A pedestrian was killed in a Los Angeles car accident after he was struck by a car on a busy roadway near the Cahuenga Pass and the Hollywood Freeway. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, the accident, which occurred the night of June 13, 2010 in the 4200 block of North Cahuenga Boulevard, also caused injuries to four other occupants of the vehicle. The deceased pedestrian accident victim was only described as a man in his mid-30s. He was killed at the scene. One of the injured people in the car was trapped underneath the vehicle. All four injured victims were transported to area hospitals.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased victim for their tragic loss. They will be in my thoughts and prayers. I also wish the injured victims here the best for a complete recovery.
Los Angeles Pedestrian Accidents
There were 104 deaths and 2,716 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Los Angeles in 2008, according to California Highway Patrol's traffic accident statistics. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 214 people died and 4,985 were injured as a result of pedestrian accidents during the same year.
Pedestrian Laws and Liability Issues
Based on this news report, there is very little information about how or why this fatal pedestrian accident occurred. There are several questions here. Who was at fault for the accident? Was the driver of the vehicle intoxicated, distracted, speeding or driving recklessly at the time of the collision? Was the pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk at the time?
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."
If the driver of the vehicle is determined to have been at fault for this crash, he or she could be held liable for the pedestrian's fatal injuries, as well as the injuries caused to the other occupants of the vehicle. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be able to better advise victims and their families about their legal rights and options.
What precautions do you take as a pedestrian to avoid accidents in crosswalks or at street intersections?
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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