California Injury Blog
One person was injured in an Orange County car accident, which may have involved an unsafe left turn, the morning of August 25, 2011. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the injury collision occurred at the intersection of State College Boulevard and Dorothy Lane, near Calstate Fullerton. Police say the driver of a Toyota Camry traveling southbound on State College Boulevard tried to turn left at Dorothy Lane toward the Calstate Fullerton campus. The female driver of the Camry then pulled into the path of a northbound Mitsubishi Diamante. The vehicles collided head-on. The male driver of the Mitsubishi was taken to a local hospital with complaints of pain. The driver of the Camry was uninjured. An investigation is ongoing.
I sincerely hope the victim of this crash did not sustain any major injuries. I wish this man the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep him in your prayers.
Car Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were five fatalities and 761 injuries involving Fullerton car accidents. In Orange County as a whole, car accidents claimed 141 lives and injured 13,373 people, during the same year.
Right-of-Way Issues
Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the Toyota Camry made a left turn in front of the Mitsubishi and failed to yield right-of-way. 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 the driver of the Toyota is determined to have been at fault, she can be held liable for the injuries and damages caused. Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation for all medical expenses, loss of earnings, cost of hospitalization, physical therapy, and even chiropractic care. Car accident victims would be well-advised to contact an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all facets of the incident and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable.