A speeding motorist struck and injured a 70-year-old woman in a wheelchair in a San Diego car accident the afternoon of October 16, 2009 near Balboa Park. According to a CBS News report, the woman was walking in an unmarked crosswalk in the 2300 block of Sixth Avenue. The 55-year-old man who hit the woman was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but seemed to have been speeding, San Diego police said. The woman sustained a broken hip and other possible injuries. She was taken to a San Diego hospital for treatment.

My heart goes out to this injured victim for her pain and suffering. I wish her the very best for a quick and complete recovery. Please keep her in your prayers.

San Diego Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 25 fatalities and 575 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in San Diego, California. In San Diego County as a whole, 51 fatalities and 1,068 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in 2007.

If this newspaper report is accurate, it seems to me that the motorist was at fault for the accident and resulting injuries. Whether a pedestrian is crossing in a marked or unmarked crosswalk or at an intersection, motorists in California are required by law to stop and yield right-of-way. Drivers are required to "exercise all due care" and reduce the speed of their vehicle or "take any other action relating to the operating of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian." (California Vehicle Code section 21950). California law also defines motorized wheelchair users as pedestrians, with all of the same rights and restrictions as someone walking along a roadway.

Contacting an Experienced San Diego Personal Injury Lawyer

It would be in the best interest of this injured victim to seek the counsel of an experienced San Diego personal injury attorney who can help determine whether there was any negligence involved. Right now, she needs a skilled attorney who will analyze all aspects of this collision and make sure she receives fair compensation for her injuries and loss.

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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