San Francisco, CA — Twenty people were injured and 12 were hospitalized following a collision between a dump truck and a San Francisco Municipal Railway bus. The accident took place on Geary Street, near Webster Street, around 1:30 in the afternoon.
Reports say the accident took place when a dump truck traveling in front of the bus slammed on its brakes. The bus swerved in an attempt to avoid a collision, but rear-ended another dump truck.
In all, 20 people were injured in the accident. Twelve were taken to nearby hospitals, while eight were treated and released at the scene. The extent of the injuries is unknown at this time.
Police say that, in an effort to discover who was at fault in the accident, the driver of the bus will be given a toxicology test.
Scene of the Accident
Commentary
While we may need to wait until police finish their investigation before we can know who was at fault for this accident, there are a couple of things we can say about it now. One, it was a good thing the bus driver was able to think on his feet and swerve out of the way when the dump truck driving ahead of him slammed on its brakes. However, the bus driver probably wouldn’t have had to do that had it been driving at a safe distance from the truck.
It’s possible that the bus was driving at a safe distance from the dump truck. If that turns out to be the case, I would look at how fast the bus was traveling. Avoiding an accident with the car ahead of you is going to be much easier if those two things are being kept under control. If it turns out the bus is at fault — and it’s possible that won’t be the case — then they’ll be responsible for their passengers’ injuries. Collecting any sort of damages from a municipal entity is always difficult, so in these cases it’s always a good idea to have someone on your side who’s familiar with these situations and who will look out for your best interests.
— Grossman Law Offices
