San Diego Car Accident Injures Two
Two people sustained injuries in a San Diego car accident after two vehicles collided on a Sorrento Valley roadway the afternoon of February 3, 2010. 10news reports that the injury crash occurred when a 28-year-old woman traveling south in the 9700 block of Scranton Road attempted a left turn and her car was struck by a northbound SUV. The man in the SUV complained of chest pain and was transported to a local hospital. San Diego police officials said the other driver sustained a broken hip and collarbone.
I sympathize with the victims who sustained injuries in this car accident. I wish them both well and hope they recover quickly and completely. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Car Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 traffic accident statistics, there were 84 deaths and 6,516 injuries involving car accidents in San Diego. Countywide, car accidents claimed 268 lives and injured 14,641 people during the same year.
Left Turn/U-Turn Law
Left-turn collisions are among the most common injury car collisions. These mostly occur because a driver failed to yield right-of-way to an oncoming vehicle. California law is very specific about the requirements for drivers making a left turn or a U-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."
Liability Issues
In this particular case, however, it is not clear where the woman was turning left. Was it at a street intersection? If it was, did the woman have a green arrow? If both drivers had the green light, then the woman should have waited and yielded right-of-way to the driver of the pickup truck. In such cases, an experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer will be able guide victims and advise them about their legal rights and options. A skilled car accident lawyer will also be able advise victims about how their car insurance policy applies to a case where the at-fault driver lacks insurance or is underinsured.
We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.