Pedestrian Rights: Analysis Of Pedestrian Accidents And Legal Advice From A California Injury Lawyer

As a California injury lawyer, I have been noticing a disturbing new trend: hospitals are refusing to accept Medicare as compensation for services and asking accident victims to sign away their right to the money they will receive from their accident settlement instead.

I was recently able to help one such accident victim. An elderly man was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street. After receiving treatment for fractures in both of his ankles, a nurse approached him with a large stack of paperwork to sign. She told him his signature was required in order to discharge him. He unwittingly signed away his right to his settlement money.

Upon discovering this, he came to me for help. After extensive negotiations with the hospital, I was able to persuade them to release any claim to the man's accident settlement money and accept Medicare as payment. The man will now be able to use that money toward the additional medical attention he will need. Watch his story on the video module below, or visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX4G-DR0kGg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

For more information on hospitals, Medicare, and accident victims' rights or to discuss a specific case, feel free to call me at 866-981-5596.

A recent study concluded that nearly two thirds of all car-verses-pedestrian accidents occur inside of crosswalks. The likelihood of an accident also increases if alcohol or drugs are involved. This was the case yesterday in Oxnard, California, when an impaired tow-truck driver failed to observe the right-of-way of a mother pushing her two children in a stroller, entering the crosswalk and striking them. He then proceeded to drive down the street, unaware that he was dragging the two children with him. He finally stopped after noticing that bystanders were signaling to him. The three pedestrian accident victims were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment; the children were listed as being in critical condition. The impaired tow-truck driver faces criminal charges.

I would like to wish the mother and her two children a full recovery. They will be in my thoughts and prayers. As for the impaired tow-truck driver, his behavior was deplorable, and I hope that justice is served in this case.

In the United States, a traffic accident takes the life of a pedestrian every 2 hours and injures another every 8 minutes. The elderly and the young are at the greatest risk of being involved in a pedestrian accident. At intersections, drivers are often looking for other cars, not pedestrians and bicyclists; therefore, walking and cycling defensively are important safety measures. Always wait until the driver has stopped the vehicle and made eye contact with you before entering the intersection. If traveling at night, wear retro-reflective clothing and carry a flashlight.

For more information on your rights and options after a pedestrian accident or to discuss a specific case with a California injury lawyer, feel free to call me at 866-981-5596.

Yesterday, a pedestrian accident took the life of a baby girl and left two others critically injured in Huntington Beach, California. As with the last accident I reported on, this one occurred inside of a crosswalk, which, according to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is where two-thirds of all pedestrian accidents take place.

The pedestrian accident occurred at about 10 a.m. A truck that was waiting at a crosswalk while two young children and a woman carrying a 3-month-old baby girl traversed the street was rear-ended by an SUV, causing it to enter the crosswalk and hit the group. Three of the pedestrians were struck. They were transported to nearby hospitals in critical condition. Unfortunately, the baby did not survive.

The cause of the accident is under investigation. Police are asking for the public's help. If you witnessed this accident, please call 714-536-5670 and ask for Dennis Fulton.

I would like to wish the accident victims a full recovery. They and the family of the baby girl will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Additional articles and books on issues involving pedestrian accidents and rights are available to the public free of charge.
If you would like to request an article or book, or if you need to speak with a California pedestrian accident lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

On Thursday, September 2, 83-year-old Frank Paneno of Pasadena, California was the victim of a pedestrian hit-and-run accident. Paneno was riding his scooter early that morning when a 1994 Mercedes Benz S500 struck him. The accident occurred at the intersection of Cordova Street and Chester Avenue. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

Police are asking for the public's help in finding the driver responsible for the hit-and-run accident. A recent immigrant to the United States, he goes by either "Lucio Morales" or "Martin Beltran." Here are some details about his appearance: Latino, about 5-foot-8, 160 pounds, black hair. Please contact the Pasadena Police Department if you have any information regarding this man.

I would like to wish Mr. Paneno a full recovery. He and his family will be in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Unfortunately, older adults are among those at the greatest risk of becoming the victim of a pedestrian accident. Of the 4,378 pedestrians killed and 69,000 injured in traffic accidents in 2008, individuals aged 65 and older accounted for 18% of the fatalities and 10% of the injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As many accidents occur at intersections, pedestrians should be especially cautious in these areas, making eye contact with drivers before entering crosswalks to ensure that they plan on stopping.

For more information on pedestrian accidents and rights, or to speak with a California pedestrian accident lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

On Saturday, September 18th, an elderly man was walking on Highway 18 South in Apple Valley when a Fontana woman struck him with her compact car and fled. The man was identified as 80-year-old Daniel Lugo of Victorville. He died at the scene of the accident. The woman, 36-year-old Michele Pace, turned herself in later that day.

This accident is still under investigation. Witnesses, or anyone with information to contribute, are asked to call (760) 240-7400.

Unfortunately, adults 65 and older have a higher risk of being involved in a pedestrian accident than younger adults. In 2008, adults in this age group accounted 18% of all fatalities suffered by pedestrians. That year in California there were 3,434 traffic-related fatalities, 489 of which were suffered by older adults.

Drivers are often distracted, so it is important for pedestrians to make their presence known by wearing retro-reflective clothing and carrying a flash light when walking at night; walking facing traffic if the road lacks sidewalks; and always stopping to make eye contact with drivers before entering crosswalks.

September has been a tragic month for older pedestrians: an 83-year-old man was struck and seriously injured in Pasadena; an 80-year-old man was fatally hit in a Glendale crosswalk; and now this elderly man was killed while walking in Apple Valley.

The California injury lawyers at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer their condolences to the family of Daniel Lugo, as well as to the families of other accident victims mentioned in this article. If any of them are interested in finding an online grief support group, they may want to visit http://www.groww.org/

Additional information on pedestrian accidents and rights is available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request an article or a book, or if you need to speak to a California injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

As many children go back to school this September, it is important for them to follow these pedestrian safety tips:

1. Always look left, right, and then left again before crossing the street.

2. Always walk on the sidewalk.

3. If walking to school early in the morning in poor visibility conditions, wear retro-reflective clothing and carry a flashlight.

4. Always use crosswalks. If there is no crosswalk, make sure to cross at street corners.

5. Obey all traffic signals and the neighborhood crossing guard.

6. Always make eye contact with drivers before entering an intersection to make sure that they intend on stopping.

The California injury lawyers at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to wish everyone a safe September. Should anyone need our help, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

On Tuesday, October 19th, 16-year-old Notre Dame High School junior Conor Lynch was struck and killed in a hit-and-run pedestrian accident. While attempting to cross Woodman Avenue on his way to cross country practice, he was struck by an SUV. The 18-year-old driver of the SUV continued driving for several blocks before being detained by police. Lynch was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, explains a California injury lawyer.

Pedestrians have the right of way, whether they are in a crosswalk or not. Drivers who fail to stop for them may be held liable if an accident occurs; this includes compensating the accident victim for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any other expenses related to the accident. If the accident victim does not survive, a wrongful death claim may arise.

Everyone at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer the family of Conor Lynch their condolences.

Additional information on pedestrian accidents and accident victims' rights is available to the public free of charge.

To request a book or an article, or to speak with a California injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

Halloween is one of the most dangerous nights of the year for pedestrians, especially for young ones. Between the hours of 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on this night, children are four times more likely to be involved in a fatal pedestrian accident than on any other night of the year, explains a California pedestrian accident attorney.

Unfortunately, a 3-year-old girl was critically injured while trick-or-treating with her mother on Sunday night. The two were crossing 77th Street near Stanford Avenue in South Los Angeles when a red Toyota struck them, fleeing the scene immediately after the impact. The girl and her mother were taken to a nearby hospital, where they remained on Monday. Witnesses have been asked to call detectives at (213) 485-7336.

Everyone at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to wish the girl and her mother a full recovery from their injuries.

Additional information, including articles on protecting an accident claim and accident victims' rights, is available to the public free of charge.

To request an article or a book, or to speak with a California pedestrian accident attorney, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

On the afternoon of December 2nd, an elderly driver traveling along Sweetwater Road in Spring Valley crashed into a utility pole and then into a group of Mount Miguel High School students. The three teenagers suffered moderate to major injuries and were transported to a local hospital. Authorities do not believe the driver, 72-year-old John Reyes of Lemon Grove, was under the influence of alcohol or drugs and are investigating the accident, explains a California injury lawyer.

Currently, individuals over the age of 65 account for 32 million of the nation's drivers, and this number will continue to grow to approximately 57 million by 2030. Studies have found that older adults are generally cautious drivers: they buckle up, do not drive while intoxicated, and avoid speeding. However, factors beyond their control-the decline in certain faculties that accompanies aging-may impair their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

If you have an aging driver in your family, it may be time to discuss alternative transportation options. The American Medical Association and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently collaborated to create a guide for elderly drivers, titled Physician's Guide to Assessing and Counseling Older Drivers, which can be downloaded at www.ama-assn.org/.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to wish the three high school students injured by the elderly driver a full recovery.

Additional information, including articles on pedestrian rights, is available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request an article or a book, or to discuss a specific case with a California injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

On the evening of Thursday, January 28th, 28-year-old DeShaun Chapman swerved into oncoming traffic from the northbound lanes of Fair Oaks Avenue in Pasadena to avoid a dark sedan that had unexpectedly backed out of a private driveway. He subsequently lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a woman in a wheelchair and a wall, pinning the woman underneath. He fled the scene of the accident, but later returned and was charged with vehicular manslaughter. Authorities are looking for the driver of the sedan. Anyone with information about the driver or this accident has been asked to call 626-744-4241, explains a California injury lawyer.

The victims of pedestrian accidents and their families have rights. If a driver acts negligently and, consequently, strikes a pedestrian, the driver may be held liable for any injury-related expenses the pedestrian incurs. In the unfortunate event that the pedestrian does not survive the accident, his or her family may pursue a wrongful death claim against the driver.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of the woman in the wheelchair who was killed in the Pasadena hit-and-run accident last night.

Resources for pedestrians, such as articles on pedestrian rights, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request an article, or to discuss a specific legal matter with a California injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

The family of the 2-month-old infant, Marcello Vasquez, who was killed in a pedestrian accident in downtown LA gathered over the weekend to mourn. Last Thursday night, just as a monthly event called Art Walk was ending and attendees were emerging from local galleries, the driver of a Cadillac Deville accidently hit the accelerator instead of the brake while attempting to parallel park, causing the vehicle to jump the curb and strike the stroller in which Vasquez was riding. He was transported to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries at about 2:30 a.m. the next morning, explains a California personal injury lawyer.

In the United States, motor vehicle accidents are the leading caused of death for children aged 3 to 14, with this age group accounting for 1,314 of the 33,808 traffic fatalities in 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That year, approximately 19 percent of the children aged 14 and younger who died in traffic accidents were pedestrians.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of Marcello Vasquez, the baby who was killed in the pedestrian accident in downtown LA.

Due to financial reasons, the family has not yet made funeral arrangements. Anyone wishing to help them during this difficult time may send donations to Wells Fargo Bank account number 7530166250, routing number 511406216.

Resources for the victims of pedestrian accidents and their families, such as links to advocacy groups and articles on the injury and wrongful death claims process, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with a California personal injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

Shortly after 4:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 1st, a Chevrolet Astro van crashed into two pedestrians in Anaheim, the impact killing both of them. The accident occurred on the 1600 block of South Harbor Boulevard. Several occupants of the vehicle fled the scene before police arrived, leaving the injured driver, who was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Authorities are investigating whether alcohol was a factor in the incident, explains an Orange County injury lawyer.

Anaheim accounted for 8 of the 41 fatalities and 110 of the 914 injuries suffered by pedestrians throughout Orange County in traffic accidents in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. Across the state, crashes claimed the lives of 596 pedestrians and injured 13,083.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the families of the two pedestrians who were killed in the crash involving the van last Saturday.

The Los Angeles Times originally reported this Anaheim pedestrian accident.

Additional information, including links to pedestrian advocacy groups and articles on the injury and wrongful death claims process, is available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with an Orange County injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

At about 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, November 2nd, a Volvo sedan struck and critically injured a group of pedestrians who were crossing Civic Center Drive near Spurgeon Street in Santa Ana, pinning a 3-year-old girl under one of its tires. The girl, along with a 1-year-old boy and two women, were transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Paramedics also took the driver of the Volvo to the hospital to receive treatment for an unspecified medical condition. Authorities believe the collision was caught on surveillance video and are investigating, explains an Orange County injury attorney.

The California Office of Traffic Safety compares the accident statistics of cities with similar populations, ranking those with the poorest records the highest. First place is considered the worst. According to the most current OTS data, Santa Ana ranked 4th out of 13 cities in 2009. Statewide, traffic-related pedestrian fatalities decreased by 9.2 percent, from 620 in 2008 to 563 in 2009.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to wish the four pedestrians who were seriously injured in the accident in Santa Ana yesterday a full recovery.

Resources for accident victims and their families, such as books and articles on the injury claims process, are available to the pubic free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with an Orange County injury attorney, feel free to call 866-981-5596.