California Injury Blog
A man was critically injured in a Long Beach car accident after he was struck by a vehicle while walking in a marked crosswalk the morning of January 14, 2010. According to a news report in The Press Telegram, the victim was walking north in a crosswalk at Orizaba Avenue when he was struck by a van going east on Ocean Boulevard. The collision caused the victim to be thrown about 30 feet away from the point of impact. He was transported to a local hospital where he is said to be in critical condition. The driver has been cited as failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
My heart goes out to this seriously injured victim and his family. I hope and pray that he recovers completely from his injuries. He will certainly be in my prayers.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
There were 15 deaths and 274 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Long Beach in 2007, according to California Highway Patrol’s traffic accident statistics. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 210 people died and 5,095 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents during the same year.
Crosswalk Laws
If the details of this newspaper report are accurate, it appears that the driver of the vehicle failed to see the victim walking in the crosswalk ahead. I trust officials are looking into why that occurred. They believe at this point that the glare from the early morning sun may have prevented the driver from seeing the pedestrian. I trust they are also looking into whether the driver was impaired, distracted or speeding at the time of the collision.
California law requires motorists to yield right-of-way to pedestrians walking in 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
The victim’s family would be well-advised to consult with an experienced Long Beach personal injury lawyer who will stay on top of the criminal investigation, make sure the family’s rights are protected and that they receive just compensation for the damages and loss they have suffered. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also help determine whether there was a dangerous condition on this roadway, which may have caused or contributed to this pedestrian accident. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could be held liable as well. Any claim against a governmental agency in California must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.
The Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.