A woman died from injuries she suffered in a Los Angeles car accident after she was struck by a vehicle near a street intersection in Lancaster. CBS News reports that the woman was struck by a car the evening of January 13, 2010 near the intersection of Avenue I and 10th Street West. Authorities said the woman complained of pain in her stomach and sustained minor injuries to her arm and head. She was transported to a local hospital. However, her injuries worsened overnight. The woman had to go into surgery and died during surgery, officials said.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of this deceased victim. Her sudden and tragic death must have come as a terrible shock.

Pedestrian Accidents

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) five people died and 41 were injured in pedestrian accidents in Lancaster. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 210 fatalities and 5,095 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in 2007.

What Caused this Fatal Pedestrian Accident?

Based on this news report, it is not quite clear what caused this tragic accident. Where exactly was the woman walking at the time of the accident? Was she in a marked crosswalk or intersection at the time? Did the driver fail to yield right-of-way to this pedestrian? California law states that motorists should yield right-of-way to pedestrians in crosswalks.

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."

This incident is also an important reminder that we should get even minor injuries examined by a medical professional after an accident. Several types of injuries – major or minor – may not surface or be felt hours or even days after a traffic accident. The victim's family in this case would be well-advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer who will advise them 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.