At about 1:40 a.m. this morning, a man walking on an unlit roadway near Santa Clarita was fatally struck by a motor vehicle.  According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, the accident occurred on Bouquet Canyon Road near Shadow Valley Lane, when the pedestrian was hit by a southbound 1989 Mercedes Benz traveling about 50 mph.  Citing official sources, the Times reported that the 24 year-old man, whose identity was not yet released, was pronounced dead at the scene of this tragic accident.  A witness described the victim as having been walking south on the road before the collision.  He was apparently wearing dark clothing and there are no street lights in the area when he was struck by the vehicle, being driven by a Saugus man.  The accident is still under investigation, and no citation was issued to the driver.

See the Times story HERE.

From a view of the area of the accident (via Google maps), it appears the collision took place near a mobile home park on a fairly winding part of Bouquet Canyon.  The posted speed limit looks to be 40 miles per hour and the roadway is relatively flat, with no apparent visual obstructions.  Additionally, it looks like there is ample room on the shoulder of the roadway for a pedestrian to safely walk.  It is unknown where the actual impact occurred or why the driver was apparently traveling 10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit.  Responsibility for the accident will likely hinge on a detailed reconstruction, lighting (both headlights and ambient lighting), speed, and perception-reaction time, as well as other principles of a human factors analysis.

Compensation for pedestrian victims of automobile accidents, caused by a driver’s negligence, should be an important concern for all Californians.  When a driver operates their vehicle negligently and strikes 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 20 years years of experience handling personal injury and wrongful death 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 or killed 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.