Pedestrian Died In Palo Alto Collision Near The Intersection of Charleston Road and Commercial Street
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA (March 23, 2023) – A pedestrian has died in a Palo Alto car accident with a pickup truck by the intersection of Charleston Road and Commercial Street.
Palo Alto officials are saying that the accident took place around 10:24 a.m. on Tuesday. A man in his 80’s was crossing the road when he was hit by a Ford pickup truck.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. Sadly, the elderly pedestrian died due to the severe nature of his injuries.
A full investigation into the crash remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Palo Alto Car Accidents
The Bay Area has an unfortunately high number of pedestrian collisions. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “More than 7,000 pedestrians were killed on our nation’s roads in crashes involving a motor vehicle in 2020.1 That’s about one death every 75 minutes. One in six people who died in crashes in 2020 were pedestrians.” There are many steps that drivers should take in order to avoid hitting pedestrians.
- Drivers should slow down in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic.
- Drivers should abstain from alcohol and drugs.
- Drivers should continuously scan the road ahead of them.
All drivers must exercise due care in order to avoid hitting pedestrians. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 21950, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway in any marked or unmarked crosswalk. If a driver fails to slow down to avoid hitting a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Victims of pedestrian accidents tend to suffer very serious injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
If a pickup truck driver was working at the time of a crash, their employer could be held at fault. In general, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the force and scope of their job duties. The family of any person that is killed in a pedestrian accident may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim.
Investigating A California Pedestrian Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of the pedestrian killed in this Palo Alto collision. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. It is our hope that steps are taken to prevent other collisions in this area.
Do you need more information about a Palo Alto pedestrian collision? Our team of pedestrian safety advocates are here for you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support after a collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
