A car accident in Los Angeles resulted in injuries for two police officers the night of February 3, 2012. The Los Angeles Times reports that the injury collision occurred on Jefferson Boulevard at McClintock Avenue in Jefferson Park. Officials say the patrol vehicle was struck by an unlicensed driver who made an illegal left turn. Both LAPD officers suffered injuries. An investigation is ongoing.
My heart goes out to the officers who have been injured in this car accident. I pray that they recover quickly and completely from whatever injuries they have sustained.
Car Accidents Statistics
There were 554 fatalities and 50,817 injuries involving car accidents in Los Angeles County, according to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In the city of Los Angeles, 227 fatalities and 25,043 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents in 2009.
Laws and Liability Issues
It appears from this news report that the other driver made an unsafe left turn in front of the officers’ car. It is unclear as to why the driver failed to yield the right-of-way as required under California Vehicle Code Section 21801 (a). Motorists who are about to make left turns or U-turns are required under the law to yield the right-of-way to oncoming vehicles and continue to do so until it is reasonably safe to make the turn. I trust officials are looking into whether the driver was intoxicated, inattentive, distracted or otherwise negligent at the time.
If the other driver is determined to have been at fault, he or she can be held liable for the injuries and damages caused here. It would be in the best interests of injured victims to seek the counsel of a skilled Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that the victims’ legal rights and best interests are protected. A knowledgeable car accident attorney will also advise victims about how their own car insurance policy might apply to an incident where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.
