A 73-year-old woman who sustained fatal injuries in a Riverside car accident the morning of March 27, 2010 has been identified as Carmen Patino. According to a news report in The Desert Sun, the fatal car crash occurred at the intersection of Tourmaline Avenue and Jackson Street. Patino's vehicle was struck by an SUV as she attempted to make a left turn onto Jackson Street. She was transported to an area hospital where she died shortly after the crash.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Carmen Patino for their devastating loss. Please keep them in your prayers.
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Riverside Car Accidents

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 traffic accident statistics, there were four fatalities and 221 injuries involving car accidents in Indio. In Riverside County as a whole, 220 people died and 8,561 were injured as a result of car accidents in 2008.

Car Accident Laws

This news report does not clearly state who had the right-of-way in this case or who was at fault. But it is clear that the collision occurred as Patino was turning left. According to.California Vehicle Code Section 21801 (a): "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

If the driver of the SUV failed to yield right-of-way, he or she could be held liable for the accident and Patino's wrongful death. If this accident was caused by a dangerous or defective roadway, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could be held liable. Any such claim against a public entity must be filed within six months of the accident or injury.

A reputed Riverside personal injury lawyer will be able to analyze all aspects of this case and make sure that the negligent parties are held accountable.

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.