Multiple People Injured In Daly City SamTrans Bus Accident In Serramonte Center Parking Lot Near Target
DALY CITY, CALIFORNIA (December 3, 2022) – Four people were injured in a Daly City SamTrans bus accident at the Serramonte Center parking lot near Target.
San Mateo County officials are saying that the collision took place around 11:50 a.m. on Friday. A SamTrans bus crashed into 16 cars as it was traveling through the Serramonte Center parking lot.
Photos of the accident site showed a chaotic mess of glass and debris everywhere. Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help all of the victims.
A woman identified as Paula said that the out-of-control bus collided with her vehicle. A total of four people were injured in the Daly City bus accident.
One person was critically injured and taken to San Francisco General in order to receive treatment. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Daly City Bus Accidents
Buses tend to be very safe for their passengers. But they pose a number of unique hazards for those in passenger vehicles. According to The Journalist’s Resource, “on average, about 63,000 buses [of all kinds] are involved in an accident each year; about 14,000 result in an injured person, and 325 result in a fatal injury.” There are a number of risk factors associated with bus accident severity.
- Bus drivers under 25 years old tend to be involved in more severe crashes.
- Bus drivers over 65 years old tend to be involved in more severe crashes.
- Bus accident severity tends to increase when collisions take place at intersections.
Bus companies are considered “common carriers” and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. According to Squaw Valley Ski Corp. v. Superior Court, “This elevated standard of care for common carriers has its origin in English common law. It is based on a recognition that the privilege of serving the public as a common carrier necessarily entails great responsibility, requiring common carriers to exercise a high duty of care towards their customers.” The vast majority of bus accidents are totally preventable.
All bus drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid causing accidents. Many collisions are due to bus drivers that are traveling too fast for the prevailing conditions. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 22350, no person shall drive a motor vehicle at a speed greater than would be safe or prudent given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. If a bus driver fails to slow down to avoid a collision, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
Depending on the facts of any case, the company or city that a bus driver worked for could be held at fault for a collision. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. For example, a bus driver may have been transporting passengers when they were involved in a crash. Victims of bus accidents tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires buses that can carry 16 or more passengers to have at least $5,000,000 worth of liability coverage. Any person that is injured in a car accident may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. A bus accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Liability For San Mateo County Bus Accidents
We at TorkLaw extend our best wishes to all of the people injured in this Daly City bus accident. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be some accountability for the sake of all of the victims.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured due to the negligence of a bus driver? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of consumer safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
