Carlsbad Pedestrian Struck on Freeway Shoulder How often do pedestrian accidents, in particular hit-and-run collisions, occur in the San Diego area? According to a recent report from The San Diego Union-Tribune, a hit-and-run pickup truck driver recently struck a pedestrian who had been stopped to help a motorist on the shoulder of a Carlsbad freeway. The report indicates that the victim was a 48-year-old man from Tijuana, and his injuries were so severe that he may not survive.

How did the pedestrian accident happen? According to the report, the victim “parked on the shoulder of northbound Interstate 5, south of Palomar Airport Road, to assist a friend whose vehicle was disabled.” At the time of the crash, he had been standing in front of his own vehicle. The pickup reportedly “veered onto the shoulder and hit him.” California Highway Patrol Officer Jim Bettencourt indicated that, after striking the victim, the driver of the pickup truck simply continue driving before taking an exit onto Palomar Airport Road.

Emergency medical responders arrived at the scene and rushed the 48-year-old Tijuana man to a nearby trauma center to receive medical attention for “life-threatening injuries.” The police in Carlsbad have joined forces with the California Highway Patrol to search for the pickup, but neither the vehicle nor the driver in the hit-and-run collision have been located.

What should San Diego-area residents look for in order to help? Authorities believe the vehicle was a “newer-model, white Toyota Tacoma.” They also indicated that it would have damage from the collision, “on the right front and possibly the right side.” There is also a possibility that the pickup truck would have gotten a flat tire on the vehicle’s right side. Unfortunately, there is no detailed information available about the driver.

Hit-and-Run Accidents in Southern California The most recent hit-and-run accident is only one in a series of severe crashes that have resulted in life-threatening and fatal injuries to Southern California residents over the last several years. An article in USA Today described the number of hit-and-run crashes in Southern California as reaching “epidemic proportions” in recent years given the 13.7% increase in these accidents between 2009 and 2011. According to that article, about 60% of victims in hit-and-run collisions are pedestrians.

What can pedestrians in San Diego do to help avoid a serious accident? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes the importance of understanding risk factors, which include:

• Being aged 65 or older (seniors account for nearly 20% of all pedestrian fatalities);
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  Being a child aged 13 or younger (kids in this age group also account for about 20% of pedestrian deaths);
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  Consuming alcohol (nearly 50% of car crashes that result in a pedestrian death involve alcohol consumption);
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  Walking in urban areas;
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  Crossing at non-intersection locations;
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  Walking in areas where vehicles are prone to higher speeds; and
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  Walking at night.

Hit-and-run accidents can result in serious and sometimes fatal injuries. If you or someone you love recently sustained injuries in a hit-and-run accident, you should discuss your options with an experienced San Diego pedestrian accident attorney. Contact the Walton Law Firm today for more information.

See Related Blog Posts: Hit-and-Run Crashes Spike at End of Year Fatal Pedestrian Accident in La Jolla

(photo courtesy of Octavio Lopez)

Fatal Car Accidents on Halloween

Last year around this time, the Associated Press reported on a severe auto accident in California that resulted in the deaths of three trick-or-treaters. The children who suffered fatal injuries in the pedestrian accident were 13-year-old girls, and two of them were twin sisters. The collision occurred in Santa Ana, and the hit-and-run driver fled the scene and later abandoned the SUV that struck the trick-or-treaters. The girls were struck while attempting to cross the road in a crosswalk.

While it may be impossible to avoid certain car accidents, it is possible to take preventive steps, particularly on Halloween. The article about the deadly hit-and-run accident last year noted that the young girls who were killed had been “wearing costumes with black leggings and dark clothing.”

It is difficult to know if this tragedy could have been prevented if the driver had been able to see the girls more clearly as they crossed in the crosswalk. At the same time, however, it is important to remember that the trick-or-treaters were following the rules for crossing the street: always cross at a crosswalk. Around the same time in Irvine, California, a man who had been trick-or-treating with his four-year-old son was also struck and killed by a car.

Preventing Accidents and Injuries During Halloween Celebrations

What can we do to prevent serious accidents from occurring in San Diego on Halloween? Car accidents involving pedestrians are just one source of serious injury that can happen on this holiday. According to a fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), both trick-or-treaters and homeowners can take steps to make Halloween a safer holiday. If you are planning to go trick-or-treating with your child or are allowing your older teen to go trick-or-treating with friends, pay attention to the following safety tips:

• Choose Halloween costumes that are light or brightly colored. If this is not possible, apply reflective tape to your child’s costume or trick-or-treating bag to make it easier for drivers to see your child.
• Always carry a flashlight when you are out trick-or-treating. A flashlight can allow a driver to more easily see you and your child (thus preventing a serious car accident), and it can also allow you and your child to avoid slipping or tripping hazards (thus preventing a severe slip, trip, and fall accident).
• Always walk—do not run—from one house to the next. Running between houses on Halloween can lead to a trip and fall accident.
• Always look both ways before crossing the street, and be sure to cross in a marked crosswalk if possible.
• Walk on sidewalks wherever possible. If you must walk on the road, walk on the far edge of the street in a direction so that you are facing oncoming traffic and can quickly get out of the way if a car is coming.
• Be sure that your child’s Halloween costume fits properly. An ill-fitting costume can lead to a trip and fall.
• Buy flame-resistant costumes for your child, and encourage her to avoid lit jack-o-lanterns and luminaries. A burn accident can happen quickly.

Contact a San Diego Accident Lawyer

Nobody expects a deadly accident on Halloween. To be sure, this is an exciting holiday for children, and it should be a fun way for families and friends to celebrate together. However, accidents do happen on Halloween and they often result from another party’s negligence. If you or your child suffers a serious injury on Halloween, you should discuss your case with an experienced San Diego accident lawyer as soon as possible. Contact the Walton Law Firm to learn more about how we can assist you.

See Related Blog Posts: Fatal Pedestrian Accident in La Jolla San Diego Launches “Vision Zero” to End Traffic Deaths