Pedestrian Accident in Orange County Injures One
A car accident in Orange County resulted in possible serious injuries for a pedestrian who was crossing the street in Anaheim. The Orange County Register reports that the injury pedestrian collision occurred at the intersection of State College Boulevard and La Palma Avenue the morning of June 11, 2010. Police say a Lexus IS 350 struck the victim, who was in a marked crosswalk at the intersection. The driver of that vehicle was traveling west on La Palma when he made a right turn onto State College. That was when he struck the pedestrian in the crosswalk. The man sustained back injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Officials are looking into the cause of this collision.
I hope this pedestrian has not sustained major injuries in this crash. I wish him the very best for a quick and full recovery.
Car Accidents
There were 21 deaths and 2,018 injuries involving Anaheim car accidents in 2008, according to California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Orange County, 152 people died and 13,414 were injured as a result of car accidents during the same year.
Yielding Right-of-Way
California Vehicle Code section 21950 required motorists to yield right-of-way to pedestrians who are walking in marked or unmarked crosswalks or at intersections. Drivers are required to approach any crosswalk with caution and wait until the pedestrian has safely crossed the road before going through the intersection. In this particular case, it is not clear what caused the driver to strike the pedestrian in the crosswalk.
Based on this news report, the pedestrian was crossing the street in a marked crosswalk at the intersection of La Palma and State College. Under California law, the motorist should have yielded right-of-way. Was this driver under the influence? Was he or she distracted? Was the driver speeding or otherwise negligent?
Protecting their Rights
In such cases, injured victims would be well-advised to seek the legal counsel of a knowledgeable Orange County personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all facets of the crash and make sure that the negligent parties are held accountable. A skilled car accident lawyer will also be able determine whether a dangerous or defective roadway caused or contributed to this collision. If that was the case, the city or governmental entity 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 filed within six months of the incident.
What steps can pedestrians and motorists take to prevent crosswalk accidents?
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.
