[03-08-2022] Santa Barbara County, CA – Three People Seriously Injured After a Wrong-Way Collision in Los Alamos

Three people were seriously hurt following a wrong-way crash in Los Alamos on Tuesday night, March 8, 2022.

According to the initial reports from local authorities, the accident happened on northbound Highway 101 at around 7:40 p.m.

A southbound vehicle was traveling on the northbound lanes of Highway 101 and collided with an oncoming southbound vehicle near the intersection of Highway 152.

One person was airlifted to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and was listed in critical condition.

Two others were seriously injured, while a fourth person sustained minor injuries. They were all taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Information about the accident is limited at the moment. Local authorities are further investigating the case.

Wrong-Way Collision Statistics

Car accidents can result in serious injury and extreme trauma for everyone involved. Because vehicles are so ubiquitous, many motorists fail to realize how quickly an accident can happen.

Annually, around 355 people are killed in the United States due to wrong-way drivers. There are 1.34 fatalities per wrong-way collision, based on an annual average of 265 fatalities.

Wrong-way collisions account for about 1 percent of all California highway collisions, yet their consequences can be severe. Accidents involving vehicles traveling in the wrong direction can be deadly. Wrong-way collisions claim the lives of 37 Californians on average each year.

Wrong-way collisions can cause traumas like spinal cord injury, paralysis, and even head trauma. As a result, the victim may require specialized care in addition to costly medical treatments, surgeries, therapies, and other injury-related care.

Drivers who disregard traffic laws and signals, such as red lights, stop signs, or yield signs, cause head-on crashes at junctions.

Everyone has a right to travel on roads free of hazards. Intoxicated drivers put innocent people — and themselves — at great and unacceptable risk. While California and the United States as a whole have made some impressive progress on decreasing drinking and driving, there is still a very long way to go.

Car Accident Lawyers for Victims in Santa Barbara County

Some vehicle accident victims believe they can get by without the assistance of an auto accident lawyer. If you are one of them, make certain that you understand what is at stake before accepting the insurance company’s settlement offer and signing away any further legal rights in a settlement. Always keep in mind that the insurance company is a for-profit enterprise.

Unfortunately, they are unlikely to have your best interests at heart. Victims of car accidents may need to engage an auto accident lawyer to obtain their insurance company to compensate them fairly for their damages. The vehicle accident lawyer will need to file a personal injury lawsuit to force the guilty party to pay for the injured person’s damages in a few circumstances.

Before speaking with the insurance company or accepting a settlement offer, discuss your case with the experienced Santa Barbara County automobile accident lawyers at Arash Law.

For a free consultation on your case, contact an experienced Riverside, California, injury attorney at Arash Law. During this free consultation, you will better understand the value of your claim without having to invest any money. Call our toll-free number (888) 488-1391 for a free consultation with one of our attorneys.