Each year in Southern California, hundreds of people are injured or even die in pedestrian accidents as they walk along the busy streets of LA and Orange County. Even when the signal light at an intersection is instructing a pedestrian to cross the street, certain motorists who aren’t looking out for pedestrians or who are distracted behind the wheel may still cause a pedestrian accident or fatality.
Because pedestrians are slow moving compared to vehicles, they are more vulnerable when crossing the street, often sustaining severe injuries or dying as a result of pedestrian accidents.
Why do pedestrian accidents occur in California?
- Human error
- Distracted drivers
- Speeding
- Inattentive drivers
- Risk-taking behaviors
Drivers who speed do not have time to react or stop by the time they see pedestrians, which is true for negligent and inattentive drivers as well. Drivers should have an understanding of California pedestrian laws and know when to yield to pedestrians. However, the statistics concerning California do not indicate that drivers in this state share the road or yield to pedestrians. California is one of the top four states with the highest amounts of pedestrian accidents and fatalities, which could be due to the nice weather that brings pedestrians outside year-round or the congested streets with more drivers than most places. Whatever the case, motorists need to do a better job of yielding to pedestrians and looking out for them, especially at night.
We can help.
Having a skilled attorney on your side will help you determine if your pedestrian accident was the fault of the driver or that of a road hazard. If the latter is the case, then the city in which the accident occurred may be held liable as well.
Call the Law Offices of John P. Burns at (877) 320-1338 for a free legal evaluation if you or someone you love has been injured or killed as a result of a pedestrian accident in Orange County.