A 55-year-old man was struck and killed in a Los Angeles pedestrian accident the night of June 2, 2009, Los Angeles police officials said. According to an article in the Los Angeles Daily News, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred in the 2600 block of West Avenue K near 27th Street West. The pedestrian, who has not yet been identified, was walking west on the south side of Avenue K and had just stepped out into the street when he was hit by a car heading west in the number two lane and driven by 41-year-old Alea Adams. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
My heart goes out to the family of this pedestrian for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this man. Please keep them in your prayers.
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were five pedestrian involved fatal accidents and 41 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Lancaster. In Los Angeles County, 210 deaths and 5,095 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in 2007.
Based on this newspaper report, there is very little information about this particular Landcaster pedestrian accident. If this report is accurate, it appears to me that the driver, Alea Adams, did not see the pedestrian stepping onto the road. It is not clear whether the pedestrian had entered a crosswalk or into traffic lanes. I trust the police investigation will look into where the pedestrian was at the time of the fatal pedestrian-car collision. Determining if the driver was negligent, reckless, distracted or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, is also usually, a part of such pedestrian-car accident investigations. If it turns out that Adams was negligent, she could be held liable for the pedestrian-car accident and the victim’s fatal personal injuries.
In such cases, it is best for victims or their families to consult with experienced Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyers, who will examine all aspects of a case and find out if there was any negligence involved. If an at-fault driver lacks car insurance or sufficient insurance coverage, then the family of the deceased victim could be eligible to receive benefits from the uninsured/underinsured motorist clause in the victim’s car insurance policy or any other policy that he had benefits under. Knowledgeable car accident lawyers will be able to guide victims and families through this complicated process.