California Injury Blog
A woman was injured in a San Diego car accident after her vehicle was hit by a city trolley in downtown San Diego. According to a San Diego 6 news report, the injury crash occurred the morning of May 31, 2011 near the intersection of Park Avenue and Market Street in the East Village area. The woman was transported to an area hospital with injuries that were described as non-life-threatening. An investigation is ongoing.
I’m relieved to note that the victim in this case did not suffer life-threatening injuries. I pray for her swift and full recovery.
San Diego Car Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 81 fatalities and 6,123 injuries involving car accidents in the city of San Diego. In San Diego County as a whole, 246 people died and 13,527 were injured as a result of car accidents during the same year.
What Caused This Accident?
This news report does not clearly state how or why this injury car accident happened, other than the fact that it happened near an intersection. There are many unanswered questions here. Did one of the drivers fail to yield right-of-way at the intersection? Did one of the drivers fail to obey the traffic lights at the intersection? Was the driver of the trolley or the car distracted, inattentive, or otherwise negligent at the time? I trust officials are looking into these and other factors in order to determine what occurred here.
Laws and Liability Issues
According to California Vehicle Code Section 21800 (a): “The driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle which has entered the intersection from a different highway.” Also, California Vehicle Code Section 21453 (a) states: “A driver facing a circular red signal shall stop at the limit line before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain stopped until an indication to proceed is shown.”
If the trolley driver is determined to have been at fault, the driver and his or her employer, the transit authority, could be held liable for the woman’s injuries. In such cases, injured victims can file a personal injury claim seeking damages for all medical expenses, lost wages and cost of rehabilitation such as physical therapy or chiropractic care. An experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer will better advise victims about their legal rights and options. Please remember that any personal injury claim against a governmental agency in California must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.
Seriously injured in a San Diego County car accident? Want to know if you have a case? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation for your injuries? Want justice? Want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to someone else?
Call your best friends in the legal industry after a San Diego trolley accident. Call 800-259-6373. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.
Call a Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys San Diego personal injury lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your case by attorneys who have represented over 6,000 clients since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a friendly law firm in a comfortable environment.