The recent death of a pedestrian on a Redondo Beach street has renewed attention on traffic safety in the area.
According to a news report, a 57-year-old man was crossing the street at the intersection of Artesia and Hawthorne at about 9:15 p.m. one recent night when he was struck and killed by a Honda. Police said the driver was unhurt, and that drugs and alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the accident.
Safety concerns
Redondo Beach residents have long been concerned about pedestrian safety in the area. After a string of accidents in 2019, local news media investigated the problem and identified some particularly hazardous areas and intersections.
More recently, police in nearby Torrance announced they were increasing patrols to look for unsafe driving practices, such as texting while driving.
Pedestrians are vulnerable
Unfortunately, there’s only so much that police patrols and education campaigns can do. As long as pedestrians have to cross streets, they will be vulnerable to pedestrian accidents.
A person in a car can be badly injured in an accident at high speeds, but even a relatively low-speed collision can lead to catastrophic injury or death for a pedestrian. In turn, this means enormous medical costs and other damages for the victims and their families.
When these damages come as the result of a negligent driver, the injured may recover compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. In the case of a fatal accident, the victim’s immediate family may recover compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit.
These are difficult cases in terms of their technical details, their legal issues and their emotional toll. Still, they can be absolutely critical in making sure the injured and their families have the resources they need in the aftermath of a life-changing accident.