Annalisa Godoy, of Sacramento, Injured In Davenport Car Accident Involving Pickup Truck On State Route 1 by Coast Road
DAVENPORT, CALIFORNIA (September 28, 2022) – A 21-year-old woman from Sacramento identified as Annalisa Godoy was injured in a Davenport car accident on State Route 1.
Santa Cruz County officials are saying that the collision took place around 4:19 p.m. on Monday. Annalisa Godoy was walking in a westerly direction when she was hit by a northbound pickup truck.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. Annalisa Godoy was transported to a local trauma center with major injuries.
Police interviewed the driver of the pickup truck who remained at the scene. Neither drugs nor alcohol are suspected as factors in the crash.
Liability In Santa Cruz County Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians are especially vulnerable in car accidents. They lack the protection of enclosed vehicles and are more likely to be overlooked. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 7,000 pedestrians were killed in car accidents in just 2020 alone. This accounts for roughly 1 out of every 6 traffic fatalities. Small children and elderly pedestrians tend to be at the greatest risk. Accidents are also much more likely to happen during the early morning hours and late evening when visibility is reduced. There are many steps that drivers should take in order to avoid hitting pedestrians.
- All drivers must continuously scan the road ahead of them for hazards.
- All drivers should slow down during periods of reduced visibility.
- All drivers should be extra vigilant in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic.
Every driver has a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid hitting pedestrians. This is true even if those pedestrians are outside of lawfully marked crosswalks. According to California Vehicle Code 21950, “The driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of the vehicle or take any other action relating to the operation of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian.” If a driver fails to reduce their speed in order to avoid hitting a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
Depending on the facts of any case, liability for an accident could extend beyond an at-fault driver. Many pickup trucks are used for commercial purposes in landscaping or construction. If a pickup truck driver was working at the time of a crash, the company that they were working for could be held at fault. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. For example, a pickup truck driver may have been delivering packages. Victims of pedestrian accidents tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries including.
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
Even after the physical injuries from a car accident have healed, survivors of pedestrian crashes often suffer from long-term post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Any person that is injured in a pedestrian accident may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. A pedestrian accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case free of cost and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Santa Cruz County Pedestrian Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our best wishes to Annalisa Godoy. It is our sincere hope that she will be able to make a full recovery. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of the victim.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Davenport pedestrian accident? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of pedestrian safety advocates are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
