An 87-year-old woman was fatally injured in a Los Angeles car accident after she was struck by a large commercial truck while walking in a marked crosswalk. According to a news report in the Daily Breeze, the fatal accident occurred the afternoon of June 21, 2010 at the intersection of Vine Street and Selma Avenue in Hollywood. The woman was apparently walking across the marked crosswalk on her way to the fitness center when she was hit by the big rig. She died at the scene.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of this woman for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Pedestrian Accidents in Los Angeles
According to California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 104 fatalities and 2,716 injuries in Los Angeles involving pedestrian accidents in 2008 . In Los Angeles County as a whole, 214 people died and 4,985 were injured as a result of pedestrian accidents during the same year.
Crosswalk Law
If the details of this news report are accurate, the large truck hit the woman when she was crossing in a marked crosswalk. California law requires motorists to yield right-of-way to pedestrians in 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
In this case, officials are saying that there was no crime involved and that this was a “tragic accident.” I trust they have looked into the involvement of alcohol or drugs or why the truck driver failed to see the pedestrian in the crosswalk. Was he distracted or negligent in any other way. In such cases, although the truck driver does not face criminal charges, he and his employer, could still be held civilly liable for the woman’s wrongful death. If a dangerous or defective roadway caused this accident, the city or governmental agency responsible for the roadway’s upkeep could also be held liable. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be able to advise families of deceased car accident victims about their legal rights and options.
What are some of the most dangerous intersections for pedestrians in your neighborhood or city?
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.