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Santa Barbara County Personal Injury Lawyer
If you were hurt in a car crash, truck crash, fall, or other accident in Santa Barbara County, Geller Legal can help you pursue a claim against the person, company, or public agency responsible. Unlimited civil cases are filed at the Anacapa Division in Santa Barbara or the Cook Division in Santa Maria. A claim against the County itself must be filed within six months. Call 213-770-4870 for a free, confidential consultation.
Which Santa Barbara County Superior Court courthouse hears personal injury cases?
The Santa Barbara County Superior Court accepts general jurisdiction (unlimited) civil filings at two courthouses: the Anacapa Division in Santa Barbara and the Cook Division in Santa Maria.
| Division | Courthouse |
|---|---|
| Anacapa Division (Santa Barbara) | Anacapa Division, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara. |
| Cook Division (Santa Maria) | Cook Division, 312-C East Cook Street, Santa Maria. |
The court’s local rules explain how cases are assigned between the divisions. Source: Santa Barbara Superior Court: Civil; Court Organization and Locations
Who takes crash reports in Santa Barbara County?
It depends on where the crash happened. The CHP covers freeways, state highways, and unincorporated roads. City police departments, such as Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc, cover their own city streets, and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office takes reports in areas it patrols, including cities that contract with it.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff
Report requests for incidents the Sheriff’s Office handled, using its Report Request Form. Source: SBSO: Request Copy of a Report
City police
Crashes on city streets in cities with their own police department, such as Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc are reported to that department. Request the report from the department that responded. Source:
CHP Area offices serving Santa Barbara County
Three CHP Area offices in Coastal Division serve Santa Barbara County. Report requests go to the Area office that handled the crash. If you are not sure which office that is, use the CHP Find an Office page.
| CHP Area | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara | 6465 Calle Real, Goleta | (805) 770-4800 |
| Santa Maria | 1710 North Carlotti Drive, Santa Maria | (805) 608-6310 |
| Buellton | 166 Industrial Way, Buellton | (805) 691-6160 |
Source: CHP Santa Barbara Area; CHP Santa Maria Area; CHP Buellton Area; CHP: Request a Crash Report
How do I file a claim against Santa Barbara County?
File the original and one copy of the County of Santa Barbara Claim form with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 105 East Anapamu Street, Suite 407, Santa Barbara, within six months of the injury.
- Form: County of Santa Barbara Claim (PDF), from the Clerk of the Board.
- Deadline: 6 months for death or injury to a person or personal property, and 1 year for other claims (Gov. Code §911.2).
- After filing: the County generally has 45 days to act on the claim (Gov. Code §912.4). After a written denial, you generally have six months to sue (Gov. Code §945.6).
A claim against a city, a school district, or MTD goes to that agency, not the County. A claim against Caltrans for $12,500 or less is filed with Caltrans; larger claims against Caltrans and claims against most other State agencies go to the Department of General Services Government Claims Program. Source: Santa Barbara County Clerk of the Board; County of Santa Barbara Claim Form (PDF)
Major routes in Santa Barbara County
These routes in Santa Barbara County are named on the CHP Area office pages for the county. Crashes on freeways and state highways are usually handled by the CHP Area office for that stretch of road.
- US-101
- SR-1
- SR-135
- SR-150
- SR-154
- SR-166
- SR-246
Cities we serve in Santa Barbara County
Geller Legal represents people hurt anywhere in Santa Barbara County, including Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Lompoc, Goleta, Carpinteria, and Solvang, and unincorporated communities.
For crash guides in other California cities, see our Accident Guides page.
Injury cases we handle in Santa Barbara County
Car Accidents
Crashes on surface streets and freeways, including uninsured and hit-and-run drivers.
Truck Accidents
Collisions with big rigs, delivery trucks, and commercial vehicles.
Motorcycle Accidents
Riders hurt by drivers who turn, merge, or change lanes into them.
Pedestrian Accidents
People hit in crosswalks, parking lots, and driveways.
Bicycle Accidents
Bike and e-bike riders hit by cars or hurt by road hazards.
Rideshare Accidents
Passengers, drivers, and others hurt in Uber and Lyft crashes.
Slip and Fall
Falls caused by unsafe conditions on someone else’s property.
Dog Bites
Bites and attacks, under California’s strict liability dog bite law.
Catastrophic Injuries
Brain, spinal cord, and other life-changing injuries.
See all personal injury practice areas.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file a personal injury lawsuit in Santa Barbara County?
At the Anacapa Division, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, or the Cook Division, 312-C East Cook Street, Santa Maria, the court’s two general jurisdiction civil filing locations.
How long do I have to file a claim against Santa Barbara County?
Six months for death or injury to a person under Government Code section 911.2. File the claim with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 105 East Anapamu Street, Suite 407, Santa Barbara. You generally must file that claim, and have it denied, before you can sue the County.
Who do I get my crash report from in Santa Barbara County?
From the agency that took the report. City police handle their own city streets, the Sheriff’s Office handles incidents it responds to, and the CHP handles freeways, state highways, and unincorporated roads.
How long do I have to file an injury lawsuit in California?
For most injury claims against a private person or company, two years from the injury under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Claims against a public entity follow the shorter government claim rules, starting with the six-month claim.
How much does it cost to hire Geller Legal?
Nothing up front. Geller Legal handles injury cases on a contingency fee, so there is no fee unless we recover. The first consultation is free and confidential.
Talk with Geller Legal about your options in a free, confidential consultation. Call 213-770-4870. No fee unless we recover.*
Contact Geller LegalCall 213-770-4870*Under our written contingency fee agreement, if there is no recovery you owe no attorney fees and do not have to repay the case costs we advanced. Medical bills and other non-litigation expenses remain your responsibility.
This page is general information about California law and Santa Barbara County procedures, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Agency addresses, phone numbers, and procedures change; confirm with the linked official source. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Attorney advertising. Geller Legal, a dba of The Geller Firm, Inc.