A 52-year-old Fresno man was killed in a San Diego car accident after he was struck by a vehicle while crossing an on-ramp to the 5 Freeway. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the man was crossing the on-ramp on West Washington Street in the Midtown area past midnight on June 6, 2010 when he was hit. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle stopped and waited for authorities. California Highway Patrol officials have not made any arrests pending an investigation.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of this deceased car accident victim for their terrible loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 23 deaths and 533 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in San Diego, California. Countywide, 63 people died and 998 were injured as a result of pedestrian accidents during the same year.

How Did the Collision Occur?

Based on this news report, it appears that the pedestrian was walking across a freeway on-ramp and got hit by a vehicle. However, there are still several questions here. What caused the driver to hit the pedestrian? Was the pedestrian in a marked crosswalk? Did the pedestrian have the light at the on-ramp? Was the driver of the vehicle at fault? Was the driver under the influence, distracted, fatigued, speeding or otherwise negligent at the time of the collision? I trust these are issues investigators will be examining while determining the circumstances of this collision and who was at fault.

Fault and Liability

If the driver is determined to have been at fault here, he or she could be held liable for the pedestrian's wrongful death. If there was a dangerous condition on this roadway, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining this roadway could also be held liable. Under California Government Code section 911.2, any such claim against a public entity must be properly filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.

Families of deceased car accident victims, in cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, could file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party seeking compensation for funeral expenses, lost future earnings, loss of love and companionship, and other related damages. The best San Diego personal injury lawyer will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive claim evaluation to injured victims and their families.

How can pedestrian crossings at on-ramps and off-ramps be made safer?

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.