Police arrested 59-year-old Richard Elwood Swanson on suspicion of driving under the influence and hit-and-run causing injury. Officials say Swanson struck a pedestrian in a Huntington Beach crosswalk at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and PCH the afternoon of June 6, 2010 and then fled the scene. The pedestrian, a 21-year-old man, was taken to a local hospital and is expected to survive. Police caught up with Swanson as he was driving to his Newport Beach home and arrested him.

I'm relieved to hear that the pedestrian has not sustained any life-threatening injuries. I hope he recovers quickly and completely.

Pedestrian Accidents

There were five fatalities and 59 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Huntington Beach, according to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Orange County as a whole, 31 people were killed and 122 were injured as a result of pedestrian accidents during the same year.

Crosswalk Laws

California law requires motorists to yield right-of-way to pedestrians in crosswalks and at intersections. 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."

In this case police say the motorist, Swanson, was also under the influence and left the scene of the accident. DUI is illegal under California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a) and leaving the scene of an accident or hit-and-run is a serious crime under California Vehicle Code 20001 (a).

Claim for Compensation

In such cases where negligence and/or wrongdoing is suspected, injured victims would be well-advised to contact a reputed Orange County personal injury lawyer who has a successful track record of holding drunk drivers accountable.

What precautions or proactive steps can pedestrians in crosswalks take to avoid such collisions?

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.