California Injury Blog
An elderly woman was injured in a Los Angeles car accident after she was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street, the evening of February 1, 2012. According to a news report in The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the injury collision occurred at the intersection of Ellen Drive and Cypress Street, which is in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County near Covina. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the collision. The pedestrian was transported to an area hospital for treatment. The nature or extent of her injuries is not known at this time.
My thoughts and prayers are with the injured victim of this pedestrian accident. I wish her the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to CHP’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 29 fatalities and 327 injuries occurred as a result of pedestrian accidents in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Also, countywide, pedestrian accidents claimed 179 lives and injured 4,918 people, during the same year.
Crosswalk Laws
Based on this news report, the pedestrian was crossing at an intersection where there is a marked crosswalk. However, it is not clear if the elderly pedestrian was walking in the crosswalk at the time. Under California law, motorists are required to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians walking in marked or unmarked crosswalks.
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
If the driver in this case is determined to have been at fault, then, he or she can be held liable for the injuries and damages caused. Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation from the at-fault motorist for medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. Pedestrian accident victims would also be well advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all aspects of the incident and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable.