An elderly woman crossing a street in El Cajon on New Year’s Eve was killed when she was hit by a motorist, according to recent reports. Rosie Mondejar, 80, died after being transported to an area hospital, while her husband, Merlin Mondejar, was also treated at the hospital for minor injuries after being hit by a second vehicle. The dual crashes occurred in the 300 block of West Washington Avenue.
Both drivers stayed at the scene to assist with the investigation. Alcohol is not believed to have been a factor in either crash. The Mondejars were outside the crosswalk at the time of the collision.
According to data from the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, 56 pedestrians died and another 998 were injured in San Diego in 2012. Statewide, a total of 699 pedestrians were killed and another 12,577 were injured in that year.
Southern California has a higher rate of pedestrian accidents than other parts of the state for several reasons. One is the warm weather which encourages people to walk. Another reason is the high population density of urban areas; in crowded cities, people are more likely to be hit by cars than in rural areas.
Pedestrian accidents can cause serious injury and death for innocent victims. Many pedestrian accidents result in expensive medical bills as well as months of painful recovery. Some victims are unable to work due to their injuries.
If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, you may be facing growing medical costs, loss of wages due to your inability to work and ongoing pain and suffering. Both you and your family may be further victimized by an insurance company’s refusal to pay your expenses. In some cases, insurance companies even attempt to blame the victim for the accident, leaving you with no choice but to pay your own bills or fight for compensation. This can be very difficult to do alone.
However, with a personal injury attorney like Dan Gilleon of San Diego on your side, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries and pay for medical care as well as other expenses related to your accident. Dan Gilleon has helped many victims like you fight insurance companies and others who would deny them compensation. Call today to learn more about how Dan Gilleon can help you if you have been the victim of a pedestrian accident.