A man was killed in a Los Angeles car accident after he was struck by an SUV near a North Hollywood intersection. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Daily News, the man was walking on the street the morning of April 1, 2010 on Victory Boulevard near Vineland Avenue when he was struck. The female driver of the SUV was uninjured. Los Angeles fire officials say the Toyota SUV was traveling west on Victory Boulevard when it hit the man. The driver has not been cited or arrested pending an investigation. It is not clear whether the victim was in a crosswalk.


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I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of this deceased pedestrian accident victim for their devastating loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 104 fatalities and 2,716 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Los Angeles. Countywide, 214 people died and 4,985 were injured as a result of pedestrian accidents during the same year.

Pedestrian Laws

Based on this news report, it is not clear exactly what caused this accident. There are more questions than answers here. Was the pedestrian walking in a crosswalk? Was he walking along the side of the road? Who had the right-of-way at the time of the collision? Was the driver of the SUV distracted or inattentive at the time of the accident? Was she negligent in any other way?

In California, it is the duty of every motorist to yield to a pedestrian who is walking in a crosswalk, whether it is marked or unmarked. 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." That said, pedestrians also have a duty to walk safely in designated areas.

Liability Issues

In such cases, victims or their families would be well-advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all facets of an accident and make sure that the negligent parties are held accountable. If a dangerous or defective roadway caused or contributed to this accident, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway can also be held liable. Please remember that any such claim against a California governmental entity must be properly filed within six months of the accident or injury.

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.

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