Stearns Wharf is owned by the City of Santa Barbara and is a well-known landmark in the community, dating back to 1872. While the wharf is small and wooden, it is home to shops, restaurants, and a small aquarium. Guests often visit the location when they are boarding a local charter service for a cruise around the bay, setting off on a whale watching adventure, or to get a better view of the sea and sea life in the area. If you are interested in seeing seals, fish, ocean birds, and great views of the sea and surroundings, Stearns Wharf is sure to be on your to-do list when you visit the Santa Barbara area.
However, as you watch the creatures in the area and take in all the natural beauty, be sure to also carefully watch your surroundings. The age of the wharf and the nature of the wood near the water make this location prime for trip and fall or slip and fall injury incidents, as well as occasional harm from falling objects. Sadly, more and more guests are reporting injury incidents when they are frequenting this scenic yet aging venue. Even more concerning to these innocent injury victims is that once they have suffered harm, they learn that they must deal with the City of Santa Barbara or the legal team representing the city if they need to file an injury claim. The victim’s stress only increases if they suffer serious harm and must pursue legal action to secure any compensation owed to them for harm suffered due to staff negligence and failure to properly and safely maintain the area and Stearns Wharf to ensure the safety of guests.
If you or a loved one recently made the trip to Santa Barbara and spent time at Stearns Wharf only to suffer an injury, please know that you do not need to face the hardships and challenges of this incident alone. The expert legal team at Normandie Law Firm is just a call away to assist you in gaining a better understanding of your rights as the victim of a personal injury, as well as how to move forward with legal action. And all you need to do to explore this option is to pick up the phone and contact our office staff, who can be reached 24/7 to help you. In addition to providing general information, they will assist you in booking your free consultation with a seasoned Stearns Wharf Santa Barbara Pier accident injury attorney to fully evaluate your case and options.
After sharing the facts of the injury incident with your Normandie Law Firm accident injury attorney and answering any additional questions they have for you, they will provide a complete professional view of the legal merit of your case. In addition, should you have grounds for a lawsuit, they will explain your options and how you can proceed with legal action to secure the compensation that is owed to you. But please also understand that you are never obligated to file a lawsuit against the City of Santa Barbara, nor are you required to hire Normandie Law Firm if you choose to take legal action against the city for the harm you suffered. Our only motivation in providing this free information to you is to ensure you have the resources needed to protect yourself and the ability to enjoy a stable financial future without excessive debt caused by your injuries.
All we ask is that you reach out to the caring and skilled staff at Normandie Law Firm as quickly as possible, as the time limit for you to take legal action is likely much more limited than you might expect.

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Common Safety Hazards Found At Stearns Wharf Santa Barbara Pier
Being a dated wooden pier, the surface of the walkway and the surroundings are subject to deterioration and decay from sunlight, salt water, and time. As you walk along the pier, be sure to watch for all of these common safety hazards that could result in significant injuries:
- Loose or warped wood decking on the pier
- Uneven decking due to swelling from moisture
- Nails sticking up from the decking
- Damaged or rotting safety railing around the pier
- Steps or ramps that are damaged, rotting, or slippery
- Trash, litter, or debris left on the ground or along walkways
- Broken or damaged seating or benches along the pier
- Signs or lighting fixtures overhead that are poorly secured and could fall on you
- Low-hanging trees or branches in the parking area of Stearns Wharf
- Hoses or electrical lines left in walkways
- Damaged, missing, or saturated floor mats at the entry to any of the stored or facilities on the pier
These are only a small fraction of the safety concerns that could be present if the staff at Stearns Wharf is not meeting their obligation to provide proper maintenance and care for the facility. If you have suffered an injury while visiting the attraction, please reach out to the expert legal team at Normandie Law Firm to discuss the incident and learn more about the potential to file a personal injury lawsuit related to the harm you suffered because of staff negligence.
Common Injuries Sustained By Guests At Stearns Wharf Santa Barbara Pier
You would hope that when visiting a scenic and enjoyable location like Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara, any harm guests might suffer would be minor. However, that is not always the case. Unfortunately, many patrons sustain serious harm that can be life-altering or even life-threatening in some cases. These innocent victims can sustain one or more of these serious injuries due to a trip and fall, a slip and fall, or harm from a falling object:
- Damage to the back, neck, or spinal cord
- Head injuries that range from a skull fracture or severe concussion to a brain bleed or other traumatic brain injuries
- Severe lacerations and puncture wounds that can involve damage to internal organs and internal bleeding
- Contact or electrical burns
- Chemical burns to the skin, eyes, or respiratory system
- Broken or shattered bones
- Dislocated joints and destruction of the soft connective tissue of the joints
- Facial injuries to the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, or the delicate skin on the face
If you have suffered an injury while at Stearns Wharf Santa Barbara Pier, please seek immediate medical care and an evaluation of any injuries, or call 911 if the injuries prevent you from seeking help on your own. Having the injuries immediately diagnosed and treated by a medical professional is the best way to ensure proper care and fast healing, as well as documenting the incident in the event of a future personal injury lawsuit against the city for the harm you suffered.
When Is The City Liable For My Stearns Wharf Santa Barbara Pier Accident Injury?
Premises liability law applies to all private and public spaces and requires the owner and staff to maintain the spaces in a safe condition. This part of the legal system provides requirements for building safety, maintenance of the spaces, and how the staff must address new hazards that are discovered on the property or reported by a guest. Specifically, duty of care defines the level of care and timeliness that must be provided when reacting to a new safety hazard or concern. It states the staff must take at least the same level of action as would be provided by the average prudent person facing a similar safety hazard.
For example, if you see water spilled on the floor in your home, you mop it up to prevent anyone from suffering a slip and fall. That is the action most people would take immediately to eliminate the safety risk and prevent potential injuries. If the staff fail to take the appropriate action in a reasonable amount of time, they can be deemed negligent in their duty of care. In addition, if it is later found that the staff’s negligence caused or contributed to the harm of a guest, the owner can be held liable for the losses and expenses faced by the victim due to the injury incident. If you believe that the harm you suffered at Stearns Wharf Santa Barbara Pier was due to staff negligence or you want to explore this option, please reach out to the expert legal staff at Normandie Law Firm to explore the legal merit of the case and your options.
How Much Is My Stearns Wharf Santa Barbara Pier Accident Injury Lawsuit Worth?
It is critical for personal injury victims to understand that there are no predetermined compensation amounts awarded to injury victims by the court. Instead, each case is carefully evaluated, and the actual losses and expenses incurred by the victim due to their injury incident are used to calculate the compensation amount. Working with your Normandie Law Firm accident injury attorney, you will compile all the allowable expenses you face because of the incident at Stearns Wharf Santa Barbara Pier. The items that are most commonly used in this process include, but are not always limited to:
- The replacement cost of any personal property that was damaged or destroyed in the incident at Stearns Wharf
- The cost of all legal services related to preparing, filing, and litigating your Stearns Wharf Santa Barbara Pier accident injury lawsuit
- The cost of all medical care related to the injuries suffered in the incident, including diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation, as well as any emotional care, therapy, or counseling needed to address the trauma and stress of the incident and your injuries
- Your lost income if the harm you suffered at Stearns Wharf Santa Barbara Pier prevented you from working at your regular job until you were fully healed and cleared by your medical care provider to return to the duties of your job

How Long Do I Have To File My Personal Injury Lawsuit?
In most cases, the victim of personal injuries has two years from the date of the injury incident to file their claim with the court. That is the typical Statute of Limitations provided by the legal system to take action. However, in California, when the liable party who is responsible for a personal injury is a government entity or agency, such as the City of Santa Barbara, the time to take legal action is decreased to only six months from the date of the incident. It is also critical to understand that this time limit is strictly enforced and there are minimal exceptions that would provide added time to pursue legal action after the original Statute of Limitations has expired. Please reach out to Normandie Law Firm today to discuss your case and the time remaining for you to take legal action to secure any compensation owed to you for the harm suffered due to negligence while a guest at Stearns Wharf.
No Upfront Legal Fees Or Expenses At Normandie Law Firm
When you choose to work with Normandie Law Firm, please know that we never ask for any upfront legal fees or expenses that would add to the financial hardships you face. Instead, our firm will handle any case with legal merit and never get paid until the matter is resolved and you have the compensation that includes funds to cover your legal fees and expenses. In addition, if your Normandie Law Firm Stearns Wharf Santa Barbara Pier accident injury attorney fails to win the case and get you the compensation you deserve, you owe the firm nothing. Please reach out to our expert office staff today to learn more.
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