Two separate San Francisco car accidents have caused critical injures to pedestrians, who now appear to be fighting for their lives. According to a Bay City News report, both pedestrian-car collisions occurred within minutes of each other on the morning of December 21, 2009. The first involved a 54-year-old female pedestrian who was struck by a car at the intersection of Van Ness Avenue and Grove Street near City Hall. The second also involved a woman who was hit by a different vehicle in the area of Quint Street and Palou Avenue, in Bayview. Both woman have suffered life-threatening injuries and are being treated in San Francisco General Hospital.
I sympathize with these two seriously injured victims and their families. I hope and pray that they survive these critical injuries and recover completely. Please keep them in your prayers.
San Francisco Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 29 fatalities and 775 injuries in San Francisco, involving pedestrian accidents. During the same year, 51 deaths and 3,632 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents in San Francisco.
Liability Issues in Pedestrian Accidents
Based on this news report, it's not clear how or why both these pedestrian accidents occurred. We do not know whether these pedestrians were crossing the street and if they were, whether there were in crosswalks. In such cases traffic investigators usually look into who had the right-of-way at the time and whether the drivers were negligent, impaired or speeding at the time of the collision.
If the accident was caused by a dangerous roadway, the city of San Francisco could be held liable as well. California Government Code states that any claim against a governmental entity must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury. An experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer will be able to analyze all aspects of such accidents and make sure victims get fair compensation for their injuries and losses.
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.
