A man was injured in a San Francisco car accident after being hit by a vehicle while crossing the street. According to a CBS San Francisco news report, the pedestrian accident occurred at the intersection of Divisadero and Fell streets near Alamo Square in San Francisco, the morning of October 26, 2011. Officials say the man was in a crosswalk when a northbound driver struck him. The victim's injuries were not life-threatening. It is not clear if the driver, who did remain at the scene of the crash, will be cited for the collision.

My thoughts and prayers are with the man injured in this San Francisco pedestrian accident. I wish him the best for a complete and quick recovery.

San Francisco Pedestrian Accident Statistics

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

Crosswalk Laws

It is not clear from the report why the driver was unable to avoid the pedestrian. I trust investigators are looking into whether the driver was distracted, intoxicated, speeding or otherwise negligent. Based on the news report, the victim of this accident was in the crosswalk at the time of the crash.

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."

Liability Issues

In cases involving negligence, the victim may pursue financial compensation for his or her suffering by filing a personal injury claim. Compensation may be available for losses such as medical bills, hospitalization, rehabilitation, lost wages, and other related damages. An experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer will be able to determine whether a dangerous roadway condition caused or contributed to the incident. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held liable. Under California Vehicle Code Section 911.2, any personal injury claim against a governmental entity must be filed within 180 days of the incident.