A man was seriously injured in a San Francisco pedestrian accident after he was run over by the Muni bus he was trying to catch. According to an ABC News report, the accident occurred the afternoon of February 23, 2010 on Stanyan Street, near Fulton Street. Initial reports indicate that the pedestrian tripped and fell while running to catch the 33-Stanyan bus as it was moving away from the bus stop. The bus then ran over him. The pedestrian sustained a major leg injury. His injuries are believed to be life-threatening.
My heart goes out to this critically injured pedestrian. I hope and pray that he makes it through his serious injuries and makes a complete recovery. It seems that this victim may have sustained catastrophic injuries. Please keep this injured victim in your prayers.
Pedestrian Accidents in San Francisco
Pedestrian accidents are getting to be a serious problem in the city of San Francisco. Two months ago, a group called Transportation for America released a study, which showed that 27 percent of all traffic accident fatalities in the San Francisco region (including Oakland and Fremont), involved pedestrian accidents. In 2008 alone, 72 people died in pedestrian accidents in San Francisco. That number was up from 64 in 2007.
Fault and Liability Issues
It is, of course, possible this particular case was just a terrible accident and not the result of negligence on anyone’s part. However, if I were a family member of the victim, I’d certainly want to know if in fact, any negligence or oversight, either by the Muni driver or the city officials led to the major injuries.
I trust officials are looking into the actions of the Muni bus driver here, for DUI, speeding, distracted driving or any other negligence at the time of this bus accident. It is extremely important for pedestrians to remember certain safety rules when they are on the road. One of the most important rules is not to run on a busy roadway. There is always the danger of tripping and falling and getting run over, as it occurred with this pedestrian.
If there was a dangerous condition on this roadway that caused or contributed to this major injury accident, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining this roadway could be held liable as well. Any such claim against a governmental entity in California must be properly filed within 180 days of the accident or injury. In such cases, victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, cost of hospitalization, prosthetics, rehabilitation, physical therapy and long-term care in case of any catastrophic injuries. An experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer will be able to advise victims about their legal rights and options.
The Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys is 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 us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.