An Orange County car accident the night of October 25, 2009 left one woman with an injured foot, The Orange County Register reports. The woman said her foot was run over by a vehicle as she crossed a 5 freeway off-ramp at El Toro Road in Lake Forest. She also told California Highway Patrol officials that she was walking in a crosswalk when her foot was struck.

It is indeed fortunate that this victim did not sustain major or catastrophic injuries in this collision. I hope and pray that she recovers quickly and completely from her injuries.

What Caused this Pedestrian Accident?

It's not clear what exactly caused this Orange County pedestrian accident. The most important question to be answered is who caused this injury and whether that person can be identified or even found. The woman apparently did not report the accident to authorities until hours after she was injured. We do not know whether this was a hit-and-run accident or whether the woman simply did not get all the information from the driver of the car that injured her.

If the woman's account is accurate and she was walking in a marked crosswalk, the driver of the other car could be held liable for her injuries. California law states that motorists should yield right-of-way to pedestrians who are walking in a marked crosswalk. 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."

Holding Wrongdoers Accountable

It would be in the best interest of the injured pedestrian to consult with an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer, who will follow up with the official investigation and help determine whether there was any negligence here. A skilled car accident attorney will also be able to determine whether a dangerous condition on the roadway caused or contributed to this accident. If that was the case, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining this roadway could be held liable for the accident and resulting injuries. Any claim against a California governmental agency must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.

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.