California Injury Blog
Several people were injured in a Garden Grove car accident after a Honda SUV was hit by another vehicle that was making a left turn at a street intersection. According to a report in Garden Grove TV3, the injury collision occurred at the intersection of Chapman Avenue and Gilbert Street, the afternoon of March 22, 2012. Police say an Oldsmobile Alero was attempting a left turn at the intersection when it struck a Honda Element SUV.
The drivers of both vehicles and the passengers in the Honda were transported to a local trauma center. None of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries. One of the vehicles careened into the yard of a preschool. But fortunately there were no children playing there at the time. The driver of the Oldsmobile was cited for failure to yield while turning left. Alcohol or drugs are not believed to have been factors in this collision.
My thoughts and prayers go out to all the injured victims of this car accident. Officials say this accident could have been catastrophic or even fatal had there been children playing in the yard or if there had been any passengers in the Alero. I wish all those who were injured the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Car Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 14 fatalities and 647 injuries involving Garden Grove car accidents. Also, 141 fatalities and 13,373 injuries were reported as a result of Orange County car accidents, during the same year.
Failure to Yield the Right-of-Way
Based on this news article, the driver of the Oldsmobile failed to yield the right-of-way to the Honda SUV while making a left turn. 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
In this particular case, if the driver of the Alero is determined to have been at fault, he or she can be held liable for the injuries and damages caused to the others. Injured victims in such cases 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 Garden Grove personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all aspects of the incident and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable.