December 19, 2011—A San Francisco man was fatally injured Friday when a "party bus" on which he was working rolled on top of him.  Investigators are still determining the cause of the San Francisco bus accident.

58-year-old Walter Pietiala was a mechanic who was working on the vehicle when the accident occurred.  Apparently the bus rolled off a ramp on which it was parked, pinning Pietiala beneath it and killing him.

Representatives of California Experience, LLC, the company which owns the bus, were not available for comment.  California Occupational Safety and Health officials are investigating the cause of the accident, but have made no determination yet as to what safety procedures were being used or if the company’s safety rules were being followed at the time of the accident.

Work-Related Accident Statistics

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 5,200 fatal work-related accidents in 2008.  Most fatal work accidents involve car accidents, falls, and falling objects.  While workers’ compensation covers many work-related injuries, personal injury law may also have its place in an accident such as this one.

Liability Issues

Clearly in this case the safety protocols in place were not sufficient to prevent a fatal injury.  The question of liability will probably rest on who was responsible for following and checking the safety procedures, and if the safety features in place were designed to prevent this type of accident.

A personal injury lawyer would want to examine the scene of the accident, the reports issued by the investigators and the company, and the company’s published safety standards.  Liability would be determined based on whether the safety procedures were followed and if the equipment was checked prior to use.  If the equipment was faulty, it is possible that liability could rest with the ramp manufacturer, as well.