Sammy Davis, 69, Died In SoMa, San Francisco Muni Bus Accident By Seventh Street and Harrison Street

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA (November 5, 2023) – A pedestrian identified as Sammy Davis has tragically died in a San Francisco Muni bus accident by Seventh Street and Harrison Street.

San Francisco police officials are saying that the accident took place on August 14. Sammy Davis was hit by the rear of a Muni bus, which indicates that it may have been backing up.

Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. However, the arrival of the ambulance was delayed by a Cruise autonomous robotaxi.

Sammy Davis was eventually taken to the hospital where he later died. A San Francisco Fire Department report indicated that the delay in the time for him to get to the hospital contributed to his death.

A full investigation into the SoMa bus accident remains ongoing at this time.

 

Liability For San Francisco Bus Accidents

Bus accidents can happen for a variety of different reasons. According to the FMCSA, “Motor vehicle crashes are complex events. Usually they involve two or more vehicles. Elements that influence the occurrence of a crash may take place hours, days, or months before the crash. They include driver training and experience, vehicle design and manufacture, highway condition and traffic signaling, and weather conditions.” There are a number of steps that bus companies should take in order to avoid collisions.

• Bus companies should have their fleet regularly inspected and well-maintained.
• Bus companies should ensure that their drivers are well-trained.
• Bus companies need to make sure that their drivers are complying with all safety rules.

Bus drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid hitting pedestrians. Many pedestrian collisions take place due to drivers that are speeding. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 22350,  no person shall drive a motor vehicle at a speed greater than what would be reasonable or safe given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. If a driver fails to slow down and hits a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.

A municipal entity like San Francisco could be liable for a pedestrian accident. Generally speaking, private companies and state agencies are liable for the wrongful acts of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. This will typically be the case unless the state agency in question had qualified immunity. In any car accident, there may be multiple liable parties.

A company that operated a self-driving car service could be liable for a car accident. Despite continued advancements in self-driving technology, these cars still seem to struggle in many areas. In particular, self-driving cars still have a hard time acting properly around police vehicles and other emergency vehicles. If a self-driving car delayed critical emergency services which contributed to a person’s death, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Victims of car accidents tend to suffer very serious injuries including:

• Broken bones
• Lacerations
• Spinal cord injuries
• PTSD

Bus companies will often fight hard to deny liability for any collision. They will often blame the victim or say that other parties were responsible. At the end of the day, evidence will ultimately demonstrate who was at fault. The family of any person that died in a bus accident may be able to seek some measure of justice through a wrongful death claim. A civil claim can help with many of the expenses that often come with suddenly losing a family member.

 

Investigating San Francisco Muni Bus Accidents

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of Sammy Davis. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent other tragedies like this. City politicians claim that they want to reduce deaths through Vision Zero, but pedestrians and cyclists are still dying all the time.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured due to the negligence of a San Francisco Muni bus driver? Our team of pedestrian safety advocates are here to help in any way that we can. We are committed to helping accident victims and making California streets safer. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (949) 825-5200.