Two pedestrians have been seriously injured in separate San Francisco car accidents after being struck by vehicles the morning of December 21, 2009. According to a Bay City News report, the first accident involved a 54-year-old woman, who was hit by a car at about 6:30 a.m. at the intersection of Van Ness Avenue and Grove Street, near City Hall. San Francisco Police said about 10 minutes later another woman was struck by a different vehicle, near Quint Street and Palou Avenue in the Bayview area. Both victims sustained injuries that were life-threatening and were transported to San Francisco General Hospital. In both incidents, the drivers pulled over and were said to be cooperating with authorities.

My heart goes out to both these injured pedestrian accident victims and their families. I hope both pull through their critical injuries and go on to make a complete recovery. They will certainly be in my prayers.

Pedestrian Accidents in San Francisco

Nearly half the traffic fatalities in San Francisco are pedestrians, a rate that’s more than four times the national average, according to a recent study by Transportation for America, a coalition of transit, housing and planning groups. Transportation for America’s nationwide survey found the San Francisco region, which includes Oakland and Fremont, is second only to New York for the highest percentage of traffic deaths among major cities in the country. In 2007, there were 29 fatalities and 775 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in San Francisco, according to California Highway Patrol's traffic accident statistics. During the same year, 51 deaths and 3,632 injuries were reported as a result of all traffic accidents in the city.

Liability Issues

In these particular cases, we do not know exactly, how or why the pedestrian-car collisions occurred. Were the pedestrians crossing the streets at crosswalks or at intersections? Was there any negligence on the part of either motorist? Was there a dangerous condition on the San Francisco streets, which may have caused or contributed to these pedestrian accidents?

If there is negligence on the part of the drivers, they could be held liable for the injuries and damages caused. Victims in such cases could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, long-term care and other accident-related expenses. An experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer will be able to help victims protect their legal rights and make sure they recover fair compensation for their injuries and loss. 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.

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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