Elderly Man Killed in Orange County Pedestrian Accident

Hein Le, 74, sustained fatal injuries in an Orange County car accident after he was hit by a car while walking in a marked crosswalk. The Orange County Register reports that the accident occurred the afternoon of May 5, 2010. Le was crossing Ward Street when a driver traveling north on Ward struck him. Le died at the scene. An investigation is ongoing. The driver apparently stopped at the scene.

My heart goes out to the Le family for their tragic loss. I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved Le. This grieving family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Traffic Collision Statistics

There were 31 deaths and 785 fatalities involving pedestrian accidents in Orange County, according to California Highway Patrol's 2008 traffic accident statistics. In Garden Grove, car accidents claimed 12 lives and injured 717 people during the same year.

Crosswalk Laws

According to California Vehicle Code section 21950: "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."

In this particular case, police say that one of the northbound vehicles stopped to yield right of way to Le. But the vehicle that eventually struck Le went right through the intersection colliding with Le who appears to have been crossing legally in a marked crosswalk.

Claim for Compensation

If I were one of Le's family members I would certainly want to know whether the driver was impaired, distracted or negligent in any way. It would also be interested to find out why the traffic signal at that crosswalk was not activated at the time of the crash. An experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer will not only help determine whether there was negligence on the part of the driver, but will also help determine whether a dangerous condition on the roadway caused or contributed to the collision. Under California Government Code section 911.2, any claim against a public entity must be filed within six months of the accident or injury.

What can cities and governmental agencies do to make roadways safer for pedestrians?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.