Brea Car Accident Results in Injuries

A car accident in Brea involving an SUV full of Brea Olinda High School students, left two women in another car with injuries. The Orange County Register reports that the three-vehicle crash occurred at the intersection of Tonner Canyon and Brea Canyon roads the morning of June 13, 2013.

Officials say a Toyota Corolla traveling on Tonner Canyon entered the path of a Ford Expedition that was northbound on Brea Canyon Road. The SUV swerved to avoid the Toyota, but collided with a Dodge Dakota truck in the southbound lanes. The crash caused the truck to flip to its side. Two women in the Toyota were injured. None of the students in the SUV was injured. They were apparently headed to graduation practice at Mount San Antonio College.

It is indeed fortunate that no one in the SUV was seriously injured. I wish the injured victims the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

Orange County Traffic Accidents

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2010 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but 238 injuries reported as a result of car accidents in Brea. In Orange County as a whole, 100 people died and 13,368 were injured due to traffic accidents during the same year

Potential Stop Sign Violation

Based on this news report, it appears that traffic turning from Tonner Canyon to Brea Canyon must stop for a stop sign. California law requires drivers to come to a complete stop at a stop sign and proceed with caution. According to California Vehicle Code section 21802 (a): “The driver of any vehicle approaching a stop sign at the entrance to, or within, an intersection shall stop as required by Section 22450. The driver shall then yield the right-of-way to any vehicles which have approached from another highway, or which are approaching so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to those vehicles until he or she can proceed with reasonable safety.”

Liability Issues

In such cases, the at-fault driver can be held liable for injuries and damages caused to victims. Injured victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, physical therapy and pain and suffering. A knowledgeable Orange County personal injury lawyer will also be able to determine whether a dangerous intersection caused or contributed to the incident. If that is the case, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held liable.