California Injury Blog
Six people were injured in a San Jose car accident after a Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority bus rear-ended a car near a city intersection. According to a Bay City News Service report, the collision occurred the afternoon of May 3, 2010 near the intersection of West San Carlos Street and South Almaden Boulevard. Six passengers from the crowded bus were transported to area hospitals. However, no one sustained life-threatening injuries. No one in the rear-ended vehicle was injured. Authorities have stated that the bus driver will be tested for drugs and alcohol per standard procedure.
My heart goes out to the injured bus passengers. I wish them all the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep them in your prayers.
Car Accident Statistics
There were 44 fatalities and 3,627 injuries involving car accidents in San Jose in 2008, according to California Highway Patrol’s traffic accident statistics. In Santa Clara County as a whole, 94 people died and 6,770 were injured as a result of traffic accidents during the same year.
What Caused the Accident?
Based on this news report, it appears that the bus driver may have been at fault for failing to stop in time. Transit authority officials say they do not believe the bus driver was traveling too fast, but this bus accident is under investigation. The question here is: Why did the bus driver fail to avoid the collision? Was he inattentive? Was he distracted? Was he under the influence or otherwise negligent? I trust officials are examining these and other factors in order to determine precisely what occurred here.
Liability Issues
In this particular case, if the bus driver’s negligence caused this accident, the injured passengers could file a claim against the transit authority to seek compensation for medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization and other accident-related costs. Bus companies — whether they are public or private carriers — owe the “highest duty of care” to their passengers associated with being a common carrier. This “duty of utmost care” is higher than the negligence duty owed by the bus company to drivers of other vehicles and pedestrians.
Bus accident victims would be well-advised to consult with an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who will stay on top of the investigation and protect their legal rights and best interests. Please remember that there are time limits to file these claims. California Government Code section 911.2 states that any claim against a public entity must be filed within six months of the incident.
Do you feel safe riding the bus in your city? What are the hazards faced by bus riders every day?
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.