San Francisco BART and Bus Accidents

Even though 883,405 people called San Francisco home as of 2018, the city’s status as a financial, commercial, and cultural hub mean many more people travel to and from the city for work and pleasure on a daily basis. San Francisco’s popularity with tourists also means that even more people flock to the city to take in the sights. However, all these people need a way to move around a crowded city – many have chosen Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and public buses such as Muni as their preferred method to move around the city quickly, easily, economically, and in an environmentally conscious way. Though these methods of transportation are usually safe, and most passengers utilize them without incident, this isn’t always the case. When the safety of passengers and the public isn’t at the forefront, avoidable San Francisco BART and bus accidents happen which often result in tragic deaths and severe injuries.

Common Causes of BART and Bus Accidents in San Francisco

There are many types of accidents that can cause injury to an unsuspecting victim in and around San Francisco’s public transit system. Not only can buses strike motor vehicles, pedestrians, or bicyclists, passengers can be injured in collisions and if a bus crashes due to a manufacturing defect, negligent repair, or road hazard. Travelers using BART may find themselves injured in a slip and fall incident at the transit station, hurt by operator error, injured in a physical assault on the car or in a station due to negligent security, or injured if their train comes to a sudden stop for any reason.

It’s unfortunately common to see operator error cause a number of San Francisco BART and bus accidents and injuries for a variety of reasons. Public transit may fail and cause injury due to:

• Fatigued drivers
• Operators under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Reckless operation
• Inadequate or negligent training
• Failing to stop or signal on a bus
• Improper vehicle maintenance
• Vehicle or equipment manufacturing defects

Unfortunately, due the massive size difference between these public transit vehicles and others such as bicyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and conventional motor vehicles, massive injuries and fatalities commonly occur during an accident. It’s common for victims lucky enough to survive to suffer lifelong injuries, permanent disability, long-term or permanent inability to work, and massive financial losses from lost income and medical bills.

Liability in San Francisco BART and Bus Accidents

San Francisco’s publicly operated buses, as well as BART trains, are operated by professional drivers employed by the government. However, other buses in the city such as airport shuttles and tour buses, are driven by employees of private companies. Depending on the nature of the accident, it may be possible to file a personal injury or wrongful death suit against a number of parties at fault for your San Francisco BART or Bus accident.

• Bus companies
• Government entities
• Bus operators
• School boards or districts
• Maintenance companies
• Drivers or operators of the transit vehicle
• Drivers of other vehicles
• Manufacturers

Pursuing Your BART or Bus Accident Claim

If you’re injured or lose a loved one in a San Francisco BART or bus accident, there are different paths to recover compensation for your damages. If you were injured by the driver of a motor vehicle or an at-fault operator of a public transit vehicle, it’s common to file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. An experienced San Francisco BART and bus accident attorney can investigate the claim to determine who is at fault and then handle communications and negotiations with insurers on your behalf to try and secure the highest settlement offer possible.

However, if you’re not offered a fair settlement or the at-fault party was not operating a vehicle involved in the accident, it may be necessary to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit in court to pursue damages for your injuries from the responsible party. It’s important to know California has a 2-year statute of limitations from the date of injury for filing most lawsuits against private parties. That statute lowers to 6 months when the party responsible is a government entity, so acting quickly is critical.

Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Claims

If you personally were hurt during a San Francisco BART or bus accident, you will file a personal injury suit seeking compensatory damages for the injuries you’ve suffered. Though no amount of money will undo your experience, financial damages are meant to make you whole for injuries such as:

• Medical bills
• Property damage
• Lost wages
• Permanent disfigurement or disability
• Pain and suffering

If, however, the accident caused your loved one’s death, you may be compensated in a wrongful death suit for financial harms you’ve suffered as a result of the death, such as the value of lost companionship, love, and expected financial contributions to the household. You may also be entitled to damages for funeral expenses or burial costs.

Speak to An Attorney About Your San Francisco BART or Bus Accident

If you were injured or lost a loved one using public transportation in or around San Francisco, you deserve compensation. Make sure you don’t settle for less than you deserve and aren’t pushed around by insurance companies or attorneys for the transportation services. An experienced San Francisco BART and Bus accident attorney like Alan Daneshrad can help you avoid headaches, navigate tricky procedural waters regarding public carriers on your behalf, and give you peace of mind that someone is looking out for your best interests. You should be able focus on recovering physically and emotionally from your injuries while Mr. Daneshrad and his team fight for you to receive maximum possible compensation for your unnecessary, avoidable injuries caused by someone else.

Our team has the knowledge and resources to aggressively litigate your case while still maintaining the compassion towards our clients they very much deserve. We offer free, no obligation case evaluations where we can discuss your case, answer your questions, and review your options with you. It’s not fair to you that a San Francisco BART or Bus accident has turned your life upside down. Call us at (310) 858-8239 or complete our online form to schedule your free case evaluation and see how we can get your life back on track today.