A 16-year-old boy was injured in an Orange County car accident when he was struck by a car at a street intersection in Tustin, California. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the teenager was hit by a Chevy Venture van the morning of September 24, 2009 near Foothill High School. Officials say the boy suffered moderate-trauma head injuries.
My heart goes out to this injured boy and his parents, who had apparently dropped him off near the school, shortly before his accident. I sincerely hope this teenager did not sustain any life threatening injuries in this car accident. I wish him the very best for a quick and complete recovery. Please keep him in your prayers.
Pedestrian Accidents in Orange County
According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) there were no fatalities, but 24 injuries involving
pedestrian accidents in Tustin, California. In Orange County as a whole, 41 deaths and 726 injuries were reported in 2007 as a result of pedestrian accidents.
This news report has very little information about how or why this car-pedestrian accident occurred. It seems that the boy was crossing at an intersection. But based on the information here, it cannot be concluded whether he was walking in a crosswalk or at an intersection. California law requires motorists to yield right-of-way to pedestrians in crosswalks.
California Car Accident Laws
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."
There are still many unanswered questions here. Was the motorist distracted, impaired or otherwise negligent? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway that blocked the motorist's view of the boy? Was the teen crossing outside a crosswalk?
The injured victim's family would be well-advised to contact an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all aspects of this collision and determine whether there was any negligence on the part of the Chevy driver. If a dangerous condition on the roadway caused or contributed to this accident, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could be held liable. Any claim against a California 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 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