A female pedestrian sustained injury in an Orange County car accident after a car hit her at an intersection, The Orange County Register reports. The pedestrian was apparently struck by a dark green Toyota Paseo near the intersection of Euclid Street and Crescent Avenue the morning of October 26, 2009. According to Anaheim police officials, the injured victim was not walking in a crosswalk at the time of the collision. She was taken to an area hospital and an update on her injuries was not available. The driver remained at the scene. No citations were issued or arrests made.
I'm relieved that this woman did not suffer fatal injuries in this car accident. I wish her the very best for a speedy and full recovery. Please keep her in your prayers.
Pedestrian Accidents in Anaheim
Six deaths and 63 injuries were attributed to pedestrian accidents in Anaheim, according to California Highway Patrol's 2007 traffic accident statistics. Countywide, pedestrian accidents claimed 41 lives and caused 726 injuries in 2007. Also, in Orange County as a whole, car accidents caused 178 fatalities and injured 14,185 people, during the same period.
Anaheim police officials have said after a preliminary investigation that the woman was outside a crosswalk when she was struck by the Toyota. But there are still some questions that haven't been answered here. Where on the roadway was the woman at the time of the accident? The accident appears to have happened at the street intersection. Was the woman crossing at the intersection? Why was the driver of the Toyota unable to stop in time to avoid the collision? Was she speeding or driving negligently? Did a dangerous condition on the roadway cause the collision and resulting injuries?
Laws for Pedestrians
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."
It would be in victims' best interest to contact a reputed personal injury attorney in Orange County who will explain their legal rights and options. If a dangerous roadway caused or contributed to this accident, the city or government agency responsible for maintaining the roadway could also be held liable. Any claim against a governmental agency in California 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.
