Three people were injured in a San Diego car accident that involved a driver, who officials say ran a stop sign. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the injury crash occurred the afternoon of December 29, 2011 near the intersection of Miramar Road and Padgett Street. A man driving a Toyota Camry failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with a Chevy truck whose driver was making a left turn. The truck was then pushed into a Mercedes Benz waiting in a left turn lane. The driver of the Camry, a man in his 40s, suffered a brain injury. The drivers of the two other vehicles were transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police say alcohol was not a factor in this crash. An investigation is ongoing.

My thoughts and prayers are with all those who were injured in this collision. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

San Diego Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 71 fatalities and 5,819 injuries occurred involving San Diego car accidents. Countywide, car accidents claimed 217 lives and injured 12,998 people, during the same year.

Possible Stop Sign Violation

Based on this news report, it appears that the chain-reaction crash was triggered by a driver who may have run a stop sign at the intersection. California law requires drivers to come to a complete stop at a stop sign and proceed with caution. According to California Vehicle Code Section 21802 (a): "The driver of any vehicle approaching a stop sign at the entrance to, or within, an intersection shall stop as required by Section 22450. The driver shall then yield the right-of-way to any vehicles which have approached from another highway, or which are approaching so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to those vehicles until he or she can proceed with reasonable safety."

Fault and Liability

If the driver of the Camry is determined to have been at fault, he can be held liable for the injuries and damages caused. Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. An experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer will be able to determine whether a dangerous condition at the intersection caused or contributed to the incident. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held liable. Please remember that any personal injury claim against a California governmental entity must be filed within six months of the incident.