According to The Orange County Register, a tragic pedestrian accident that occurred on a Sunday evening earlier this month resulted in one fatality. Police determined that a 76-year-old man was attempting to cross Lambert Road near Euclid Street in La Habra when a motorist hit him.
Authorities report the man was crossing approximately 200 feet from the nearest designated crosswalk when a westbound car struck him. The driver of the sedan remained at the scene and told investigators he had not been speeding prior to the accident. Local police claim the posted speed limit where the collision occurred is 40 mph.
After officers found the injured man at the scene, firefighters transported him to UC Irvine Medical Center, where he later died. The crash remains under investigation.
If you or someone you love sustained catastrophic injuries in a car, truck, or pedestrian accident, contact the Law Office of Joel W. Baruch, P.C. to determine if your family has grounds for a claim. Based in Irvine, our attorneys have litigated more than 200 trials in Southern California. Call 949-864-9662 to schedule a case evaluation with a car wreck attorney.
What Should You Do Following a Pedestrian Accident?
Sadly, even those who follow all local crosswalk laws and always look both ways before stepping out into the street are vulnerable to pedestrian accidents. All it takes is one drunk, drowsy, or distracted driver to drift off the road and onto the sidewalk.
If you are involved in a pedestrian crash, there are steps you can take to improve your chances of filing a successful personal injury claim against the liable motorist. These include:
- Remaining at the scene;
- Convincing the liable motorist to stay until responders arrive;
- Writing down the motorist’s driver license number, license plate number, and insurance information;
- Accepting emergency medical care or visiting an urgent care center after leaving the scene;
- Documenting all injuries and any subsequent treatments;
- Gathering the contact information of any witnesses; and
- Calling a car wreck attorney.
The above steps may seem obvious, but it is easy to forget or ignore an essential task in the wake of a traumatizing collision. Failing to follow even the first step and leaving the scene instead could jeopardize your chances of filing a successful claim at all.
Unfortunately, this is more common than many people realize. Since some impact injuries do not manifest symptoms right away and shock can mask the symptoms of those that do, accident victims often assume they are unhurt and continue on their way without documenting any details of the incident.
In cases where the pedestrian does remain at the scene, the liable motorist may not. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 20 percent of the pedestrians who died in 2013 were involved in hit-and-run incidents.
If you were hurt in a pedestrian collision, contact the Law Office of Joel W. Baruch, P.C. to determine the most strategic way to proceed. We are proud to help accident victims seek the compensation they deserve, and our high win rate speaks for itself.
Call 949-864-9662 to schedule a consultation with a car wreck lawyer in Irvine. If you want to learn more about car accident claims in California, visit usattorneys.com/car-accident/california.
