A pedestrian accident in Hollywood proved fatal for an 87-year-old woman the afternoon of June 21, 2010 as she attempted to cross the street in a marked crosswalk. The Daily Breeze reports that the elderly pedestrian was trying to cross the street at the intersection of Vine Street and Selma Avenue when she was hit by a large commercial truck. She was pronounced dead at the scene. No charges have been filed against the truck driver pending an investigation.

I offer my heartfelt sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this woman. They will be in my prayers.

There were 268 fatalities and 25,588 injuries involving Los Angeles car accidents, according to California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Los Angeles County, 667 deaths and 52,229 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents in 2008.

Right-of-Way Issues

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."

Based on this report, it is not clear who had the right-of-way – the truck or the pedestrian. There are also other questions here. Why did the truck driver fail to see the pedestrian? Was he impaired, distracted, driving recklessly or otherwise negligent at the time? I trust officials are looking into these issues in order to determine what happened here.

Fault and Liability

Families of deceased victims, in such cases, would be well-advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will be able to stay on top of the investigation and determine what occurred. A skilled car accident lawyer will also be able to determine whether a dangerous or defective roadway caused the accident. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable. Please remember that any claim against a governmental agency in California must be properly filed within 180 days of the accident.

What are some of the most dangerous intersections for pedestrians in your neighborhood or city?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.