Pedestrian Sustains Critical Injuries in Long Beach Car Accident
A Long Beach car accident critically injured a man who was crossing the street at a local street intersection. The Press Telegram reports that the man was struck by a van while walking in a marked crosswalk on Ocean Boulevard at Orizaba Avenue the morning of January 14, 2010. The impact from the collision threw the victim about 30 feet from where he was hit. The critically injured man was taken to an area hospital. Police have issued a citation to the driver for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
I sympathize with this victim and his family for what they are going through right now. Car accidents can take an emotional and financial toll on families. I hope and pray that this man makes a speedy and complete recovery. He and his family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Pedestrian Accidents
According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 15 people were killed and 274 were injured in pedestrian accidents in Long Beach. Countywide, 210 people died and 5,095 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in 2007.
California Laws and Liability Issues
Based on this newspaper report, it seems to me that this driver failed to see the pedestrian in the crosswalk, and struck him. What caused the driver to do so? Was he or she intoxicated, speeding or driving recklessly? Was the driver distracted at the time of the crash? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway, which may have caused or contributed to this tragic accident?
California law states that drivers should yield right-of-way to pedestrians walking in crosswalks. According to California Vehicle Code Section 21950 (a): "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." Police also say that the driver may not have seen the pedestrian in the crosswalk because of the sun's glare early in the morning.
In such cases, victims and their families would be well-advised to contact a reputed Long Beach personal injury lawyer who has successfully held negligent drivers accountable. If a dangerous or defective roadway caused the accident, the governmental entity responsible for maintaining that roadway could be held liable as well. According to California Governmental Code Section 911.2, any such claim against a governmental agency must be filed within six months of the accident or injury.
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.
