Steven Andrade | Personal Injury Lawyer Santa Barbara

I have been in practice for more than 25 years. I developed my analytical and trial skills as a Deputy District Attorney and as an Assistant Attorney General over the course of 10 years. Before starting my private practice, my experience included hundreds of court and jury trials in both criminal and civil areas. As a result of my experience, I place great value on early investigation and the hiring of the best experts available. When I take a case to trial, I want the opposing side to be outgunned by our early investigation and our experts. Many of our cases settle before ever going to trial because the opposing side knows that I will not shy away from taking a difficult case to trial. Most of my clients today come from referrals.

Few lawyers in the community have had as much trial experience as I have. With respect to civil cases, I believe that I have had more experience with major injury cases than most attorneys. As a result of my experience in major injury cases, there are many superb experts available to me to evaluate the merits of the case and, if they support the case, they will serve as experts. In one case, working with some of these experts, we obtained a jury verdict in excess of $60 million dollars twice. I was so committed to my client's cause that I invested more than $500,000 of my own money to finance the case (I got it back when we won!). Many other attorneys have requested my assistance in handling major injury cases.

With respect to criminal cases, I have had the benefit of being a prosecutor for 10 years before becoming a defense lawyer. As a result of that, I understand the prosecution's point of view and oftentimes can persuade them to resolve the case in a way that benefits my client. Because I have had so many criminal trials, both as a prosecutor and a defense attorney, I have no fear of taking a case to trial if it is necessary.

In civil cases, if my efforts result in my client receiving every penny of the money they deserve, I know that I have served my client well. In criminal cases my clients are sometimes innocent. If I can get the case dismissed or take the case to trial and obtain a not guilty verdict, it is the best feeling in the world. Oftentimes, clients might be guilty of something but not guilty of the more serious charges filed by the District Attorney's Office. If I am able to resolve the case for the appropriate charge, this, too, gives me a feeling of accomplishment.