Northern California Accident Attorney Blog

A 61-year-old male pedestrian was killed after a 23-year-old man suspected of driving drunk struck him while he was crossing Masonic Avenue at Turk Boulevard. A San Francisco Chronicle article reports that the motorist apparently collided into parked cars over six blocks away from where he struck the pedestrian and then crashed into planter boxes outside of a San Francisco hospital. The series of crashes started around 2:30 a.m. on May 6. The man was arrested outside of the hospital on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and driving while under the influence of alcohol. He was reportedly taken to the hospital for sustaining unspecified injuries.

According to the article, this is the second fatal San Francisco auto accident in less than a year involving a hit-and-run and an allegedly drunk driver at the Masonic and Turk intersection. Last August, a 21-year-old German tourist riding a bicycle was hit and killed by a 36-year-old male driver who pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter and other charges.

In relation to the recent accident, the executive director of Walk San Francisco, a pedestrian advocate group, stated, "We need faster action and more comprehensive redesigns of the streets that we know are most dangerous in San Francisco." The executive director also noted that there is a street redesign process being carried out on Masonic, making it all the more tragic that this fatal crash occurred before the street could be made safer.

State municipalities are responsible for the safe and efficient design of roadways and intersections. While there may be potential grounds for an accident victim or members of their family to obtain compensation for accidents that occur because of poorly designed or dangerous road conditions, not every crash results in a lawsuit.

If you have lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident in San Francisco that you believe was caused by a reckless, drunk, or hit-and-run driver, a San Francisco pedestrian crash lawyer can help you hold negligent parties liable. The time after a fatal accident is devastating and can cause financial burdens that many families don't expect. The sooner you act in preserving evidence from the accident and contacting an experienced attorney, the better your chances of obtaining justice.