Three Teenagers Suffer Serious Injuries in Garden Grove Pedestrian Accident
Three Teenagers Suffer Serious Injuries in Garden Grove Pedestrian Accident
A group of teenagers were seriously injured in a Garden Grove pedestrian accident after a vehicle struck them. According to a KTLA news report, the teens were crossing Westminster Boulevard at Kerry Street the evening of July 19 when a tan SUV crashed into them. The group of about seven teens was walking within a marked crosswalk when they were hit. Three of the youth were transported to an area trauma center for treatment.
One of the teens said the group was pressing the button to go across the street. They had the signal and were walking across the street. One of the witnesses said the SUV, which was traveling west on Westminster, ran a red light and collided into the group. Initial investigations indicate intoxicated driving did not play a part in this crash, police said. But, toxicology tests are still pending. No citations or arrests were reported. The investigation is ongoing.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the young victims of this pedestrian accident. We wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
There were four fatalities and 45 injuries as a result of pedestrian accidents in Garden Grove, according to California Highway Patrol’s 2014 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Orange County as a whole, 47 people died and 764 were injured due to pedestrian accidents during the same time
Laws Involving Pedestrians
Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the SUV plowed into the students who were crossing in a marked crosswalk at an intersection with the signal. 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
In this case, we trust police are looking into whether distracted driving or other factors caused or contributed to the driver running over the pedestrians in the crosswalk as well. Injured victims here may be able to seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitative treatment, permanent injuries, disabilities and pain and suffering. Injured victims or their families would also be well advised to contact an experienced Garden Grove pedestrian accident lawyer who will stay abreast of the official investigation and help ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.
