san francisco pedestrian accidents | Northern California Personal Injury Blog

San Francisco Residents Pay a High Price for Pedestrian Accident Injuries

By Kelly Balamuth on April 21, 2011

San Francisco’s Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) recently advised that the high rate of pedestrian-car accidents in the city was costing residents millions of dollars in medical costs. The PSAC estimates that 800 pedestrians are hit by vehicles in San Francisco each year, which averages to two or three pedestrians each day. In a year, these injured pedestrians rack up over $76 million in costs, with medical bills alone accounting to $15 million.

The PSAC notes that the cost of admitting just one injured pedestrian to the hospital for treatment can be as much as $80,000. When the injured person is very young, old, poor, or disabled, the public ends up paying for up to three-quarters of the injured person’s medical care. Even among city residents who have health insurance or the means to pay their bills, the high risk of severe injuries resulting from a San Francisco pedestrian accident put many families on financially uncertain ground, as one unfortunate mistake could change their lives forever.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) estimates that improvements to make roads safer for pedestrians range from $10,000 to improve crosswalks to $1 million to overhaul an entire street. Although these numbers are small compared to the costs of the injuries they would prevent, the MTA’s low budget makes it difficult for the agency to carry out these projects.

Motorists have a responsibility to be on the lookout for pedestrians, but unfortunately many drive distracted or are not paying adequate attention when behind the wheel and do not see a person on foot until it’s too late, leaving the pedestrian to pay the price. If you or someone you love has been injured in a pedestrian accident in San Francisco, please don’t hesitate to call the experienced Northern California pedestrian accident attorneys at Balamuth Harrington today at 888-254-1234.

Financial District Multiple Muni Bus Crash Kills Man

By Kelly Balamuth on April 23, 2010

According to a recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle, two buses killed a 49-year-old pedestrian when the buses crashed into each other pinning the man between them. Somehow the buses separated, but the second bus ran over the man trapping him underneath the bus wheels.

One witness said the first bus pushed the male pedestrian into a bike rack, before pinning the man into the front of the second bus. After the buses separated, the man fell against the ground, but the witness said that the second bus could not have avoided running over the man. Other witnesses said the pedestrian was struck by the two buses as he was trying to hail a taxi cab at the intersection of Mission and Beale Streets.

Rescuers were forced to use a hydraulic jack to lift the second bus, and to crawl underneath the bus to detach the man from the front end of the bus. Shortly after the accident occurred, the pedestrian died of his injuries at San Francisco General Hospital.

Both of the bus drivers were also taken to the hospital and treated for their injuries. Police will test them for traces of alcohol and drug use. The cause of the bus accident in San Francisco is still under investigation.

Pedestrians injured in Northern California motor vehicle accidents may have grounds for personal injury lawsuits that may make them eligible to receive money to cover the costs of their injuries as well as compensate for their pain and suffering. Balamuth Harrington, LLP has over 15 years experience in assisting Northern California injury victims as well as families of deceased victims recover full and just compensation. We care about our clients. We understand that filing a lawsuit on behalf of a deceased loved one can be a painful experience. We have the legal knowledge and experience to handle difficult cases such as these, no matter how complex.

Balamuth Harrington, LLP San Francisco injury attorneys get results for our clients in Northern California personal injury and wrongful death matters. For a free legal consultation, please contact our offices at 888-254-1234.