Northern California Accident Attorney Blog

SOLANO COUNTY -- According to the San Francisco Chronicle, six people were injured in a terrible Dixon school bus accident. The collision was reported around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, when the driver of the school bus, traveling east on Hackman Road decided to pass a slower-moving tractor-trailer that had its hazard lights flashing. The driver of truck then attempted to make a left turn, but instead, the driver hit the school bus causing it to overturn. Following the collision, the five children riding in the school bus sustained minor injuries, while the bus driver suffered moderate injuries. All six occupants in the school bus were then taken to local hospitals for further treatment.

Cause of the October 12th School Bus Accident in Dixon

The school bus accident remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. However, based on the information provided by the Dixon Patch and the San Francisco Chronicle, it is unclear who may be at fault for the collision. Hopefully, authorities investigating the accident can come to a conclusion as to what happened and why.

School Bus Accident Injury Liability

While the accident is ongoing, victims or family members of the victims would be well-advised to contact a Northern California personal injury lawyer. A knowledgeable attorney who has handled complex and unique incidents such as this one, can advised the victims of their legal rights, and if necessary, hire a private investigator to reconstruct the scene of the accident to determine who is officially responsible. A skilled attorney can also help the victims decide the best course of action to receive compensation for medical care expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other related damages in this terrible school bus accident.

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SAN FRANCISCO -- A pedestrian was struck and killed by a Municipal Railway bus in San Francisco's Castro District at about 2:30 p.m. Friday, Sacramento Bee reports. Police has reported the female pedestrian was walking through a crosswalk at the intersection of 18th and Hartford when she was severely hit by a Muni bus. San Francisco police Sgt. Michael Andraychack stated that the Muni bus is a shuttle for the F-Market line and was making a left turn onto Hartford while on its way to the 17th and Market streets F-Market line stop. Andraychack also noted that the bus was not carrying any passengers during accident. According to San Francisco Fire Department spokeswoman Mindy Talmdage, the pedestrian, who believed to be between 25 to 30 years old, was removed from underneath the bus and pronounced dead at 2:45 p.m. The bus driver reported to be cooperating with the investigation and will be tested for drugs and alcohol per San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency protocol.

Cause of the Pedestrian Accident in the San Francisco's Castro District

The accident on August 19th remains under investigation by authorities. However, based on the limited information provided by the Sacramento Bee and the San Francisco Examiner, it is unclear who is at fault for this accident. It is also not evident whether driver could have done anything to prevent this horrific collision. Hopefully, the investigation by police officials will reveal exactly what happened and why.

Pedestrian Accident Wrongful Death Liability

While this accident remains under investigation, if authorities do come to a conclusion that the driver is at fault, the family of the deceased victim would be well-advised to seek an experienced and knowledgeable San Francisco wrongful death attorney. A skilled attorney who has successfully handled pedestrian accident claims can advise the victim's family of their legal rights and best course of action to recover the maximum compensation they are entitled to for funeral/burial expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other damages relating to this tragic pedestrian accident.

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SOLANO COUNTY - One person was tragically killed and three others were injured when a bus and car collided at approximately 1:10 p.m. June 29th in Suisun City. According to a News 10 report, two people were in the car at the time of the accident. It was not known how many people were on the MV Transportation bus when the accident occurred. The two occupants of the car and two bus passengers were transported to local hospitals by ground and air ambulances. The remaining bus passengers sustained minor injuries in the accident and were expected to recover.

Cause of the Car Accident

At this time it is not known what caused the crash. Hopefully law enforcement will be able to determine if the collision was caused by driver negligence, a poor road condition, bad weather condition or defective auto part.

Car accidents such as this one can have devastating physical, emotional and financial consequences. While this crash remains under investigation, the victims should consult a northern California car accident lawyer before speaking to an insurance company adjuster or other representative of an involved party. A skilled lawyer can inform victims of their legal rights and advise victims of the best legal course of action.

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On May 5, the U.S. Transportation Department's (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced many new measures to help improve bus passenger safety and enforce regulations for bus and commercial vehicle carriers and drivers.

The FMCSA has made it clear with the debut of its new regulations that it will do everything possible to monitor, regulate, and penalize unsafe, irresponsible, and negligent passenger vehicle operators. Just about any San Francisco personal injury attorney would tell you that these new rules could make a big difference in reducing serious injuries and wrongful deaths.

Some of the new regulations and enforcement efforts include:

• Requiring stricter commercial driver's license testing (CDL) standards


• Seeking new rules to reinforce passenger carriers and driver compliance with federal safety regulations


• Provide consumers with easily accessible safety records of bus companies to review before booking transportation


• Conducting unannounced motorcoach inspections at busy travel destinations during the spring and summer travel seasons


• Requiring those who apply for a CDL to first get a commercial driver's learner's permit (CLP)

In relation to the new CLP rule, it will also be required for all state licensing agencies to use a CDL testing system that meets the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators CDL knowledge and skill standards. In addition, to lower the chances of testing fraud, the use of foreign language interpreters is prohibited.

Another new measure gives the U.S. DOT stronger authority to enforce action against unsafe "reincarnated" passenger carriers by creating a federal standard to help identify whether a "new" carrier is actually a re-made "old" and unsafe carrier.

The U.S. DOT will also require new motorcoach companies to have a full safety audit before getting U.S. DOT operating authority, revise current law to make sure a driver's CDL can be suspended or revoked for drug- and alcohol-related violations that happen in non-commercial vehicles, and increase the penalty to $25,000 a day for passenger carriers that try to operate without U.S. DOT authority.

Bus drivers often have many lives in their hands. With the new regulations in place for commercial drivers that transport passengers, it is important to remember that all drivers have responsibilities that need to be upheld.

Continue reading "Several New Measures Introduced by FMCSA to Enhance Safety for Bus Passengers" »

Six students suffered minor injuries after a Fresno school bus accident occurred the morning of April 7 at a stop sign at the intersection of Belmont and Brawley. A Fresno Bee article reports that the 53-year-old female motorist who struck the bus from behind has been arrested for driving under the influence of narcotics.

After the rear-end bus crash, the students from the Central Union High School west campus were transported to Community Regional Medical Center. The female intoxicated driver was also hospitalized. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), 50 students were onboard the bus at the time of the collision.

School bus drivers receive thorough training and are responsible for doing everything possible to keep children safe. Unfortunately, there is only so much that even the most experienced and attentive bus driver can do to prevent an accident involving an intoxicated or drunk driver.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notes that an estimated 19 school-aged children are killed in school-related transportation accidents per year, with five of these children being occupants in school transportation vehicles and the other 14 being pedestrians. Since 1998, 1,564 individuals have been killed in school bus accidents, amounting to approximately 142 school bus crash-related fatalities each year.

Depending on the severity of the crash, bus occupants can suffer serious injuries and even death since most buses do not provide seat belts or other safety restraints for passengers. When individuals are injured in Fresno bus accidents that are caused by bus driver negligence or another motorist's reckless behavior, a Fresno motor vehicle accident lawyer can help injured victims receive compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, physical therapy, and other expenses.

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DOWNTOWN BERKELEY - A 54-year-old woman walking westbound down Center Street was seriously injured Monday afternoon when she was struck and run over by a Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory shuttle bus in a crosswalk. The accident occurred around 4:30 p.m. at the intersection of Center Street and Shattuck Avenue. A female friend who was walking with the woman that was run over suffered minor injuries from pounding on the side of the bus to get the driver's attention. The driver stopped at the scene. The victim, who was trapped under the bus for about 45 minutes, had to be extricated by firefighters. She suffered major injuries, including serious fractures to her lower extremities that will require surgeries, was taken to a local trauma center.

Anyone who witnessed the incident and did not talk to authorities is encouraged to contact authorities at (510) 981-5900.

The major injury pedestrian accident occurred during Zachary Cruz Pedestrian Safety Month in Berkeley. Two years ago, a 5-year-old boy was struck and killed by a truck near the UC Berkeley campus. March of each year is publicized to remind drivers to drive safely and be aware of their surroundings.

Cause of the Bus vs. Pedestrian Accident

According to police, the women were in the crosswalk when the bus struck one of them. The bus had been travelling westbound on Center Street and was making a right / northbound turn onto northbound Shattuck Avenue. The women were crossing Shattuck Avenue in the north crosswalk. The cause of the accident is under investigation by the Berkeley Police Department. However, if news accounts of the incident were accurate, it appears possible that the bus driver may have been responsible for the collision.

Pedestrian Accident Personal Injury Liability

Serious injuries such as the injuries the woman sustained in this accident may result in a lengthy recovery and possibly permanent disability. If the bus driver was responsible for the crash, the University may be liable for the woman's serious injuries, including her present and future medical expenses and rehabilitative care, lost earnings, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other damages. While this Alameda County incident remains under investigation, the family members of the woman injured would be well-advised to contact an experienced and knowledgeable pedestrian accident injury lawyer. An attorney who has proven experience representing victims of pedestrian vs. bus accidents will be in the best position to help the victim recover maximum compensation for her injuries in a personal injury claim.

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