Two people were hospitalized following a San Francisco car accident, the morning of November 9, 2011. According to a news report in The San Francisco Examiner, the car crash occurred near Mariposa and Indiana streets, close to the Interstate 280. Officials report a driver may have lost his brakes, while exiting the highway, and was unable to avoid a Mini Cooper that was at a complete stop. The two injured victims were occupants of the Mini Cooper. They had to be extricated from the vehicle but their injuries are not considered life-threatening.

My thoughts and prayers are with the injured victims of this San Francisco accident. I wish them the best for a quick and complete recovery.

San Francisco Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 39 fatalities and 3,405 injuries occurred due to San Francisco car accidents.

What Caused This Collision?

Based on this news report, the driver who lost control of his vehicle and crashed told officials that the brakes failed in his car. I trust investigators plan on carefully inspecting the vehicle and the crash site to validate this claim. Were the brakes in fact defective? Did an auto defect or mechanical malfunction in the vehicle contribute to the crash? Were the brakes improperly installed? Was the motorist exceeding the speed limit? Was he following the other vehicle too closely? Did distracted driving or inattention cause or contribute to this rear-end collision? I trust investigators are looking into these and other issues in order to determine the facts of this case.

Liability Issues

If it is determined that the driver who rear-ended the Mini Cooper was at fault, then he could be held liable for injuries, damages and losses here. Injured victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. If an auto defect caused the crash, the manufacturer of the vehicle or the defective part may also be held liable. A reputed San Francisco personal injury lawyer who has experience handling similar cases will be able to better advise car accident victims regarding their legal rights and options.