Elsa Guzman, 68, of Riverside, Died In Antelope Valley Car Accident With Ford Van By The Intersection of Avenue J and 200th Street East
LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA (February 5, 2023) – A 68-year-old woman identified as Elsa Guzman was killed in an Antelope car accident with a Ford Van by Avenue J and 200th Street East.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the collision took place on Tuesday. Elsa Guzman was standing next to her disabled vehicle when she was hit by a Ford van heading west on Avenue J.
Emergency medical workers were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. Despite the best efforts of first responders, Elsa Guzman died at the scene.
The Antelope Valley CHP are asking anyone that may have witnessed the collision to contact them.
Liability For Antelope Valley Car Accidents
Thousands of pedestrians are killed or seriously injured every year in the United States. According to the Journalist’s Resource, “Between 2000 and 2009, on average 6,067 pedestrians and bicyclists died on U.S. highways and in collisions with other modes of transport. Of these, 4,930 died when hit by cars and trucks operated by private users, 545 deaths resulted from collisions with commercial carriers, and 592 from commercial users not on highways.” There are many factors that could contribute to a pedestrian collision.
- Speeding: Drivers are more likely to hit pedestrians at higher speeds.
- Poor Lighting Conditions: Pedestrians are more likely to be hit by vehicles during the early morning and late evening when visibility is reduced.
- Driver Distraction: Drivers can be distracted by many things including their phones, GPS and conversations.
Every driver has a legal obligation to exercise due care to avoid hitting pedestrians. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 21950, the driver of a motor vehicle shall yield the right of way to any pedestrian that is crossing the road at any marked or unmarked section. Drivers must also use their horn when necessary to alert pedestrians of their presence. If a driver fails to slow down and hits a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
Depending on the facts of any case, liability for a pedestrian collision could extend beyond an at fault driver. Many vans are used for commercial purposes. In general, 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 driver may have been delivering packages when they were involved in a crash. There are many steps that should be taken after any pedestrian collision.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- A thorough investigation should be conducted.
The family of any person that is killed in a car accident may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover many of the expenses that come with the sudden loss of a loved one. However, drivers will often do everything that they can to deny responsibility for a collision. This is one of the reasons that it is so important that evidence is properly preserved after a crash.
Investigating An Antelope Valley Car Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Elsa Guzman. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be some accountability for the sake of the victim’s family. So many questions need to be answered.
Do you need more information about an Antelope Valley collision? 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 being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
