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Handyman Killed in North Hollywood Pedestrian Accident

Police are looking for a hit and run driver who struck and killed a man in an accident in North Hollywood a little past 2 am on Monday morning.

According to news reports, Gabriel Pompa was walking on the street when he was hit by a car. Pompa was thrown against a tree, and died at the scene of the pedestrian accident. His body was discovered by a passing motorist. There were no witnesses to the accident, making it harder for the police who are now looking for the hit and run motorist. Officers are hoping that surveillance cameras in nearby businesses might have been able to capture footage that could provide clues to the identity of the motorist. There was no crosswalk where Pompa was struck by the motorist.

Motorists can do much to prevent such needless accidents. Too many pedestrian fatalities every year can be traced to the failure of the motorist to take pedestrian rights into consideration.

• Always drive at posted speed limits. A speeding vehicle takes longer to come to a stop after the brakes are applied.
• Avoid drunk driving. Driving under the influence can delay your response time increasing the likelihood that you will hit a pedestrian in front of you.
• Drive at regular speed limits, even at night when there is lesser traffic. You never know when a pedestrian may walk into the path of your car.
• Drive especially carefully at intersections and near marked pedestrian crosswalks. Also drive carefully in areas where there is heavy pedestrian traffic, near college campuses and schools.
• Avoid distractions while driving, like talking on the cell phone. A driver who is texting or talking on the cell phone, snacking or changing radio stations is more likely to miss a pedestrian in front of him.

Pedestrian must also do their part to be safe on the streets.

• Always cross the road only in a marked crosswalk.
• Avoid walking at night or wear brightly colored or reflecting clothing if you have to.
• Avoid walking in bad weather. The chances of being struck during heavy rains or snow fall are higher.
• As much as possible, try to walk in groups.
• Avoid distractions while walking. Listening to the i-Pod can make your daily walk seem more enjoyable, but it does prevent you from hearing the signal of a motorist. Avoid talking on the cell phone while walking.

Always remember that in a motor vehicle-pedestrian accident. It’s the pedestrian who has a much higher chance of sustaining injuries. It is therefore in their best interests to walk carefully on the streets.

A pedestrian can suffer severe injuries when they are struck by a car that’s traveling even at normal speed limits. The impact of such a crash can throw a person several feet into the air smashing them down on the ground with great force. Deaths are not uncommon in such accidents, and when pedestrians survive, they may be left with catastrophic injuries that may require months of treatment.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of pedestrian accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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