A woman sustained injuries in a San Francisco pedestrian accident the morning of March 9, 2010 after she was struck by a city garbage truck. According to a CBS News report, the woman was walking in a marked crosswalk across Presidio Avenue at Pine Street, in the Laurel Heights area, when the truck struck her. The city vehicle was turning on to Presidio Avenue from Pine Street at the time of the collision. The woman was transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries believed to be non-life-threatening. The truck driver remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities.

I sympathize with this injured woman for what she is going through now. I'm relieved to hear that her injuries are not life-threatening. I hope and pray that her recovery is quick and complete.

San Francisco Accident Statistics

There were 16 fatalities and 790 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in San Francisco in 2008, according to California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Also, during the same year, 35 deaths and 3,577 injuries were reported as a result of all car accidents in the city of San Francisco.

Right-of-Way Issues

Based on this news report, it is not clear how or why this pedestrian versus truck accident happened. If the details of the account are accurate, the woman was in a marked crosswalk and the driver of the garbage truck should have yielded right-of-way for the pedestrian in the crosswalk.

California Vehicle Code Section 21950 states: "The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection." The same section also states that the driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk "shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of a vehicle or take any other action relating to the operating of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian."

Fault and Liability

I trust authorities are looking into why the trash truck driver did not see the pedestrian in the crosswalk. Was he under the influence? Was he distracted or inattentive at the time? Was he speeding or otherwise driving negligently? If the garbage truck driver is determined to have been at fault for this accident, he and his employer, the city of San Francisco, could be held liable for the injuries caused to this woman. In California, any personal injury or wrongful death claim against a governmental agency must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury. An experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer will be able guide victims and their families through what can be a complex legal process and help them protect their legal rights.

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm 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.

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