Many California residents walk regularly. Some people do for exercise, and others use it as an inexpensive mode of transportation. Some people walk rather than drive simply to better enjoy their surroundings, whether they are traveling on a designated trail, a country road or a city street. However, pedestrians traveling in urban areas need to pay close attention, as they are sharing space with many other people, including motorists and cyclists. Car accidents sometimes happen when a driver does not see a pedestrian in time to avoid a collision.
Such was the case on a recent Saturday evening near downtown San Jose. According to police, two pedestrians were walking in a crosswalk when a vehicle struck them. The victims were transported to a local hospital. Sadly, one of the pedestrians, a woman, died from her injuries. The other pedestrian, a man, suffered life-threatening injuries and is being treated at the hospital.
Reportedly, the driver of the car that struck the pair remained at the accident scene to cooperate with investigators. Police have stated that neither alcohol nor drugs were factors in the crash. Apparently, the incident is the city’s fourth fatal collision of this year.
Unfortunately, sometimes people are killed in car accidents even when they are following all the rules, such as crossing a road at a designated crosswalk as these people did. Although authorities have apparently ruled out drugs or alcohol as factors in the crash, when the investigation concludes, evidence could indicate the driver is at fault due to other factors — reckless and/or distracted driving, for example. In this case, the victims’ family members have the right to pursue the matter further through the California civil justice system. An experienced personal injury attorney can provide valuable legal guidance in such situations.
