A male pedestrian was killed in a bus accident after a Long Beach Transit Bus struck him, the night of March 6, 2012. According to a news report in The Press-Telegram, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred when the man stepped into the westbound lanes of the Second Street Bridge or Davies Bridge. The victim, who was about 50 years old, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Officials say the collision occurred just west of the bridge on the down slope. The passenger bus struck the pedestrian in the right front area of the bus. An investigation is ongoing.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of this deceased victim. Please keep this grieving family in your thoughts and prayers.
Long Beach Pedestrian Accidents
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were nine fatalities and 211 injuries involving Long Beach pedestrian accidents. In Los Angeles County as a whole, pedestrian accidents claimed 179 lives and injured 4,918 people, during the same year.
Laws Relating to Pedestrians
Based on this news report, it is not clear exactly where the man was walking at the time of the collision. Was he in a marked or unmarked crosswalk? Motorists are required under California law to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks.
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: “This section does not relieve a pedestrian from the duty of using due care for his or her safety. No pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. No pedestrian may unnecessarily stop or delay traffic while in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.”
Liability Issues
In such cases, families of deceased victims would be well advised to contact an experienced Long Beach personal injury lawyer, who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. If the bus driver is determined to have been negligent, both the driver and his or her employer can be held liable for the victim’s wrongful death. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to accident victims or their families.
SLS Consulting