A woman has suffered serious injuries in a November 3, 2009 Los Angeles car accident after she was hit by a car while crossing a street in Covina, California. According to a news report in the Pasadena Star News, the woman was crossing Barranca Avenue at Italia Street in a crosswalk when a 23-year-old Covina woman driving a 2000 Ford Mustang struck her. The driver stopped and waited for police to arrive. The injured pedestrian underwent surgery and is still listed in serious condition. Police do not believe drugs or alcohol were involved. The driver was not arrested or cited pending an investigation.

My heart goes out to the injured woman and her family. I truly hope this injured victim recovers quickly and completely from her serious injuries. Please keep them in your prayers.

Pedestrian Accidents in Los Angeles

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were four deaths and 13 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Covina, California. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 210 fatalities and 5,095 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents.

Based on this news report, it appears to me that the driver may have been at fault here. California law states motorists should yield right-of-way to pedestrians who are walking in a marked crosswalk. 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."

What Caused the Car Accident

There are many questions still unanswered here. Was the driver distracted at the time of the crash? Was she negligent or reckless in any way? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway that may have caused or contributed to this accident? The answers to these questions should help determine who or what caused this tragic accident.

Victims in such cases would be well-served to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer who will follow up with the official investigation, determine whether there was any negligence and if so, hold the negligent parties accountable for their actions. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free initial consultation to injury victims and/or their families.

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.