Walnut Park: Pedestrian Killed by Suspected Drunk Driver

At around 1 a.m. this morning, a suspected drunk driver killed a pedestrian in Walnut Park. The driver, 23, ran a stop sign at the intersection of California Street and Pacific Boulevard, losing control of his vehicle and striking a 42-year-old man who was walking on the sidewalk nearby. His vehicle overturned when he crashed into a brick wall further down the street. Paramedics transported him to a local hospital for the treatment of minor injuries, where he was arrested upon his release, explains a California injury lawyer. 

Statewide, the number of pedestrian fatalities recorded by the California Office of Traffic Safety decreased by 9.2 percent from 620 in 2008 to 563 in 2009, the lowest annual tally since the federal government began recording fatality statistics in 1975. That year, a total of 7,008 pedestrians were injured or killed in traffic accidents in Los Angeles County.

Pedestrians have rights, whether walking inside or outside of a crosswalk. If a driver’s negligence causes injury to a pedestrian, the driver may be held responsible for any medical bills and other injury-related expenses the pedestrian incurs. If the pedestrian dies as a result of the injuries, his or her family may pursue a wrongful death claim against the driver.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of the pedestrian who was killed by the suspected drunk driver in Walnut Park.

The Los Angeles Times originally reported this pedestrian accident.  

Resources for accident victims and their families, such as books and articles on the injury and wrongful death claims process, are available to the public free of charge. 

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with a California injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.