.

Although rear-end accidents are less serious than a major collision, injuries are prevalent and could be a nagging problem if not immediately tended to. Injuries after your car is rear-ended include whiplash - which happens when a person's head moves backward and then forward again with great force, mild or severe concussions, spinal injuries like herniated discs or hyperextension, and lockjaw or TMJ symptoms.

Since rear-end collisions typically don't result in EMTs or ambulances, many people just go home following a rear-end accident and don't seek a medical evaluation. Symptoms very commonly don't appear until hours or days later. If you develop any symptoms, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

If you've been rear-ended and injured, contact the rear-end collision attorneys at M.R. Parker Law, PC today for a free evaluation of your case. Often, rear-end accidents can be tied to other factors like driving too fast for conditions or distracted driving.

Vehicle Rollover Accident Lawyers in Santa Barbara

Rollover accidents typically happen when a driver loses control of their car and it trips over something - most commonly uneven pavement, a curb, tree stump, or an object.

Most vehicle rollovers involve SUVs or pickup trucks. SUVs are the vehicles that typically come to mind when one hears about a rollover accident. This is due to their mass being distributed higher off the road in relation to the the width of the vehicle. The gravity's center is increased even more when there's additional cargo and passengers.

Most rollover accidents are single-vehicle accidents - however, rollovers can also occur in multi-vehicle accidents, particularly if the vehicle is hit from the side.

While rollover accidents account for less than 3% of all vehicle accidents, one-third of car accident deaths come in rollovers. This is often attributed to there being partial or full ejection from the vehicle.

If you've been hurt in a rollover, contact auto accident lawyers at M.R. Parker Law, PC to determine the worth of your case.

Santa Barbara T-Bone Injury Attorneys

It happens too quickly. A light turns green or you're crossing an intersection having just stopped at a stop sign. Before you know it, another automobile collides into the side of your vehicle. This broadside collision is called a "T-bone" crash and is the most common type of accident at intersections.

If you or a loved one were seriously hurt in a broadside accident you can trust the Santa Barbara t-bone car accident attorneys at M.R. Parker Law, PC to get you the money that's owed to you.

Santa Barbara Sideswipe Car Accident Attorneys

Sideswipe accidents occur when moving vehicles get too close to each other and make contact along their sides.

Sideswipe accidents often present some challenges when proving liability since they become a blame game where each driver blames the other. Sideswipe accidents are usually caused by drivers drifting into an adjacent lane, making illegal turns, failing to yield at a merge point, or being overly aggressive or inattentive when switching lanes.

If you've been hurt in a sideswipe accident, contact the auto accident attorneys at M.R. Parker Law, PC to set up a free case evaluation

Santa Barbara Multi-Vehicle Accident Attorneys

Most car wrecks are scary, but collisions involving multiple cars can be downright frightening. Vehicle pile-ups and chain-reaction wrecks involving multiple vehicles are some of the most dangerous types of traffic accidents.

Multiple vehicle accidents can often be attributed to conditions like low-visibility, road hazards, tailgating, distracted driving, or construction zones.

Multiple-vehicle accidents can be life-altering and sometimes fatal. If you or a loved one has been injured in a multi-vehicle accident, contact the car accident lawyers at M.R. Parker Law, PC. We'll stand by your side to protect your legal rights.

Santa Barbara Crossover Accident Lawyers

Unsafe lane crossovers can injure you and your passengers. Fatalaties are even possible. A lane crossover is considered unsafe if the motorist is guilty of:

• Doesn't properly signal making a turn
• Fails to see a car quickly approaching in a parallel lane or doesn't properly judge speed
• Neglects to check their blindspot when changing lanes
• Attempts to switch lanes at a traffic light or intersection
• Is texting or on their phone while driving
• Falls asleep at the wheel
• Simultaneously merges into a middle lane with another vehicle

If you were hurt when merging into traffic, or in an accident where someone unsafely switched lanes, contact the crossover accident attorneys at M.R. Parker Law, PC today to talk about winning compensation for your injuries and medical claims.

Costs of Medical Care & Treatment - The amount of your settlement is affected by the type and severity of your injuries.

That said, whether you have cuts, bruises, and burns, a back injury or whiplash  or you suffer from a brain injury or a spinal cord injury with a permanent paralysis or disability, our Los Angeles car accident injury attorneys can help you!

We'll work closely with you and your doctors to determine the extent of your injuries. We'll assess future care and therapy you’ll need, if a full recovery is anticipated, and how long your road to recovery will take.

Immediately after your car accident, you need to you undergo a full medical examination. Even if the accident seems like an innocuous fender-bender, many neck or back injuries aren't noticeable until hours or even days after the accident. You'll want to have a medical record if you expect to have a case.

You are entitled to compensation for all medical expenses. This includes physical therapy, cognitive therapy costs, ambulance fees, fees for doctor consultations,  medical supply costs for crutches, etc., prescription drug costs, permanent disability costs, fees associated with in-home care services, the cost of a home remodel to make a house handicap accessible. and on-going treatments or care.

Auto collisions contribute serious injuries that drastically change how you live your life and may keep you from being able to work. If you're missing work due to injuries from a car collision, we'll fight to get you the money you need.

Hiring one of the Los Angeles area car accident attorneys at M.R. Parker Law, PC will increase any chance you have of being rewarded with lost income after an auto wreck. When you seek "lost wages" related to a car collision, you're looking to get any income you could've made had you not been injured in a crash.

Lost wages usually include:

• Hourly/Salary Income
• Bonuses and Commission
• Sick Leave and Vacation Pay
• Overtime Pay
• Self-Employment Wages
• Missed Promotions or Raises While You Weren't Working

Insurance companies are infamous for paying out as little as possible and might sometimes dispute your benefits for lost wages. If this happens, tag in the personal injury lawyers at M.R. Parker Law, PC to get you the money you deserve.

Pain and suffering is money you can seek for any physical pain, emotional trauma, and lessened quality of life brought on by a car wreck. The legal definition is physical or mental distress.

For example, a brain or spinal cord injury might mean the accident victim can't participate in hobbies or activities they once enjoyed.

A dollar amount can be put on that.

A victim disfigured in an accident might pursue money if it's greatly impacted their personal life or cost them career opportunities.

A dollar amount can be put on that.

Someone that suffers a broken bone or whiplash be walking around in tremendous pain, have a lower quality of life, and be struggling with sleep disturbances, feelings of depression, panic attacks from anxiety, and maybe even PTSD from rehashing the collision.

You deserve to be compensated for any temporary or permanent limitations this accident and someone's negligence has brought on.

Our pain and suffering attorneys in the Los Angeles area are very good at making a jury and judge feel your pain. A picture is painted of the quality of life you had and what's been lost. Your experience and both the tangible and intangible losses you're facing will be effectively communicated and we'll get money for you!

Property damage typically includes the cost to repair or replace your car. You might also be compensated for any property that was in the vehicle and consequently damaged in the crash. An insurance adjuster will estimate the monetary loss and our attorneys will include that amount in the settlement offer.

Compensation for property damage is determined by replacement value, the cost of repairs, loss of use of items, or testimony that proves sentimental value if the damaged property is a family heirloom. Most property damage tied to a car accident is handled by insurance companies. You really shouldn't need an attorney to help with the insurance claims process. That said, if the insurance company refuses to pay out benefits you're owed, or denies your claim with no reasonable basis, they're acting in "bad faith" and this is possible grounds for a lawsuit.

If you need some extra help getting what you feel you're owed from the insurance company, consider speaking with one of the attorneys at M.R. Parker Law, PC.