Novato woman and dog are struck while crossing near St. Paul Circle
August 24, 2026 | Novato, CA
What happened in the crash?
Mary Colleen Murphy, 59, of Novato, died at a hospital after a car struck her and her dog at Novato Boulevard and St. Paul Circle.
- Date: Monday night, Aug. 24
- Location: Intersection of Novato Boulevard and St. Paul Circle, Novato, CA
- Victim: 59-year-old Mary Colleen Murphy and her dog
- Driver: 18-year-old man who remained at the scene
- Outcome: Murphy died at the hospital; dog also killed
- Key note: No impairment suspected; investigation ongoing
Why Do Pedestrian Crashes Like This Occur?
Vulnerable road users face significant risks in intersections. Data from the Governors Highway Safety Association shows pedestrian deaths have risen nearly seven times faster than U.S. population growth over the past decade.
Accident Statistics Overview
Source |
Key Finding |
Time Period |
|---|
Governors Highway Safety Association |
Pedestrian deaths rose 7x faster than population growth |
Last 10 years |
Federal Highway Administration |
Drivers must yield right-of-way at intersections |
Ongoing |
Legal Insights
“In most instances, pedestrians possess the right of way when crossing an intersection or a street regardless of if they are in a marked crosswalk.”
Key takeaways in cases such as this:
- Independent review helps preserve evidence quickly
- Families may pursue claims for loss of income, companionship, and funeral expenses
- Insurance companies may offer quick settlements below full value
“It is almost always a driver’s duty to yield to any pedestrian. Family members of wrongful death victims may seek damages for loss of income and companionship, pain and suffering, funeral expenses, and emotional distress.”
Candice bond, managing partner of bond legal, and stefano formica, of counsel at bond legal, provided these observations on motor vehicle crashes involving pedestrians.
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If you or a family member has been affected by a similar incident, national legal analyst Candice Bond is available for a free consultation. Use the contact information provided on this page.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).
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