A woman said to be in her 30s sustained major injuries in a Long Beach car accident after the pickup truck in which she was a passenger, was T-boned by another motorist who was making a left turn. According to a news report in The Press Telegram, the injury car crash occurred the night of December 19, 2009. The woman was in a 2004 Chevy Silverado heading east on Pacific Coast Highway, when a 1991 Honda Accord traveling west on the same roadway attempted a left turn on to Canal Street, hitting the Chevy truck.

The impact from the crash pushed the pickup truck sideways and up on to the sidewalk at the southeast corner of the intersection. The truck struck a fire hydrant before crashing into a light pole. The passenger side of the truck was hit pretty badly and paramedics at the scene said that the woman suffered severe head trauma when her head came out of the window and hit against the light pole. The woman's family told officials that she was not expected to survive, but later said that she had "pulled through surgery." She is listed in critical condition.

I sympathize with the family of this woman who has apparently sustained severe head injuries in this car accident. I'm happy to hear that she got through the surgery and hope and pray that she does eventually make a complete recovery. This injured victim and her family will be in my prayers.

Car Accident Statistics

There were 39 fatalities and 2,212 injuries in Long Beach as a result of car accidents, according to California Highway Patrol's 2007 traffic accident statistics. In Los Angeles County as a whole, car accidents claimed 712 lives and injured 56,475 people during the same year.

Car Accident Laws

Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the Honda may have made an unsafe left turn causing the car crash. California law is very specific about the requirements for drivers making a left turn or a U-turn. California Vehicle Code section 21801 (a) states: "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."

Claim for Compensation

In car accident cases where negligence or wrongdoing is suspected, victims or their families would be well-advised to consult an experienced Long Beach personal injury lawyer who will stay abreast of the official investigation and make sure their rights are protected and that they receive fair compensation for their injuries, damages and loss.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.