A man was injured in an Orange County car accident after his vehicle was struck by another car that was attempting to make a left turn. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the injury accident occurred at Cypress Street and Garden Grove Boulevard in Garden Grove, the afternoon of August 23, 2011. Police say a Ford Taurus that was turning left at the intersection struck a Nissan Murano, which was eastbound on Garden Grove Boulevard. The Nissan rolled over. The male driver and his 16-year-old daughter were trapped in the vehicle. The girl in the Nissan as well as the Taurus’ driver were uninjured. But, the driver of the Murano was transported to a local trauma center for treatment of unknown injuries.
My thoughts and prayers are with the injured victim of this Orange County car accident. I wish him the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.
Car Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 14 people were killed and 647 were injured in Garden Grove car accidents. During that same year, 141 fatalities and 13,373 injuries occurred due to Orange County car accidents.
Left Turn Law
Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the Taurus may have made an unsafe left turn in front of the Nissan. California Vehicle Code Section 21801 (a) states: “The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left or to complete a U-turn upon a highway, or to turn left into public or private property, or an alley, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching from the opposite direction which are close enough to constitute a hazard at any time during the turning movement, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to the approaching vehicles until the left turn or U-turn can be made with reasonable safety.”
Fault and Liability
If it is determined that the driver of the Taurus was at fault, then, he or she can be held liable for the injuries caused to the other driver. Injured victims can seek compensation for damages including all medical expenses, loss of earnings, hospitalization, surgeries, physical therapy, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. An experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer will advise victims in such cases about their legal rights and options. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to car accident victims and their families.