Last week, a girl and her father were struck by a vehicle as they crossed the street in Whittier. It was dark out and, unfortunately, there were no crosswalks in the area they were hit. The little girl’s birthday was the next day.
A neighbor of the victims said, “We always see pedestrians crossing the street because there is not anything nearby where they can cross safely. It’s actually a concern.”
We bring you this story because it shows us another angle at the dangers that pedestrians face and the negligence of government officials to address pedestrian safety concerns. By failing to install safe pedestrian crosswalks, they are contributing to casualties.
Do you know where to turn if you or a loved one are injured? If you need a pedestrian accident lawyer, turn to the team at the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg for help.
What Can Happen?
Pedestrian accidents are not uncommon in California or in Los Angeles County. For the latest reporting year, we saw:
- More than 14,215 pedestrian accident injuries statewide.
- More than 3,000 pedestrian accident injuries or fatalities in LA County.
When these accidents occur, the outcome is almost always bad for the pedestrian. Since they have no protection from the force of a vehicle, they often sustain serious injuries. These injuries can include:
- Broken or dislocated bones
- Severe lacerations or amputations
- Internal organ damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head or brain trauma
Recovery from these injuries can take time, but what happens if you have to miss work? Will insurance cover all of your accident-related expenses, including lost income?
How They Happen
Often, pedestrian accidents are the result of driver carelessness or negligence.
- Drivers may simply not pay attention around crosswalks or right-of-ways.
- Drunk drivers continue to be a danger to everyone on the roadway.
- Those distracted by cell phones, other devices, or people in the vehicle are a threat to pedestrians.
The Government
Government authorities, whether at the state, county, or city level have a responsibility to ensure pedestrian safety to the best of their ability. This includes studying traffic and accident patterns to determine where to install crosswalks. If they fail to do this, they are creating a hazardous environment just like the one we brought you in the opening story.
Had the government done its job, perhaps that little girl would still be alive today, celebrating her birthday with her family.
What You Can Do
If you are not sure whether or not your pedestrian accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, contact the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg. A qualified and knowledgeable attorney will sit with you and let you know what your options are. We want to make sure that you have the compensation you need for all of your accident-related expenses. When you need a Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney, you can contact us by clicking here or calling 310-997-0904 for a free consultation.
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