San Diego Pedestrians Seriously Injured After Struck by Vehicle
Earlier this year, two San Diego pedestrians were seriously injured after being struck by vehicles. The two separate accidents took place within an hour of each other, highlighting the alarming rate of pedestrian injury and fatality in San Diego.
Two pedestrian accidents within an hour of each other
On Wednesday, January 31, a 46-year-old woman was hit while crossing University Avenue near Fairmount Avenue in City Heights. The driver, a 20-year-old woman, was tested for alcohol and drugs, but police said they were not believed to be factors in the accident. The victim did not survive.
Less than an hour later, a 67-year-old man using the crosswalk at the 6900 block of La Jolla Boulevard was struck by a Kia sedan driven by a 31-year-old man, whom police also did not suspect was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The victim was hospitalized with serious injuries including a fractured back and open leg fracture.
Possibility for an injury compensation lawsuit
While the causes of both accidents are still under investigation, Circulate San Diego, a community organization dedicated to advancing mobility choices, told the Times of San Diego both cases were preventable, opening up the possibility for an injury compensation lawsuit.
According to Dangerous by Design, a report by Smart Growth America, San Diego is ranked number 56 of 104 in the 2016 Pedestrian Danger Index, but comes in 16th for pedestrian fatalities.
Accidents involving cars hitting pedestrians in San Diego
And what’s worse, accidents involving cars hitting pedestrians in San Diego are on the rise. A 13-year-old boy is still in critical condition six months after being struck at the intersection of 32nd Street and Ocean View Boulevard in Logan Heights. About a month after that accident, UC San Diego pharmaceutical researcher Ruben Abagyan was hit by a car while walking at the intersection of La Jolla Shores Drive and Downwind Way. Abagyan suffered a traumatic brain injury, and he and his wife have filed a claim against the City of San Diego for the dangerous pedestrian conditions on La Jolla Shores Drive.
The family of the 13-year-old boy who was hit in Logan Heights has also filed claims against the city’s Risk Management Department.
Drivers at fault in vehicle-pedestrian collisions
While drivers at fault in vehicle-pedestrian collisions are still financially and legally responsible, victims have also pointed to dangerous roadways and inadequate crosswalks that fall under the City of San Diego’s responsibility.
Some politicians have attempted to mitigate the danger. San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer supported in 2015 the adoption of the Vision Zero policy, which was designed to end pedestrian deaths in a city that suffers from them more often than the national average.
A spokesperson for Vision Zero Network, a national group dedicated to ending pedestrian fatalities and injuries, told the San Diego Reader in February:
“San Diego has one of the highest rates of injury and death for pedestrians in the country, in terms of percentage of traffic deaths attributed to pedestrians. It reaches almost 50 percent, so that in and of itself is reason for alarm.”
Contact Bates Law if you need a lawyer for San Diego pedestrian-vehicle collisions
San Diego might be America’s Finest City, but it’s also a dangerous one for pedestrians. If you or someone you love has been involved in a pedestrian-vehicle collision, the first step toward recovering compensation for damages is to research pedestrian accident attorneys. At Bates Law, we are dedicated to protecting your rights and getting you the settlement you deserve.
Call us today for a free consultation at (619) 222-0900.