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Joshua Tree Faces Increase in Pedestrian Accidents

Joshua Tree is a small community of only 7,500 people, but it faces a growing problem on its roadways: pedestrian accidents. Two years ago, 74-year-old artist Arthur Comings was fatally struck by a vehicle on Highway 62. Since then, four other pedestrians have been struck by vehicles in downtown Joshua Tree, two of whom were killed.

Downtown Joshua Tree is only a four-block stretch of buildings with one stoplight, but it straddles Highway 62. The highway is notorious for serious crashes. In fact, The Desert Sun found that motorists on Highway 62 were three times more likely to be in a fatal accident than on the average California road.

Will Re-Striping Highway 62 Curb Pedestrian Accidents?

Adding to the problem is the fact that the highway widens significantly in Joshua Tree. Thus, cars tend to go faster, while pedestrians have further to travel to cross the street. To address this problem, the California Department of Transportation re-striped the road, adding diagonal parking spaces to both edges of the highway.

While the re-striping does not actually narrow the road, it does cause it to appear narrower, and encourages drivers to slow down in the busy downtown area. However, it does not solve the jaywalking problem, which is likely to increase as downtown Joshua Tree grows. Some town members have suggested a pedestrian bridge to cross Highway 62 in downtown Joshua Tree. But Caltrans says the town does not have enough foot traffic to justify such a move.

“Pedestrian safety is a growing problem in this area, and traffic authorities must make road improvements in Joshua Tree a priority,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured in an auto accident and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, and Yucca Valley and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.

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