San Diego Personal Injury Attorney Blog

ESCONDIDO - A 15-year-old boy suffered very serious injuries Wednesday afternoon when an elderly driver making a left turn came up onto the sidewalk and struck him, 10 News reported. The accident occurred at about 12:36 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15th at Rose Street and Grand Avenue. According to news reports, the driver, an 84-year-old Escondido man, was driving a Chrysler Town and Country van north on Rose Street when he made a left turn onto Grand Avenue.

The van reportedly turned very wide and jumped the sidewalk, colliding with a traffic pole before going into the side of a building. The boy, who was not identified,
was sitting on a bicycle waiting to cross the street when he was struck by the van.

The boy was airlifted to Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, where he remained in a medically induced coma Thursday. According to police reports, the boy lost his right eye and several bottom teeth, and also suffered a broken ankle.

Cause of the Accident

The NC Times reported that an early investigation intended the driver of the van placed his foot on the gas pedal when he intended to hit the brake pedal, causing him to lose control as he tried to make the turn onto Grand Avenue. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Michael Garcia at 760-839-4729.

Elderly Driver "Pedal Misapplication" Accidents and Personal Injury Liability

Accidents such as this one, where the driver intends to hit the brake pedal but instead pushes down on the accelerator are unfortunately fairly common occurrences. In March of last year, an elderly driver ran over a 40-year-old man at the Costco warehouse store on Morena Boulevard, in Rose Canyon, causing catastrophic injuries (Estey Bomberger is currently representing the family in that case).

Pedal misapplication accidents such as this June 15th accident on Rose Street can be caused by conditions such as loss of sensation due to Diabetes, prescription medications, Parkinson's disease, arthritis and poor vision.

While Escondido Police are continuing to investigate this crash, the family of the injured teenager would be well-advised to speak with an experienced and knowledgeable San Diego personal injury lawyer. An attorney who understands the unique legal issues of accidents involving pedal misapplication can help the family protect their rights to hold accountable the responsible parties, and recover compensation for medical care and expenses, as well as pain and suffering.