California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
A three-vehicle car accident in North Hollywood resulted in the death of a female pedestrian standing on the sidewalk. According to KTLA News, the crash occurred just after 3:00 p.m. on March 26, 2019, on Victory Boulevard.
Police reported that a “BMW driven by an identified male in his 20s was traveling northbound on Vineland Avenue at a high rate of speed and ran a red light, colliding with another vehicle in the intersection that was coming in southbound and making a turn onto Victory Boulevard.” This initial collision sent the BMW spinning into a CVS parking lot, where it hit another car and the curb, which sent the BMW into the air. When the car came down on the side walk, it landed on top of the woman waiting there.
Nearby witnesses did everything they could to get the car off the woman before the fire department responded but were unsuccessful. When emergency personnel finally freed the woman, she was rushed to the hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly after her arrival. Officers are now investigating to determine the exact cause of the accident, including whether the BMW driver was intoxicated at the time of the incident. They also reported that the BMW was speeding when it ran the red light.
Sadly, pedestrian accidents like the one in this case occur far too often, especially on busy Southern California streets. Whenever drivers and pedestrians are in the same place, there is potential for accidents to happen and pedestrians are particularly vulnerable. While walking is the most basic, cheap, and environmentally-friendly form of transportation it has become increasingly risky in recent years.
According to a study done by the Governor’s Highway Safety Association, pedestrian fatalities are only getting more common. The report stated that “during the 10-year period from 2008 to 2017, the number of pedestrian fatalities increased by 35 percent (from 4,414 deaths in 2008 to 5,977 deaths in 2017).” Additionally, “five states accounted for almost half, 46 percent, of all pedestrian deaths”—California is one of those five states along with Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Texas.
With fatal pedestrian accidents on the rise, anyone walking on Southern California streets should do so with caution and always remain alert. If you have lost a loved one in a Los Angeles pedestrian accident, you should speak to an experienced wrongful death attorney immediately. A wrongful death claim allows the family of a victim to seek compensation for the death of their loved one from the driver responsible for the fatal crash. While this compensation can never cover the true cost of losing someone you love, it can help you replace lost income, pay final medical expenses, and cover burial expenses.
If your family member was unexpectedly lost due to a pedestrian wrongful death accident, contact the skilled wrongful death attorneys at Walch Law. We have years of experience with wrongful death cases and will fight to obtain the compensation that your family deserves. You can contact us today for a free case consultation through our online form or by calling 866-465-8792.