California Injury Blog
Kristi Nicole Turner, 20, was killed in a Los Angeles car accident on November 13, 2009 after she was struck by an SUV while crossing the street. According to a news report in the Daily Breeze, Turner stepped in a crosswalk at Marine and Lemoli avenues in El Camino Village, an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, when she was hit by an eastbound 1993 Chevy Suburban. Turner died at the scene. The driver of the Suburban kept going without stopping at the site of the accident. Witnesses apparently followed the SUV and flagged down a Hawthorne police officer who pulled the SUV over. California Highway Patrol is investigating this hit-and-run car accident. Investigators are looking into whether Turner had the green light when she stepped in the crosswalk.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Kristi Nicole Turner for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your prayers.
Los Angeles Pedestrian Accidents
There were 15 deaths and 363 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County in 2007, according to CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Los Angeles County as a whole, serious pedestrian accidents caused 210 deaths and 5,095 injuries in 2007. Also, countywide, car accidents claimed 712 lives and injured 56,475 people during the same year.
Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious crime under California law — irrespective of whether or not the accident was the driver’s fault. In this particular case, even if the pedestrian crossed the street against the light, the driver could face hit-and-run felony charges for leaving the scene of the accident. If the investigation determines that Turner had the light when she stepped in the crosswalk, the driver could face additional charges. California law requires motorists to stop and yield right-of-way to pedestrians in crosswalks.
California Car Accident Laws
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.”
Turner’s family would be well-advised to consult an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer who will keep up with the official investigation and ensure the negligent parties are held liable for their actions. I trust authorities are looking into whether the hit-and-run suspect in this case, was driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding or otherwise negligent. A skilled car accident lawyer should also determine if there was a dangerous condition at this street intersection. If that was the case, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining this roadway could also be held liable. Any claim against a governmental agency in California should be filed within 180 days of an accident or injury.
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.