California Injury Blog
A woman sustained fatal injuries in a Los Angeles car accident after she was struck by a vehicle near a street intersection in Lancaster. According to a CBS news report, the woman was hit by a vehicle near 10th Street West and Avenue I, in Lancaster, the evening of January 13, 2010. Police officials said it was initially believed that the woman had not suffered major injuries and that she was not in a life-threatening situation. She had complained of slight pain to the abdominal area and had minor injuries to her to her arm and head. She was taken to the hospital where her condition became worse overnight, causing her to undergo surgery. Apparently, she died during surgery. An investigation is ongoing.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of this deceased victim for their tragic and sudden loss. My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved this victim. They will certainly be in my prayers.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
There were five fatalities and 41 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Lancaster in 2007, according to California Highway Patrol’s traffic accident statistics. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 210 fatalities and 5,095 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents during the same year.
Injuries Became Apparent Later
There’s a very important lesson in this tragic story. When a person is injured in any traffic accident, it is very likely that he or she may not feel much pain or realize the extent of the injuries, initially. There may be several reasons for this including the shock of just having been involved in an accident, which is understandable. However, accident victims must get themselves thoroughly checked right away if they feel the slightest pain. Especially in pedestrian accidents, internal injuries or internal bleeding may occur, the symptoms of which may not become apparent until hours after the accident. We do not know exactly what happened here or why this woman’s condition worsened. I trust that is one of the main issues the coroner’s office is looking into right now. What caused her death?
Accident Causes and Liability Issues
There are also several questions about how and why she was struck. Whose fault was the accident? Where exactly was the woman walking at the time of the accident? Was she in a crosswalk or at an intersection? If this accident occurred as a result of the motorist’s negligence, then he or she could be held liable for the woman’s wrongful death. If this accident was caused by a dangerous condition on the roadway, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable. Any claim against a governmental agency in California must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be able to advice the victim’s family about their legal rights and options in this case.
The Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys is 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 us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.