A police officer sustained injuries in a Los Angeles car accident the morning of August 3, 2010 after he crashed his patrol car into a fountain while trying to avoid another motorist. According to a news report in the Daily Breeze, the accident occurred on Torrance Boulevard, near Prospect Avenue, in Redondo Beach. The Redondo Beach police officer swerved to avoid another vehicle whose driver was likely making an illegal turn.

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Officials say the officer's cruiser crashed into a water pond and ended up in shallow water around a fountain. No citations have been issued pending an official investigation. The officer was transported to a local hospital. His injuries are not expected to be life-threatening.

I'm relieved to hear that the officer in this case was not seriously injured. I wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were two fatalities and 235 injuries involving car accidents in Redondo Beach. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 667 people died and 52,229 were injured as a result of car accidents during the same year.

Accident Laws

Based on this news report, the accident occurred because the other driver may have made an illegal turn. It is not clear if that driver made a U-turn or a left turn. It appears that the driver for some reason failed to see the officer's patrol car. I trust officials are looking into whether the other driver was distracted, inattentive or negligent in any other 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

In this case, if the other driver is determined to have been at fault, he or she could be held liable for the officer's injuries. Injured victims in such cases could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, physical therapy and other related damages. Since the officer was on the job here, he would also be entitled to worker's compensation benefits. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be able to advise injured victims about their legal rights and options.

Do you see drivers making illegal turns when you are on the road? Have you personally had any close calls? We would like to hear about your experiences.

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.