Three children sustained severe injuries in a San Francisco car accident, after a 75-year-old man lost control of his vehicle and ended up striking them at an elementary school. According to a Bay City News report, the pedestrian accident occurred the afternoon of December 3, 2009, when the man's car went over a curb and into the campus of Skyline Elementary School where several children were walking. All the three children who were hit sustained major injuries including one who was dragged across the blacktop. They were transported to a local hospital. All three children are expected to survive. The elderly driver was not injured. An investigation is ongoing.
My heart goes out to the families of these three young children who were struck. Apparently, their injuries were not life-threatening, but still significant. I wish the injured children the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep them in your prayers.
Pedestrian Accidents in San Mateo County
According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were two fatalities and 48 injuries involving
pedestrian accidents in Daly City. In San Mateo County as a whole, six deaths and 241 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in 2007. Also, countywide, car accidents claimed 27 lives and injured 2,762 people in 2007.
Based on this news report, it seems to me that this senior driver had completely lost control of his vehicle. The news article does not say that he suffered a medical condition or was otherwise incapacitated at the time of the crash. I trust officials are looking into whether this driver was impaired, distracted or otherwise negligent at the time of this major injury car crash.
The Issue of Elderly Drivers
This accident also highlights the serious issues that California faces due to a rapidly increasing population of senior drivers. California now has almost 3 million drivers who are 65 years or older, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles. A recent study by Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows fatality rates for drivers begin to climb after age 65. In 2005, about 11 percent of fatal traffic accidents in the United States involved drivers 65 or older. California laws do not require elderly drivers to pass road tests, which can be critical in identifying those whose physical ability or mental awareness is deteriorating or has already deteriorated.
In this particular case, the families of these young children would be well-advised to consult with an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who will keep up with the police investigation and make sure that the victims' rights are protected and that the negligent parties are held accountable for their actions. A skilled car accident lawyer will also look into whether a dangerous condition existed outside the elementary school. If that was the case, the city or the school district could be held liable for allowing such a hazard to exist. Please remember that any claim against a governmental agency in California must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.
The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.
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