Author: Rahman Law PC

Pedestrian Fatalities Peak in 2019; Highest Since 1988

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We are pedestrian accident lawyers and we take our mission as advocates for pedestrian (and bicyclist) safety to heart, and we think you’ll agree with us when we say the increase in pedestrian fatalities is something to speak up about. 

Over the past 30 years, pedestrian fatalities have been increasing in the United States and California is one of the states with the most fatalities.  New (preliminary) data is out and it shows that 2019 will be the year with the most pedestrian fatalities since 1988! The report comes from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and they predict that 6,590 pedestrian fatalities occurred in 2019 from their preliminary data.  This is a 53% increase of pedestrian fatalities just since 2009.

California is looking like it will reclaim its place as the state with the most pedestrian fatalities (Florida took the title away from California in 2015).  Vision Zero in San Francisco has been raising more awareness for pedestrians and pedestrian safety in San Francisco, but 2019 did not meet its target even though 2017 and 2018 saw reduced numbers in pedestrian fatalities within the County.

We won’t stop until we see ZERO pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities and neither should you!

This new data is alarming.  But that doesn’t mean we should quit fighting.  The report from the GHSA included correlational data about the increase in smartphones and the shift between owning fewer passenger cars and more light trucks or SUVs, but correlation isn’t a guarantee of causation.  We’ve written in this blog before about the relationship speed plays in pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and concerns over the relationship rideshare services play in the rise of traffic fatalities.  There are many factors involved. 

Here’s what we do know:

  • Distractions while driving are increasing
  • Alcohol is a factor in nearly half of pedestrian accidents with a fatality
  • Speed is the top factor in pedestrian accidents with a fatality
  • Most incidents resulting in pedestrian fatalities occur in urban areas and at night
  • Injuries and fatalities happen at intersections but most fatalities occur away from intersections

What this means for drivers:

  • Put distractions out of reach
  • Never drive impaired by drugs, alcohol, or sleep deprivation
  • SLOW DOWN
  • Be extra vigilant when driving at night
  • Watch for pedestrians around parked cars and not just at crosswalks

None of these requests are difficult to achieve and when driving, we all must do our part to protect pedestrians, after all, we are all pedestrians even if that’s just walking to and from our car.

If you would like to read more about the rise of pedestrian fatalities from the GHSA, the report is available here: https://www.ghsa.org/resources/Pedestrians20

As pedestrian accident lawyers, this topic is important to us.  You are welcome to browse through our other articles on pedestrian accidents, injuries, safety and advocacy here: https://www.rahmanlawsf.com/archive/category/personal-injury-lawyer/pedestrian-accident-lawyer/

If you or a loved one wishes to speak with a pedestrian accident lawyer, please contact us.  Consultations are free.  We have offices in San Francisco and Paso Robles, California.

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Dog Bite Lawsuit FAQs

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Dog bite injuries are unfortunately very common which means dog bite lawsuits happen more often than you might think.  In fact, dog bites are the most common claim for liability on homeowner insurance policies according to the Insurance Information Institute.  But keep in mind, not all homeowner policies include provisions for dog bites and it’s a good idea to check your policy if you own a dog.  In California, the law imposes strict liability on the owners of a dog that bites someone, and as personal injury lawyers, we get a lot of questions about what that means.  Here, we’ll answer some of the most common dog bite lawsuit FAQs.

1. Do I need to file a police report?

There is some important information you’ll want to collect at the scene of a dog bite (if you can; if you are seriously hurt or in danger, call 911).  We talk about what information to gather in another of our blogs, “What to Ask When a Dog Bite Happens.”  You do not need to file a police report in order to file a lawsuit, but you will want to report the bite to the local County Health Officer and possibly Animal Control so that an officer can investigate the dog.  The dog will be quarantined to check for rabies. 

2. Will the dog be euthanized?

When we say the dog will be quarantined, we do not mean euthanized.  Quarantining is required; euthanasia happens under special circumstances.  California does have a euthanasia policy, but it requires the dog to have bitten at least twice before or have been specifically trained to attack (California Civil Code §3342.5(b)).  An action will be brought against the owner in such circumstances and a dog bite victim may inquire about this.  An owner has the duty to take reasonable steps to remove the danger presented by the animal (California Civil Code §3342.5(a).). 

3. Is there a statute of limitations for a dog bite lawsuit?

Yes.  It is important you contact an attorney right away if you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog bite.  Our consultations are free and we can discuss the timeline in more detail with you. 

4. Does a dog have to have bitten once before to file a dog bite lawsuit?

No, California does not require a dog to have previously bitten in order to file a lawsuit.  Per California Civil Code §3342(a): “The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.” 

5. Is the owner liable for lost wages?

In a dog bite lawsuit, the dog bite victim can seek to recover damages, including lost wages from time off from work due to the injury.   Damages also include medical bills or a damaged bicycle if you were cycling when the dog attacked. 

6. Can a burglar sue for a dog bite?

It’s a common myth to hear about someone breaking into a home, being bitten by the dog living there, then suing the owners of the dog for the injuries.  It is not typical for someone to recover damages for a dog bite if they are trespassing on private property or if the dog bit out of self-defense of itself or the owner. 

7. Can I sue if a dog bites my dog?

This is a common question as some dogs are more likely to bite another dog than a human.  California Civil Code §3342 does not pertain to dog-on-dog aggressions; however, your dog is your personal property and damages to your personal property can warrant a lawsuit to recover the damages (i.e. veterinarian bills). 

We hope you found the answer to your dog bite lawsuit questions here, but if you have more questions, we are happy to talk to you.  We welcome your phone calls and emails. 

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Don’t Own a Car but Still Sometimes Drive? A Personal Mobility Policy Might be for You!

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Don’t Own a Car but Still Sometimes Drive? A Personal Mobility Policy Might be for You!

San Francisco has a great public transportation system network that is so effective, many San Francisco residents don’t even own a car!  In 2014, a study found 88% of all new households (people who moved to San Francisco since 2000) didn’t own a car (source). This shows a rising trend in more families going car-free when compared to the total of all current households in San Francisco without a car, which is roughly 30% (source). 30% puts San Francisco in the top 10 cities in the nation for households without a car.  At Rahman Law, we handle a lot of personal injury cases in San Francisco for pedestrians and bicyclists involved in a collision, and we know many of these bicyclists and pedestrians ride or walk because they do not own a car (and may not even need to own a car).

Not having a car to manage maintenance, fuel, and insurance on can be a financial relief for many people (and did we mention the psychological relief of not having to fight for a parking spot between street cleaning days here in San Francisco?!?), but sometimes we all need a car.  After all, other California cities do not offer the same level of public transportation convenience available in San Francisco.  Or maybe you’re thinking about a road trip to Las Vegas with a few friends?  Let’s face it, sometime we all want or need a car to get us to our destination.  People in households without their own car often rent one or borrow one for their long treks, but what many of us don’t fully understand is how insurance works when you’re driving a car that isn’t yours… until something happens. 

There is an insurance policy known as a Personal Mobility Policy that a few insurance agencies provide.  These policies typically cover private passenger cars that are being driven by but not owned by the policy holder (you).  And most often, the car cannot be owned by a resident of your household, resident relative (someone related to you living in the same household), or an employer of you or any of these types of people.  These policies may also include insurance to cover rental vehicles driven by you.  Personal Mobility Policies offer a more affordable way to have protection when you’re behind the wheel of a car you don’t own should something go wrong. 

Personal Mobility Policies can even go a step further than protecting you and your assets as a driver; these policies now often include coverage as a bicyclist, pedestrian, or as a passenger (even when using transportation networks for ridesharing services). 

With Personal Mobility Policies covering things like bodily injury, property damage/loss, uninsured motor vehicle coverage, and even emergency road services on top of the standard comprehensive and collision pieces for people driving a car they don’t own, riding in a rideshare vehicle, riding a bike, or simply walking along on the sidewalk, Personal Mobility Policies might be best fit for the new San Francisco lifestyle as we continue to own fewer and fewer cars.

So if you don’t own a car but sometimes rent or borrow one, or if you ride a bicycle regularly (especially if you commute on your bike), or if you use rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, talk to your insurance provider and ask about a Personal Mobility Policy to see if they offer it and if it might be right for you.  Some insurance companies will bundle it in with homeowners’ or renters’ insurance as an additional policy for a reduced premium, so if you have one of these insurances, start by speaking with your insurance agent there and asking about what’s right for you.  Having the right coverage in place can help you should anything ever go sideways.  Many of the phone calls we receive as personal injury lawyers in San Francisco stem from someone involved in a collision not having any or enough insurance. 

Are Traffic Fatalities Rising in California from the Use of Rideshare Services?

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Traffic Fatalities Rising in California from the Use of Rideshare Services

A rideshare accident lawyer is someone we hope you will never need, but we understand why we’re needed.  When Transportation Network Service drivers like those for Uber and Lyft that offer ridesharing services are involved in a collision there are usually three or more entities involved in the claim which amounts to a lot of phone calls and hair-pulling levels of frustration.  If there is an injury as a result of a vehicle collision with a rideshare driver as a passenger, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, then the stakes are even higher due to medical costs and lost wages during recovery.  A catastrophic injury or loss of life from a rideshare accident is the worst-case scenario for someone to have to face and no one should face this alone.  And with the increase in rideshare use, injuries and fatalities are an unfortunate reality. 

There’s no doubt rideshare services are rapidly increasing in popularity.  The California Mid-State Fair is held near our office in Paso Robles (we can even hear the concerts from our office!) and in recent years the site relocated the free shuttle services to make room for rideshare pick-ups and drop-offs directly in front of the venue.  Local residents who charge patrons to park in their yard even dropped prices this year, too.  The convenience of ridesharing is undeniable.  But at what cost?

The San Francisco County Transportation Authority commissioned their own study looking at VMT (vehicle miles traveled) and found that Uber and Lyft are the ‘biggest contributors’ to San Francisco’s traffic congestion. Uber and Lyft came forward with their own study this month from a transportation consultancy review of six cities, including San Francisco, and again found that there is a statistically significant increase in traffic congestion brought on from these rideshare services – as much as 13.4% in San Francisco County, with a noticeable increase closer to the city’s core.  The data has been increasing as rideshare and transportation network service use increases.

Traffic congestion is certainly a nuisance, but what does this mean for traffic fatalities in San Francisco and California as a whole?  California has been one of the states with the highest traffic fatality rates for many years.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) publishes statistics on traffic accidents with fatalities including pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities from vehicle collisions (see our chart below).

California's Traffic Deaths: 1985; 2008-2018
California’s Traffic Deaths: 1985; 2008-2018

If we were to compare California’s traffic fatality rate in 1985 (4,960) to California in 2017 (3,602), you can see that the rate of traffic accident fatalities is down overall, but looking at more recent years (since 2014), the traffic collision death rate is going back up.  Now, keep in mind that California is currently the state with the second most pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities involving traffic collisions (Florida is first), which means many of these victims are pedestrians or people riding a bicycle, something San Francisco is working very hard to end with the Vision Zero initiative.  

If you’re wondering how rideshare accidents have anything to do with traffic fatalities in San Francisco, you may want to read this recent study from the University of Chicago and Rice University, “The Cost of Convenience: Ridehailing and Traffic Fatalities,” which found a correlation to the increase in fatal car crashes and the launching of Uber and Lyft in the cities they examined.  They found an increase of about 3% in the number of traffic fatalities for both vehicle occupants and pedestrians/bicyclists which has been the complete opposite of what many people expected.  The idea behind transportation network services was to assist in convenience and provide an alternative for people who are or will likely be impaired and unable to drive themselves; which is a great idea on the surface as there were nearly 11,000 people killed by impaired drivers in 2017 and more than 1,000 of these people were pedestrians.

But this study and others like it have been hindered by the transportation network service providers in finding the total number of accidents and fatalities directly caused by or involving a rideshare driver.  Uber, as an example, requires injured parties who seek lawful compensation for their injuries to sign a confidentiality clause as a condition of settlement.  These confidentiality clauses are often referred to as ‘gag orders’ because they suppress the information and effectively keep the statistics of injuries and/or fatalities caused by drivers within their network from public scrutiny and reports.  This makes it nearly impossible to provide hard data demonstrating that traffic fatalities are rising in California from the use of rideshare services.  The associated increase of 3% in traffic-related fatalities due to ridesharing accidents may be an understatement.

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Beat the Heat with these Summer Safety Tips

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summer cyclist safety tips in paso robles and san francisco personal injury lawyers

Summer is here and with the extra hours of sunshine comes the heat!  In San Francisco, a “hot” day might be in the 80s, but this year it’s already been hotter than usual and at our Paso Robles office and in other scenic riding locations on the Central Coast, temperatures can easily surpass 100 degrees.  If you plan to go out in the heat for cycling or other activities, read on for some of our favorite tips to combat the hot weather.

Hydrate

Hydration always sounds like an obvious first step in the heat, but it isn’t just about hydrating during your summer activities, you’ll want to hydrate before and after, too.  The CDC and Cal/OSHA recommend 1 cup of water for every 15 minutes of physical activity in the heat and consuming electrolytes (sports drinks/fruit juice) before and after to replenish the salt we use for sweating.  They also warn that alcohol can reduce the body’s ability to regulate temperatures and should be avoided before your planned cycling day or any other activity in the heat.  And just a reminder, CA Vehicle Code 21200.5 does not provide a specific blood-alcohol threshold to be considered riding a bicycle under the influence, but cycling impaired is unlawful and a violation fine can be up to $250.

Keep Your Core Cool

There are a variety of products out there to help keep your core temperature down in hot weather like specialty towels and jerseys.  For motorcyclists, there are suits and jackets with mesh ventilation flaps.  But there are also some very easy ways to keep your core cool without needing a gear upgrade.  A favorite of many cyclists is freezing your water bottle when half full to create an ice block.  A fun alternative from wine country is to freeze grapes and use them as ice cubes; they’ll cool your water and provide a tasty snack later.  Want more?  Here’s a DIY tutorial on how to make your own neck cooler here.

Watch for Signs of Heat Stroke

While you may have taken all of the steps to beat the heat, others with you may not have properly prepared.  Symptoms of over-heating include headache, nausea, dizziness, and weakness.  At the point of heat exhaustion, the affected person may sweat more profusely than usual and have a rapid pulse.  If heat exhaustion goes untreated, the person may stop sweating altogether and/or become confused; the warning signs of heat stroke, a serious medical condition.  If you believe someone is in danger of over-heating, get them into a cool area immediately.  If there are concerns of heat stroke, call 911.  For more information, visit the CDC’s website here.

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Add Rahman Law to Your Phone Contacts

No one ever expects to be involved in a collision.  If you plan to be out cycling, riding a motorcycle, or driving this summer, be sure to add us to your contacts in your phone.  That way, you can call us immediately if you ever need us.  We also have free toolkits and guidebooks on our website here.  Have a great summer!

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San Francisco Personal Injury Attorneys Rahman Law PC Sponsor Walk to Work Day 2019

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Walk to Work Day 2019

Walk to Work Day 2019

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., April 2, 2019 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — San Francisco Personal Injury Attorneys, Rahman Law PC, are pleased to announce their repeat sponsorship of Walk San Francisco’s annual Walk to Work Day. The event will take place Wednesday, April 10, 2019 between 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Last year’s event was the biggest ever and participation is expected to increase again this year. San Francisco was the first city in the nation to officially celebrate Walk to Work Day in 2013 and Rahman Law PC has participated in or sponsored the event for the past 6 years.

Walk to Work Day was introduced by Prevention Magazine in 2004 to encourage walking as an everyday part of a healthy lifestyle. San Francisco made Walk to Work Day official to further this mission by raising pedestrian safety awareness to make walking better in San Francisco every day. Walk San Francisco, a non-profit dedicated to making the streets of San Francisco a more livable, walkable shared public space, supports Walk to Work Day with Hubs where volunteers give out freebies, coffee, and prizes for commuters who participate.

As with last year, Walk to Work Day 2019 will include a rally at City Hall at 9 a.m. to give pedestrians an opportunity to ask City leaders to make the streets safer for everyone.

Shaana Rahman, the principal and founder of Rahman Law PC, is a personal injury attorney in San Francisco and Paso Robles. Ms. Rahman serves on the Board of Directors of Walk San Francisco and believes in advocating to keep San Francisco safe for everyone. As a personal injury attorney in San Francisco, she has seen firsthand how dangerous the high-injury corridors can be to pedestrians. These corridors are the 6 percent of streets in San Francisco where 60 percent of pedestrian injuries and fatalities from collisions occur. Last year, there were 15 pedestrian fatalities in San Francisco, which is fewer than in 2013, the year Walk to Work Day became official in San Francisco, but still too many.

In addition to sponsoring Walk to Work Day in San Francisco, Ms. Rahman and some of the Rahman Law PC staff will be volunteering at a Work Day Hub. Work Day Hub locations can be found on the Walk San Francisco website (walksf.org). To meet Ms. Rahman and the other personal injury attorneys of Rahman Law PC, follow the Rahman Law PC Facebook page (facebook.com/rahmanLawSF) to find out which Hub they will be at and receive updates on making San Francisco a safer place for pedestrians.

Personal Injuries Are Happening Inside the Crosswalk: WalkFirst Initiative

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personal injury attorney crosswalks in san franciscoWalkFirst is part of the Vision Zero program targeting ways to reengineer the City of San Francisco to reduce personal injuries to pedestrians from vehicle collisions.  170 locations have been identified as the highest priorities and they are being corrected over the next five years.  As personal injury attorneys in San Francisco, we’ve been following along with these plans excitedly.  WalkFirst is focusing on Engineering, Enforcement, and Education to reduce the number of fatalities and personal injuries to pedestrians and we think it’s great!

Engineering to Reduce Personal Injuries to Pedestrians with WalkFirst

Many of the changes you will see in San Francisco revolve around intersections with Stop signs and crosswalks.  If you’re wondering why that is, much of the WalkFirst data was created in conjunction with SFMTA Municipal Transportation Agency.  Their San Francisco 2012-2015 Collisions Report released in November of 2016 showed many non-fatal injury collisions with pedestrians revolved around exactly that (no. of collisions): crosswalks (1,305), Stop signs (364), and violations of the traffic signals (1,101).  Correcting these three things would correct 23% of pedestrian personal injuries from vehicle collisions.  In an effort to reduce these incidents, the WalkFirst initiative includes pulling back Stop and Yield lines, painting curbs red near crosswalks, and more pedestrian islands.

Speed is understandably at the top of the list for the causes of pedestrian personal injuries caused by vehicle collisions (2,199 or 18%).  To aid pedestrians in crosswalks when the car coming at them is speeding, high visibility crosswalks and HAWK Beacons are also being added along with more medians.   But until these tools are in place, remember to look carefully and make sure the drivers see you before you step off of the curb.

These preventative tools have been engineered to reduce the number of collisions with pedestrians and tested with great success in other urban cities.  The HAWK Beacon has reduced collisions as much as 69% and pedestrian islands as much as 56%.  Altering a traffic signal to have a separate left turn phase can reduce collisions with pedestrians at an intersection by 48%.  Expect to see these changes in the “High Injury Corridors” of San Francisco as WalkFirst and Vision Zero continue to bring the number of personal injuries and fatalities down to zero.  We’ve taken the pledge to support these initiatives, have you?

Law Enforcement to Reduce Personal Injuries to Pedestrians with WalkFirst

Both WalkFirst and Vision Zero have the City and County law officials working with the initiatives to bring about the needed changes.  After identifying the top causes of pedestrian collisions (there are nine top factors in collisions with personal injuries and the “Focus on Five” linked to collisions with fatalities), SFPD committed 50% of traffic enforcement to these identified most dangerous traffic behaviors.  Data from other metropolitan areas with similar initiatives have found enforcement with education can lead to a 23% reduction in vehicle collisions with pedestrians.  This includes red light cameras which have already led to a reduction in severe and fatal traffic injuries at their intersections.

WalkFirst and Vision Zero Education

Every day in San Francisco, about 3 people are hit by cars while walking and we have four times the national average of pedestrian fatalities for our traffic fatalities.  WalkFirst and Vision Zero along with the City of San Francisco have all launched campaigns to educate the public about the issues with traffic safety in San Francisco.  We are all pedestrians every day.  Here at Rahman Law PC, we advocate for safer streets in our community for pedestrians and bicyclists and actively participate in WalkFirst and Vision Zero.  As personal injury attorneys, we see the reality of these injuries every day and know that change is needed.  If you would like more information, please visit these resources:

http://walkfirst.sfplanning.org/

http://visionzerosf.org/

When Do You Need a Personal Injury Attorney?

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personal injury attorneyNot everyone feels comfortable picking up the phone and calling a personal injury attorney.  We’re not sure why – we’re really great people to have in your corner!  We care about our clients and have a personal relationship with each one.  We even spend time on the phone answering questions from people who are not our clients because we are passionate about advocating for our community.  (Learn more about who we are and our team here).

But if you are someone who is still trying to decide if this is the right time to pick up the phone, let’s talk about when you need a personal injury attorney.

  1. If you’ve been hurt by no fault of your own and have medical bills, you need a personal injury attorney.

Hospitals and insurance companies have forms which will ask you if this was an accident.  They are going to want to know if there is someone at fault that should be paying for this other than your health insurance.  And we all know how quickly medical bills can add up for a severe injury, especially if an insurance company decides the injury is not their obligation to pay.  Or you may have submitted your bills to the insurance company of the other party already, from a car collision perhaps, and that insurance company isn’t paying.  If you are injured, you need to focus on healing.  A personal injury attorney can manage the bills: where they need to be sent and which party is responsible.  If needed, a lien can be placed on your medical bills that will suspend their payment due date pending trial.  This will protect you from debt collectors which can again, let you focus on healing.

 

  1. If your injury is causing you to miss work and lose wages, it is time to talk to a personal injury attorney.

In California, we have 12 weeks of Family Medical Leave, but those 12 weeks can go by rapidly in the event of a severe injury and at that point, an employer might dismiss you from your job completely which can remove any benefits you had with it, including your medical insurance which you might be using.  Do not wait until the 11th week to see out assistance from a personal injury attorney, start looking as soon as you realize you’ll be missing work.  Your injury may become long-term, especially if there are any unforeseen complications.  And this lost time is something you’ll want to recover from the at-fault party, which a personal injury attorney will be able to evaluate for you.

 

  1. The moment there is a dispute over liability or payment – call a personal injury attorney to protect your rights.

The moment of an accident or injury, many people will say things without knowing what their insurance company or employer will actually do.  For example, if you were hurt on public transportation, the driver might apologize profusely and say that the City or other responsible entity will pay for everything, but this person is not in a position to make those decisions.  The moment someone tells you “no” when you’ve been injured (mentally or physically) or suffered a loss (of property, money, or job) is the time to pick up the phone and call a personal injury attorney.  If the person, company, or insurance provider deemed at-fault is no longer working with you, you need professional assistance.  They have a team on their side and you should have one, too.

 

Hiring a personal injury attorney is not an over-reaction to a situation.  You are protecting yourself against insurance companies and businesses with teams of attorneys skilled at working against people who do not seek legal counsel.  By selecting a personal injury attorney to represent you, you’ll have an advocate for you and as needed, they will bring in a team of experts who understand the focus of your case.  If you’ve been injured through no fault of your own, you shouldn’t have to fight alone.

 

You should be comfortable with your attorney.  We offer free consultations if you ever feel like you need to talk to us, please reach out!

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Plan a Safe Route to School: Focus on Five to the Reduce Number of Wrongful Deaths

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wrongful death attorney

Your child has a right to attend a safe, secure, and peaceful school environment and all reasonable steps are to be taken by the school district to protect its students (Ed. Code § 48200), but what about the route getting to and from school?  How do you protect your child from a catastrophic injury or worse – wrongful death – on their school route?  The number of fatalities to pedestrians and cyclists in San Francisco are decreasing each year since 2013, but it’s still too high (even one is too many and we support Vision Zero for San Francisco).  In 2017, 14 pedestrians, 4 motorcyclists, and 2 bicyclists were killed in vehicle collisions.  Pedestrians have continued to be the largest group for wrongful deaths due to vehicle collisions in San Francisco since at least 2010.  We want to help you with information about how to protect your child from a catastrophic injury when they are on their way to a safe place, to prevent you from needing a wrongful death attorney.

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s Sustainable Streets Division has created their list of the “Focus on the Five” for traffic enforcement officials to look at.  These five conditions result in the most injuries for pedestrians and cyclists.  To help your child be prepared for a safe walk to ride to school talk to them about these five conditions and what to look out for at intersections to prevent a catastrophic injury:

Focus on Five to the Reduce the Number of Wrongful Deaths:

  • Unsafe Speed
  • Failure to Yield to Pedestrians
  • Violation of Traffic Signal
  • Failure to Yield for Left/U-Turn
  • Failure to Stop at Stop Sign

Pedestrians in California have the right-of-way in many circumstances and drivers should yield to them, but it is important for children to understand the difference between “should” and “will.”  The same is true for stopping at Stop signs or even stopping completely and looking both ways for pedestrians at a crosswalk.  To protect your children on their route to school and keep them from the frightening statistics of wrongful deaths in San Francisco, take the time to walk with them often and help them understand these differences about drivers, especially when children may eventually be walking to school without a taller (more easily visible) adult.  If crosswalk flags are available on their route, they may be used as an added visibility tool, but they do not compensate for understanding the need for children to wait to be seen by the driver before stepping out away from the curb.  The majority of pedestrian wrongful deaths over the years in San Francisco were found to be in crosswalks by the SFMTA.

Plan the Route Carefully Away from Top 13% Streets:

Anyone who has reviewed Vision Zero before might already know about the dangerous areas to walk and ride.  The greater majority of catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths occur on a very small percentage of San Francisco’s streets: just 13% of the streets and intersections make up about 75% of the fatalities and major injuries.  These are often considered to be the “High Injury Corridors” of San Francisco.  There is an updated and interactive map available from City and County of San Francisco here.  Take time to review this map and look to see if your child’s route passes through an area known to be dangerous.  If one or more wrongful deaths have occurred at an intersection your child plans to pass through daily, consider changing their planned path and discussing with them the need for the new route so that they do not divert from the new plan.  If you are not currently looking at the map, 5th Street and Market Street has been at the top of the list for pedestrian and bicyclist collisions for several years.

safe routes to school in san francisco

(San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s Sustainable Streets Division: San Francisco 2012-2015 Collisions Report, 2016)

 

Local Resources Are Available for Your Child’s Safety

Your school may provide crossing guards at specific intersections.  The school district’s liability is with the school’s grounds, but the school may have additional resources to offer to you.

Walk San Francisco provides annual safe route events to help children learn about planning and executing safe routes to school.  They also welcome your emails.  Rahman Law PC principal and founder, Shaana Rahman, is on the Board of Walk San Francisco, so don’t be surprised if you see her at one of Walk San Francisco’s events!  Learn more about Walk San Francisco’s programs for planning a safe route to school here: http://walksf.org/take-action/safe-routes-to-school.  Their next Walk & Roll to School Day will be Wednesday, October 10th, 2018.

If you are closer to our Paso Robles office, talk to Kidical Mass with Bike SLO County: http://bikeslocounty.org/programs/kidicalmass.  Rahman Law PC sponsors Bike SLO County and some of the Kidical Mass events.  There are no events currently scheduled.

 

A Wrongful Death Can Happen – Call Us

No one ever wants to think about losing their child.  In 2016, only 1 child was lost as a pedestrian fatality in San Francisco, but in California, the average is about 29% of children under 14 killed in a traffic collision are pedestrians which is actually higher than the overall average of 21% of total traffic collision deaths being pedestrians (CDPH Traffic Safety Reports: Pedestrian Injuries in California 2007-2013, June 2017).  Keep talking to your children.  If you or someone you know is injured as a pedestrian or bicyclist in a vehicle collision, call us.  You are welcome to speak with one of our wrongful death attorneys or pedestrian and bicycle accident attorneys.  Consultation are free.

 

Bicycle Accident Attorneys Rahman Law PC to Exhibit at Biketoberfest Marin 2018

Posted on by Rahman Law PC

SAN FRANCISCO, California, 10/8/2018 (ReleaseWire) – Rahman Law PC, a personal injury law firm handling pedestrian and bicycle accident and injury cases in San Francisco and Paso Robles, California, announces their 9th year supporting Biketoberfest Marin to be held on Saturday, October 13, 2018 in Fairfax, California.  Biketoberfest Marin joins all bicycling communities together by offering group road and mountain bike rides, a handmade bike show, live music, food, and 20 West Coast brewers.   The event is hosted by and benefiting the Marin County Bicycle Coalition and Access4Bikes drawing over 5,000 attendees.

Shaana Rahman, principal and founder of Rahman Law PC, is a member and long-time sponsor of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, sharing in their mission “to promote safe bicycling for everyday transportation and recreation,” as well as promote advocacy and “give cyclists a voice.”  The Marin County Bicycle Coalition is also on a mission to build the bicycle community, which they do through events like Biketoberfest Marin where Shaana Rahman and some of her team will be in attendance at an exhibitor’s table to talk to the bicycling community.

As an exhibitor at Biketoberfest, Rahman Law PC will be able to answer bicyclists’ questions related to personal injury, property damage, and other bicyclist accident law.  The personal injury law firm answers calls from the community daily as part of their free consultation service, but events like Biketoberfest give a greater opportunity to answer more peoples’ questions.  While exhibiting, Rahman Law PC also plans to reach out to the community and ask “Why do you ride?” while on Facebook Live (https://www.facebook.com/RahmanLawSF) and further community awareness about who riders are and what bicycling means to them.

“Biketoberfest is such a great event because of the variety of riders who attend,” said Ms. Rahman.  “In the past, we’ve seen road cyclists, commuters cyclists, mountain bikers, and BMX riders.  Education is important in reducing the number of bicyclist fatalities and we are happy to answer their questions and help them understand their rights as cyclists, regardless of what they ride.”

Anyone unable to attend the event can download free information kits from: https://www.rahmanlawsf.com/rights-toolkits-guidebooks which cover property damage claims for bicycles, what to do in a vehicle accident (bicyclists included), and a quick reference guide for riding in California.

 

About Rahman Law PC

The personal injury lawyers at Rahman Law PC are powerful advocates for people who have been injured through no fault of their own.  What makes Rahman Law PC different from other personal injury law firms is they care about what happens to their clients; they aggressively advocate for their clients’ interests and have a personal relationship with each client, taking the time to listen and figure out solutions that make sense from a legal point of view but also from a human perspective. By providing the highest quality legal services to those who have been injured or have suffered wrongdoing at the hands of other individuals, corporations, or public entities, the personal injury attorneys and trial lawyers at Rahman Law PC have a proven track record of results and have successfully recovered millions of dollars for clients throughout California. Rahman Law PC offers clients attentive service backed with big firm experience, making them ready to take on any opponent.  To learn more about the personal injury lawyers at Rahman Law PC, visit http://www.rahmanlawsf.com or call 415-956-9245 in San Francisco, 805-619-3108 in Paso Robles, California.