A 74-year-old woman sustained injuries in an Orange County car accident after she was struck by a vehicle on a Fullerton roadway. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the injury pedestrian collision occurred the morning of June 9, 2010, when the woman was walking her dog in the 3100 block of Yorba Linda Boulevard in Fullerton. Police officials say the woman may have stepped in the westbound lanes to go around a car that was leaving an apartment complex when she was struck by a Nissan Sentra. The woman was transported to an area hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

I wish the injured pedestrian the very best for a quick and complete recovery. I'm also relieved to hear in this case that the driver of the Sentra was not injured after the car spun out.

Pedestrian Accidents

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there was one fatality and 45 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Fullerton. In Orange County as a whole, 31 people died and 785 were injured as a result of pedestrian accidents during the same year.

Right-of-Way Issues

Officials are saying here that the woman was not in a crosswalk and stepped into traffic lanes. California law states that motorists must yield right-of-way to pedestrians who are in marked crosswalks or at an intersection. However, California Vehicle Section 21950 does not relieve a pedestrian from the duty of due care for his or her safety.

The law states: "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."

Claim for Compensation

In any accident case, it would be prudent to wait for the official investigation to be concluded in order to determine what course of action one must take. If a pedestrian accident is the driver's fault, he or she could be held liable for the pedestrian's injuries. If the collision was caused by a dangerous roadway condition, the city or governmental agency could be held liable. Any such claim in California must be properly filed within 180 days of the accident or injury. The best Orange County personal injury lawyers will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families.

What precautions do you take as a pedestrian to avoid accidents?

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is 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 us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.

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