A student at Cal Poly was killed after being hit by a car in Pomona, California. The Pomona accident occurred earlier today and the victim’s identity has not yet been released. According to the Los Angeles Times, investigators were still trying to find out the cause of the Pomona pedestrian accident.
It is not yet clear what caused the pedestrian accident in Pomona. The 21 year old student was hit by a car on campus. From early reports, it is not clear if the driver fled the scene or was identified. If the driver was at fault, a Pomona wrongful death claim may be brought against the driver. If the driver had auto insurance, his or her insurance would be responsible for paying the wrongful death damages, up to the amount of the liability coverage on the policy.
There are many potential causes to California pedestrian accidents. Many people are hit by cars when they are jaywalking, meaning crossing a street illegally. However, if a person is jaywalking, drivers still have a duty to act to avoid hitting the person. Unfortunately, many drivers do not anticipate the jaywalker and do not have enough time to react to avoid the accident.
Many pedestrians are also hit by cars when they are walking legally in crosswalks. Many of these pedestrian accidents occur when a vehicle is making a left or a right turn, or runs a red light. Pedestrians should always remember that just because they may have the right of way in a given situation, they must also look to make sure it is safe before crossing any roadway. Regardless of whether the fault is on the vehicle or the pedestrian, the most important thing is avoiding being hit by a car in the first place.
Because a pedestrian is basically defenseless when struck by a vehicle, many pedestrian accidents result in catastrophic injuries and wrongful death claims. It is often necessary to hire a Pomona accident lawyer who will investigate the cause of the accident to try to obtain a financial recovery for the victim. This financial recovery often includes reimbursement of medical bills, plus money for loss of earnings, pain, suffering, and inconvenience. These damages may be paid by the insurance company for the at fault party. If the insurance company will not settle, it is often necessary to file suit, litigate, and possibly even try the case in front of a jury.