Every year about 30 people lose their lives and over 200 more are seriously injured while traveling on San Francisco streets. Yet, San Francisco is determined to be a safe place for walkers and bikers. The City’s Vision Zero initiative carries with it the goal to eliminate all fatal traffic accidents by 2024, including those involving pedestrians and bicyclists.
Vision Zero is a vitally important goal, but much more work needs to be done to make it a reality. After 21 pedestrian deaths in 2014, the figure actually rose in 2015. Last year, 24 pedestrians and 5 cyclists were killed in traffic accidents. The efforts to improve safety at the most dangerous intersections were not successful in reducing the city’s death toll.
There is some discrepancy in the total number of fatalities, depending on where you get your information. The official Vision Zero count provided by the San Francisco Department of Public Health excludes the deaths of 3 pedestrians killed on highways and highway ramps. The Vision Zero count also excludes deaths to pedestrians caused by light-rail vehicles. Whatever count you accept, it is clear that early efforts have not been nearly enough to put an end to pedestrian and bicycle deaths on San Francisco streets.
An analysis of these deadly accidents revealed that most fatal collisions happened on just a few city streets. These areas of highest danger naturally were the first areas targeted for safety projects. Van Ness Avenue, Polk Street and Masonic Avenue are early sites where street redesigns were approved to prevent collisions. Safety advocates have approved of the early changes, while suggesting that a more aggressive approach will be necessary to achieve the goal of zero deaths.
Contact San Francisco Bike and Pedestrian Accident Attorneys
The Dolan Law Firm represents persons injured in pedestrian and bicycle accidents casued by the fault of others. For over 20 years, we have helped San Franciscans, Bay Area residents, and the families of loved ones killed recover just compensation for their injuries.
Our law firm possesses the experience, legal skill, and financial and technological resources to comprehensively investigate – no matter how complex the case or significant the injuries – and litigate your case.
We seek to obtain timely and full settlements from defendants. However, we prepare each case to proceed to trial should the defendants refuse to settle on favorable terms to you. Because we are a well-established law firm that regularly takes cases to trial, and wins, we have been able to obtain settlements for our clients at greater amounts than those reached by other attorneys in similar cases.
Please contact us by email or call us at 415-636-8160. We will review your claim for free, and with no obligation on your part.
