California Car Accident Reports

A woman sustained head injuries in an Orange County car accident after she was hit by a car while crossing a street in Irvine, California. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the woman was walking across Irvine Center Drive at Harvard Avenue the night of November 3, 2009 when she was hit by a Lexus ES 350 sedan, which was traveling west on the street. Police are still looking into what caused this injury pedestrian accident. Anyone who witnessed this accident is asked to contact Irvine police at 949-724-7024.

My heart goes out to this injured woman and her family. I hope her injuries were not catastrophic and wish her my very best for a quick and full recovery. She will be in my prayers.

Orange County Pedestrian Accidents

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 19 people were injured in Irvine as a result of pedestrian accidents. In Orange County as a whole, 41 fatalities and 726 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in 2007. Also, countywide, car accidents in 2007 claimed 178 lives and injured 14,185 people.

Based on this news report, it's not clear why the driver of the Lexus did not see the woman crossing the street. At the moment, we do not know if the woman was in a crosswalk or not. California Vehicle Code section 21950 states that a motorist is required to yield right-of-way to pedestrians who are crossing at an intersection – be it a marked or unmarked crosswalk.

California Car Accident Laws

The code 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."

In such car accident cases where serious injuries are involved and negligence is suspected, it is in the best interest of victims (or their families) to seek the counsel of an experienced personal injury attorney in Orange County, who can help determine whether there was negligence and hold the responsible parties accountable. A skilled car accident lawyer will also be able to determine whether a dangerous condition at this intersection may have caused or contributed to this collision. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable. Such claims should however, be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.

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.