San Francisco Car Accident Kills Elderly Pedestrian
An 82-year-old woman identified by authorities as Elsie "Alice" Stefani, 82, was killed in a San Francisco car accident after she was hit while crossing a street legally in a marked crosswalk, in Saint Helena. Bay City News reports that the fatal pedestrian accident occurred the evening of January 28, 2010 at the intersection of Main and Fulton Street. Stefani was hit by a car driven by 52-year-old Therene Pierrette, who was turning north from Madrona Drive, failed to yield right-of-way to the pedestrian and struck the elderly woman from behind. Stefani was taken to a local hospital where she died.
I offer my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Alice Stefani. This must be a devastating loss to everyone who knew and loved this woman. Please keep them in your prayers.
Pedestrian Right-of-Way Issues
Under California law, motorists are required to yield right-of-way to pedestrians who are walking in marked/unmarked crosswalks or at intersections. In this case, the motorist's failure to yield right-of-way appears to have caused this fatal pedestrian accident.
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.”
Claim for Compensation
Stefani's family, I'm sure, has a lot of questions regarding what exactly happened in this accident. Why did Pierrette fail to stop at the crosswalk? Was she impaired, distracted, going too fast or driving recklessly? An experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, will be able to advise Stefani's family about their legal rights and options and help protect their best interests. A skilled injury lawyer will also be able to determine whether a dangerous or defective roadway caused or contributed to this fatal pedestrian accident. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable. Any such claim against a governmental entity in California must be filed within six months of the accident.
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.
