Orange County Fatal Pedestrian Accidents Continue to Climb

So far, just over the last week, three pedestrians have died in Orange County putting the county nearly on the same pace as last year for such fatalities. In Orange County, 16 pedestrians have died in 2016, according to a report in The Orange County Register. Countywide, there were 71 pedestrian fatalities in Orange County last year. Most recently on March 10, 2016, a woman in her 50s was struck and killed by a vehicle when she was crossing East Santiago Canyon Road in Lake Forest.

A day earlier 49-year-old Javier Sanchez Guzman died four days after he was struck and critically injured while attempting to cross Euclid Street in Santa Ana. Also, on March 6, 2016, 90-year-old Tran Nguyen was struck while crossing a street intersection in a marked crosswalk in Santa Ana. None of the drivers in these incidents has been arrested.

Surge in OC Pedestrian Deaths

The Register also reported that 2015was the deadliest year for pedestrians in Orange County with 71 fatalities. Some of the common factors in last year’s pedestrian deaths included older adult victims, many of whom were walking at night. Nearly half of the victims were struck when crossing the street outside a marked crosswalk while a quarter of pedestrians killed were inside a crosswalk. Santa Ana was the deadliest city for pedestrians. Other hot spots included Orange, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove and Westminster.

Pedestrian Accident Wrongful Death

If you have lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident, you may be able to seek monetary compensation for damages by filing a wrongful death claim. Such claims usually seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, pain and suffering and loss of love and companionship. Examples of fatal pedestrian accident cases that could result in wrongful death claims include incidents where the driver was distracted, impaired, speeding, acting recklessly or failed to yield to a pedestrian.

Pursuing these types of cases can be challenging. In a wrongful death case, plaintiffs must prove that the defendant was negligent when he or she caused or contributed to the decedent’s death. Families of deceased pedestrian accident victims would be well advised to contact an experienced Orange County pedestrian accident attorney who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that they receive maximum compensation for their losses.