A pedestrian was killed in a San Francisco Muni bus accident after he was struck while walking to work. According to a news report in The San Francisco Chronicle, the fatal bus accident occurred at Fifth and Mission streets in San Francisco, the afternoon of November 13, 2011. Officials say the man was crossing the street when the 14-L bus pulled out of the bus zone, hit him and rolled over his legs. He was pinned under the bus and pronounced dead at the hospital. It is not clear if the bus driver will be cited for the fatal collision.

My deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the man killed in this tragic pedestrian accident. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

San Francisco Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 21 people were killed and 699 were injured in San Francisco pedestrian accidents. During that same year, there were 39 fatalities and 3,405 injuries reported due to San Francisco car accidents.

What Caused This Fatal Bus Accident?

It is unclear from the report if the pedestrian or the bus driver had the right of way at the time of the collision. The report does state that the driver was unaware his bus had run over the victim. I trust officials are investigating why the bus driver failed to notice the pedestrian. Was the driver distracted, inattentive, fatigued, or otherwise negligent at the time of the crash? Did the bus driver fail to yield the right of way while pulling out of the bus zone? I trust investigators are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred and who was at fault.

Liability Issues

The family of the fatally injured victim would be well advised to contact an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. If the investigation determines that the Muni bus driver was negligent in any way, the driver and the bus company could be held liable for the accident. In such cases, families of victims may seek compensation for medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, loss of companionship, and other related damages. Please remember that any personal injury or wrongful death claim against a governmental agency must be properly filed within 180 days of the incident, under California Government Code Section 911.2.