A 5-year-old boy sustained major injuries in a San Francisco pedestrian accident after he was struck while crossing the street. According to a Bay City News report, the injury collision occurred the afternoon of September 8, 2011 at the intersection of Third and Williams streets. A woman was walking with two children south on Third Street when a private shuttle bus that was turning right onto Third from Williams hit the 5-year-old. The child was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. No arrests have been made pending an official investigation.

My heart goes out to the little boy who is fighting for his life after this horrific bus accident. I wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep this child and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

San Francisco Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 21 fatalities and 699 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in San Francisco. Also, citywide, 39 people were killed and 3,405 were injured as a result of San Francisco car accidents.

Laws Relating to Pedestrians

Based on this news report, it appears that the child was crossing the intersection when he was struck by the bus. The intersection of Third and Williams has marked crosswalks. It seems to me that the shuttle bus driver, who was making a right turn, failed to see the pedestrians in the crosswalk. Under California law, motorists are required to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks.

California Vehicle Code Section 21950 states: "The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection." The same section also states that the driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk "shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of a vehicle or take any other action relating to the operating of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian."

Fault and Liability

If the bus driver is determined to have been at fault, both the driver and his or her employer could be held liable for the child's serious injuries. Injured victims or their families in such cases can seek compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. An experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer will be able to determine whether a dangerous condition at the intersection may have caused or contributed to this accident. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway could also be held liable. Please remember that any personal injury claim against a public entity must be filed within 180 days of the incident, under California Government Code Section 911.2.