A car accident in San Diego resulted in injuries for two women and a 3-year-old girl the afternoon of January 24, 2012. UT-San Diego reports that the pedestrian accident happened at Tiger Way and Positive Place in San Marcos. Police say the three pedestrians were crossing the street when they were hit by a vehicle that was making a left turn onto Tiger Way from Positive Place. The victims were transported to area hospitals for treatment. Officials are investigating the cause of the car accident.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the three pedestrians who were injured in this collision. I pray that they recover swiftly and fully from their injuries.
Pedestrian Accidents
There were 57 deaths and 937 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in San Diego County, according to California Highway Patrol's 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In the city of San Marcos, there were two fatalities and 15 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in 2009.
Laws and Liability Issues
It is not clear from this report as to who had the right-of-way at the intersection. The law requires drivers making a left turn at an intersection. California Vehicle Code Section 21954 states: "Every pedestrian upon a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway so near as to constitute an immediate hazard." The same section also states: "The provisions of this section shall not relieve the driver of a vehicle from the duty to exercise due care for the safety of any pedestrian upon a roadway."
If it is determined that the driver was at fault, then, she can be held liable for the victims' injuries. It would be in the best interests of injured victims in such cases to seek the counsel of a knowledgeable San Diego personal injury lawyer, who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable.
