Young Girl Injured In Orange County Car Accident
A young student crossing an Anaheim street at the 1500 block of West Ball Road near Ball Junior High School was injured in an Orange County car accident on October 12, 2009, The Orange County Register reports. The pedestrian accident occurred as the 12-year-old girl was on her way to school when a gray colored Toyota Corolla struck her. The girl who has not been identified yet, was taken to a local hospital due to her injuries that were described as moderate.
My heart goes out to this young Junior High student and her parents. I'm glad she was not catastrophically injured and that she is feeling better. I wish the girl the best for a quick and complete recovery from her injuries.
California Law and Pedestrian Right-Of-Way 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."
We do not know, based on this news account, if the girl was in a crosswalk at the time of this pedestrian accident or if she was crossing the street at an intersection. If this was the case, then the driver of the Toyota Corolla may be held liable, even if she did not have the right-of-way. If I were a family member of this injured girl, I'd definitely want to know if this pedestrian accident had been caused by someone else's negligence.
The Best Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
It is always in the best interest of any car accident victim and their family to consult with a reputed Orange County personal injury lawyer, who will examine every aspect of their case to determine whether there was any negligence involved. The best injury attorneys will also help determine if an unsafe condition existed on the roadway that caused or contributed to the accident and resulting injuries.
Recently, we have been seeing a spate of similar pedestrian accidents involving young children. The most recent data available shows that pedestrian accidents have accounted for six deaths and 63 injuries in Anaheim, California in 2007. During the same period, 41 fatalities and 726 injuries occurred, involving pedestrian accidents in Orange County. Of course, some of the increase may be attributed to the opening of schools in the recent months. However, speeding, distracted and negligent driving also seem to be on the rise on California roads. Motorists and pedestrians must remind themselves to be extremely watchful in these types of situations, especially in school zones where cars and pedestrians are in close proximity.
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.
