Female Pedestrian, 50, Sustained Foot Fracture After Being Run Over By San Diego Metropolitan Transit Bus in El Cerrito
EL CERRITO, CALIFORNIA (March 17, 2025) – A 50-year-old woman was injured in El Cerrito after she was struck by a San Diego Metropolitan transit bus on University Avenue.
San Diego County officials are saying that the incident took place around 4:54 PM on Thursday. An MTA bus was stopped alongside the curb of University Avenue.
A woman was bending over to pick up a water bottle that had fallen into the street. The woman fell forward, and the MTA bus ran her over.
She sustained serious injuries to her ankle and below as a result of the accident. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim.
She was taken to the hospital in order to receive treatment for foot fractures and other injuries. An investigation into the El Cerrito bus accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for San Diego County Bus Accidents
Many people are killed or seriously injured in bus accidents every year. According to The Journalist’s Resource, “on average, about 63,000 buses [of all kinds] are involved in an accident each year; about 14,000 result in an injured person, and 325 result in a fatal injury. About 50 passengers (including the driver) are killed, on average, in a given year.” Bus drivers should take a number of actions in order to avoid hitting pedestrians.
- Bus drivers should check their blind spots before making turns in the roadway.
- Bus drivers should abstain from alcohol and other intoxicating substances.
- Bus drivers should take periodic breaks throughout the day as required by law.
- Bus drivers should continuously scan the road ahead of them for potential hazards.
Bus drivers are considered common carriers. They must exercise a great deal of care in order to avoid harming their passengers and pedestrians in the roadway. Pursuant to California Civil Code 21950, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian that is crossing an intersection with any marked or unmarked crosswalk. But even when a pedestrian is outside of a crosswalk, drivers must still exercise due care in order to avoid colliding with them. If a driver fails to slow down to avoid colliding with a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
The company or municipal entity that employed a bus driver could also potentially be held at fault for a collision. Employers are held vicariously liable for the tortious actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. This could include situations where a bus driver was transporting passengers. Victims of bus accidents tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries.
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
- Organ damage
The Federal Motor Carrier Traffic Safety Administration requires buses that transport 16 or more people to have at least $5 million in liability coverage. Sadly, bus companies will often do everything in their power to avoid liability if one of their drivers injures a pedestrian. They may try to claim that the victim was actually at fault or at least contributed to their injuries. This is why it is so important that all MTA bus accidents are properly investigated by an outside party. Any person that is injured in a San Diego County bus accident may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim.
Investigating San Diego County MTA Bus Accidents
We at Samer Habbas & Associates PC extend our best wishes to the woman injured in this El Cerrito MTA bus accident. It is our sincere hope that she is able to make a full recovery. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. There are many questions that still remain unanswered.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in an El Cerrito MTA bus accident? You may have legal recourse. Our team of MTA bus accident attorneys is here to help you. We fight tirelessly to help victims of bus accidents get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 949-727-9300.
