One person was injured in a San Jose car accident involving a Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority light rail train, the morning of May 30, 2010. According to Bay City News report, the collision occurred at the intersection of Zanker Road and Tasman Drive when the train struck a sedan carrying a family of three. A woman in the car sustained injuries and was transported to an area hospital. But the extent of her injuries is not known. No one else was injured.

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I hope the victim in this case did not sustain catastrophic injuries. I wish her the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 44 deaths and 3,627 injuries involving car accidents in San Jose. In Santa Clara County as a whole, 94 people died and 6,770 were injured as a result of car accidents during the same year.

Accident Causes

Based on this news report, it is not clear how or why this car versus train accident occurred. There are still several unanswered questions here. Who had the right-of-way at the intersection? Did one of the drivers fail to yield right-of-way or run a red light? Was one of the drivers impaired, distracted, or otherwise negligent at the time? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway, which may have caused or contributed to this collision? I trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine how or why this accident occurred.

Liability Issues

If it is determined that the train operator was at fault, then the injured victim can file a claim against the transit authority and claim compensation for medical expenses, loss of earnings, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related expenses. Under California Government Code section 911.2, any claim against a governmental entity must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.

In such cases, injured victims would be well-advised to seek the counsel of an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all aspects of the case and make sure that the negligent parties are held accountable. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive claim evaluation to injured victims and their families.

Do you feel safe using public transportation or mass transit such as buses or trains in your city?

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.