Pedestrians face significant dangers when they are hit by a motor vehicle, since they are not protected in any way from the force or impact of the collision. Unfortunately, between 2002 and 2013, there were more than 58,000 accidents involving pedestrians in Los Angeles County. In many cases, these pedestrians were hurt at intersections that were poorly designed and that created a significant risk of pedestrian collisions.
Dangerous LA Intersections Put Pedestrians at Risk of Accidents
There are certain dangerous LA intersections where a significant number of pedestrian accidents occur. From 2002 to 2013, for example, 15.5 percent of all pedestrian crashes in the Los Angeles area occurred in less than one percent of local intersections.
The Los Angeles Times reported there were 800 intersections considered “highly problematic” because of the high rate of pedestrian crashes at these particular locations. Some of the areas where pedestrian accident rates exceeded county averages included:
- Santa Monica Boulevard near Fairfax Avenue, where 47 pedestrians were hit at three high-risk intersections.
- East Hollywood and Western Avenue, where 212 pedestrians were hit and 10 were killed at 13 dangerous intersections.
- Slauson and Western Avenue, which had more pedestrian-involved collisions than any other single intersection. There were a total of 41 crashes at this particular intersection alone.
- Vermont Avenue, where there were 701 pedestrian-involved collisions on a single street. This was the street with the highest number of pedestrian-involved collisions on a single street.
These are just a few of the problem areas. Many of the high-risk intersections are in densely populated neighborhoods. For example, in downtown Los Angeles, there are 48 intersections classified as dangerous. Koreatown, on the other hand, has only 29 dangerous intersection and Westlake has 22 intersections considered to be especially dangerous.
There are lots of factors making certain intersections more dangerous than others, including a high number of pedestrians, wide streets, multiple lanes pedestrians must cross, rapid lane changes, and tall buildings or trees that obstruct a driver’s line of view.
A Long Beach Accident Lawyer Can Help After Pedestrian Accidents
Your Injuries are Personal to Me
Drivers are ultimately responsible for making safe choices at intersections, which means making sure they check for pedestrians and yield the right-of-way when required to do so. If a driver does not stop for a crossing pedestrian, enters the intersection on a red, or otherwise makes dangerous choices, this can lead to driver liability.
However, when it is the design of an intersection that leads to the collision, this can be a situation where the pedestrian may be able to file a lawsuit against those responsible for the dangerous road design. These types of cases can be complicated because of sovereign immunity rules protecting government agencies.
The Law Office of Michael D. Waks provides representation in pedestrian accident cases. I have helped many clients to successfully determine what the cause of their crash was and to prove who was to blame. Whether you are suing the government or an individual driver, I will fight for your right to full compensation after an injury occurs. Call the Law Office of Michael D. Waks at 888-394-1174 or use the convenient online contact form to schedule a free consultation.
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