Trolley Accidents in San Francisco
cartwrightlaw - November 1, 2021 -
San Francisco’s cable cars, also called trolleys, are one of the city’s most popular transportation and tourist attractions. Trolleys are highly recognizable sights in the city of San Francisco and are made even more so because they are featured in movies, paintings, and songs in association with the city.
Trolleys also seem to be one of San Francisco’s most dangerous public transit means, as accidents and injuries happen regularly. If you are injured, you should let a trolley accident attorney from The Cartwright Law Firm evaluate your rights. We handle complex transportation accident claims for clients throughout the Bay Area.
Causes of Trolley Accidents
Just like all moving vehicles, trolleys are prone to accidents for various reasons, including the following:
- Operating the trolleys on steep hills makes them susceptible to accidents
- Driver mistakes or equipment malfunction
- Inexperience or inadequate training of drivers
- The trolley’s grip failing to function properly or either the cable or the jaws of the trolley failing to function properly or at all
- Riders behaving carelessly, including hanging on the sides of the car, creating the risk of serious injuries
- Trolleys being operated on roads full of cars, pedestrian tourists, and bicyclists
Filing a Trolley Accident Claim
Trolleys are operated by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which means if you are involved in a trolley accident, you might need to file your claim for compensation for your injuries with the SFMTA.
Filing a claim against SFMTA is, in fact, filing a claim against the City and County of San Francisco, which means the claim is subject to California’s Tort Claims Act provisions. These provisions require that any claimant against an agency (SFMTA in this case) must provide notice of the claim within six months from the date of the accident. This is certainly a much shorter time than the two-year limit to file a claim in all other personal injury claims.
What Happens After Filing a Claim for San Francisco Trolley Accident
- Your attorney should receive a letter of acknowledgment with your claim number from the City Attorney of San Francisco informing you that your claim has been received.
- Once your claim is acknowledged, an investigation will be conducted. The City Attorney says they try to complete their investigations within 45 days of receiving a claim. That is assuming the claim is properly filed and all the required information is provided.
- Your attorney must then provide a written justification of the amount of your claim as follows:
- You must provide alongside your claim two estimates and photographs for any property damage.
- For personal injury claims, you must provide complete copies of all bills from the treating physician(s) or other expenses that you may have incurred because of the trolley accident. If you have lost wages because of the injuries you sustained, you will need to provide documentation to back that up, such as pay stubs and a letter from your employer, or if self-employed, an affidavit as to your inability to resume work.
Contact a San Francisco Trolley Accident Lawyer Today
If you have been injured in a San Francisco trolley accident, then contact The Cartwright Law Firm today for a free case review at (415) 851-6486. We handle complicated SFMTA claims for injured clients, and we can advise you of your rights.
San Francisco’s cable cars, also called trolleys, are one of the city’s most popular transportation and tourist attractions. Trolleys are highly recognizable sights in the city of San Francisco and are made even more so because they are featured in movies, paintings, and songs in association with the city.
Trolleys also seem to be one of San Francisco’s most dangerous public transit means, as accidents and injuries happen regularly. If you are injured, you should let a trolley accident attorney from The Cartwright Law Firm evaluate your rights. We handle complex transportation accident claims for clients throughout the Bay Area.
Causes of Trolley Accidents
Just like all moving vehicles, trolleys are prone to accidents for various reasons, including the following:
- Operating the trolleys on steep hills makes them susceptible to accidents
- Driver mistakes or equipment malfunction
- Inexperience or inadequate training of drivers
- The trolley’s grip failing to function properly or either the cable or the jaws of the trolley failing to function properly or at all
- Riders behaving carelessly, including hanging on the sides of the car, creating the risk of serious injuries
- Trolleys being operated on roads full of cars, pedestrian tourists, and bicyclists
Filing a Trolley Accident Claim
Trolleys are operated by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which means if you are involved in a trolley accident, you might need to file your claim for compensation for your injuries with the SFMTA.
Filing a claim against SFMTA is, in fact, filing a claim against the City and County of San Francisco, which means the claim is subject to California’s Tort Claims Act provisions. These provisions require that any claimant against an agency (SFMTA in this case) must provide notice of the claim within six months from the date of the accident. This is certainly a much shorter time than the two-year limit to file a claim in all other personal injury claims.
What Happens After Filing a Claim for San Francisco Trolley Accident
- Your attorney should receive a letter of acknowledgment with your claim number from the City Attorney of San Francisco informing you that your claim has been received.
- Once your claim is acknowledged, an investigation will be conducted. The City Attorney says they try to complete their investigations within 45 days of receiving a claim. That is assuming the claim is properly filed and all the required information is provided.
- Your attorney must then provide a written justification of the amount of your claim as follows:
- You must provide alongside your claim two estimates and photographs for any property damage.
- For personal injury claims, you must provide complete copies of all bills from the treating physician(s) or other expenses that you may have incurred because of the trolley accident. If you have lost wages because of the injuries you sustained, you will need to provide documentation to back that up, such as pay stubs and a letter from your employer, or if self-employed, an affidavit as to your inability to resume work.
Contact a San Francisco Trolley Accident Lawyer Today
If you have been injured in a San Francisco trolley accident, then contact The Cartwright Law Firm today for a free case review at (415) 851-6486. We handle complicated SFMTA claims for injured clients, and we can advise you of your rights.
“Our successful case results are a reflection of the values and virtues we believe in and uphold at Cartwright Law Firm. Nothing stops us from pursuing justice on behalf of those who need it.
Robert E. Cartwright Jr.
Founder and Managing Partner