Southern California Injury Law Blog

At about 6 p.m. on Wednesday, February 8th, a toddler was killed and her mother critically injured in a hit-and-run accident involving a stolen vehicle in Anaheim. The crash occurred in a crosswalk on Gilbert Street at Guinida Lane when a 1995 Nissan Maxima struck a 26-year-old woman who was pushing her 3-year-old daughter in a stroller. Paramedics transported the mother and child to a local hospital, where the child died and the mother remains in critical condition. The driver fled the scene, leaving the vehicle, which had been reported stolen minutes before the accident, in a nearby residential area. The California Highway Patrol has requested that anyone with information about this crash or the whereabouts of the driver call 949-559-7888, explains an Orange County injury attorney.

Residents of the neighborhood where the accident occurred conveyed that they had been urging the city for years to install a light at the crosswalk, both due to a high incidence of accidents and its location near an elementary and high school.

Anaheim accounted for 8 of the 41 fatalities and 110 of the 914 injuries suffered by pedestrians in traffic accidents in Orange County in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. Throughout the state, pedestrian fatalities increased by 15.4 percent, from 567 in 2009 to 599 in 2010, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the mother who was struck and critically injured last night and her family for the loss of their child. We would also like to wish her a full recovery from her injuries.

The Orange County Register originally reported this hit-and-run accident involving the stolen vehicle.

Resources for accident victims and their families, such as books and articles on pedestrian rights and the process of pursuing an injury or a wrongful death claim, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with an Orange County injury attorney, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

Shortly before 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 25th, a van struck 29-year-old Nelly Ruelasvela and her children in a crosswalk in Camarillo. The accident occurred at the intersection of East Las Posas Road and Glenbrook Avenue when a minivan driven by 37-year-old Christopher Rowland turned left and hit Ruelasvela, who was pushing her 3-month-old and 20-month-old children in a stroller. She sustained significant trauma and was transported to a local hospital. Although her children were not hurt, they were also taken to the hospital as a precaution. Police have asked that witnesses call 805-388-5100, explains a California personal injury lawyer.

Camarillo accounted for 3 of the 50 fatalities and 432 of the 4,259 injuries suffered by motor vehicle occupants in traffic accidents in Ventura County in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. The California Office of Traffic Safety compares the accident statistics of cities with similarly sized populations, giving those with the poorest records the highest rankings, with 1st place considered the worst. That year, Camarillo ranked 15th out of 104 cities.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to wish Nelly Ruelasvela, the woman who was struck and injured while walking in the Camarillo crosswalk with her children, a full recovery.

The Ventura County Star originally reported this pedestrian accident.

Resources for accidents victims, such as articles on pedestrian rights and the process of pursuing an injury claim, are available to the public free of charge.

To request one of these free resources, or to speak with a California personal injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

Shortly before 7:30 a.m. this morning, a semi crash occurred on the southbound 405 Freeway in Seal Beach. The accident involved two other vehicles, caused injuries, and snarled traffic for a little more than an hour, explains a truck accident lawyer in Orange County.

Orange County accounted for 5 of the 236 fatalities and 298 of the 4,874 injuries suffered in traffic accidents involving large trucks that occurred throughout California in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to wish those who were injured in the semi crash on the 405 Freeway this morning a full recovery.

The Orange County Register originally reported this Seal Beach accident.

Resources for accident victims, including books and articles on the injury claims process, are available to the public free of charge.

To request one of these free resources, or to speak with a truck accident lawyer in Orange County, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

Last weekend, two Orange County residents were killed in separate pedestrian accidents. Shortly before 4 p.m. on Saturday, January 21st, 21-year-old Eric Ford, of Anaheim, was struck near the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Crescent Avenue in Buena Park. Paramedics transported him to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on Monday. Then, at around 3:35 a.m. on Sunday, 44-year-old Victor Joseph Scallo, of Huntington Beach, was found lying on the side of the road near the intersection of San Bernardino Avenue and Commerce Street in Fontana. Authorities are searching for the driver, explains an Orange County injury attorney.

Of the 596 fatalities and 13,083 injuries suffered by pedestrians in traffic accidents throughout California in 2009, one fatality and 28 injuries occurred in Buena Park and no fatalities and 44 injuries occurred in Fontana, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. The California Office of Traffic Safety compares the accident statistics of cities with similar populations, ranking those with the poorest records the highest. That year, Buena Park ranked 35th out of 104 cities and Fontana ranked 39th out of 56 cities.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the families of Eric Ford and Victor Joseph Scallo.

The Orange County Register originally reported these pedestrian accidents.

Resources for accident victims and their families, such as articles on pedestrian rights and on the process of pursuing an injury or a wrongful death claim, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with an Orange County injury attorney, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

Shortly after 6:00 p.m. on Monday, December 26th, 60-year-old Karen Lee Henthorn was killed in a pedestrian accident in San Bernardino. While traversing the intersection of Mountain Avenue and Lynwood Drive in a crosswalk, Henthorn was struck by a blue 1994 Honda sedan. She was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 6:35 p.m. Authorities are investigating the accident, explains a California personal injury lawyer.

San Bernardino County accounted for 39 of the 596 fatalities and 472 of the 13,083 injuries suffered by pedestrians in traffic accidents throughout the state in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. That year, pedestrian fatalities declined by 9.2 percent in California.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of Karen Lee Henthorn, the pedestrian who was killed in the accident in San Bernardino last Monday.

Resources for accident victims and their families, including links to pedestrian advocacy groups and articles on pedestrian rights and the process of pursuing an injury or a wrongful death claim, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with a California personal injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

Shortly before 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 3rd, a vehicle struck and killed 61-year-old pedestrian Domingo Nava at the intersection of Sierra Avenue and Reed Street in Fontana. He suffered major trauma and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:22 p.m., according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department. Authorities are investigating the accident, explains a California personal injury attorney.

Fontana accounted for none of the 39 fatalities and 44 of the 472 injuries suffered by pedestrians in traffic accidents throughout San Bernardino County in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. Recently, the traffic safety coalition Transportation for America ranked the Riverside-San Bernardino metro area as the fifth-most dangerous in the nation for pedestrian safety.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of Domingo Nava, the pedestrian who was struck and killed by the vehicle in Fontana last Saturday.

Resources for accident victims and their families, including links to pedestrian advocacy groups and articles on pedestrian rights and on the personal injury and wrongful death claims process, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with a California personal injury attorney, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

Shortly before 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 24th, 48-year-old Marcos Stead was killed in a pedestrian accident in Huntington Beach. While crossing near the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Edinger Avenue, Stead was struck by a BMW X5 sedan. The driver stopped to administer aid, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities are investigating the accident and have requested that witnesses call 714-536-5670, explains an Orange County injury attorney.

Huntington Beach accounted for 3 of the 41 fatalities and 60 of the 914 injuries suffered by pedestrians in traffic accidents throughout Orange County in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. Statewide pedestrian fatalities decreased by 9.2 percent, from 620 in 2008 to 563 in 2009.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of Marcos Stead, the pedestrian who was killed last Thursday in Huntington Beach.

The Orange County Register originally reported this accident.

Resources for accident victims and their families, including information on pedestrian rights and books and articles on the process of pursuing an injury or a wrongful death claim, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with an Orange County injury attorney, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

At about 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 23rd, a drunk driver struck and killed 73-year-old Marschelle Syverson in Morgan Hill. While traveling in a 1991 Lexus SUV, 83-year-old Dick Chappell ran a red light near Jarvis Drive, crashing into Syverson as he traversed Butterfield Boulevard on a Segway. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died from his injuries. Police arrested Chappell on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and felony DUI, explains a California personal injury lawyer.

Morgan Hill accounted for none of the 21 fatalities and 1 of the 470 injuries suffered by pedestrians in traffic accidents in Santa Clara County in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. The California Office of Traffic Safety compares the accident statistics of counties with similar populations, ranking those with the worst records the highest. That year, Santa Clara County ranked 24th out of 58 counties for pedestrian fatalities and injuries.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of Marschelle Syverson, the man who was struck and killed by the drunk driver last Sunday.

The San Jose Mercury News originally reported this Morgan Hill accident.

Resources for accident victims and their families, including books and articles on the process of pursuing an injury or a wrongful death claim, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with a California personal injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

Shortly after 4 a.m. on Saturday, October 1st, a teenage drunk driver struck and killed pedestrians Carol Shea and Hengameh Saghafi in Anaheim. The 17-year-old was traveling south on Harbor Boulevard when he collided with the women as they traversed a crosswalk in the 1600 block. They both sustained major trauma and died from their injuries. Police arrested the driver, who faces charges for driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, explains an Orange County injury attorney.

Anaheim accounted for 8 of the 41 fatalities and 110 of the 914 injuries that were suffered by pedestrians in Orange County in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. That year, 4,092 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents throughout the country, a decrease of 7 percent from 2008.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the families of Carol Shea and Hengameh Saghafi, the pedestrians who were struck and killed by the teenage drunk driver last Saturday.

The Orange County Register originally reported this Anaheim accident.

Resources for accident victims and their families, such as links to pedestrian advocacy groups and articles on the process of pursuing an injury or a wrongful death claim, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with an Orange County injury attorney, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

On Wednesday, September 21st, 65-year-old pedestrian Carl Scaffide was killed in an early morning collision in Westminster. While walking near the intersection of McFadden Avenue and Beach Boulevard, the Huntington Beach resident was struck by a vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was not injured in the accident, explains an Orange County injury lawyer.

Westminster accounted for 1 of the 41 fatalities and 25 of the 914 injuries suffered by pedestrians in traffic accidents in Orange County in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. The state’s office of traffic safety compares the accident data for cities with similar populations, ranking those with the worst records the highest, with 1st place being the worst. That year, Westminster ranked 15th out of 104 cities for traffic-related fatalities suffered by pedestrians aged 65 and older.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of Carl Scaffide, the pedestrian killed in the early morning collision last Wednesday.

The Orange County Register originally reported this Westminster accident.

Resources for accident victims and their families, including books and articles on the process of pursuing an injury or a wrongful death claim, are available to the public free of charge.

To request one of these free resources, or to speak with an Orange County injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

At around 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 20th, a pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run accident in La Mirada. Near the intersection of Santa Gertrudes Avenue and Lawnhill Drive, a motorist struck a man in his 70s, fleeing afterward. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have located the vehicle that they suspect hit the victim but have not released additional information, explains a California personal injury attorney.

La Mirada accounted for none of the 177 fatalities and 9 of the 5,215 injuries suffered by pedestrians in traffic accidents throughout Los Angeles County in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. That year, Los Angeles County accounted for nearly 30 percent of the 596 pedestrian fatalities that occurred in the state.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of the pedestrian who was killed in the accident yesterday.

The Los Angeles Times originally reported this La Mirada hit-and-run.

Resources for accident victims and their families, such as links to pedestrian advocacy groups and articles on the process of pursuing an injury or a wrongful death claim, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to discuss a specific legal matter with a California personal injury attorney, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

On the morning of Wednesday, August 24th, an elderly man drove onto a Fremont sidewalk and killed a pedestrian. At about 9:30 a.m., a 47-year-old San Ramon man and a 37-year-old woman, also from San Ramon, were involved in a minor collision on Interstate 680 and exited on Washington Boulevard to exchange insurance information. As they did so, an 83-year-old man drove onto the sidewalk, striking the San Ramon man and dragging him down an embankment until the vehicle slammed into a chain-link fence and a tree. Authorities found the pedestrian pinned under the vehicle and the elderly man unconscious when they arrived. Both were transported to a local hospital, where the victim was pronounced dead and the driver treated for an undisclosed medical condition. The accident is under investigation, explains a California personal injury lawyer.

Fremont accounted for 1 of the 10 traffic-related fatalities and 40 of the 581 injuries suffered by pedestrians in Alameda County in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Throughout the state, the number of pedestrian fatalities fell by 9.2 percent from 620 in 2008 to 563 in 2009—the lowest level recorded since 1975.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of the pedestrian who was struck and killed by the elderly driver in Fremont yesterday.

Additional information, including links to pedestrian advocacy groups and articles on the process of pursuing an injury or a wrongful death claim, is available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with a California personal injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

At about 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 18th, a hit-and-run driver fatally struck a 4-year-old boy in a Santa Rosa crosswalk. The accident occurred at the intersection of West Ninth Street and Rockwell Place, when a Honda Accord entered the crosswalk in which the boy, his two sisters, and their mother were walking. Instead of stopping to administer aid, the driver fled but was later spotted in the parking lot of a nearby park, where a good Samaritan witnessed him peeling an orange San Francisco Giants decal off of the rear window of his vehicle and contacted police. He has been identified as 22-year-old Marcos Lopez Garcia and is being held at Sonoma County Jail without bail because he is suspected of being an illegal immigrant, explains a California personal injury lawyer.

Santa Rosa accounted for 4 of the 8 traffic-related fatalities and 53 of the 129 injuries suffered by pedestrians in Sonoma County in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Nationwide, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children aged 3 to 14 years, with this group accounting for 1,314 of the fatalities and 179,000 of the injuries suffered in 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of the 4-year-old boy who was struck and killed by the hit-and-run driver.

The San Francisco Chronicle originally reported this accident.

Resources for accident victims and their families, including links to pedestrian advocacy groups and articles on the injury and wrongful death claims process, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with a California personal injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

Shortly before 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13th, a 66-year-old man was struck and seriously injured while crossing the street in downtown Long Beach, explains a California personal injury lawyer. The driver had stopped her Lexus SUV for pedestrians traversing Magnolia Avenue in a crosswalk located between Ocean Boulevard and Broadway before hitting the man. Although authorities have not yet determined if the man was in the crosswalk at the time of the accident, in the past police have conducted sting operations at the location due to the high number of motorists who neglect to follow traffic rules, reported the Long Beach Press Telegram. Paramedics transported the man to a local hospital for treatment. Police are investigating the incident and have asked that witnesses call LBPD Accident Investigation Detective Richard Birdsall at 562-570-7355.

Long Beach accounted for 305 of the fatal and injury motor vehicle traffic accidents involving pedestrians that occurred throughout the state in 2009, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety. Nationwide, such accidents claimed the lives of 4,092 pedestrians and injured another 59,000 that year, accounting for 12 percent of all traffic fatalities.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to wish the man who was struck and seriously injured while crossing the Long Beach street last Wednesday a full recovery.

Resources for accident victims, such as links to pedestrian advocacy groups and articles on the process of pursuing an injury claim, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with a California personal injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

At around 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 25th, a van fatally struck a wheelchair user in San Diego. The van was stopped at a red light on West Point Loma Boulevard when the wheelchair user, a resident of a nearby convalescent home, entered the crosswalk, at which point the van turned right, hitting the pedestrian. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the van and his passenger were not injured in the accident, explains a California personal injury attorney.

In 2009, motor vehicle traffic accidents claimed the lives of 4,092 pedestrians and injured another 59,000. Most accidents can be attributed to either driver error or unsafe conditions for the pedestrian, such as a lack of sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian islands, and lighting. Moreover, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities tend to be the most susceptible to pedestrian accidents. Recently, a report by the safety coalition Transportation for America found that the San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos area had the 5th highest percentage of traffic deaths that were pedestrians.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of the wheelchair user who was fatally struck by the van last Saturday night.

Resources for accident victims and their families, such as books and articles on the injury and wrongful death claims process, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with a California personal injury attorney, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

At around 8:40 p.m. on Friday, May 13, a vehicle fatally struck pedestrian Rebecca Vegas at the intersection of Ocean Avenue and J Street in Lompoc. The driver, 18-year-old Lacey Strange, remained at the scene until officers arrived. Neither alcohol nor drugs contributed to the accident; however LompocRecord.com reported that authorities are investigating the possibility that Strange was distracted by a cell phone when she hit Vegas. The California Highway Patrol will be assisting with the investigation because Strange is the daughter of a Lompoc policeman, explains a California personal injury attorney.

Lompoc accounted for 13 of the 186 fatal and injury pedestrian accidents that occurred in Santa Barbara County in 2009, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent accident statistics. Nationwide, the number of pedestrians killed in collisions decreased by 7 percent, from 4,414 in 2008 to 4,092 in 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That year, 12 percent of traffic fatalities were attributed to pedestrians.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of Rebecca Vegas, the pedestrian who was fatally struck in Lompoc last Friday.

Resources for accident victims and their families, including books and articles on the injury and wrongful death claims process, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with a California personal injury attorney, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

In the early morning hours of April 3rd, 24-year-old Ryan Tremeane was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Ventura. Robert Jack Bell, 36, struck Tremeane while driving through an alley between Main Street and Poll Street, dragging him for more than 50 feet before fleeing. He died from blunt-force trauma at the scene of the accident. Bell was taken into custody and is scheduled to appear in court on May 11th, explains a California personal injury lawyer.

In 2009, 4,092 pedestrians were killed and 59,000 were injured in traffic accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That year, there were a total of 49 fatal and injury pedestrian accidents in Ventura, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety. The majority of the fatalities were suffered in urban areas, at non-intersection locations, during normal weather conditions, and at night.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of Ryan Tremeane, the pedestrian killed in the hit-and-run accident in Ventura on April 3rd.

Resources for accident victims and their families, such as books and articles on the injury and wrongful death claims process, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with a California personal injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

At about 11:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, 32-year-old Noemi Tejeda was killed in a pedestrian accident in Anaheim. A Nissan SUV struck Tejeda while she was crossing La Palma Avenue near North East Street. She was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a local hospital. The driver of the SUV remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities. The accident is under investigation and witnesses have been asked to call (714) 765-1900, explains an Orange County injury lawyer.

According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, the number of pedestrian fatalities suffered dropped by 9.2 percent from 620 in 2008 to 563 in 2009, the lowest annual tally of pedestrian fatalities since the federal government began recording such statistics in 1975. Pedestrian fatalities also decreased nationwide by 7 percent from 4,378 in 2008 to 4,092 in 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of Noemi Tejeda, the woman killed in the pedestrian accident on April 14.

Resources for accident victims and their families, such as links to pedestrian advocacy groups and articles on the injury and wrongful death claims process, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to discuss a specific legal matter with an Orange County injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

At around 11 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, a pedestrian was struck and killed in a hit-and-run accident in Santa Cruz. A Chrysler sedan hit the pedestrian, a 37-year-old man from Live Oak, near the intersection of Soquel Avenue and Seventh Avenue. Paramedics transported him to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Witnesses described the vehicle as either a Dodge Magnum or a Chrysler 300 with chrome wheels and dark coloring. Authorities have asked anyone with information about the hit-and-run accident to call (916) 471-1121, explains a California personal injury lawyer.

Nationwide, 4,092 pedestrians were killed and 59,000 were injured in traffic crashes in 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s most recent accident statistics. On average, a pedestrian suffered a fatal traffic accident every two hours and was injured every nine minutes. That year, 29 pedestrians were killed or injured in Santa Cruz, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of the pedestrian who was killed in the hit-and-run accident in Santa Cruz last Saturday.

Resources for accident victims and their families, including books and articles on the wrongful death claims process, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with a California personal injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

At around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8, 25-year-old Gabriel Arias was struck and killed by a Ford Bronco while walking near the intersection of Live Oak Street and Robles Road in Hesperia. He sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Bronco, Tony Williams, and the passenger, Gary Amaoka, were arrested for unrelated drug offenses. Authorities have asked anyone with information about this pedestrian accident to call (760) 947-1500, explains a California personal injury attorney.

In 2009, pedestrian accidents claimed 4,092 lives and injured 59,000 people, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s most recent accident statistics. That year, pedestrian deaths accounted for 12 percent of all traffic fatalities and 3 percent of all people injured in traffic crashes. The majority of the fatal pedestrian accidents, nearly 70 percent, occurred at night.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of Gabriel Arias, the pedestrian who was killed in Hesperia last Tuesday.

Additional information, including books and articles on the injury and wrongful death claims process, is available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to discuss a specific legal matter with a California personal injury attorney, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

At around 6 p.m. on Sunday, February 27, a dark sedan struck 92-year-old Jafar Amirshahidi in a marked crosswalk at the intersection of Reseda Boulevard and Victory Boulevard in Reseda. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The driver of the sedan fled the scene of the pedestrian accident. Authorities have asked witnesses to call (818) 644-8116 or (800) 222-8477, explains a California personal injury lawyer.

From 2000 to 2009, fatal pedestrian accidents decreased by 14 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA. In 2009, the most recent year for which accident statistics are available, traffic accidents claimed the lives of 4,092 pedestrians and injured 59,000. That year, pedestrian fatalities accounted for 12 percent of all traffic fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of Jafar Amirshahidi, the pedestrian killed in the hit-and-run accident in Reseda.

Additional information, including links to pedestrian advocacy groups and articles on the injury and wrongful death claims process, is available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with a California personal injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

At about 9:00 a.m. on the morning of Wednesday, February 9th, 45-year-old Larry Dale Duke lost control of his 1995 Chevrolet pickup truck near Mae Hensley Junior High School and jumped the curb on which five teenage girls were walking, killing 13-year-old Danielle Tarancon-Leon, a student at the school. Another girl was dragged underneath the truck. The group sustained serious to minor injuries. Witnesses reported that Duke ran a stop sign prior to the accident. Authorities are investigating, explains a California injury lawyer.

In 2009, the most recent year for which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, has released accident statistics, 4,092 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents. Individuals aged 14 and younger accounted for 244, or 6%, of the fatalities. That year, this age group suffered 1,314, or 4%, of the 33,808 traffic fatalities that occurred in the United States, with pedestrians accounting for one-fifth of the deaths.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of Danielle Taracon-Leon, the 13-year-old girl killed in Ceres on Wednesday. We would also like to wish a full recovery to the girls who were injured.

Resources for accidents victims and their families, such as books and articles on the injury and wrongful death claims process, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to discuss a specific legal matter with a California injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

Yesterday at around 3:45 p.m., a van struck and critically injured two teenagers in Buena Park. 53-year-old Fountain Valley resident Gilbert Armando Gonzales was traveling south on Beach Boulevard when he lost control of his 2003 Chevy Astro van, swerving onto the sidewalk near Auto Center Drive and striking two 15-year-old Buena Park High School students. One of the teens was run over, while the other remained pinned under the van for approximately half an hour; firefighters had to use rescue airbags to free him. They were taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Authorities believe Gonzales may have suffered a seizure; however, they also suspect that he was driving under the influence and will arrest him when he is released from the hospital, explains an Orange County auto accident attorney.

Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, released its 2009 Traffic Safety Facts. That year, the agency recorded 4,092 pedestrian fatalities and 59,000 injuries nationwide. The majority of the fatal accidents occurred at non-intersection locations (74.8%) and between the hours of 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. (24.8%). Injury accidents occurred most frequently at intersections (49.1%) and within the same duration of time as fatal accidents (24.6%).

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to wish the two teenagers critically injured in Buena Park yesterday a full recovery.

The Orange County Register originally reported this pedestrian accident.

Additional information, including links to pedestrian advocacy groups and articles on pedestrian rights, is available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these resources, or to speak with an Orange County auto accident attorney, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

Shortly before 6:00 p.m. on Monday, January 3rd, an elderly man was attempting to cross near the intersection of Crestbrook Drive and Saratoga Avenue in Saratoga when a vehicle struck him. He sustained serious injuries from the impact and was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Authorities are investigating this pedestrian accident, explains a California personal injury lawyer.

Throughout the state, 646 fatal and 12,774 injury motor vehicle traffic collisions involving pedestrians occurred in 2008, the most recent year for which the California Highway Patrol has posted accident statistics. That year, Saratoga accounted for none of the 22 fatal and 3 of the 466 injury pedestrian accidents in Santa Clara County.

Whether walking inside or outside of a crosswalk, in most situations pedestrians have the right-of-way. If a driver neglects to observe a pedestrian’s right-of-way and an accident ensues, the driver may be held liable for any injury-related expenses the pedestrian incurs.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to wish the elderly man who was injured in this Saratoga pedestrian accident a full recovery.

Additional information, including articles on pedestrian rights and links to pedestrian advocacy groups, is available to the public free of charge.

To request one of these resources, or to discuss a specific legal matter with a California personal injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

Shortly before 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 2nd, an elderly driver struck three teenagers in Spring Valley. 72-year-old John Reyes was driving his 2008 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck along Sweetwater Road when he crashed into a utility pole and then into the group of Mount Miguel High School students. The teens sustained moderate to major injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital. Authorities did not find any indicators that Mr. Reyes was under the influence of drugs or alcohol and are investigating the accident, explains a California injury attorney.

While older adults are generally cautious drivers, physical changes that accompany aging have the potential to impair their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. These changes include a decrease in motor function, vision, and cognitive skills. Moreover, the risk of being involved in an accident increases with age: an 85-year-old driver is nine times more likely to suffer a fatal collision than a driver who is between the ages of 25 and 69. Certain prescription medications and medical conditions may also have an impact on driving abilities.

Pedestrian accidents accounted for 63 of the 246 fatal and 998 of the 13,527 injury traffic collisions that occurred throughout San Diego County, according to the California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Annual Report of Fatal and Injury Motor Vehicle Traffic Collisions. In most instances, a pedestrian has the right-of-way, regardless of whether that person is walking within a designated crosswalk or not. If a driver fails to yield for a pedestrian and an accident ensues, the driver may be held responsible for any injury-related expenses the pedestrian incurs.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to wish the three teenagers who were struck by the elderly driver in Spring Valley a full recovery from their injuries.

Articles on pedestrian rights, links to pedestrian advocacy groups, and videos on mistakes to avoid when pursuing an injury claim are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request an article or a book, or to discuss a specific legal matter with a California injury attorney, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

At about 12:25 p.m. on Wednesday, November 17th, a shuttle bus for the University of California at San Francisco fatally struck pedestrian Nu Ha Dam at the intersection of Geary Street and Leavenworth Street. The bus turned as Dam was traversing the crosswalk, striking her once and then again when the driver heard the collision and put the vehicle in reverse. She died at the scene. Authorities are investigating the accident, explains a California injury lawyer.

In the United States, a pedestrian is injured every 9 minutes and killed every 110 minutes in a traffic crash, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While driver negligence is a common cause of pedestrian accidents, many have also been attributed to poorly maintained walkways: inadequate street lighting, deteriorating sidewalks, or improperly marked crosswalks. In the latter case, the municipal agency responsible for these public areas may be held liable if an accident occurs.

In most cases, pedestrians have the right-of-way. If a driver fails to stop for a person who is walking—whether that person is using a crosswalk or not—and an accident ensues, the driver may be held responsible for the expenses related to the injuries the pedestrian sustains. In the unfortunate event that the pedestrian does not survive the accident, his or her family may pursue a wrongful death claim against the driver.

Everyone at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer their condolences to the family of Nu Ha Dam, the pedestrian fatally struck by the University of California at San Francisco shuttle bus.

Resources, such as links to pedestrian advocacy groups and articles on pedestrian rights, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request an article or a book, or to discuss a specific legal issue with a California injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

At approximately 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 17th, a woman, either in her 40s or 50s, was struck and killed in a Fresno crosswalk. The pedestrian accident occurred near the intersection of Home Avenue and Cedar Avenue. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not released any information about the driver at this time, explains a California personal injury lawyer.

In the United States, 4,378 pedestrians were killed and 69,000 injured in traffic accidents in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). California accounted for more pedestrian fatalities than any other state (620), followed by Florida (490), and Texas (416). That year in Fresno County, 20 pedestrians died and 197 were injured in traffic crashes.

In most situations, pedestrians have the right-of-way, including when they are inside of a crosswalk. If a driver fails to yield for a pedestrian and an accident ensues, the driver may be held liable for medical bills and other expenses related to the injuries the pedestrian sustains. In the unfortunate event that the pedestrian does not survive the accident, his or her family may pursue a wrongful death claim against the negligent driver.

Everyone at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer their condolences to the family of the woman killed in the pedestrian accident yesterday in Fresno.

Articles, books, and resources on pedestrian advocacy and rights are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request an article or a book, or to speak with a California personal injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

In the early morning hours of Monday, November 8th, a car struck 30-year-old Jose Trinidad as he attempted to cross near the corner of 14th Street and Newhall Avenue in Newhall. The driver fled the scene, leaving Trinidad critically injured with severe trauma to the head. Police have asked witnesses or anyone with information about this hit-and-run accident to call (661) 799-5112, explains a California pedestrian injury lawyer.

Santa Clarita accounted for 2 of the 214 fatal and 32 of the 4,985 injury traffic collisions involving pedestrians that occurred in Los Angeles County in 2008, according to the California Highway Patrol’s statistics. Statewide, 646 pedestrians lost their lives that year and 12,774 were injured.

Pedestrian accidents often occur at intersections, where drivers attempting to turn are watching for other cars instead of people walking or on bicycles. A driver is required to give a pedestrian the right-of-way and may be held liable for any injuries resulting from an accident for which that driver is responsible. Unfortunately, in a hit-and-run accident there is no driver present to hold accountable; however, the victim may still acquire compensation through the uninsured motorist coverage on his or her automobile insurance policy.

Everyone at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to wish Jose Trinidad, the pedestrian critically injured on Monday, a full recovery.

Links to pedestrian advocacy groups and articles on accident victims’ rights and questions frequently asked about personal injury cases are available to the public free of charge.

To request an article, or to speak with a California pedestrian injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

At approximately 6:20 a.m. on Friday, November 5th, a light-colored 1995 Toyota Avalon struck 83-year-old Salim Nosrat while he was attempting to cross at the intersection of Fremont Boulevard and Norris Road in Fremont. Nosrat sustained serious head trauma and died later at a nearby hospital. The driver fled the scene. Police are searching for his vehicle and have asked anyone with information about this hit-and-run accident to call the Fremont Police Department at (510) 790-6760, explains a California pedestrian accident lawyer.

Fremont accounted for 5 of the 33 fatal and 45 of the 649 injury traffic collisions involving pedestrians in 2008, according the California Highway Patrol’s Annual Report of Fatal and Injury Motor Vehicle Collisions. Nationwide, 4,378 pedestrians lost their lives that year, 18% of whom where individuals aged 65 and older. The groups with the greatest risk of suffering a fatal pedestrian accident were the young, the elderly, and men.

Drivers are required to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians whether they are using a crosswalk or not. When a driver’s failure to yield for a pedestrian results in an injury-accident, the victim may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related expenses. In the case of a hit-and-run accident, the pedestrian may still receive such compensation by filing a claim on the uninsured motorist coverage of his or her automobile insurance policy.

Everyone at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer their condolences to the family of Salim Nosrat.

Additional information, including links to pedestrian advocacy groups and articles on accident victims’ rights, is available to the public free of charge.

To request an article or a book, or to speak with a California pedestrian accident lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

At around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 4th, the 65-year-old driver of a Chrysler PT Cruiser unintentionally applied the accelerator while her car was in reverse, causing her to lose control of the vehicle and pin a 67-year-old woman against another car in a Clairemont Mesa parking lot. The pedestrian was critically injured and taken to a nearby hospital, explains a California pedestrian accident attorney.

San Diego County accounted for 63 of the 646 fatal and 998 of the 12,774 injury traffic collisions involving pedestrians that occurred throughout the state in 2008, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Annual Report of Fatal and Injury Motor Vehicle Traffic Collisions. The majority of the accidents occurred at night (70%), in urban areas (72%), in normal weather conditions (89%), and at non-intersection locations (76%), according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Unfortunately, children and adults aged 65 years or older suffer the greatest risk of being involved in a pedestrian accident. Although drivers are required to give people walking the right-of-way, they often fail to do so, especially at intersections, where they tend to look for other cars when attempting to turn instead of pedestrians and bicyclists; if a driver’s negligence results in an injury-accident, that person may be held liable for any medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering the victim incurs.

Everyone at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to wish the woman critically injured in the Clairemont Mesa parking lot a full recovery.

Additional information, including links to pedestrian advocacy groups and articles on pedestrian rights, are available to public free of charge.

To request an article or a book, or to speak with a California pedestrian accident attorney, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

Shortly before 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 28th, 89-year-old pedestrian Tzu Tseng Wang was struck by a Honda Civic while crossing near the corner of Los Alamitos Boulevard and Orangewood Avenue in Los Alamitos. The impact left him critically injured. Paramedics transported him to a nearby hospital. Police are investigating the accident and have asked witnesses to call (562) 431-2255, explains an Orange County pedestrian accident lawyer.

Adults aged 65 years and older accounted for approximately 18% of the 4,378 people killed in pedestrian accidents in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)—more than any other age group. Statewide, 489 of the 3,434 traffic-related fatalities were attributed to individuals in this age group that year.

Whether a pedestrian is crossing within or outside of a designated crosswalk, in most situations drivers are required to yield the right-of-way to that person. Unfortunately, drivers attempting to turn at intersections often fail to yield, so pedestrians should take extra precautions before crossing, including looking left, right, and then left again.

Everyone at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to wish Tzu Tseng Wang, the pedestrian who was critically injured yesterday, a full recovery.

Additional resources, including links to pedestrian advocacy groups and articles on pedestrian rights, are available to the public free of charge.

To request an article or a book, or to speak with an Orange County pedestrian accident lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

At around 10:00 a.m. yesterday morning, Eric Christopher Woodward, the driver of a Ford Crown Victoria, suffered a seizure while traveling on East McFadden Avenue in Santa Ana. His vehicle swerved onto the sidewalk and struck a mother and her 4-year-old child, the impact throwing them 20 feet, explains an Orange County pedestrian accident attorney. While the mother sustained moderate injuries, the child was critically injured. Paramedics took them to a nearby hospital. Due to his medical condition, Woodward does not possess a driver’s license.

A total of 4,378 pedestrians were killed and 69,000 injured in traffic accidents in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Adults aged 65 and older and children between the ages of 5 and 9 years suffered the highest risk of being involved in a fatal or injury collision, with adults (65+) accounting for 18% of fatalities and 10% of injuries and children (5-9 years) accounting for 20% of fatalities that year.

Everyone at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to wish the mother and child injured in yesterday’s accident in Santa Ana a full recovery.

Additional information on pedestrian accidents and accident victims’ rights is available to the public free of charge.

To request an article or a book, or to speak with an Orange County pedestrian accident attorney, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

As our children go back to school this September, many of them will walk there for the first time on their own, which can be an exciting experience. For those of us that are parents, however, letting go can be pretty scary. We work hard to make sure our kids know right from wrong and hope when we aren’t around they are always using their best judgment.

As a father and a California pedestrian injury lawyer, I’m well aware of the statistics indicating that nearly 100 American children suffer serious injury every day from accidents involving motor vehicles, which is why I want to share some pedestrian safety tips.

Before you let your kids start walking to school on their own, make sure they have a firm grasp on these pedestrian safety tips.

1. Look left-right-left before crossing and always keep an eye out for approaching traffic while crossing.
2. Always walk on the sidewalk, and remember to stay out of the street unless you are crossing.
3. Remember to always cross at designated and posted pedestrian crossings. If there are no designated cross walks, make sure they know to cross at street corners.
4. Obey all traffic lights and signs and pay close attention to the neighborhood crossing guard, if there is one. NEVER try to cross a street by running out between cars.
5. Stay visible by wearing bright colors and reflective gear whenever possible.

This information comes from an article I found recently, “Back to School in Kansas City:
Child Pedestrian Safety Tips for a Safe and Happy School Year” by Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyer, James Roswold at Roswold Law Group. I think it does a great job of making clear the points our children need to know about pedestrian safety. I hope you find it useful as well.

The California pedestrian injury lawyers at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to wish you and your family a safe September.

Additional articles on pedestrian safety, rights, and accidents are available free of charge to the public. For more information, or to speak with a California pedestrian injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

To date, at least one pedestrian accident has occurred each week in Los Angeles or Orange County since the beginning of September: an intoxicated tow-truck driver struck a mother and her two young children in an Oxnard crosswalk on September 1st; on the 2nd, a driver hit an 83-year-old man at a Pasadena intersection, stopped to pull him out from under his Mercedes Benz, and fled the scene, leaving the man in critical condition. On the 8th, the driver of an SUV rear-ended a truck that was waiting for a mother pushing her baby in a stroller and two other children to traverse a Huntington Beach crosswalk, sending the truck crashing into the group, killing the baby and seriously injuring the mother and one of the children. On the 10th, a 62-year-old Huntington Beach man died from the injuries he sustained when he was struck by a car while crossing an intersection.

“All of these pedestrians accidents share one factor in common,” explains an Orange County pedestrian accident attorney. “They were suffered by either the young or the elderly, the two age groups at the greatest risk of being involved in a pedestrian accident.”

In the United States, traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 3 and 14, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Of all traffic fatalities suffered by children in this age group in 2008, approximately 20% were attributed to pedestrian accidents. In that same year, for children between the ages of 5 and 9 who died in traffic accidents, one in every five was a pedestrian.

Individuals aged 65 and older, explains an Orange County pedestrian accident attorney, are also highly susceptible to being involved in a pedestrian accident. People in this age group accounted for approximately 18% of all pedestrian fatalities in 2008, more than any other age group, according to the NHTSA. In California, this age group accounted for 489 of the 3,434 traffic-related fatalities that occurred that year, or 14.2%.

In many cases, pedestrian accidents occur in intersections, where drivers frequently fail to yield to the right-of-way to crossing pedestrians, whether the crosswalk is marked or not. When drivers are attempting to turn at intersections, they are often looking out for other cars, not pedestrians; therefore, it is important for pedestrians to look left, right, and left again before crossing. If a vehicle is approaching the intersection, make eye contact with the driver to ensure that he or she intends on stopping. Vehicles parked along the street may obstruct pedestrians preparing to cross from the view of oncoming traffic; in these situations, pedestrians should treat the edge line of the parked vehicle as the beginning of the crosswalk, stopping there to check for oncoming traffic.

Pedestrians walking during times of reduced visibility—at night or early in the morning—should wear retro-reflective clothing and, if possible, carry a flashlight.

In instances where there is no sidewalk, pedestrians should always walk facing traffic.

Driver negligence is not the sole cause of pedestrian accidents. Many pedestrian accidents result from poor walking conditions, often as a result of the improper maintenance of sidewalks, street lighting, and crosswalks. Of the 52,482 people aged 65 or older treated in emergency rooms for nonfatal injuries between 2001 and 2006, more than 9,000 sustained their injuries as a result of poor walking conditions, according to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In such instances, the party responsible for maintaining public walkways—often the municipal government—may be held liable for injuries suffered in a pedestrian accident.

Pedestrian accidents are unexpected and can take a devastating toll on the life of the victim, as well as his or her family. The Orange County pedestrian accident attorneys at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to wish the accident victims mentioned in this article a full recovery. They would also like to offer their condolences to the families of the individuals who lost their lives in pedestrian accidents.

Additional information on pedestrian accidents is available to the public free of charge, as are articles on car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and bicycle accidents.

To request an article or book, or to speak with an Orange County Pedestrian accident attorney, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

A pedestrian is injured every nine minutes in the U.S. and is killed every two hours. Findings from a 5 year research study from the U.S. Department of Transportation find that surprisingly more pedestrian crashes occur within the marked crosswalk than unmarked ones.

This study identified several cities around the U.S., including two in California, in an effort to identify trends or obvious safety issues involving pedestrian vs. car accidents. The most interesting discovery was to find that pedestrian accidents occurred inside crosswalks in two-thirds of all cases. Additionally, when there is a crosswalk involving crossing of 4 or more lanes, the rate of accidents goes up substantially. Our experiences as an Orange County pedestrian accident attorney, mirrors the statistics. Very frequently, we have clients struck while crossing large streets more often than small ones.

Psychologically we may believe we are safer in a crosswalk, but data shows that we must be just as vigilant whether we are walking in a marked or unmarked crossing. Marked crosswalks give pedestrians a false sense of security.

Last month a jury awarded $12.2 Million to the family of Emily Liou, a young 17-year old girl who was severely injured while crossing at a marked crosswalk. Tragically, she sustained permanent brain injury which leaves her in a vegetative state. She will require extensive medical care for the rest of her life.

The California court found that Emily’s injuries were caused by both the negligent driver and Caltrans. The California Department of Transportation was found to have known that the intersection was hazardous and had several previous fatalities.

Liou family’s personal injury attorney’s worked hard for the family and proved that CalTrans put too much emphasis on vehicle safeguards and not enough on pedestrian safety. They had never inspected that crosswalk so were unaware of the inherent lighting issues at night as well as southbound vehicles not being able to visualize the marked intersection due to that fact that it lies at the crest of a hill.

The jury found CalTrans 50% negligent, the driver 30% and Emily 20% because she was listening to her ipod.

Transportation engineers are now designing more modern crosswalks and hopefully in the future we will have less pedestrian accidents. Planned communities such as in South Orange County are utilizing some high tech improvements to minimize pedestrian accidents.
Proven techniques for reducing accidents are:
• On multi-lane roads using raised medians; this makes it easier to cross the street as well as reduces car vs. pedestrian accidents
• In certain high traffic areas, improved night lighting increases safety
• Having an exclusive pedestrian break where all traffic is stopped during each signal period reduces pedestrian collisions by 50%. This allows more time for slower walkers as well as no right turn on red (RTOR) collisions.
• Marked crosswalks that illuminate flashing yellow lights that are more visible to drivers
Lastly, both drivers and pedestrians need to watch for each other and avoid distractions.

We are pedestrian accident lawyers here to help you if you were a victim of this type of conduct. Call us at 1 866 981-5596 if you need help.