At least one person was injured in a Newport Beach car accident after two vehicles collided at a street intersection, the afternoon of September 21, 2012. According to the Daily Pilot, the injury collision occurred at the intersection of Newport Coast Drive and Vista Ridge Road. Officials say the accident involved a delivery truck and a small passenger vehicle. The five-ton truck and a smaller car came into “full-speed contact” at the intersection, police said. One person was transported to an area trauma center in stable condition. Both vehicles were traveling at about 40 mph at the time of the crash.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the injured victim of this collision. I wish the victim the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Crash Statistics
One person was killed and 450 were injured due to Newport Beach car accidents, according to California Highway Patrol’s 2010 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Also, 100 fatalities and 13,368 injuries were reported involving traffic accidents in Orange County during the same year.
Right-of-Way Issues
Based on this news account, it appears that the street intersection where this accident occurred is regulated by traffic lights. It is not clear if one of the vehicles ran a red light or failed to yield the right of way at the intersection. According to California Vehicle Code Section 21800 (a): “The driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle which has entered the intersection from a different highway.” It is a traffic violation to run a red light at an intersection, according to California Vehicle Code Section 21453 (a).
Fault and Liability
In such cases, the at-fault driver can be held liable. If the driver of the delivery truck is determined to have been at fault here, the driver and his or her employer can be held liable. Injured victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. Car accident victims would be well advised to contact an experienced Newport Beach personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.