A woman was injured in an Orange County car accident after she was struck by a car on an Anaheim street. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the accident occurred the morning of October 26, 2009 when the woman was hit by a dark green Toyota Paseo on Crescent Avenue near Euclid Street. Anaheim police officials say the woman was not in a crosswalk at the time of the accident. She was treated at the scene and transported to a hospital. It's not clear how serious her injuries were. The driver of the Toyota apparently remained at the scene and has not been cited or arrested, pending an investigation.
I hope this pedestrian's injuries were not catastrophic or major. I wish her the very best for a quick and complete recovery. She will be in my prayers.
Orange County Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), six fatalities and 63 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in Anaheim. In Orange County as a whole, 41 deaths and 726 injuries occurred in 2007 as a result of pedestrian accidents. Also, countywide, car accidents claimed 178 lives and injured 14,185 people during the same period.
In this particular case, preliminary investigation by police officials tells us that the woman was walking outside a crosswalk at the time of the accident. But if I were a member of the woman's family, I would want to know all the circumstances leading up to this Anaheim personal injury accident. Where exactly was the woman walking at the time of the accident? Was the driver of the Toyota distracted and driving recklessly? Was she driving above the speed limit? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway, which caused or contributed to the pedestrian's injuries? These are questions to be answered in any car accident case in order to determine who or what caused the collision.
Responsibilities of Pedestrians and Motorists
While motorists have the responsibility to stop or yield right-of-way for pedestrians, the law also states that pedestrians outside a crosswalk, must yield right-of-way to an oncoming vehicle and cannot cross the street anywhere at any time. In this particular case, we don't know whether the victim was jaywalking or whether the accident was caused by the driver's negligence.
Victims in such cases would be well-advised to consult with an experienced California car accident attorney, who will carefully examine every facet of the case, identify the negligent parties and hold them accountable. If this accident was caused by a dangerous roadway, the city could be held liable as well. California Government Code states that any personal injury claim against a governmental agency must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.
The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm 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.
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