# San Jose Intersection Crashes: Left Turns, Red Lights, and Fault Canonical: https://sanjosecacaraccidentlawyer.com/intersection-crashes/ Reviewed by Andrew Ronald Gillin; reviewed 2026-11-05. For an intersection crash, start with each driver’s path, the signals, and the timing. A single photo may not show the whole event. ## Left-turn and red-light rules in California A left-turn crash and a red-light crash can involve different Vehicle Code rules. Section 21801 addresses yielding during a left turn. Section 21453 addresses red signals. A legal analysis must connect the relevant rule, what a person did, and the harm that followed. Sources: [Vehicle Code §21801 — Left turns](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH§ionNum=21801.); [Vehicle Code §21453 — Red signals](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH§ionNum=21453.) ## Proof of signal timing and vehicle movement Sketch the direction each car was going. Note whether a light changed, a view was blocked, or a car entered after traffic stopped. Save the names of nearby businesses that may have video. Do not assume a traffic camera recorded footage or that a camera ticket identifies the driver in an injury case. Sources: [California Vehicle Code](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codesTOCSelected.xhtml?tocCode=VEH); [Civil Code section 1714](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV§ionNum=1714.) ## Shared fault in an intersection crash For a useful review, keep the following information together. You do not need to enter it on this website. - The sequence of the crash and what you personally saw. - Report, witness, photo, and lawful video information. - Policies, coverage letters, and any release or offer you received. Sources: [California Vehicle Code](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codesTOCSelected.xhtml?tocCode=VEH) ## Court decisions about san jose intersection crashes: left turns, red lights, and fault ### Alarid v. Vanier (1958) 50 Cal.2d 617, pp. 621–624. A broken safety law could lead to a starting assumption of fault. The court said proof of a valid excuse could overcome it. Limits: The case predates shared-fault rules. Read today’s statutes and instructions with the case. [Read the opinion](https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/2d/50/617.html) ### Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804, pp. 827–829. A person can share fault and still have a negligence claim. Their share of blame can reduce the recovery. Limits: This does not set anyone’s fault percentage. Other limits and defenses can still matter. [Read the opinion](https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/3d/13/804.html) ## Related resources - [California Comparative Fault After a Car Accident](https://sanjosecacaraccidentlawyer.com/california-law/comparative-fault/) - [San Jose Crash Corridors: Data, Maps, and Limits](https://sanjosecacaraccidentlawyer.com/san-jose-guide/crash-corridors/) - [Car Accident Evidence: Dashcams, Vehicle Data, and Video](https://sanjosecacaraccidentlawyer.com/california-law/digital-evidence/) - [Contact GJEL About a San Jose Car Accident](https://sanjosecacaraccidentlawyer.com/contact/) ## Legal and agency sources - [Vehicle Code §21801 — Left turns](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH§ionNum=21801.) - [Vehicle Code §21453 — Red signals](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH§ionNum=21453.) - [California Vehicle Code](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codesTOCSelected.xhtml?tocCode=VEH) - [Civil Code section 1714](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV§ionNum=1714.) - [Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804](https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/3d/13/804.html) - [Alarid v. Vanier (1958) 50 Cal.2d 617](https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/2d/50/617.html) General information, not legal advice. Examples are hypothetical.