A woman sustained injuries in an Anaheim car accident after she was hit by a vehicle, while crossing at a freeway on-ramp the morning of April 26, 2010. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the injury collision occurred when the woman was walking on Brookhurst Street at the eastbound 91 Freeway on-ramp. She was struck by a Honda Civic. Anaheim police officials said the woman was knocked to the pavement and hit her face. Authorities are investigating this accident. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries.
I sympathize with this injured victim and hope that her injuries were not major. I wish her the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. She will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Pedestrian Accidents
According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, there was one fatality and 73 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Anaheim. In Orange County as a whole, pedestrian accidents claimed 31 lives and caused 785 injuries during the same year.
What Caused this Collision
Based on this news report, it is not clear how or why this injury pedestrian crash occurred. There are more questions here than answers. Where was the pedestrian walking at the time? Was she in a marked or unmarked crosswalk? Why did the driver fail to stop for the pedestrian? Was he or she impaired, speeding, distracted or otherwise negligent? Was the pedestrian walking legally in an area designated for pedestrians? I trust officials are closely examining these and several other factors in order to determine exactly what happened and why.
Laws and Liability Issues
California law requires motorists to yield right-of-way to pedestrians in marked/unmarked crosswalks or at intersections. 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, injured victims would be well-advised to seek the counsel of an experienced Anaheim personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all facets of the incident and hold the negligent parties accountable. If a dangerous roadway condition caused or contributed to the incident, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway could also be held liable. Under California Government Code section 911.2, any claim against a public entity must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.
Do you feel safe walking across a freeway on-ramp or off-ramp even if there is a marked crosswalk?
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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