Posted on Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

A number of high-profile on multi million dollar settlements against the San Francisco municipal agency's transport, that the city millions in the long run by we would save us means to improve road safety for cyclists and pedestrians. This item was last week a record Muni settlement of $ 5.36 million for a 2008 Muni accident underscores, killed the cyclists David Wheeler in nearby ocean beach in San Francisco.

Wheeler died in November 2008 as Muni bus operator of Roy Timmons to stop neglected before links, according to documents in San Francisco Superior Court filed, and reported by the San Francisco Examiner. Service of judicial documents also show that Timmons was able to use its indicators, accelerated, and used a very tight turning radius, all factors, to the deadly motorcycle accident led.

Due to the shockingly high number of bicycle and pedestrian city MTA accidents in San Francisco took a massive insurance for accident settlements in the area of $ 5 million to 25 million in 2009. But since this accident occurred before new insurance policy came into force, come the 5.36 million US-dollar settlement of Muni 2011-2012 of draft operating budget, which already contains a predicted 22 million US-dollar deficit. This is only further evidence that although households throughout California are low, cities could save millions if it means towards road safety initiatives would put to prevent serious pedestrian and motorcycle accidents.

Here is a list of the most expensive Muni wrongful death lawsuits accident since 1995 by the San Francisco Examiner:

Humberto and Lopez Dominguez: 21 million$, 2 / 2003David Wheeler: $ 5.36 million, 11 / 2008Gavin Lum: $4.25 million, 11 / 2003Emily Jean Landsverk: $4 million, 12/1996,grace and j.c. Criswell: $3.35 million, 10 / 1999Peter Jones: $ 3.26 million, 8 / 1995Dewey Kim: $ 3.25 million, 11 / 2007,Janice and Wayne Racek: $ 3.15 million, 4 / 1998Danielle Pérez: 3 Million dollars, 10 / 2004

More than anything else, they should remind pedestrians and cyclists to stay safe on roads to San Francisco the city tragic fatal accidents. But while city residents with safer roads would be served, it is clear that the city budget also would benefit security investments, the future multi-million would reduce dollar wrongful death lawsuits.

Photo credit: Randychiu

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