A 50-year-old woman suffered major injuries in a Lake Forest car crash after her vehicle collided with a 60,000-pound crane at a street intersection, the morning of September 20, 2012. According to a news article in The Orange County Register, the injury collision occurred at the intersection of El Toro road and Santa Margarita Parkway. Police say the woman was driving northbound on Santa Margarita when her car collided with the crane that was eastbound on El Toro. The woman was transported to an area trauma center with a possibly broken back. The driver of the crane was not injured. At least three witnesses told deputies that the crane had run the red light. The investigation is ongoing.
My thoughts and prayers are with the seriously injured victim of this car crash. I wish here the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Crash Statistics
There were no fatalities, but 159 injuries involving Lake Forest car accidents in 2010, according to California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). During the same year, 100 people died and 13,368 were injured due to Orange County car accidents.
Laws and Liability Issues
Based on this news report, witnesses told police that the driver of the crane ran a red light at the intersection and caused the collision. California Vehicle Code Section 21453 (a) states: “A driver facing a circular red signal shall stop at the limit line before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain stopped until an indication to proceed is shown.”
If the driver of the crane is determined to have been at fault, both the driver and his or her employer could be held liable for the injuries and damages here. In such cases, injured victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. Car accident victims would be well advised to contact an experienced Lake Forest personal injury lawyer who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.