Carlos Gonzalez Died In North Hollywood, Los Angeles Car Accident With City Owned Vehicle Along Highway 170
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (June 2, 2022) – A pedestrian identified as Carlos Gonzalez has died in a North Hollywood car accident involving a vehicle driven by L.A. mayor’s official on Highway 170.
Los Angeles police officials are saying that the accident took place around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday near Victory Boulevard. The director of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s crisis response team was driving a city owned vehicle that hit Carlos Gonzalez in the carpool lane.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help all of the injured. Despite life-saving measures, Carlos Gonzalez succumbed to their injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The L.A. mayor’s official was taken to the hospital in order to receive treatment. It remains unclear why the pedestrian was in the carpool lane.
A full investigation into the North Hollywood collision remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Los Angeles County Pedestrian Accidents
Los Angeles has one of the highest instances of pedestrian collisions in all of California. According to reporting by the LA Times, “The city’s streets are increasingly dangerous for pedestrians in particular, with 486 being severely injured by motorists — a 35% increase over 2020. Pedestrian deaths rose 6% to 128.” The majority of these deaths occur on a relatively small number of streets and intersections. Elderly pedestrians and small children tend to be at the greatest risk. There are a number of steps that city officials can take in order to reduce pedestrian collisions.
- Streets and intersection should be well-illuminated.
- Roadways with a history of collisions should be studied.
- Streets that are in a dangerous condition should be altered.
- Traffic violations likely to lead to pedestrian collisions should be heavily enforced.
All drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid hitting pedestrians. This includes pedestrians in the middle of the roadway. Generally speaking, pedestrians are barred from walking along the freeway. But there is an exception under California Vehicle Code 21960 for pedestrians traveling to the next exit after their vehicle breaks down. Many people will automatically assume that a pedestrian is at fault if they are hit by a vehicle while outside of a crosswalk. But this is simply not the case.
Drivers must operate their vehicles at a reasonable and safe speed pursuant to California Vehicle Code 22350. Even driving the speed limit can be reckless depending on the prevailing conditions of the road. A good driver must also scan the road ahead of them for hazards and obstacles. If a driver hits a pedestrian in the roadway, there is a good chance they were driving too fast for the prevailing conditions or failing to scan the road ahead of them. Even if a pedestrian involved in such an accident is deemed to be partially at fault, they may still have recourse because California is a pure comparative fault state.
If the at-fault driver that hit a pedestrian was working at the time of a collision, their employer could also be held at fault. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the wrongful acts of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. For example, a city employee may have been on their way to a work meeting. Regardless, vehicles that are owned by a city or county will typically need to carry commercial policies. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any vehicle strikes a pedestrian in North Hollywood.
- Police officers may need to conduct sobriety tests for certain collision.
- Surveillance footage of the accident should be sought.
- Photos of the accident site should be taken.
- All medical records should be preserved.
- The purpose of the driver’s trip should be determined.
The family of any victim that died in a car accident may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. Damages can help cover many of the expenses that come with the sudden loss of a loved one. Sadly, though, city officials and politicians will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility for an accident. They may also be slow to turn over evidence. This should never be the case. Accident victims and their families deserve transparency about the circumstances surrounding an accident.
Investigating A Los Angeles County Pedestrian Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Carlos Gonzalez who died in this North Hollywood collision. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be some accountability for the sake of all who have lost so much. There are also a number of questions that need to be answered. Why didn’t the driver of the city owned vehicle slow down for the pedestrian? Were they distracted? Were they possibly speeding?
Do you need more information about a Los Angeles pedestrian accident? Our team of pedestrian safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are here for you. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
