California Injury Blog
A December 14, 2009 Riverside car accident has left a 20-year-old skateboarder critically injured and fighting for his life. According to a news report in the North County Times, the skateboarder was crossing the street at the intersection of Rancho California Road and Ynez Road in Temecula when he was hit by a 17-year-old female driver in a Honda Accord, who was making a left turn. The girl, who was driving the Accord, was uninjured. She has not been cited or arrested and an investigation is ongoing.
My heart goes out to everyone who knows and loves this young man. I wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. This injured victim and his family will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers.
Riverside Pedestrian Accident Statistics
One person died and seven were injured as a result of pedestrian accidents in Temecula, California, according to California Highway Patrol’s 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Riverside County, 43 people died and 393 were injured due to pedestrian accidents in 2007. Also, countywide, 279 deaths and 9,925 injuries occurred in 2007 involving car accidents.
If the details of this news report are accurate, it seems to me that the teenager who was driving the Honda did not see the young man on the skateboard. In this case, it would be critical to look into who had the right-of-way. Did the driver have the green light? Was the skateboarder crossing the street legally? Most news reports about accidents involving skateboarders also fail to mention if the person was actually skateboarding or walking across with board in hand. It would also be important to find out if the skateboarder was in a marked or unmarked crosswalk at the time of the collision.
An Experienced Injury Lawyer Can Help
In these types of cases, it is in the best interest of the victim’s family to consult an experienced catastrophic injury lawyer, who will analyze every angle, identify the negligent parties and hold them liable. It is important to question whether the motorist was acting legally and responsibly or had caused the collision.
If a dangerous roadway caused or contributed to this accident, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could be held liable as well. Please remember that any claim against a governmental agency in California, must be filed within 180 days of the 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.