A pedestrian was injured in a Newport Beach car crash, The Orange County Register reports. Officials say the collision occurred the night of September 8, 2013 at the intersection of 30th Street and Newport Boulevard. The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital. Officials say the injuries were not life-threatening. Officers are still investigating the incident. No arrests or citations were reported.
It is indeed fortunate that the pedestrian was not seriously injured as a result of this collision. I hope the injured victim in this case has a speedy and full recovery.
Pedestrian Crashes
There were no fatalities, but 38 injuries reported in Newport Beach as a result of pedestrian accidents, according to California Highway Patrol’s 2010 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Orange County as a whole, 32 people died and 770 were injured due to pedestrian accidents during the same year.
Right-of-Way Issues
Based on this news report, it appears that that injury crash occurred at a busy intersection in Newport Beach that is monitored by traffic lights. Under California law, drivers are required to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians who are 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.”
Liability Issues
If the driver in this case is determined to have been at fault, he or she can be held liable for the victim’s injuries and damages. Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. Injured victims would also be well advised to contact an experienced Newport Beach personal injury lawyer who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.