California Injury Blog
A 58-year-old woman was killed in a Huntington Beach pedestrian accident after a vehicle struck her at a street intersection. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal collision was reported the night of October 19, 2017 at the intersection of Goldenwest Street and Tucana Drive. Officials say a driver in a Nissan Rogue was traveling north on Goldenwest Street and struck a pedestrian walking east across the same street.
The driver, a 55-year-old Huntington Beach woman, remained at the scene. The victim was also a local resident. No citations or arrests have been reported and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact Huntington Beach police at 714-536-5670.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family members of the deceased victim. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
There were six deaths and 73 injuries reported in the city of Huntington Beach as a result of pedestrian accidents in 2014, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Orange County as a whole, 47 people died and 764 were injured due to pedestrian accidents during the same year.
Laws and Liability Issues
Based on this news report, it appears that the incident occurred at a large intersection that is monitored by crosswalks. We trust officials are looking into whether the pedestrian was walking in a crosswalk at the time or whether the driver was distracted, impaired or failed to yield the right of way to the pedestrian. Under California Vehicle Code Section 21950 (a) motorists are required to yield the right of way to pedestrians walking in marked and unmarked crosswalks.
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 cases where negligence or wrongdoing are factors, families of deceased victims can file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver seeking compensation for damages such as medical and funeral costs, lost future income and loss of love and companionship. An experienced Huntington Beach car accident lawyer will also be able to determine whether a dangerous roadway or intersection caused or contributed to the incident. If that was the case, the city in charge of maintaining the roadway can also be held liable. Any such claim against a governmental entity must be filed within 180 days of the incident.