Pedestrian Critically Injured Near Long Beach Courthouse

At about 1: 30 p.m. yesterday, a 66-year-old Long Beach man was struck by an SUV while crossing a street in Long Beach near the courthouse.  According to a story in the Long Beach Press Telegram, the man was trying to cross Magnolia Avenue, between Ocean Boulevard and Broadway, when the accident occurred.

Citing official police sources, the Press Telegram reported that the preliminary investigation found the woman driving the SUV had stopped for pedestrians walking in the crosswalk   It has not yet been determined whether the victim was also in the crosswalk at the time of the accident.. The injured man was rushed from the scene to a local hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

Anyone with information is urged to call Accident Investigation's Detective Richard Birdsall, at 562-570-7355.

See the Press Telegram news story HERE.

Assessing responsibility for an accident like the one above almost always requires a careful analysis of vehicle speed and a sight-distance analysis.  In other words, a key issue is whether the pedestrian was visible in the roadway for such a length of time that the driver could have taken action to avoid the accident.  Such an analysis demands careful consideration of the precise point of impact in the roadway as well as whether the driver was subjected to any type of visual obstruction or impairment.  For example, if the pedestrian was only visible to the SUV driver for one second prior to the impact, then responsiblity for the collision may not rest with the driver.  Generally, perception to reaction time is approximately 1.5 to 2 seconds and, depending on the speed of the vehicle and the distance at which the driver could have first seen the pedestrian, the driver may not have had sufficient opportunity to observe the pedestrian.  In addition to that analysis, the driver's speed and whether it was reasonable under the prevailing conditions may impact the ultimate determination of fault.

Compensation for pedestrian victims of automobile accidents, caused by a driver’s negligence, should be an important concern for all Californians.  When a driver’s inattention causes him to strike a pedestrian, they should be held accountable.  An Orange County injury attorney with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims.  Mr. Ralph has more than 20 years years of experience handling auto versus pedestrian accident cases, including just this type.  He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Have you or a loved one been injured in a pedestrian versus motor vehicle accident?

• Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above.  This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter.  A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.