California Injury Blog
A 45-year-old woman suffered major injuries in a Lennox pedestrian accident Aug. 17 after an allegedly drunk driver hit her while crossing the street, the Daily Breeze reports. The driver of the car, a 34-year-old Inglewood woman was arrested on the scene on suspicion of felony drunken driving, California Highway Patrol officials said.
The injured pedestrian, who has not yet been identified, was walking east on a marked crosswalk at the intersection of Hawthorne and Lennox boulevards when the 2006 Nissan Altima hit her. She was transported to an area hospital with severe head injuries and internal trauma.
This is an unfortunate drunk driving accident. Drunken driving is the leading cause of traffic collisions and pedestrian accidents in the United States. The driver of the Altima, if determined to have been driving under the influence of alcohol, will be held criminally and civilly responsible for the pedestrian’s injuries. The pedestrian seems to have done everything right in this case. She was crossing on a marked crosswalk. Preliminary reports suggest that this horrible accident was caused by the driver’s inattention and possible intoxication.
I’d strongly suggest that the injured pedestrian retain the services of an experienced personal injury lawyer, who will thoroughly and independently investigate this accident. The driver of the Altima will and should be held financially responsible for the pedestrian’s severe injuries. The injured victim will be entitled to compensation that will help cover among other things medical expenses and loss of wages.
A skilled California car accident lawyer will also look into there were other factors involved in this incident such as whether this was a dangerous intersection or whether there was a dangerous condition on the roadway that hampered motorists’ view of pedestrians. If the driver does not have insurance, then the injured victim may be covered under the “uninsured” or “underinsured” motorist provision through her auto insurance or the auto insurance policy of anyone else in her household. Also remember that any claim filed against a governmental agency must be made within six months of an incident.