Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney Blog
As Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorneys and injury lawyers, we see the City of L.A. as unfortunately a hotbed of auto v. pedestrian accidents. Los Angeles is a city known for its car culture, where driving is often the primary mode of transportation. However, this means that pedestrians in Los Angeles face significant risks on a daily basis. According to recent statistics, Los Angeles has one of the highest rates of pedestrian accidents in the country, with hundreds of fatalities and thousands of injuries reported each year. In this article, we will explore the dangers of pedestrian accidents in Los Angeles and what can be done to prevent them.
Factors Contributing to Pedestrian Accidents
There are several factors that contribute to pedestrian accidents in Los Angeles. One of the most significant is the high volume of traffic on the city’s roads. With so many cars on the road, drivers may become distracted, speeding, or fail to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks or other areas.
Another factor is the design of the city’s roads. Many streets in Los Angeles are designed primarily for cars, with few sidewalks, crosswalks, or other pedestrian-friendly features. This can make it difficult for pedestrians to navigate the city safely, particularly in areas where there is heavy traffic or limited visibility.
Finally, pedestrians themselves may contribute to the risk of accidents by failing to follow traffic laws or using their cell phones while walking. Pedestrians who are distracted or not paying attention may be more likely to walk into the path of a car or fail to notice an oncoming vehicle.
Consequences of Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents can have devastating consequences for both the victim and their families. In addition to physical injuries, such as broken bones or head trauma, victims may also suffer from emotional trauma or long-term disabilities. They may face substantial medical bills, lost wages, and other financial hardships as a result of their injuries.
Preventing Pedestrian Accidents
Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to prevent pedestrian accidents in Los Angeles. One of the most important is to improve the design of the city’s roads. This can include adding more crosswalks, sidewalks, and other pedestrian-friendly features, as well as implementing traffic-calming measures such as speed bumps and roundabouts.
Education and awareness campaigns can also help to prevent pedestrian accidents by educating both drivers and pedestrians about safe practices. This can include teaching drivers to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and reminding pedestrians to look both ways before crossing the street.
Finally, technology can also play a role in preventing pedestrian accidents. For example, some cars now come equipped with automatic emergency braking systems that can detect pedestrians and stop the car if necessary. This can help to reduce the risk of accidents caused by distracted or inattentive drivers.
California Vehicle Code Sections Applicable to Pedestrian Accidents
here are some relevant sections of the California Vehicle Code related to pedestrian safety:
- Section 21950: This section requires drivers to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians who are crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.
- Section 21951: This section prohibits drivers from passing any vehicle that is stopped at a marked or unmarked crosswalk to allow a pedestrian to cross the roadway.
- Section 21954: This section requires drivers to exercise due care for the safety of any pedestrian upon a roadway and to give warning by sounding the horn when necessary.
- Section 21955: This section prohibits pedestrians from walking or running into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.
- Section 21956: This section requires pedestrians to use the crosswalk at any signalized intersection, unless otherwise directed by a police officer or a crossing guard.
- Section 21957: This section prohibits pedestrians from crossing the roadway between adjacent intersections controlled by traffic control signals, except in a marked crosswalk.
These are just a few examples of the many sections of the California Vehicle Code that pertain to pedestrian safety. It’s important for drivers and pedestrians alike to be familiar with these laws in order to help prevent accidents and ensure the safety of everyone on the roadways.
Importance of Hiring a Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Pedestrian accidents are a serious problem in Los Angeles, but there are steps that can be taken to prevent them. By improving the design of the city’s roads, educating drivers and pedestrians, and using technology to improve safety, we can work together to make Los Angeles a safer place for everyone. Despite all these efforts, though, California in general and specifically Los Angeles will always have a high percentage of pedestrian accidents simply due to the volume of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. If you or a loved one have been injured in a pedestrian accident in Los Angeles and need help from attorneys with over two decades of experience in these matters, call 24/7 to our toll free California injury helpline at 866-966-5240 or visit our other resources on pedestrian accidents here:
https://www.victimslawyer.com/pedestrian-accidents.html
https://www.victimslawyer.com/most-dangerous-intersections-in-los-angeles.html
https://www.victimslawyer.com/los-angeles-pedestrian-accidents-in-intersections.html
https://www.victimslawyer.com/rolling-stop-pedestrian-accidents-in-california.html