Pedestrian Seriously Injured on Stockton Boulevard

A pedestrian was injured after being struck by a motor vehicle on November 26 along Stockton Boulevard a little after 11:00 p.m. The accident happened in the vicinity of Gerber Road. Although the nature of the injuries are unknown at this time, the pedestrian was transported to a local hospital with what were described as major trauma. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) was at the site, and an investigation is underway. It is unclear whether the motorist remained at the scene or whether drugs or alcohol were involved.

Pedestrian Injuries Mounting in California

In the first half of 2017, there were 352 pedestrian deaths in California. These account for roughly 16 percent of all traffic-related deaths. Country-wide, nearly 6,000 walkers were killed. This value represents an increase of 27 percent over the decades from 2007 to 2017. Five states, including California, were the site of 43 percent of the total. To address that, the state of California has initiated the building of additional roundabouts and funding to protect pedestrians.

Tips to Stay Safe While Walking

There are things you can do to stay safe when out walking:

Do not walk in the road if a sidewalk is available.
Always walk facing traffic if a sidewalk is not available.
Always use a crosswalk.
If a crosswalk is not available, don’t cross until you have a clear view of traffic.
Make eye contact with motorists.
Always look left, right, and left again before crossing.
Do not use drugs or drink when out walking.
Do not use your cell phone when walking. It will distract you.
Do not use earbuds. They will interfere with hearing an approaching vehicle.
Be on the lookout for cars backing out of driveways or in parking lot spaces.
Wear reflective clothing at night and carry a flashlight.
Wear bright clothing during the day, so drivers can see you.
Do not let young children cross the street by themselves. An adult should be present.

Motorists Need to Keep Pedestrians Safe

Pedestrian safety is a two-way street, and motorists need to obey a few simple rules:

Don’t speed, especially around schools.
Always be on the lookout for pedestrians.
Look for pedestrians behind your vehicle when backing out of a parking space. Remember that young children may not be easily seen.
Do not pass another vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. You would be unable to see a pedestrian entering the street on the other side of the stopped vehicle.
Distracted driving may interfere with seeing a pedestrian before it is too late. Don’t talk on your cell phone or text.
Do not drink or use drugs when driving.

How an Attorney Can Help

Walking is great exercise, and more people are doing it than ever before. However, despite efforts at staying safe, accidents do happen. When our client is injured in a pedestrian accident, we must prove that negligence was the reason it happened. To do this, we dispatch our investigative team to the accident scene. Once they arrive, they scour the area for information as to the cause of the accident. They interview witnesses who saw the accident happen and obtain traffic surveillance camera video footage if possible. If a crosswalk was used, our investigators check the timing of the signals and whether the device is working properly. If not, this can be used in a liability case against the city. They also look over police reports for mistakes. Once the data is accumulated, the investigative team releases the information to our lawyers, who use it to build a robust case for our client.

Sacramento Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento pedestrian accident lawyer. If you are injured in a pedestrian accident, you need the help of a seasoned attorney. Call me at (916) 921-6400 or at (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. You can also reach out to me online.

I’ve helped clients since 1982 to obtain the compensation they deserve in all kinds of car accidents, wrongful deaths, and other traumatic injuries.

Learn more about my practice by going to the following pages:

I am a member of the following organizations:

Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/architecture-new-york-city-manhattan-1853552/

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Pedestrian Seriously Injured on Stockton Boulevard