Southern California Injury Lawyer Blog
Recently, a national news report released updates on a tragic trick-or-tricking California pedestrian accident. A young family was walking back to their condo in Long Beach when an SUV crossed onto the sidewalk and slammed into the family. Sadly, the family was just steps away from their condo when the driver struck them. Law enforcement arrested the driver at the scene of the accident, and he was arrested for driving under the influence. In addition to drunk driving charges, the man is facing gross vehicular manslaughter criminal charges. The husband died shortly after impact, his son died on Saturday, and his wife died the following morning.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) in conjunction with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) collect, study, and report motor vehicle accident statistics. As the access and ease of public transportation in California increases, many more people walk as part of their daily commute. The increase in daily pedestrian traffic in combination with the prevalence of street and community events makes it even more crucial that motorists engage in safe driving.
Unfortunately, almost 20% of California accidents involve pedestrians, which is nearly 60% higher than the national average. The most recent data compilation reveals that there is an average of 238,000 fatal and non-fatal traffic injuries in California, and over 13,000 of those accidents involve severe injuries to pedestrians. Various factors impact the likelihood that a pedestrian will be involved in a traffic accident. Some factors include lighting, time of day, season, and pedestrian location. Most California pedestrian accidents occur during daylight, weekday business hours at non-intersections.
The majority of California pedestrian traffic accidents are the result of a negligent driver. Some common examples of negligence are speeding, distracted, and impaired driving. Pedestrians often suffer severe and sometimes fatal injuries because they are unable to move out of the way of speeding drivers. Similarly, distracted drivers will often fail to recognize yield and stop signs and subsequently hit a pedestrian. As the case above illustrates, impaired drivers often cause the most severe injuries to pedestrians. Pedestrian accidents are particularly disturbing because, in many cases, the pedestrian was not engaged in any negligent behavior, and they have very little protection from these types of drivers.
Have You Suffered Injuries Because of Negligent California Driver?
If you or a loved one suffered injuries or death because of a negligent California driver, you should contact the Sharifi Firm. Our law firm represents California car accident victims, as well as those who have been injured in all types of personal injury claims. We have extensive experience handling the challenges that many personal injury cases pose, and have successfully resolved countless lawsuits on behalf of our clients. Our reputation is built on vigorously and effectively representing our clients and getting them the compensation they deserve. Compensation often includes payments for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. Defendants in these cases can face hefty civil penalties and will do anything to avoid liability. It is important that you have one of our dedicated attorneys represent your interests and zealously advocate on your behalf. Contact our office at 866-422-7222 to schedule your free initial consultation with an attorney on our team.