According to a story in the Orange County Register, a woman was struck and killed by a car while crossing the street in the City of Orange, late last night.  The 28 year-old woman, Amelia Shields, was reportedly walking with a male companion and her dog and was crossing the street in the crosswalk when she was struck by a car on Chapman Avenue between Main and Batavia streets.  Citing the City News Service, the Register reported the woman was attended to by paramedics and pronounced dead at the scene at 11:04 p.m. The driver reportedly stopped and was being questioned by police.

Read the full story HERE.

While the precise circumstances of this tragic accident have yet to be reported, it is a fair statement that the driver of the vehicle likely has considerable responsibility for the accident.  It appears the victim was lawfully where pedestrians are expected to be found at intersections.  Normally, a pedestrian is entitled to believe their right of way will be respected, and it is not negligent for a pedestrian to act on the basis of that belief.  From the little known about the accident thus far, there does not appear to be any reason to believe this victim had any warning of the impending danger until it was too late or that something occurred to place her on notice that the driver was about to violate the law designed for her protection.  Once more details are known, then additional factors such as the lighting, clothing worn and relative safety of the intersection and crosswalk may be taken into account.

Compensation for pedestrian victims of traffic accidents, caused by a driver’s negligence, should be an important concern for all Californians.  When a driver operates their vehicle carelessly and strikes a pedestrian, they should be held accountable.  An Orange County personal 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 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.