California Injury Blog
A pedestrian was seriously injured in a San Diego car accident after being struck by a vehicle the night of December 27, 2009, in El Cajon. According to a news report in the San Diego Union-Tribune, the accident occurred near the intersection of Greenfield Drive and Peerless Drive. The pedestrian, who has not been identified, was struck by a vehicle, suffered major injuries and was transported to an area hospital, El Cajon police officials said.
My heart goes out to this victim who has been seriously injured in this pedestrian accident. I wish this person the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. I hope the injuries were not catastrophic. Please keep this victim in your prayers.
Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 45 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in El Cajon. In San Diego County as a whole, pedestrian accidents claimed 51 lives and caused 1,068 injuries during the same year. Also, countywide, 268 people died and 14,641 were injured in car accidents in 2007.
Circumstances of the Accident
This news report does not offer much information about how or why this major injury crash occurred. There are more questions here than answers. Where was the pedestrian at the time of the collision? Was he or she walking across the street? Was he or she walking along the side of the road? Was the driver operating the vehicle while under the influence? Was the motorist distracted, speeding or otherwise negligent at the time of the collision? Did the driver fail to yield right-of-way to the pedestrian?
California Laws and Liability Issues
Under California law, drivers are required to yield right-of-way to pedestrians walking in crosswalks or at intersections. 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.”
In such cases, it would be in the best interests of the victims or their families to contact an experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer, who will make sure their rights are protected and that they get fair compensation to cover possible hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, rehabilitation and even long-term care expenses, as the healing time required for these injuries can be prolonged and in some cases, last a lifetime.
A skilled car accident lawyer should also look into whether a dangerous condition on the roadway caused this accident. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway can 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.