Orange County Pedestrian Accident Causes Major Injuries
A pedestrian accident in Huntington Beach resulted in critical injuries for a 78-year-old woman the morning of August 26, 2010. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the accident occurred at the intersection of Warner Avenue and Beach Boulevard. The woman was crossing the street when she was hit by an Acura driven by an 84-year-old man. Officials are investigating this incident.
I hope the woman's injuries are not life threatening and wish her the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep this victim in your thoughts and prayers.
Car Accidents
There were 12 deaths and 943 injuries involving Huntington Beach car accidents in 2008, according to California Highway Patrol's traffic accident statistics. In Orange County as a whole, 152 people died and 13,414 were injured as a result of car accidents during the same year.
Laws and Liability Issues
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 o1ther action relating to the operating of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian."
In this case, there are a number of questions that remain. Did the driver's age play a part in the crash? Was he impaired, distracted or speeding at the time? Who had the light at the intersection? Did the driver have a valid license? Was the pedestrian in a crosswalk, marked or unmarked? I trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine how or why this collision occurred and who was at fault.
An experienced Huntington Beach personal injury lawyer will be able to advise victims and their families in such cases about their legal rights and options. A skilled car accident lawyer will also be able to determine whether a dangerous condition on the roadway caused or contributed to the accident. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway could also be held liable. Under California Government Code section 911.2, any personal injury claim against a public entity must be properly filed within six months of the accident or injury.
Many of the commenters to this Register article believe that the age of the driver may have played a role in this accident. Do you believe there should be additional driving tests for elderly motorists?
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.
