Four people were injured in a San Francisco car accident after a cable car collided with a city Recreation and Park Department van the evening of September 7, 2009, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Muni officials said the cable car was traveling east on Washington street toward downtown San Francisco when the accident occurred at the intersection of Washington and Mason streets. Four passengers were injured of which two were treated at the scene and two were transported to a local hospital. The incident is being investigated both by Muni and the San Francisco Police Department. The cable car system is also operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway or Muni as it is better known.
I sincerely hope the two injured victims who were transported to the hospital were not seriously injured. I wish all the injured victims the very best for a quick and complete recovery. Please keep the victims in your prayers.
San Francisco Car Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 51 deaths and 3,632 injuries involving car accidents in San Francisco.
Throughout this year we’ve been seeing more and more of these
California car accidents involving Muni vehicles in San Francisco. Recent statistics by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) showed that accidents involving Muni vehicles are in fact on the rise in San Francisco. We don’t quite know yet what caused this particular accident that left four people injured. However, in this particular case, the Muni could be held liable for injuries caused to the four passengers.
Liability in Accidents Involving Public Transportation
Bus carriers–whether public or private–owe the duty of utmost care to their passengers. This duty is even higher than what is owed by these operators to a pedestrian or another motorist on the roadway. When we ride public transportation, we do so with the trust and belief that we will be safety transported to our respective destinations.
The injured victims in such cases would be well-advised to contact an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigations and ensure that the facts come out. In this particular case, because the Muni operates both the vehicles involved in the collision, it could be held liable for the victims’ injuries. Please remember that if you are involved in any accident, please do not sign papers, talk to insurance adjusters or attorneys for the other side before first talking to your own lawyer. You need someone knowledgeable on your side fighting for your rights and representing your best interests.
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 source for the facts 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, please contact us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. Most of the best law firms will provide accident victims a free consultation.
We cannot fully inform any party or family member about their rights, options or the economic viability of any claim for compensation without a full investigation and consultation. We will not be conducting an investigation into this matter unless we are retained by a party. We will provide a free, confidential consultation to any, not at fault, person named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.