California Injury Lawyer Blog

A crash likely caused by an unsafe left turn has left a 71-year-old Fresno man with major injuries, the Fresno Bee reported. The two-vehicle collision happened on Highway 41, north of Avenue 14 ½, at about 8:20 p.m. on Tuesday, November 16, 2010. According to the CHP, Maxwell Gross, 18, of Fresno attempted to turn a Jeep into a private driveway when he collided with a GMC driven southbound by Jim Gagliardi, 71, also of Fresno. Gagliardi suffered major injuries and was airlifted to Community Regional Medical Center, where he underwent surgery.

Cause of the Madera County Car Crash

The California Highway Patrol is the agency investigating the cause of the accident. Although the cause of the accident is still under invetigation, the CHP stated that the driver of the Jeep did not yield to the right of way of Gagliardi's vehicle. If news accounts of the incident are true, Gross is likely responsible for the collision. The law pertaining to left turns is found in California Vehicle Code Section 21801: "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."

Car Accident Personal Injury Liability

In situations such as this one, where a car accident resulting in serious injury is suspected to be caused by another driver, the family of the injured victim would be well-advised to consult with a qualified California personal injury attorney. A skilled lawyer can help the victim protect their legal rights following the collision, and advise him of his best course of action to hold the at-fault driver and any other negligent parties financially accountable for medical expenses and pain and suffering resulting from the accident.