One person sustained injuries in a San Francisco pedestrian accident the afternoon of January 28, 2010. The pedestrian was struck by a Muni light rail vehicle near the intersection of Ninth Avenue and Judah Street. The pedestrian was transported to an area hospital. But the victim's injuries were not considered to be critical or life-threatening. An investigation is ongoing.

I'm relieved that this pedestrian was not seriously injured in this accident. I wish the injured victim the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

Pedestrian Accidents in San Francisco

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. Also, in San Francisco, 51 fatalities and 3,632 injuries were reported as a result of car accidentsin the same year.

Accidents Involving Muni Vehicles

Over the last several months, we've been seeing more and more of these accidents involving Muni vehicles and other cars or pedestrians in San Francisco. Recent statistics by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) showed that accidents involving Muni vehicles are in fact on the rise in San Francisco. We don't quite know yet what caused this particular accident that left the pedestrian injured. However, if the light rail operator is determined to be at-fault, Muni could be held liable for injuries caused to this pedestrian.

Causes and Liability Issues

The news report does not say exactly what happened here that led to the collision or who was responsible. Where was the pedestrian walking at the time? Was he or she in a crosswalk at the intersection? Was the operator of the light rail vehicle distracted or inattentive? How did the vehicle end up striking the pedestrian? I trust the official investigation is taking into account these questions and more.

In such cases, pedestrians could seek compensation for medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of surgery, physical therapy or any other treatment and extended care that may be needed to recover from the injuries. California Governmental Code section 911.2 states that any claim against a governmental entity in California must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury. An experienced car accident lawyer will stay on top of the official investigation and make sure that the victims' rights and best interests are protected. Victims who have been seriously injured in any accident should contact an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer to find out more about their legal rights and options.

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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