California Injury Blog
A 17-year-old girl and a 2-year-old boy were seriously injured in a Victorville car accident after they were struck by a vehicle while walking in a crosswalk. According to a news report in the Victorville Daily Press, the pedestrian accident occurred the night of December 13, 2011, when the teen was pushing the child in a stroller and crossing Seventh Street and Desert Knolls Drive at the light.
A 62-year-old man made a left turn from Desert Knolls Drive onto Seventh Street and hit the girl and the child. After striking the victims, the driver dragged the stroller for a short distance. The girl suffered cuts and scrapes, while the child sustained a fractured skull. The driver remained at the scene and talked to police. No arrests have been made pending an official investigation.
I sympathize with the two injured victims of this pedestrian accident. I’m relieved to note that both are in stable condition. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were two fatalities and 18 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Victorville. In San Bernardino County as a whole, 39 people died and 440 were injured due to pedestrian accidents, during the same year.
Crosswalk Laws
Based on this news report, it appears that the teen and her son were in the crosswalk at the light when the collision occurred. 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.”
Fault and Liability
I trust officials are looking into why this driver failed to yield the right-of-way to the pedestrians in the crosswalk. Was he distracted, impaired, inattentive, or otherwise negligent at the time? If it is determined that the driver was at fault, then, he can be held liable for the injuries and damages caused. Injured victims and their families in such cases can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of earnings, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, and other related damages. Pedestrian accident victims would be well advised to contact an experienced San Bernardino personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all aspects of the incident and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable.