One Woman Dead in Car Accident With Semi Near Santa Barbara
I’m Ed Smith, a Santa Barbara car accident lawyer. A collision between a motor vehicle and semitrailer near Santa Maria on Monday, June 19, 2017, resulted in the death of one of the drivers. The name of the deceased driver will not be released until relatives have been notified.
I would like to extend my prayers and sympathy to the family for their loss.
What Happened
According to a representative of the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the accident occurred north of California State Route 166 on Bonita School Road at shortly before 4:30 in the morning. The captain of the fire department in Santa Barbara County reported that a woman, driving a Chevy sedan, drove into the rear of the semitrailer and died at the crash site. The woman’s vehicle had to be cut away from the trailer of the semi, and the road remained closed until almost 8:00 in the morning. Paramedics and members of the fire department from Guadalupe were also present at the scene.
Underride Accidents
According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2015, impacts by a motor vehicle with the rear of a large truck accounted for 15 percent of fatalities in accidents of this type in 2011. Underride accidents also occur when a motor vehicle hits the side of a large truck. Because of the large space between the ground and bottom of a tractor-trailer, an underride accident prevents air bags from deploying and avoids the front end of a vehicle referred to as the crash zone, which adds extra protection. While safety guards are required for the backs of big trucks, they are not yet required for the sides.
Liability in Underride Wrongful Death Accidents
While many underride accidents are the fault of the driver of the motor vehicle, who may have been distracted or following too closely behind a semi, some of those accidents are the fault of the truck driver. When that happens, the surviving family members may wish to file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages. While nothing can ease your sense of loss, recovery of compensation for that loss can at least make the financial transition easier.
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Attorney Ed Smith
Santa Barbara Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Santa Barbara car accident lawyer. Losing a family member or being injured in an accident caused by a negligent driver is a devastating experience. If you, or one of your loved ones has been injured or taken away from you in a car crash, call my office at (805) 372-0200 and ask for me, Ed Smith. Outside the area, call toll-free at (800) 404-5400. My advice is free and friendly.
Information on a legal practice helps when you need a lawyer and haven’t decided who to call. You can find reviews on my practice at Yelp, Google and Avvo.
My Previous Verdicts and Settlements page can give you an idea of the results obtained by our injury lawyers.
The Million Dollar Advocates only accepts membership from the highest ranking trial attorneys in the United States. Those who are allowed to join must prove that they have received settlements and verdicts for previous clients of $1 million or more. I am a California member.
I have worked as a traumatic injury and wrongful death lawyer in Santa Barbara since 1982, helping the injured recover fair compensation.
Photo Attribution: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Underride_guard_full-width_impact_test.JPG courtesy of ChengH
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