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Victims Family Says Deadly Pedestrian Accident Could Have Been Prevented

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in
busy_intersectionA 74-year-old woman died from injuries sustained in a pedestrian accident after she was struck by a car at the intersection of Fruitridge Road and Lawrence Drive in Sacramento in December of last year. The woman, a beloved grandmother and great-grandmother, had the right-of-way and proper signal to walk when she began crossing the street. However, according to the California Highway Patrol, the driver of the vehicle that struck the woman also had the right-of-way, as indicated by a green traffic light. Now, both the victims family and the driver want city officials to change the traffic signal pattern at the intersection to indicate a red light for motorists whenever the crosswalk sign is signaling pedestrians to walk.

California’s Yield to Pedestrians Rule

In California, as well as the majority of states across the U.S., all motorists are required to yield to pedestrians, even if the motorist has a green traffic light. Such was the case in this accident, and the victims family feels the driver was acting in a negligent manner when she failed to yield to the victim as she crossed the roadway. They believe this tragedy could have been prevented, had the driver followed the yield-to-pedestrians rule. The driver claims she was not negligent and was aware of the traffic rule that requires all motorists to stop for pedestrians. The driver claims that she travels through the intersection on a regular basis, and has stopped for pedestrians in the crosswalk before. This time, she did not see the pedestrian until it was too late. The victims family still feels the driver should be held accountable for her actions. According to the California Highway Patrol, the driver could face charges of involuntary manslaughter for the fatal crash. In addition to the yield-to-pedestrians law, both families feel extra precautions, such as coordinating red traffic lights to coincide with pedestrian walk signals, are warranted at the intersection. When someone is involved in a pedestrian accident, the results can be tragic, and are oftentimes fatal. If you or someone you love has been the victim of a car versus pedestrian accident, contact one of the leading Sacramento personal injury lawyers at Arnold Law Firm today. We will fight tirelessly for your rights and help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.

Call (916) 777-7777 or fill out our CASE EVALUATION FORM for a FREE review of your case.

Settlement - $3,767,000

Truck Accident

A 20-year-old man who had been married for just 12 days left home on his way to work. He was driving on Pleasant Grove Road in Sutter County in the early morning when he came upon a slow-moving truck. As he pulled out to pass the truck, the truck driver turned left in front of him. The young man attempted to steer back into his lane but his vehicle struck an un-flagged piece of metal extending from the back of the truck. He died in the resulting crash.

Expert witnesses brought in by the Arnold Law Firm proved that the truck, owned and operated by a hauling firm, should never have been on the highway that morning. Specifically, the rear and side turn signals did not work and the rear-view mirror was in a poor state of adjustment at the time of the collision. As a result, the driver, who had failed to properly inspect the vehicle before setting out that morning, couldn’t see the young man’s vehicle as it attempted to pass.

The poor condition of the truck, its lack of maintenance and the manner in which it was operated were found to be substantial factors in causing the collision that killed the young man. The testimony also established that the man had been making a lawful pass at the lawful speed limit and acted reasonably when he attempted to avoid the collision.

The man’s 20-year-old widow was awarded $3,767,000.77, his parents were awarded $185,131 and the family was reimbursed $11,899 in funeral expenses. Though money is a poor substitute for a young man’s life, this verdict demonstrates that drivers who endanger the lives of others will be held accountable for their actions.