California Injury Blog
Roger Hammarlund II, 35, of Costa Mesa, was killed in a Stanton pedestrian accident.
According to a news report in the Orange County Register, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred the evening of February 2, 2015 near Beach Boulevard and Chapman Avenue.
A preliminary investigation showed that Hammarlund was on a center divider and stepped off into a lane.
A truck traveling west on Chapman Avenue turned left and
struck him. Hammarlund was thrown and hit by another vehicle on Beach Boulevard. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Both drivers stayed at the scene. Police say they are trying to determine if impairment was a factor in this crash. The investigation is still ongoing.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family members of Roger Hammarlund II for their tragic loss.
Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2012 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but 13 injuries reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in the city of Stanton.
In Orange County as a whole 47 people died and 808 were injured due to pedestrian accidents during the same year.
Laws Relating to Pedestrians
Based on this news report, it appears that a left turning vehicle struck the pedestrian near a major 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.”
Fault and Liability
In this particular case, if the driver who initially struck the pedestrian is determined to have been negligent he or she can be held liable for the victim’s wrongful death. We trust officials are looking into whether the drivers who hit the pedestrians were speeding, impaired, distracted or negligent in any way.
Families of deceased victims in such cases would be well advised to contact an experienced Orange County personal injury attorney who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families.