One passenger in a San Francisco Municipal Railway bus sustained injuries in a San Francisco car accident after the bus crashed into a parked truck in the city's Potrero Hill neighborhood. According to a Bay City News report, the accident occurred the morning of March 24, 2010, near 25th and Dakota streets, when a 10-Townsend bus hit the truck, triggering a chain-reaction crash that also involved two parked cars. The injured passenger on the bus was taken to a local hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. The bus driver has been placed on non-driving status and will be tested for drugs and alcohol, which is standard Muni procedure.

I hope the Muni bus passenger did not sustain major or catastrophic injuries. I wish this victim the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep this person in your prayers.

Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), San Francisco car accidents claimed 35 lives and injured 3,577 people in 2008. Over the last year or so, there have been several Muni train and bus accidents that have caused serious injuries. Recent statistics by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) showed that accidents involving Muni vehicles are on the rise in San Francisco.

Causes and Liability Issues

We don't quite know yet what caused this particular accident. However, in such cases, the Muni could be held liable for injuries caused to any of the passengers. I trust investigators are currently looking into what caused the bus driver to crash. Was he or she intoxicated? Was the driver distracted by something? Was he or she speeding or otherwise driving recklessly? Bus carriers -- whether public or private -- owe the duty of utmost care to their passengers. This duty is even higher than what is owed by these operators to a pedestrian or another motorist on the roadway.

The injured victims in such cases would be well-advised to contact an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that the facts come out and the victims' rights are protected. Please remember that if you are involved in any accident, please do not sign papers, talk to insurance adjusters or attorneys for the other side before first talking to your own lawyer. Also, any personal injury claim against a governmental agency in California must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.