A female pedestrian was struck and seriously injured in a Costa Mesa car accident the evening of January 22, 2016. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the woman was hit at the intersection of Newport Boulevard and East 18th Street. She was transported to an area trauma center with major injuries. No citations or charges were reported. Officials are still looking into what caused this major injury collision.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured victim of this pedestrian accident. We wish her the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
One person was killed and 34 were injured as a result of pedestrian accidents in the city of Costa Mesa, according to California Highway Patrol’s 2013 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Orange County as a whole, 52 fatalities and 784 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents during the same year.
What Caused This Crash?
Based on this news report, it appears that the pedestrian was walking at a busy street intersection when she was struck. There are still a number of unanswered questions here. Was the pedestrian walking in a marked or unmarked crosswalk? Did she have the right of way? Was the driver impaired, distracted, speeding or otherwise reckless? Who had the light? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway, which caused or contributed to this accident? We trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what caused this accident and why.
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 and damages caused. Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injury, pain and suffering and emotional distress.
An experienced Costa Mesa personal injury lawyer will also be able to determine whether a dangerous roadway condition or hazardous conditions at the crosswalk or intersection contributed to the accident. If that is the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held accountable. Under California Government Code 911.2, any personal injury claim against a governmental entity must be filed within six months of the incident.