A 19-year-old man was killed in a Los Angeles car accident after he was struck by a vehicle in Hacienda Heights. According to a news report in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the accident occurred the night of March 7, 2010, near the intersection of Gale Avenue and Angelcrest Drive. The pedestrian was transported to an area hospital where he died. California Highway Patrol officials are investigating the fatal injury accident. Officials say the pedestrian may have been jaywalking at the time of the collision.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of this young man for their tragic, untimely and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

Los Angeles Car Accident Statistics

According to CHP's 2008 traffic accident statistics, there were 35 fatalities and 295 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 214 deaths and 4,985 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents during the same year.

Car Accident Causes

Based on this news report, it is not exactly clear where the pedestrian was walking at the time of the car accident. There are reports that he was jaywalking, but there has been no confirmation that the pedestrian was at fault. It appears the pedestrian was crossing at an intersection. Was there a crosswalk there? Was the pedestrian in a crosswalk?

Laws and Liability Issues

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.”

Pedestrians also have a responsibility to walk only in designated areas and yield right-of-way to oncoming vehicles. I trust officials are looking into who failed to yield right-of-way here – the pedestrian or the driver. If there was a dangerous condition on this roadway, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway could be held liable as well. Any claim against a California governmental agency must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be able to advise victims and their families in such cases about their legal rights and options.

We are 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 a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.

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