California Injury Blog
An 87-year-old man identified as Mariano Murillo Pulido was killed in a pedestrian accident while crossing the road in National City.
According to a Fox 5 San Diego news report, the deadly crash occurred on the morning of July 5 on Highland Avenue at East 24th Street.
As Pulido was walking south in the west crosswalk, a pickup failed to yield the right of way while making a left turn and struck him. Pulido was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders. His cause of death was due to blunt force injuries, according to the San Diego County medical examiner. No arrests or citations were reported. The investigation is ongoing.
We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of Mariano Murillo Pulido for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Laws Involving Pedestrians
Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the pickup made a left turn on a green light, but failed to yield the right of way to the pedestrian who was walking in a marked crosswalk. California law requires all motorists to exercise due care when it comes to pedestrians 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
In such cases, if negligence is involved, family members of deceased pedestrian accident victims may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for damages such as medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, pain and suffering, and loss of love, care, and companionship.
If a dangerous roadway or intersection caused or contributed to the accident, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held liable for the damages and losses. In such cases, a notice of claim must be filed against the governmental entity within 180 days or six months after the accident. An experienced San Diego pedestrian accident lawyer will be able to guide victims and their families through what could be a complex legal process and help them seek maximum compensation for their losses.
Source: https://fox5sandiego.com/traffic/87-year-old-man-hit-killed-by-pickup-truck-in-south-bay/