Santa Barbara Bicycle Accident: Police Search for Driver

I’m Ed Smith, a Santa Barbara personal injury lawyer. Information is being sought on a hit-and-run driver who caused an injury to a bicycle rider in Isla Vista in Santa Barbara County on June 29. Anyone with information should call Officer Kessinger with the California Highway Patrol at (805) 447-4174 or (805) 967-1234.

Santa Barbara Resident Injured

The accident occurred at about 2:00 p.m. at the intersection of Embarcadero Del Mar and Pardell Road, where emergency personnel discovered a bicycle rider who had been left with a broken femur due to the crash. The bicycle rider was identified as 19-year-old Benjamin Shelby from Santa Barbara. He was transported to a Goleta hospital for medical treatment.

Accident Details

According to a representative of the CHP, the driver was passing through the intersection in a dark colored sedan heading north on Embarcadero when he failed to yield to the bicycle rider. According to the bicycle rider, he was forced to brake hard and broke his leg when he fell. The suspect reportedly checked on the bicycle rider but then got back in his vehicle and continued north on Embarcadero. The driver was described as black and was wearing a shirt that was white, but no other description was given. The CHP said because the vehicle did not physically make contact with the bicyclist there was no damage to the car, so it was a felonious hit-and-run with no contact.

Santa Barbara Bicycle Accidents

Southern Californians love to ride bicycles. Unfortunately, a bicycle offers little protection when the rider is involved in an accident with a motor vehicle. The California Office of Traffic Safety reported 96 injuries and deaths of bicycle riders in the city of Santa Barbara in 2014. Countywide, there were 259 injuries and deaths. While some injuries were minor, others resulted in traumatic brain injuries or the death of the rider. When a bicycle rider has been injured as a result of a negligent driver, he or she faces medical bills and other expenses because of the accident that was not their fault. A personal injury attorney experienced in these types of accidents can help to recover fair compensation, so the injured person can concentrate on recuperating.

Hit-and-Run Accidents

A hit-and-run is one of the most devastating types of accidents because the negligent party exhibited a lack of care by leaving the scene of the crash. California has two categories of hit-and-run accidents. The first, is a misdemeanor, when property is damaged, and the driver leaves the scene. The second, is categorized as a felony, when the negligent driver causes an injury, as in the above instance, and leaves the scene.

What Should a Victim Do After a Hit-and-Run?

When someone is the victim of a hit-and-run, it can be helpful to police if they have noticed the license plate number of the vehicle along with color, make and model and any distinguishing characteristics such as a special logo or bumper sticker. Report the accident immediately to police. The sooner it is reported, the sooner police can start a search for the driver. Seek medical attention right away. Some medical symptoms can be delayed due to the shock of the accident. Contact a personal injury attorney. Attorneys have resources that can help locate the driver, such as financial resources, reconstruction experts and specialists in forensics.

Santa Barbara Bicycle Accident & Personal Injury Lawyer

I’m Ed Smith, a Santa Barbara personal injury lawyer. If you have suffered an injury in a bicycle accident or motor vehicle accident precipitated by negligence on the part of another individual, please call (805) 372-0200. My friendly advice is free. My toll-free number is (800) 404-5400.

Having practiced injury law in California for over three decades, I have helped Santa Barbara families obtain just compensation for many types of personal injuries and wrongful deaths. As a member of Million Dollar Advocates, I am a trial lawyer who has obtained million dollar settlements or verdicts for injured clients.

Rating sites that contain reviews on my legal practice can be found at Yelp, Google and Avvo. On Past Verdicts and Settlements, you can see a sampling of cases and results by our injury lawyers.

My website, www.AutoAccident.com, offers readers comprehensive information on personal injuries.

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Santa Barbara Bicycle Accident: Police Search for Driver