Pedestrian Accident

According to a new report issued by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), California has the highest number of pedestrian fatalities out of all 50 states and the District of Columbia. According to the study, California had the greatest number for all of 2009 and the first half of 2010, with 563 pedestrians killed in 2009 and 260 killed in the first six months of 2010. According to the projected estimates, California saw no change in the number of pedestrian fatalities when comparing the first six months of 2009 and 2010.

The GHSA study collected data from each state’s government and compiled statistics for all of 2009 and estimates for the first six months of 2010, comparing the results and finding which states had the greatest increase and decrease in the number of pedestrian fatalities. While California came in a distant first for both 2009 and the first half of 2010, Florida came in second for both with the largest increase from 2009 to 2010.

States such as Texas and Louisiana saw a large drop in the number of pedestrian fatalities, and more rural states, including Wyoming and Vermont, had the lowest number total.

The data suggests that large states with a greater number of urban centers see the most pedestrian fatalities due to a larger population and a greater chance for pedestrian accidents to occur. Many pedestrian accidents are caused every year by distracted driving and driving under the influence of alcohol. Such factors immediately lead to a greater risk of an auto accident and often cause the driver to not notice pedestrians and acknowledge right-of-way.

Pedestrian accidents are devastating to both those injured and their families. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Northern California pedestrian accident, Van Der Walde & Associates’ San Jose pedestrian accident injury lawyers can help you win the compensation you deserve from the responsible party. Contact us today at (877) 862-6288.

Mark Gomez of MercuryNews.com reports that a pedestrian sustained serious injuries in an accident on Alum Rock Avenue. On Wednesday morning, the driver of a truck struck a 45-year-old woman while she was walking on a marked crosswalk. The driver, who was traveling eastbound in a 2000 Chevy pickup, hit the woman at approximately 6:19 a.m. The pedestrian had potentially life-threatening injuries, but several hours following the accident a San Jose police offer reported that she was expected to live.

Officers cited the pickup truck driver for driving without a license. The driver is free pending the outcome of the accident investigation, but police do not believe alcohol or drugs played a role in the accident. Alum Rock Avenue reopened at 8:30 a.m.

Pedestrians are at serious risk when using San Jose roadways, even when they follow all traffic laws and use only marked crosswalks. As pedestrians have little protection against large, heavy vehicles, they often sustain serious injuries when hit, even if the driver is traveling at a low rate of speed. In fact, California is one of the top four states for pedestrian fatalities, according to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). NHTSA estimates that a pedestrian is killed in a traffic accident every two hours in the United States. Additionally, pedestrian injuries are one of the most common types of injuries in children under the age of 14.

If you or a loved one sustained life-threatening injuries in a traffic accident, the help of an attorney can be invaluable in helping you ensure that you have the means to pay for emergency medical care and all follow-up care related to the accident. A San Jose pedestrian accident attorney at Van Der Walde & Associates will work hard to fight for your rights. Contact us at (877) 862-6288 for a free consultation.

Capitola’s city council is planning to vote on new regulations to govern skateboarding in Capitola Village after a 17-year-old skateboarder plowed into an elderly woman in a crosswalk, causing her to suffer fatal injuries, according to a recent news report from CBS affiliate KION. The accident is not the first skateboarding death in Capitola this year; in April, a 20-year-old man suffered fatal brain damage after crashing on Monterey Avenue. He was not wearing a helmet.

These accidents and others have prompted the Capitola City Council to consider a new ordinance banning skateboarding all the way up to the top of the steep hills that lead into Capitola Village. As experienced Capitola accident injury lawyers, we understand the motivation for such a ban. Local ordinances already prohibit skateboarding in the Village itself, but not all skateboarders realize that skateboarding in the village is illegal. By extending the ordinance, the city council hopes to increase awareness of the no-skateboarding zones and prevent the kinds of fatal accidents that have occurred when skateboarders picking up speed on the hills crash or collide with another person.

Supporters of the new ordinance point out that the increased sidewalk and road traffic around Capitola make skateboarding a perilous activity for both boarders and others sharing the pavement. Opponents, however, insist that skateboarding is a safer mode of transportation than bicycling or motor vehicles, which are involved in far more accidents each year than skateboarders.

Safety on roads and sidewalks is a must, no matter how you choose to travel. If you or someone you love has been injured in a pedestrian, skateboard, or bicycle accident in California, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced Capitola accident attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates. Our number is (877) 862-6228. Call us today for a free and confidential consultation. You may also follow our Capitola Lawyers Twitter account.

A middle-aged man was injured in a morning San Jose pedestrian accident on Monterey Road recently. According to Mercury News, police shut down part of southbound Monterey Toad to investigate the non-fatal accident. The injured pedestrian was transported to Regional Medical Center with unknown injuries. The driver remained at the scene after the accident. Police do not believe alcohol or drugs were involved in the crash, although the cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Pedestrians have no protection against the impact of a motor vehicle, which is why pedestrians, even if they survive, often suffer severe injuries in collisions with cars. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 59,000 pedestrians were injured and another 4,092 were killed in pedestrian accidents nationwide in 2009. In California, 563 pedestrians were killed in motor-vehicle accidents in 2009. Although overall pedestrian fatalities fell 9.2 percent from the 620 fatalities in 2008, pedestrian still pose a deadly threat to walkers in California, especially those age 65 and older. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), pedestrian fatalities for people age 65 and older increased 14.6 percent from 2008 to 2009.

It is the responsibility of pedestrians in San Jose to practice proper safety when walking. Always looking both ways, never running into the road, and only crossing at crosswalks are a few of the important rules pedestrians should follow to stay safe. Practicing proper safety does not always protect pedestrians however. Drivers are also required to drive lawfully and safely, but they do not always do so.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident in San Jose that was caused by the carelessness or negligence of a driver, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your losses. The skilled San Jose pedestrian accident lawyers at Van Der Walde & Associates, LLP, can help you understand your legal rights and determine the validity of your claim. Contact one of our experienced attorneys today at 877-862-6288 so that we may answer any questions you may have.

A hit-and-run pedestrian accident occurred in San Jose on Sunday, February 6, and severely injured an 18-year-old female, according to MercuryNews.com. The collision occurred around 2:37 a.m. when the girl was crossing the street with her boyfriend at Tierra Buena Drive and Fontaine Road. A vehicle believed to be either a silver mini-van or an SUV crashed into the girl and dragged her 2,000 feet, breaking her pelvic bones, before driving away. The only identifying detail about the accident that the girl and her boyfriend were able to provide was that the driver was male. The girl’s family has raised a $5,000 reward for any information pertaining to the whereabouts of the hit-and-run driver.

It is illegal for a motorist to leave the scene of a car accident, especially if another person sustained injury. According to the California Vehicle Code Section 20001-20004, any driver who causes serious bodily injury to someone other than themselves must stop their vehicle immediately and assist the injured person, which can include transporting or making arrangements for transportation to a medical care facility.

All motorists have a responsibility to pay close attention to their surroundings and obey traffic laws in order to prevent San Jose pedestrian accidents and car collisions from occurring. When that responsibility is ignored and someone is seriously injured or killed as a result, the negligent driver can be held liable for all accident-related damages.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a pedestrian or car accident in San Jose, it would be highly beneficial for you to contact the San Jose personal injury attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates. With extensive experience successfully handling a wide variety of personal injury cases, our lawyers can help you understand your rights and hold negligent parties accountable. An injury can place a heavy burden on a family physically, mentally, and financially. Medical expenses can skyrocket quickly, particularly if the injury requires long-term treatment. We will fight to ensure that you are compensated fairly for all damages that result from your San Jose pedestrian accident. To learn more about how we can help, call Van Der Walde & Associates at 1-877-862-6288 for a free consultation.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports there were 4,378 pedestrian fatalities in traffic accidents in the United States in 2008, with another 69,000 pedestrians injured in traffic crashes. These statistics result in an average of one pedestrian killed in a traffic accident about every two hours, and one pedestrian injured in an accident about every eight minutes.

Pedestrians have very little protection in a collision with a motor vehicle. San Mateo pedestrian accidents can cause a person to suffer very severe injuries that may even result in death. Common pedestrian accident injuries in San Mateo include, but are not limited to, broken bones and fractures, head and brain injuries, internal bleeding, paralysis, spinal cord injuries, and more. Oftentimes catastrophic injuries result, which forever alter a victim’s life.

To help reduce the number of pedestrian accidents in California, the NHTSA recommends that pedestrians cross the street at designated crosswalks and always look both directions before crossing. Pedestrians should also be aware that some motorists may be driving recklessly, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or while distracted. Unfortunately, a pedestrian should never assume a vehicle will stop and let them cross. The NHTSA also reminds pedestrians to always walk on a sidewalk whenever possible. If pedestrians must walk in the street, they should walk facing towards traffic. While walking at night, pedestrians should wear reflective clothing and use a flashlight to alert motorists of their presence.

If someone is injured in a San Mateo pedestrian accident, they may be able to receive compensation to cover the cost of their injuries and other related damages from the driver who caused the accident, particularly if it is found the driver acted negligently. Damages may include coverage for hospital and medical expenses, loss of present and future wages, pain and suffering, and more. If a pedestrian dies as a result of the accident, their family may be able to receive compensation for funeral costs, loss of companionship, and more if a wrongful death claim is filed.

At Van Der Walde & Associates, our San Mateo personal injury lawyers offer their legal assistance to those who have been injured or lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident in San Mateo and throughout the Bay Area. Call our law offices today at 877-862-6288 to schedule a free consultation.

According to The Santa Cruz Sentinel, a 22-year-old woman was injured when someone driving a white pickup truck on Soquel and 7th Avenues knocked her down late Friday night, November 12. The woman’s arm was also run over.

According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the Santa Cruz pedestrian accident occurred at about 11 p.m. The woman was crossing the road when the driver of a pickup truck turned left from 7th Avenue onto Soquel Avenue and struck the pedestrian. She was knocked down and the pickup ran over her left arm, and then fled the scene of the Santa Cruz pedestrian accident. The woman, who was from Scotts Valley, was taken to a San Jose hospital for treatment of her injuries.

The make and model of the white pickup truck are not known, and it is also unclear of the gender of the driver. Authorities also don’t know whether the Santa Cruz pedestrian accident caused any damage to the motor vehicle.

In 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 4,378 pedestrian deaths in traffic accidents in the United States. An additional 69,000 pedestrians were injured in traffic crashes that same year. This amounts to an average of about one pedestrian killed in a traffic accident every 120 minutes, and one injured in a traffic crash about every eight minutes in the U.S. In California, 620 pedestrians lost their lives in traffic accidents in 2008, making it the state with the highest number of pedestrian fatalities.

It is crucial for pedestrians to exercise caution when crossing the street. Always follow traffic signals and wait to see if motor vehicles are going to stop before crossing. When walking about at night, always wear bright and/or reflective clothing for motorists to be aware of your presence.

Victims of a pedestrian accident in Santa Cruz can seek monetary compensation for their injuries and losses, which may be a challenging process in a hit-and-run situation. However, with the help of a Santa Cruz pedestrian accident lawyer, this process can be a much smoother one. At Van Der Walde & Associates, our attorneys have years of experience handling pedestrian accident cases. Our attorneys will examine all the details surrounding your accident and will do our best to hold negligent parties accountable for your accident. We will seek compensation on your behalf while you recover from your injuries. If you have been injured in a Santa Cruz pedestrian accident, please contact us for a free consultation of your pedestrian accident case. Call us today at 877-862-6288.

The Sacramento Bee recently ran an article that revealed that the streets of San Francisco are the second most dangerous place for pedestrians. Reportedly, San Francisco ranks solely behind New York City as the nation’s leader in pedestrian fatalities. According to Transportation for America and the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership, the two groups that created the report, San Francisco ranks No. 40 overall on the “Pedestrian Danger Index.”

Claims made by Walk San Francisco, a pedestrian advocacy group situated in San Francisco, state that the fatality rate per 100,000 people in the city is 2.6 percent. This figure is 70 percent higher than the national average. The report also speculates that most pedestrian deaths are in fact preventable, with the primary causes of such accidents being a lack of safe sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian signals, and other preventative measures put into place to protect pedestrians. And San Francisco isn’t the only area in Northern California that failed to rank well for pedestrian safety. The Sacramento-Arden-Roseville metropolitan area ranks No. 22 nationally, while the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area comes in at No. 26.

Pedestrian safety should be of the utmost concern to state departments of transportation and county and municipal transit agencies. In the event that negligent action on the part of some governing party leads to pedestrian injury, then that party may be held liable for damages associated with the injury. In fact, in any type of accident, the negligent party who contributes towards causing the accident can often be held liable for monetary compensation to assist injured individuals in recovering from their accident.

At Van Der Walde & Associates, our experienced San Francisco pedestrian accident attorneys will examine every detail surrounding your accident, and will hold negligent parties responsible for contributing to your accident. We will seek monetary compensation on your behalf while ensuring that your rights as an injured pedestrian are protected. If you have been injured, please don’t hesitate to contact our personal injury lawyers today for a free consultation of your case. Call us at 877-862-6288.

Source:http://www.sacbee.com/trafficnews/story/2327863.html

The Mercury News recently reported in an article that a 16-year-old female student from Palo Alto High School was struck by a vehicle as she attempted to cross six lanes of traffic in order to catch her bus. The driver of the vehicle, a 75-year-old woman from San Jose, was apparently unaware that she had struck a person. The driver was only aware only that she had possibly hit something, but didn’t know what it was.  The accident occurred on El Camino Real, and was not the fault of the driver. However, it is still being determined whether or not the woman will have to face hit-and-run charges because she did in fact leave the scene of the crime.

While the 16-year-old did break a traffic law, pedestrians are still afforded the right-of-way in all instances involving vehicles. Whether or not the elderly woman failed to even see the teenage girl is unknown at this time. One officer’s opinion of the driver’s state-of-mind was that she seemed “disoriented” and “confused.”  In many auto accidents involving pedestrians, driver inattention often plays a significant role in pedestrian injury.  Failing to observe all rules of the road, particularly those that protect pedestrians, puts unsuspecting pedestrians at risk of injury.  In instances where driver inattention or other negligent behavior plays a determining factor in causing pedestrian injury, it is the responsibility of the negligent motorist to accept accountability.

At Van Der Walde & Associates, our experienced San Jose pedestrian accident lawyers will examine the details of your pedestrian incident to determine if negligence played any sort of role, and will hold all parties responsible for their negligence actions. We have assisted many pedestrian accident victims receive compensatory damages to help with recovery. If you have recently been injured, don’t hesitate to contact a skilled personal injury attorney to ensure that your rights are protected in a court of law. Please call Van Der Walde & Associates today at 877-862-6288 for a free consultation.

Source Article: http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_13221109?nclick_check=1

The Mercury News recently reported in an article that a San Jose resident was struck and killed while crossing the street north of Downtown San Jose. The 51-year-old, whose name was not revealed, was struck between Hedding Street and Mission Avenue while crossing First Street. The man was taken to a local hospital after the pedestrian accident in San Jose, but medical personnel were unable to save him.

The man was struck by a white 2008 BMW, according to a Sergeant. The BMW was driven by a 33-year-old, San Jose woman. The woman was not determined to be under the influence of any substance, nor did she flee the scene of the accident. She has not been charged with a crime as of yet.

San Jose police report that this incident is the ninth involving pedestrian death in vehicle-related collisions in the city of San Jose in 2009. Though negligence may not have played as much of a role in this man’s death as it has in other pedestrian related deaths, negligence is still one of the leading causes for pedestrian injury in vehicle-related accidents.

If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a vehicle-pedestrian accident, please don’t hesitate to contact the personal injury attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates. Our knowledgeable lawyers will examine the details surrounding your accident, and will hold those responsible for their actions. Please contact a skilled San Jose pedestrian accident attorney today for a free consultation, and we’ll help restore the order that your accident took away.