Elsie "Alice" Stefani, 82, was killed in a San Francisco car accident after she was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street in a marked crosswalk the evening of January 28, 2010. According to a Bay City News report, Stefani was walking east in the north crosswalk of Main Street and Fulton Road in Saint Helena, when 52-year-old Therene Pierrette, who was turning north from Madrona Drive, failed to yield right-of-way to the pedestrian and struck Stefani from behind. Stefani was caught underneath the vehicle and suffered critical injuries. She was transported to an area hospital and died shortly after the collision. This is the second fatal pedestrian accident in a marked crosswalk in the north San Francisco Bay area in the last week.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Alice Stefani for their tragic and devastating loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this woman. They will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Failure to Yield Right-of-Way to Pedestrian

Based on this news report, it appears that the driver, Therene Pierrette, failed to yield right-of-way to Stefani, causing the fatal pedestrian accident. In fact, officials say that other cars stopped, but Pierrette kept going. California law requires drivers to yield right-of-way to pedestrians in marked crosswalks.

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.”

Liability Issues

If I were a member of Stefani's family, I would definitely want to find out why the driver failed to stop. Was she distracted at the time? Was she speeding or driving recklessly? Was she negligent or inattentive at the time of the collision? If she is determined to have been negligent, then Pierrette could be held liable for the accident and the fatality.

Stefani's family would be well-advised to retain the services of an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all the facets of this accident and make sure that the negligent parties are held liable. A skilled car accident lawyer will also be able to determine whether a dangerous or defective roadway caused or contributed to this fatal pedestrian accident. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable. According to California Governmental Code section 911.2, any claim against a governmental entity 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.