High Pedestrian Injury Rates Continue in San Francisco
Winter has been deadly for San Francisco pedestrians in the last few years. Seven pedestrians were killed in accidents in December 2013, rounding out the deadliest year for pedestrians in the Bay Area since 2007.
SF Pedestrian Injuries and Fatalities
The pedestrian injuries and fatalities continued through January and February, prompting San Francisco police chief Greg Suhr to make a public statement. Police have already begun issuing more citations for dangerous behaviors that endanger pedestrians, including 40 citations so far this year at the intersection of Market and Octavia Streets, which has proven particularly dangerous for pedestrians.
Suhr stated that police are planning to crack down on drivers who make errors that are particularly dangerous to pedestrians, including:
Running red lights or stop signs;
Not properly stopping behind limit lines; and
Failing to yield to pedestrians in intersections.
Tragic Pedestrian Accidents That Inspired the S.F. Police Crackdown
The following are brief glances at some of the tragic pedestrian accidents that inspired the new police crackdown.
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December 31, 2013: A 57-year-old driver killed a 6 year-old girl, Sophia Liu. Liu was crossing the street in a crosswalk with her mother and brother, and they had the “walk” signal. The driver failed to yield to the family of pedestrians while making a right-hand turn, and hit all three. Liu’s mother and brother both suffered nonfatal injuries. An elderly woman, Zhen Guang Ng, was also killed on New Year’s Eve when a pickup truck failed to stop at a stop sign.
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January 7, 2014: A 38-year-old male runner was struck and killed while running across a seven-lane stretch of Van Ness.
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January 13, 2014: A 32-year-old female runner was struck and seriously injured while crossing at Grant Avenue and Pine Street.
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January 17, 2014: An elderly woman was struck by a Lyft driver in the Nob Hill neighborhood. The unidentified woman was transferred to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
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February 4, 2014: An as-of-yet unidentified man was struck and killed at Sunset Boulevard and Yorba Street. While the intersection does not have any traffic signals, it does have a crosswalk with flashing lights to warn drivers of possible pedestrians. Officials are unsure whether the lights were flashing at the time of the crash, and residents in the area all agree that the intersection is particularly dangerous for pedestrians as, motorists are prone to speed.
Pedestrian Accidents Are Often Severe
Pedestrian accidents can cause particularly severe and often fatal injuries because of the inherent lack of protection pedestrians have against motor vehicles. Pedestrians commonly suffer spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, broken or shattered bones, crushed limbs, internal organ damage, and more. If a victim survives a pedestrian accident, he or she often faces extensive recovery time, medical bills, and lost wages, as well as pain and suffering. If a victim succumbs to his or her injuries, the surviving family is left with any medical bills, funeral expenses, lost income of the deceased, all while dealing with the sudden loss and grief.
Talk To A San Francisco Injury Attorney If You Have Questions
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, contact the accident and injury attorneys at our San Francisco law firm. Click now to schedule a free consultation with an attorney.
Boone Callaway is a personal injury & medical malpractice lawyer in San Francisco who has been working with clients in the Bay Area for over 25 years. Mr. Callaway is one of only a few personal injury litigators in San Francisco who is a Super Lawyer, AV Rated and is also a member of ABOTA – American Board of Trial Advocates.
