Vicki Gonzales, 63, was killed in a Riverside car accident, in which two others were also seriously injured. According to a report in The Press Enterprise, the crash occurred on the afternoon of June 13th at the intersection of Arlington and Magnolia avenues. Police said a 49-year-old man driving a 2009 Infiniti sports car was going west on Arlington Avenue when he began to make a left turn to go south on Magnolia Avenue.
Left Turn Accident
His vehicle collided with a 2010 Hyundai that Gonzales was driving. She was going east on Arlington. Gonzales was transported to a local hospital where she died from the injuries. Two other occupants in the Hyundai also suffered major injuries and were transported to a regional hospital. The driver of the Infiniti sustained non-life-threatening injuries. It is not clear if the Infiniti’s driver was arrested or cited. The investigation appears to be ongoing.
We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of Vicki Gonzales for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Right-of-Way Issues
Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the Infiniti failed to yield the right-away to Gonzales’s oncoming vehicle when he was making a left turn. Under California law, drivers who are making left turns or U-turns are required to yield the right of way to oncoming vehicles and only proceed when it is safe to do so.
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.”
Seeking Compensation
Injured victims in such cases may be able to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver seeking compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost income, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, pain and suffering and emotional distress. Families of deceased victims may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for damages as well. An experienced Riverside car accident lawyer will be able to advise injured victims and their families regarding their legal rights and options.
Source: https://www.pe.com/2020/06/13/woman-dies-in-traffic-collision-in-riverside/