California Injury Blog
A woman was killed and two others were injured in a Whittier car accident that involved three vehicles. According to a report in The Whittier Daily News, the fatal car crash occurred at the intersection of Mulberry Drive and Greenleaf Avenue in Whittier, the night of October 4, 2011. Officials say the collision occurred when one of the drivers made a left turn in front of another vehicle. A female driver died shortly after the crash at a nearby hospital. Two other drivers sustained relatively minor injuries. Officials are still looking into the cause of the accident.
My deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the woman killed in this tragic Los Angles County accident. My thoughts and prayers are also with the other injured victims of this fatal crash.
Car Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), three people were killed and 399 were injured in Whittier car accidents. During that same year, there were 554 fatalities and 50,817 injuries reported due to Los Angeles County car accidents.
Possible Unsafe Left Turn
Based on this news report, it appears that the collision between the three vehicles occurred when one of the drivers was attempting to turn left from Mulberry Drive onto Greenleaf Avenue. 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.”
Fault and Liability
If it is determined that one of the drivers made an unsafe left turn, then, he or she could be held liable for the injuries, damages and losses caused. Injured victims or their families in such cases would be well-advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all facets of the incident and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable. A skilled car accident attorney will also advise victims or their families about how their own car insurance policies apply to an incident where the at-fault motorist is uninsured or underinsured.