Man Critically Injured in Anaheim Pedestrian Accident

A man suffered critical injuries in an Anaheim pedestrian accident after a driver struck him near Disneyland. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the major injury collision occurred early morning on January 18, 2016 on South Haster Street just south of West Katella Avenue. A man was driving southbound on Haster Street in a white sedan when he struck the pedestrian walking west in a crosswalk causing his windshield to crash.

Police said the driver was cooperative and determined that drugs or alcohol were not factors in the crash. The injured pedestrian was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. The investigation is still ongoing and the pedestrian’s condition is unknown.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured pedestrian. We wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2013 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were seven fatalities and 107 injuries reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in the city of Anaheim. In Orange County as a whole, 52 people died and 784 were injured due to pedestrian accidents during the same year.

Crosswalk Laws

Based on this news report, it appears that the pedestrian was walking in a marked crosswalk when he was struck by the vehicle. Under California law, motorists must stop and yield the right of way to pedestrians walking in marked crosswalks. California Vehicle Code section 21950 states: “The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.”

The same section also states that the driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk “shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of a vehicle or take any other action relating to the operating of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian.”

Fault and Liability

If the driver is determined to have been at fault, the injured pedestrian can seek compensation from the motorist for damages including medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, rehabilitation, pain and suffering and emotional distress.

An experienced Anaheim personal injury lawyer will also be able to determine whether a  dangerous roadway condition caused or contributed to the incident. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held liable. Please remember that any personal injury or wrongful death claim must be filed within 180 days of the incident.