Glendale Car Accidents Take Toll on Pedestrians

For pedestrians over 50, the mid-sized city of Glendale was once considered the most dangerous in California. Car accidents were really taking their toll on walkers and joggers. In 2008, an 11-year-old schoolgirl was fatally injured when she was hit by an SUV just outside of her school. The same year, three other pedestrians were killed in Glendale car accidents. In 2006, Glendale witnessed a total of 122 pedestrian accidents and one fatality. Five pedestrians were killed three years earlier. Glendale had gained quite a reputation. It had the second highest number of pedestrian accidents in California, compared to similar sized cities in the state.

However, looking at overall car-related accidents, Glendale came in about average with other cities in the state. The California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) reported that in 2006, six people lost their lives in Glendale car crashes and 774 were injured. Alcohol related accidents killed two and injured 45. Motorcycle accidents resulted in one fatality and 27 injuries.

The causes for these higher than normal pedestrian accidents seem never to change. "You can point the finger at careless driving, speeding, and scofflaws who try to outrun red-lights." said John Bisnar of the car accident attorney firm of BISNAR | CHASE. "Some pedestrians share a bit of the blame as well. They cross busy intersections, talking on cell phones, without looking to see if cars have stopped."

Glendale finally did what so many cities have done: they employed high technology to bring down their car collision rate. As outlined in a recent CBS 2 report, Glendale is now 30% safer after implementing its new automated red-light camera program. The cameras were initially installed at two of the city's most dangerous intersections: Verdugo Road and Mountain Street and Colorado Street and Pacific Avenue. Speeders on Verdugo and Canada roads were often cited traveling in excess of 85 mph. Another red light camera went up at Brand Boulevard and Goode Avenue, which was identified by the Automobile Club of Southern California as L.A. County's third-worst intersection.

Now 17 cameras stand guard over 160 intersections throughout the city. The cameras deliver live video feeds to Glendale's Traffic Operation Center at City Hall, allowing traffic engineers to keep a watchful eye on these intersections and, if need be, remotely control each traffic light. The addition of this advanced technology is sure to slow down speeders and red-light runners.

"Going after red-light runners, speeders and other traffic violators should have a positive impact in reducing car accidents," noted John Bisnar. "We applaud these efforts to save lives and reduce the number of injuries on Glendale's streets."

Be on the Hit-and-Run Lookout

BISNAR | CHASE, in conjunction with WeTip, a leading anonymous crime reporting service and law enforcement advocacy non-profit organization, is launching a program intended to wipe out hit-and-runs in the state of California by offering rewards for tips leading to the arrest and felony conviction of hit-and-run drivers. See Hit-and-Run Reward for more details.

BISNAR | CHASE 2006-2010 Super Lawyers names outstanding lawyers from more than 60 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. BISNAR | CHASE has received this award for five consecutive years. Brian Chase was named one of the 2010 Top 50 Orange County Lawyers.