A teen girl was seriously injured in a San Diego car accident after she was hit by an SUV that was being driven by another student from her high school. According to a news article in the San Diego Union-Tribune, the major injury crash occurred at the Torrey Pines High School's parking lot. A 16-year-old student was driving a 1994 Chevy Blazer SUV in the parking lot on January 14, 2010 when he stopped at a stop sign. When he started driving again, he realized that he had struck someone. It turned out to be a 15-year-old student at the same high school. The girl was taken to an area hospital. Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. But she is said to have suffered serious head injuries.

I sympathize with the family and friends of this young victim. I wish her the very best for a complete recovery from her serious injuries. This injured victim and her family will certainly be in my prayers.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 25 fatalities and 575 injuries occurred in San Diego involving pedestrian accidents. Countywide, 51 fatalities and 1,068 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents during the same year. Also in San Diego County as a whole, traffic accidents claimed 268 lives and injured 14,641 people in 2007.

What Caused this Pedestrian Accident?

If the details of this news report are accurate, it seems to me that the young driver behind the wheel of the SUV did not see the girl attempting to cross at the location of the stop sign. He apparently did stop, but the question is whether he was paying attention to his surroundings and saw this girl walking on the road. I would also look into whether this driver was distracted or otherwise inattentive. I would also question if there was a dangerous condition on this school's parking lot. Was there some type of covering or obstruction that prevented the driver from seeing the pedestrian?

If this accident was caused by a dangerous condition at the high school's parking lot, the school district could be held liable for the injuries caused. According to California Government Code Section 911.2, any claim against a governmental agency in California must be properly filed within six months of the accident or injury. If the accident was caused by the driver's negligence, he could be held liable. An experienced California personal injury lawyer will be able to advise victims in such cases about their legal rights and options.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.