A 46-year-old woman was injured in a San Diego car accident after being pinned underneath a trailer, the evening of February 10, 2012. According to a news report in U-T San Diego, the pedestrian accident occurred at the intersection of Loring and Cass streets in San Diego. Officials say the woman exited her car and was crossing the road, when a Jeep pulling a trailer avoided her car but struck her. She was trapped by the trailer and suffered head injuries. She has been listed in critical condition. It is not clear if the 45-year-old male driver of the Jeep will be cited for the collision.

My heart goes out to the woman who has been critically injured in this San Diego accident. I wish her the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

San Diego Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 18 fatalities and 494 injuries were reported due to pedestrian accidents in the city of San Diego. Countywide, 57 people were killed and 937 were injured in pedestrian accidents, during the same year.

What Caused This Pedestrian Accident?

Based on this news report, the pedestrian was crossing the road near an intersection, at the time of the crash. I trust investigators are looking into who had the right of way and why the driver was unable to avoid the collision. California Vehicle Code Section 21954 states: “Every pedestrian upon a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway so near as to constitute an immediate hazard.” It also states “The provisions of this section shall not relieve the driver of a vehicle from the duty to exercise due care for the safety of any pedestrian upon a roadway.”

Liability Issues

In this particular case, if the driver is determined to have been at fault, then, he can be held liable for the injuries caused. In such cases, victims can seek compensation to cover damages including medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related expenses. Car accident victims would be well advised to contact an experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all aspects of the incident and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable.