A man was injured in a San Francisco bicycle accident, after he was struck by a school bus. According to a KCRA news report, the bicyclist was hit the morning of December 11, 2009, at the intersection of California Street and 24th Avenue near Presidio. San Francisco police say the bicyclist struck the side mirror on the bus and was knocked to the ground. The extent of the man's injuries is not known. One child in the school bus also sustained injuries, which have been described as "minor." This accident is being investigated by the California Highway Patrol, as are all accidents in the state that involve a school bus.

I hope the bicyclist did not sustain major injuries in this accident. I wish him the very best for a quick and complete recovery. He will certainly be in my prayers.

San Francisco Bicycle Accidents

There was one fatality and 453 injuries involving bicycle accidents in San Francisco in 2007, according to CHP's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Also in San Francisco, 51 people died and 3,632 were injured in car accidents during the same year.

This news report does not say exactly how or why this bicycle versus school bus accident occurred. There are many questions here that have not been answered. Where exactly was the bicyclist riding at the time of the accident? Did it occur at an intersection? Was the bus driver attempting to make a turn at the time? Whose fault was this bus accident? Did the bus driver or the bicyclist fail to yield right-of-way? I trust CHP investigators are looking into these and other factors to determine the cause of this injury accident.

California Bicycle Laws

Under California law, bicycles are treated like any other vehicle on the roadway. Bicyclists are expected to follow the rules of the road, just as cars and other vehicles are. A bicyclist cannot travel the wrong way on a street, for example. However, it is fairly common for motorists, especially drivers of large vehicles such as buses or trucks, to miss bicyclists or pedestrians on the roadway.

If there was negligence on the part of this school bus driver, the bus operator could be held liable for the bicyclist's injuries. If there was a dangerous condition on the roadway, which caused or contributed to the bicyclist's injuries, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could be held liable as well. In such cases, claims against California governmental agencies must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury. An experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer will be able to better explain to victims about their legal rights and options, in these accident cases.

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.

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