A man suffered critical injuries in a Newport Beach pedestrian accident after a truck hit him as he was crossing the road. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal crash occurred the evening of January 10, 2013 on West Coast Highway east of Prospect Street. Police say a man driving a GMC truck traveling east on West Coast Highway struck a pedestrian crossing the eastbound lanes outside of a crosswalk.
The driver was uninjured, but the pedestrian suffered life-threatening injuries. He was transported to an area trauma center. Police do not believe the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. No citations or arrests were reported. Officials are still looking into what caused this collision. Anyone with information is urged to contact Newport Beach police at 949-644-3747.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2013 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but 22 injuries reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in the city of Newport Beach. In Orange County as a whole, 52 people died and 784 were injured due to pedestrian accidents during the same year.
Laws Relating to Pedestrians
Based on this news report, police suspect that the pedestrian was not in a crosswalk at the time of the collision. According to California Vehicle Code Section 21954: “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.” But 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
If the driver in this case is determined to have been at fault, he or she can be held liable for the injuries, damages and losses caused. Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation, pain and suffering and emotional distress. Injured victims would also be well advised to contact an experienced Newport Beach car accident attorney who will stay on top of the official investigation and help uphold their rights every step of the way.