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Pedestrian Car Accidents

Frank • July 12, 2014
People and Pedestrian Lane — Roseville, CA — Frank Penney Injury Lawyers

Read the blog from Frank Penney Injury Lawyers in Roseville, CA below.


Pedestrians have the right to expect safe access and travel according to the California Vehicle Code section 21949(a). This notion has also been supported by established pedestrian car accident case law. In Celli v. Sports Car Club Inc. (1972) 29 Cal.App.3d 511, Plaintiffs were viewing the race in the pit area with their “pit passes” when a racer car lost control and injured Plaintiffs. The Court of Appeals in Celli sided with the Plaintiffs that the Plaintiffs were entitled to presume that the race operators examined the pit area of the pit’s safety to spectators before selling those pit passes.


In Tannyhill v. Pacific Motor Transport Co. (1960) 227 Cal.App.2d 512, 518, a man helping a stranded driver on the side of the road when he was killed by a driver that went off the roadway. The Court held in Tannyhill that the decedent had no reasonable basis to suspect that a vehicle would come off the traveled portion of the highway and run into him.

Do Pedestrians Legally Have to Look Both Ways?

Courts have also ruled that pedestrians do not have an obligation to “look both ways” if the pedestrian is occupying a “position of safety”. In Medlin v. Spazier (1913) 23 Cal.App. 242, 244, the Plaintiff was exiting a streetcar and stepped in the path of the defendant’s car and was hit. The Court found the Defendant at fault because Plaintiff was in a position of car accident safety and the Defendant violated a city ordinance that required motorists to keep a certain distance from streetcars.


Lastly, the pedestrian’s reliance on a motorist’s good conduct must be reasonable because the insurance company may argue that the pedestrian knew or should have known that the motorist would act unsafely.

Legal Obligations Surrounding Pedestrian Car Accidents

In order to show that the pedestrian was acting reasonably, we must confront the Defendant about his actions and obtain statements that will show that the Defendant was negligent and that the Plaintiff was being reasonable. An attorney will be able to take the necessary steps in order to be able to speak with the Defendant and ask the Defendant the right questions to get the right responses to make the Plaintiff’s case.


Frank Penney Injury Lawyers specializes in all aspects of automobile and pedestrian car accidents, we have an experienced law staff including five attorneys to deftly represent your case with aggressive professionalism. Contact us today for a free case evaluation

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Our legal team understands that life can be very stressful after an accident of any type. The financial costs of your accident can add to that stress. When you are asking for help, this should make your life easier – not more difficult. That is why you do not have to worry about any upfront legal fees and expenses when you hire Frank Penney Injury Lawyers to handle your California personal injury case.


At Frank Penney Injury Lawyers, Frank Penney and his staff work on a contingency basis. This means you only have to pay a fee if you win your case. We will never charge a fee unless we obtain a settlement on your behalf. No win. No fee. Case closed.


This means there is no risk in asking Frank Penney Injury Lawyers for help. You get to benefit from Frank Penney’s years of experience, knowledge, and success without needing to stress about the cost. Call today to set up a free initial case assessment or to learn more.

When I first contacted the Law Offices of Frank D. Penney after my accident, I was frustrated with car insurance companies, and medical insurance companies; after all, I was in pain. He and his staff put me at ease instantly! It was such a relief to have someone working on MY BEHALF! They were able to settle my case for more than I initially thought it was worth. THANKS AGAIN!!!


- KRISTA H.


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Our Recent Blog Posts

By Frank Penney April 16, 2025
An afternoon traffic stop on I-80 in Loomis, Placer County, took a dangerous turn when a California Highway Patrol vehicle was struck by another car. The incident occurred while the CHP officer was parked on the south shoulder of the eastbound lanes near Horseshoe Road, preparing to transport someone from the scene. Suddenly, a Toyota traveling eastbound veered onto the shoulder, slamming into the CHP patrol vehicle. The force of the impact didn’t stop there—the Toyota continued forward, eventually crashing into a tow truck, flipping over, and landing upright on its wheels. Emergency crews responded quickly, and both the officer and the person inside the patrol vehicle were taken to the hospital with what officials described as suspected serious injuries. Fortunately, the driver of the Toyota sustained only minor injuries in the crash. Investigators believe a medical emergency may have caused the Toyota driver to lose control before the crash occurred. As a result of the accident, eastbound lanes #2 and #3 on I-80 near Horseshoe Bar Road were closed as of early afternoon to allow first responders and investigators to manage the scene safely. Experience unparalleled legal representation with Frank Penney Injury Law , the esteemed recipients of the CAOC Trial Attorney of the Year award. With over two decades of dedicated service, our team has consistently delivered record-setting results for accident victims in Northern, Central, and Southern California. Enjoy peace of mind with our no upfront fees policy. Contact us today at 888-888-0566 or through our website www.penneylaw.com for a FREE consultation. Frank Penney Injury Lawyers does not represent any of the parties mentioned above. Nevertheless, we sympathize with the victim and their families in this time of crisis.
By Frank Penney April 14, 2025
A 30-year-old man from Stockton died in a tragic crash Sunday evening in San Joaquin County, according to the California Highway Patrol. The accident happened just after 6:00 p.m. on Interstate 5, south of Downing Avenue. Authorities said the SUV the man was driving veered off the east shoulder of the highway, slammed into a metal guardrail, then tumbled down a dirt embankment before becoming fully submerged in a nearby slough. Emergency crews from the Stockton Fire Department responded quickly and managed to pull the vehicle to shore. Sadly, the man was found deceased in the water by the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office dive team. At this time, investigators have not determined whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash. Experience unparalleled legal representation with Frank Penney Injury Law , the esteemed recipients of the CAOC Trial Attorney of the Year award. With over two decades of dedicated service, our team has consistently delivered record-setting results for accident victims in Northern, Central, and Southern California. Enjoy peace of mind with our no upfront fees policy. Contact us today at 888-888-0566 or through our website www.penneylaw.com for a FREE consultation. Frank Penney Injury Lawyers does not represent any of the parties mentioned above. Nevertheless, we sympathize with the victim and their families in this time of crisis.
An auto accident attorney from Frank Penney Injury Lawyers and her client are shaking hands in her o
April 9, 2025
Learn why gathering evidence and consulting an auto accident attorney in Redding, CA, are crucial. Call Frank Penney Injury Lawyers at 888-888-0566.
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