An Orange County car accident resulted in serious injuries to five people after their car was struck by another vehicle that was making a left turn at an intersection the afternoon of June 17, 2010. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the driver of an Infiniti, who was traveling north on the Street of the Golden Lantern attempted to make a left turn in front of a Mazda 626 at the intersection of Marina Hills Drive. One person was seriously injured. Four others were taken to a local medical center. Officials are looking into what caused this collision.

I hope this accident has not caused catastrophic injuries to anyone involved. I wish all injured victims the very best for a quick and full recovery.

Accident Statistics

In Orange County in 2008, 153 deaths and 13,414 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents, according to the California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integral Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Laguna Niguel, during the same year, two fatalities and 107 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents.

Street Intersection Accidents

A number of car accidents occur at street intersections and a majority of these accidents occur because drivers fail to yield right-of-way and fail to obey the rules of the road, such as stopping for a red light. California Vehicle Code section 21801 requires motorists to yield right-of-way to an oncoming vehicle before making a left turn or U-turn. Running a red light is also a serious traffic violation. 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."

Claim for Compensation

In such cases, an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer will be able to advise injured victims about their legal rights and options. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also advise them about how their own auto insurance policy will apply to an incident where the at-fault motorist is uninsured or undersinsured.

What are some tips you would offer to drivers to help prevent accidents, especially at street intersections?

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.