Five people were injured, one severely, in a Santa Ana car accident involving a car and an Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) bus. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the injury collision occurred the night of October 31, 2011 at the intersection of Westminster Avenue and Clinton Street. Officials say the male driver of the vehicle that hit the bus was transported to a trauma center in serious condition. Four passengers in the bus suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The cause of this collision is under investigation.
My heart goes out to the injured victims of this car versus bus accident. I wish them all the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Car Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 11 fatalities and 1,359 injuries involving Santa Ana car accidents. During the same year, 141 people died and 13,373 were injured due to Orange County car accidents.
Right-of-Way Issues
Based on this news report, it is unclear as to what led to this major injury collision. Did the bus driver or the driver of the other vehicle fail to yield the right of way at the intersection? Did one of the vehicles run a red light at the intersection? 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.”
Also, 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.”
Fault and Liability
If the bus driver is determined to have been at fault, then, the driver as well as his or her employer can be held liable for the injuries and damages. If the other driver is determined to have been at fault, he could be held liable. Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. They would be well advised to contact an experienced Santa Ana personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all aspects of the incident and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable.
SLS Consulting