Newport Beach City Worker Runs Over Woman Lying in Sand

A woman was hospitalized with injuries after she was run over by an on-duty city worker while she was lying in the sand on Newport Beach the afternoon of April 19. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the employee was driving a city-owned GMC Canyon pickup just east of lifeguard tower 20, when he struck the woman. Officials said the truck had been driving at slow speeds just south of the pier toward the ocean when the woman was struck. She was transported to a nearby trauma center with injuries to her chest and pelvis. She is expected to survive. Newport Beach city officials said they are still investigating the incident.

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

What Caused This Accident?

Based on this news report, it appears that the city worker was driving on the beach where the woman was sunbathing. There are a number of unanswered questions here. Why was the city worker driving the vehicle on the sand? Did he alert beachgoers by honking the vehicle’s horn or in some other manner? Why did he fail to see the woman who was sunbathing on the beach? Was the city employee distracted or otherwise negligent at the time of the accident? We trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.

Fault and Liability

In this particular case, the employee and the city could be held liable for the woman’s injuries. The injured victim may be able to seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, pain and suffering and emotional distress. In personal injury cases against governmental agencies, the claim must be filed within 180 days of the incident, according to California Government Code Section 911.2.

Injured victims would be well advised to contact an experienced Newport Beach personal injury lawyer who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families.