California Injury Blog
A 91-year-old man died from severe injuries suffered in a pedestrian accident on the morning of April 22.
According to a CBS San Francisco news report, the fatal accident occurred at the intersection of Telegraph Avenue and 20th Street as the victim was walking in a marked crosswalk. Firefighters and paramedics responded to the scene, and the man was transported to an area hospital. He died later that night.
Ongoing Investigation
Police said the driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. Police said the vehicle was northbound on Telegraph Avenue and struck the man as the vehicle was turning west onto 20th Street. Officers don’t believe alcohol or drugs played a part in this collision. The crash is under investigation. Anyone with information related to it is asked to call the police department’s traffic investigation unit at 510-777-8570.
We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of this deceased pedestrian accident victim. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Crosswalk Laws
Based on this news report, it appears that the driver struck the elderly victim who was walking in a marked crosswalk. California law requires drivers to come to a full stop at crosswalks and yield the right of way to pedestrians.
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, it is important for police to look into what caused a driver to fail to yield the right of way to a pedestrian. If negligence played a part, the at-fault driver could be held financially responsible for the injuries, damages, and losses caused.
In such cases, family members of deceased victims may be able to file what is known as 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. An experienced Oakland pedestrian accident lawyer will be able to advise victims’ families in such cases regarding their legal rights and options.
Source: https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2022/04/23/91-year-old-pedestrian-fatally-struck-crossing-street-oakland/