California Injury Blog
Three people were injured, two were left with critical injuries, in a Whittier car accident that involved a car and a pickup. According to a report in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, a woman and two teen girls were among the injured. Firefighters extricated one of the victims who was trapped. The crash took place at the intersection of Whittier Boulevard and Broadway.
Before the collision, the car was heading west on Whittier Boulevard while the eastbound pickup truck was making a left turn on to Broadway. The woman driving the car and one of the teen girls riding in the pickup sustained critical injuries. The other passenger in the pickup possibly suffered a concussion, officials said. The man who drove the pickup was not injured, police said.
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who was injured in this auto accident. We wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
The Law Relating to Left Turns
Based on this news report, it appears that the pickup truck was making a left turn when the major injury collision occurred. Under California law, vehicles that are making left or U-turns are required to yield the right of way to oncoming vehicles that are going straight and have the green light.
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
In such cases, the at-fault driver can be held liable for the injuries, damages and losses caused. Injured victims may be able to seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitation, pain and suffering and emotional distress. An experienced Los Angeles car accident lawyer will be able to remain on top of the official investigation and help ensure that victims receive maximum compensation for their losses.
Source: https://www.whittierdailynews.com/2020/05/13/4-injured-2-critically-in-whittier-crash/