A 68-year-old woman was killed in a Huntington Beach car accident after she was hit by a vehicle while crossing the street. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred the night of October 26, 2011 at the intersection of Yorktown Avenue and England Street. Officials say a sedan that was westbound on Yorktown struck the woman as she crossed the street. The pedestrian was transported to an area trauma center where she died from her injuries. The driver remained at the scene. An investigation is ongoing.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of this deceased pedestrian accident victim. Please keep her grieving family in your thoughts and prayers.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were three fatalities and 58 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Huntington Beach. In Orange County as a whole, 41 people died and 864 were injured due to pedestrian accidents, during the same year.
Crosswalk Laws
Based on this news report, the fatal crash occurred at an uncontrolled intersection. Under California law, motorists are required to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians 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.”
Fault and Liability
I trust officials are looking into whether the driver in this case was impaired, distracted, speeding or inattentive at the time of the collision. If that was the case, he or she could be held liable for the pedestrian’s wrongful death. In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, families of deceased victims can seek compensation for medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, loss of companionship, and other related damages. They would be well advised to contact an experienced Huntington Beach personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all aspects of the incident and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable.
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Many people in California do not make complete stops when they approach a stop sign and are ticketed on a frequent basis. Do you feel that this deserves a ticket?
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