A woman was killed and her 3-year-old niece suffered major injuries in a Los Angeles car accident after a car struck them as they crossed a street in Sylmar, California. The fatal car accident occurred at Dronefield Avenue and Paddock Street the morning of September 23, 2009, according to a CBS news report. The woman, who has not yet been identified, died at the hospital. The 3-year-old girl was taken to the hospital for surgery, Los Angeles police officials said. The driver of the car stopped at the scene and was questioned but hasn't been cited or arrested pending a police investigation.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of this victim for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. I sincerely hope and pray the little girl makes it through her serious injuries and has a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep the victim's family and the girl in your prayers.
Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 90 deaths and 2,690 injuries reported in the city of Los Angeles as a result of pedestrian accidents. In the Los Angeles County as a whole, 210 fatalities and 5,095 injuries occurred in 2007 as a result of pedestrian accidents.
Based on this news report, it is not clear whether the woman and her niece were in a crosswalk at the time of the car accident. However, it does appear that they were crossing at an intersection. Still, there are many questions at this point. Did the driver of the car have a green light as he or she was driving through the intersection? Was the driver distracted, impaired or negligent in any other way? Was there a dangerous condition at that intersection that prevented the driver from seeing the woman and the girl crossing the street? The answers to these questions should help determine the facts of the case and how or why this tragic accident occurred.
Car Accident Laws and Liability Issues
If the woman and her niece were crossing the street at a crosswalk or intersection and had the light, then the driver could be held liable for the accident and major injuries caused. 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, victims and/or their families would be well-advised to retain the services of a truly reputed Los Angeles personal injury lawyer who will help analyze all aspects of the case and make sure the negligent parties are held accountable. If there was a dangerous condition at that Sylmar intersection, which caused this accident, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable. Any such claim against a governmental entity in California must be properly 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 source for the facts 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, please contact us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. Most of the best law firms will provide accident victims a free consultation.
We cannot fully inform any party or family member about their rights, options or the economic viability of any claim for compensation without a full investigation and consultation. We will not be conducting an investigation into this matter unless we are retained by a party. We will provide a free, confidential consultation to any, not at fault, person named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.
SLS Consulting