Laila Brenner was seriously injured in a San Francisco bus accident after a Muni bus ran over her arm and then left the scene without stopping. According to a news report in The San Francisco Examiner, the bicycle accident occurred near the intersection of Columbus Avenue and Broadway, in North Beach, on September 14, 2011. Brenner had to change lanes on her bike to avoid a double-parked car when the Muni bus struck her bicycle. The rear right tire of the bus ran over Brenner's arm as she fell onto the roadway. According to a September 22, 2011 report, the victim's arm was so badly swollen she could not receive treatment for the multiple fractures for days. She now has additional surgical procedures scheduled. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

My thoughts and prayers are with Laila Brenner, who has been severely injured in this San Francisco hit-and-run car accident. I wish her the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.

San Francisco Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 39 people were killed and 3,405 were injured in San Francisco car accidents. During that same year, one fatality and 534 injuries were reported due to San Francisco County bicycle accidents.

What Caused This Bus Accident?

There are many questions that remain in this incident. Did the bicyclist change lanes illegally? Was the bus driver distracted, speeding, or otherwise negligent at the time? Should this Muni driver have been able to spot and avoid the bicyclist? Why did the bus driver fail to remain at the crash site? Was the driver completely unaware that an accident occurred, or did the driver intentionally flee the scene of the accident? Will the driver of the illegally parked car be held responsible for the crash?

Liability Issues

Injured victims of San Francisco car accidents may seek financial compensation for their losses by filing a personal injury claim. If the driver of the illegally parked car is determined to have been at fault, then, he or she could be held liable for the victim's injuries. If the Muni bus driver is determined to have been at fault, then, the driver and his or her employer, the transit authority, can also be held liable. An experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer will be able to better advise injured victims about their legal rights and options.