A woman in her 40s was killed in a San Diego car accident after she was struck by a pickup truck while crossing the street. The woman was crossing East Washington Avenue at Lincoln Avenue in El Cajon, the night of October 13, 2011. She was hit by a westbound pickup truck. Another person who was walking with her was not hit. The woman died from her injuries before she could be taken to a hospital. An investigation is ongoing.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of this pedestrian accident victim. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Pedestrian Accidents in San Diego

According to California Highway Patrol's 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), two fatalities and 52 injuries occurred involving pedestrian accidents in El Cajon. In San Diego County as a whole, 57 people died and 937 were injured as a result of pedestrian accidents, during the same year.

Right-of-Way Issues

Based on this news report, it appears that the woman and her companion were walking at an intersection. Motorists are required by the law to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians walking in marked or unmarked crosswalks.

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."

Fault and Liability

I trust officials are looking into whether the pedestrians or the motorist had the right-of-way here. If the motorist is determined to have been at fault in this case, he or she could be held liable for the woman's wrongful death. In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, families of deceased victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, and loss of companionship. Victims' families would be well-advised to seek the counsel of an experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all aspects of the incident and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable.