San Bernardino Car Accident Proves Fatal for Woman
A 44-year-old woman who was fatally injured in a San Bernardino car accident the night of January 24, 2010 has been identified by local authorities as Gina Ziesing. The San Bernardino Sun reports that the fatal pedestrian accident occurred when Ziesing was crossing the Highway 62 in Yucca Valley. She was struck by a 2005 Buick van that was eastbound on the highway. Zeising died from her injuries.
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Gina Ziesing for their devastating loss. I offer my heartfelt sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Ziesing. They will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
There were nine fatalities and 64 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Yucca Valley According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 traffic accident statistics. In San Bernardino County, 50 people died and 432 were injured as a result of pedestrian accidents in 2007. Also, countywide, 308 deaths and 9,920 injuries were reported due to traffic accidents during the same period.
Pedestrian Accident Causes
There is not much information here about how Ziesing was struck and killed. We don't know if Ziesing was in a marked crosswalk or intersection while crossing the highway. If that was the case, the driver should have stopped to yield right-of-way to the pedestrian in the roadway. California Vehicle Code Section 21950 states: “The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.” The same section also states that the driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk “shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of a vehicle or take any other action relating to the operating of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian.”
Driver Negligence and Other Liability Issues
In such pedestrian accident cases, it is also important to look into whether the driver was reckless, negligent, impaired or distracted at the time of the accident. If I were a member of the victim's family, I would also want to know whether there was a dangerous roadway condition here, which may have caused or contributed to this fatal pedestrian accident. If that was the case, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining this roadway could be held liable as well. In California, any such claim against a governmental agency must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury. The best California personal injury lawyers will always offer a free, comprehensive and confidential consultation to injured victims and their families.
We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.
Drivers need to be more aware of pedestrians. Most drivers only watch for other cars on the road. It is important to be mindful of pedestrians too!
There were witnesses to the accident what did they say? What did the report from the Multiple Collision Dept. have to say in their final report? Any skid marks to show the speed, was she going to the store on the corner, or going to somewhere?