A woman sustained injuries in a San Francisco pedestrian accident after she was struck by one of the city's historic streetcars the afternoon of August 11, 2009. According to a news report in the San Francisco Chronicle, the injury accident occurred at Market and Ninth streets, the second time in several weeks that an accident on the F-line has disrupted service. A spokesman for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (Muni), which operates the streetcars, said an initial investigation showed the woman stepped off the boarding platform into the path of a slow-moving 1948 Philadelphia streetcar. She sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital, but her injuries were not life-threatening.

Recent San Francisco Accidents

There have been a series of accidents involving Muni vehicles over the last month or so. On August 3, 2009, an F-line streetcar hit an SUV and pushed it into the back of another streetcar injuring six people. On July 18, 2009, about 50 people were injured when a light rail train crashed into another train at the West Portal station. Both of those accidents were reportedly caused by operator error.

I'm relieved that this victim did not suffer catastrophic injuries as a result of this San Francisco car accident. I wish her the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

In my opinion, it is time for Muni officials to reevaluate their procedures and maybe, provide a "refresher" training course for all their operators. Officials say preliminary reports show that the pedestrian stepped in the path of the streetcar. However, I would wait for the investigation to be completed before concluding what happened here. As California car accident attorneys, we have observed that sometimes, initial investigations can be faulty because of misleading eyewitness statements or for a host of other reasons. The Muni would also be well-advised to revisit their safety standards and see if any improvements need to be made in light of the recent incidents. If these accidents were caused as a result of driver inattention, error or negligence the transit authority can be held liable for injuries or fatalities caused.

San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyer

The victim of any such serious car accident would be well-advised to consult an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who will stay on top of the official investigation, analyze all aspects of the crash and determine whether there was any negligence or wrongdoing involved. The best car accident law firms always offer a free, comprehensive and confidential consultation to personal injury victims and their families.