Los Angeles Injury Attorney Blog

A woman and a young child were seriously hurt Wednesday evening when they were struck by an SUV in Altadena, the Pasadena Star-News reported. The pedestrian accident occurred on Altadena Dive, near Glenrose Avenue, just after 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 29. The woman and child were crossing the street when they were struck by an SUV travelling eastbound on Altadena Drive. The child, a 2-year-old boy, suffered critical injuries and was flown to USC Medical Center. The 19-year-old woman with him was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The Pasadena Star-News reported that the woman and young child were in a crosswalk when they were struck.

Cause of the Accident

The cause of the car vs. pedestrian accident is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. Based on the limited information in news reports, it is unclear why the driver of the SUV struck the woman and child, and whether she could have done anything to avoid striking them. Under California Vehicle Code Section 21950: "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 CHP will certainly look at whether the driver was speeding, distracted, or impaired, or whether the accident was due to a dangerous road condition or even a vehicle malfunction.

Pedestrian Accident Personal Injury Liability

If the driver of the SUV is determined to have caused this accident, she may be liable for the serious injuries struck by the 19-year-old woman and 2-year-old boy, including medical expenses, any lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other related damages. In situations such as this October 26th Altadena pedestrian accident, the family of the injured victims would be well-advised to contact a skilled and knowledgeable Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney. An experienced lawyer can review the accident report and advise the victims and their family their best course of action to protect their legal rights to financial compensation from whoever is responsible for this accident.