California Injury Blog
A man was injured in an Orange County car accident after two cars collided at an intersection, the morning of February 28, 2012. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the injury crash occurred at the intersection of Santa Margarita Parkway and Buena Suerte in Rancho Santa Margarita. Officials say one of the vehicles was turning left at the time of the crash. One man was transported to a nearby hospital with unknown injuries. It is not clear if either driver will be cited for the crash.
My thoughts and prayers are with the man who has been injured in this Orange County crash. I wish the victim the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.
Orange County Car Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but 67 injuries reported due to Rancho Santa Margarita car accidents. During that same year, Orange County car accidents caused 141 fatalities and injured 13,373 people.
What Caused This Intersection Accident?
Based on this news report, one of the vehicles was turning left at the time of the crash. It will have to be determined if one of the drivers ran a red light at the intersection or if the driver who was turning left failed to properly yield the 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.”
Liability Issues
Victims of injury accidents would be well advised to speak with an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all facets of the incident and help protect their legal rights and best interests. The driver who is determined to have been at fault in a collision may be held liable for a victim’s medical bills, lost wages and other related damages. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families.