A man is fighting for his life after a Riverside car accident in which he was struck by a truck while walking across the street the evening of October 24, 2009 in San Jacinto. According to a news report in The Press Enterprise, the man was hit by a driver of a 1997 GMC truck that was traveling north on San Jacinto Avenue near Midway Street. Riverside County Sheriff's Department officials said that speed or alcohol was not involved in this serious injury accident.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of this injured pedestrian. Apparently, he is in critical condition and on life support. I hope and pray that he makes it through his injuries and recovers completely. Please keep this injured victim and his family in your prayers.

Car Accidents in Riverside County

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there was one death and nine injuries involving pedestrian accidents in San Jacinto. During the same year, countywide, 43 fatalities and 393 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents. Also in the county, car accidents claimed 279 lives and injured 9,925 people in 2007.

Based on this news report, it is not clear what caused this pedestrian-car collision. There are more questions than answers in this case. Was the driver of the pickup truck distracted or otherwise negligent at the time of the accident? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway, which caused or contributed to this incident? Where was the victim walking on the street at the time of the accident? The article does not state whether he was walking in a marked crosswalk. California law states that motorists should yield to pedestrians walking in crosswalks or at intersections.

California Car Accident Laws

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."

If a dangerous condition on the roadway caused this collision, the city or governmental agency maintaining the roadway can also be held liable. Please remember that any claim against a governmental agency must be filed within six months of the accident or injury. If the driver was at fault for this accident, he or she could be held liable for the accident and serious injuries caused to the victim. In such cases, victims may seek compensation to cover medical costs, cost of hospitalization, lost wages and even cost of long-term care. An experienced California personal injury lawyer can help injured victims by advising them about their legal rights and options. A knowledgeable lawyer should also tell victims about how their own car insurance policy will apply to a pedestrian accident involving an uninsured or underinsured driver.

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.