San Francisco Injury Lawyer Blog
According to sfexaminer.com, on average, 22 pedestrians are killed each year in San Francisco and 800 are injured, which means over two walkers are hurt every day on city streets. Almost 50 percent of all traffic deaths in San Francisco are pedestrians, an amount more than four times the national average. Pedestrian accidents in San Francisco cost the city millions every year. To address this point, Mayor Gavin Newsom issued an executive directive that outlines goals to cut down serious traffic injuries and fatalities 25 percent by 2016, and 50 percent by 2021.
The directive states nine short-term goals, one of which includes a plan to reduce speed limits in school zones to 15 mph, the threshold for which pedestrians can struck by a car and survive, according to Walk SF. The directive also orders new approaches to secure funding for traffic-calming projects, stronger emphasis of pedestrian realms in all planning projects, and increased outreach with community organizations. Newsom is also creating a new Pedestrian Safety Task Force, which will be comprised of officials from SFMTA, the Department of Public Health, the San Francisco Police Department and other city agencies. He also wants a coordinated Citywide Pedestrian Action Plan to be established within 12 months.
Considering the fact that pedestrians account for about half the people killed in traffic collisions in San Francisco, it goes without saying that spending time and money to prevent such accidents is time and money well spent. At the same time this new directive will ultimately save the city money, money it usually spends to settle accident claims–it is estimated that collisions on San Francisco Streets cost the city $280 million a year, or about $350 per resident per year. Included in those costs are medical care, property damage, insurance expenses and loss of income. If you or a loved one suffered an injury due to a collision on the street, please contact our firm. We have over 10 experience winning injured pedestrians the compensation they deserve.