Salinas, CA — The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office identified 50-year-old Felix Santos Gomez as the pedestrian who lost his life Monday night, October 21, 2024, after being struck by a vehicle, according to KSBW.
The accident occurred around 8:30 PM at the intersection of East Market and Monterey Street.
Witnesses reported seeing Gomez attempting to cross East Market Street outside of a designated crosswalk as eastbound traffic, with a green light, moved through the intersection. Surveillance footage captured the moment a Toyota SUV, traveling with the flow of traffic, struck Gomez.
The driver of the SUV remained on-site and cooperated with authorities, who confirmed that impairment was not a factor in the collision.
The investigation is ongoing, as officials continue to look into all possible factors involved in the incident.
Pedestrian Fatalities and Wrongful Death Claims
Drivers have a specific “Duty of Care” towards pedestrians, who are particularly vulnerable in traffic accidents. This responsibility includes being vigilant for pedestrians near the roadway and, if a fatal collision occurs, staying with the victim, alerting emergency responders, and cooperating with authorities investigating the crash.
For those who lose a loved one in a pedestrian accident, filing a Wrongful Death claim with the assistance of an experienced attorney can provide compensation for medical bills, funeral costs, and other related damages.
If the at-fault driver avoids legal consequences, compensation might still be available through a family member’s uninsured driver coverage. Consulting with a personal injury attorney can help determine the best options in such cases.
Partial Liability in Pedestrian Accidents
California Law does not consider pedestrians to have the right-of-way under all circumstances, such as if they attempt to cross outside of a crosswalk. However, motorists are never relieved of the expectation to provide pedestrians with a Duty of Care toward their safety.
It may therefore be determined that a motorist is held only partially liable in a pedestrian accident. If that is the case, they would be financially responsible for the victim’s recovery costs in proportion to their degree of liability.
