California Injury Blog
A 4-year-old girl was killed and her mother was injured after both were struck by an SUV while walking to a Koreatown preschool on the morning of Oct. 16. According to a CBS2 news report, the collision occurred at the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Normandie Avenue. The girl and her mother were crossing Olympic Boulevard in a marked crosswalk and were headed to Mariposa-Nabi Primary Center, a preschool, when they were hit by the SUV that was turning left from Normandie to Olympic.
Tragic Collision in Crosswalk
The girl was rushed by ambulance to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. Her mother was also transported to a hospital and is expected to survive. The female driver of the SUV, who had her three school-aged children in the SUV, was also headed to a different school at the time of the collision.
She remained at the scene and cooperated with police. No one in the SUV was injured. Witnesses told CBS2 that both the driver and the pedestrians had a green light. There is no left turn light at the intersection and no crossing guard. Police said the driver did not appear to have been speeding or impaired at the time. She was also not immediately cited or arrested. An investigation is ongoing.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family members of this child who was tragically killed in this pedestrian accident. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Laws and Liability Issues
Based on this news report, it appears that both the pedestrians and the SUV’s driver had the green light at the time of the collision. When this situation arises, California law (California Vehicle Code Section 21950) states that the driver still has a responsibility to stop and yield the right of way to the pedestrians who are walking in the crosswalk. While police have stated that the driver of the SUV was not impaired or speeding, it is not clear if she was distracted or otherwise negligent.
In such cases, the at-fault driver can be held financially responsible for the injuries, damages and losses caused. In addition, if a dangerous or defective roadway caused or contributed to the incident, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held liable. An experienced Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyer will be able to guide victims and their families through a complex legal process and assist them with securing maximum compensation for their tremendous losses.
Source: https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2019/10/16/pedestrian-injured-in-koreatown-collision/