The Bay Area boasts a relatively high number of large bridges intended to move traffic efficiently over and around the numerous stretches of open water. For the most part, the system of bridges and highways lives up to its intended design goals, but when an accident occurs, the bridge system may become jammed with traffic that has no other place to go. A recent motor vehicle collision on the Bay Bridge showed how a single accident can prevent thousands of drivers from reaching their destinations.
The accident happened at about 4:30 a.m. when a box truck smashed into the rear of a commuter bus on the Bay Bridge. The box truck tipped onto its side, thereby blocking two traffic lanes. A passenger in the truck was killed, and two passengers in the truck were injured. Two passengers on the bus complained of pain and were hospitalized. Police are focusing their investigation on excessive speed by the truck driver. The driver of the bus is undergoing standard drug and alcohol testing.
The first side effect of the accident was a 10,000-passenger increase in BART ridership into San Francisco from the East Bay. BART also estimated that traffic was backed up for miles in the East Bay. Traffic disruptions lasted into the afternoon. A BART spokesperson said that the agency was already planning for massive diversions of passengers when accidents block the area’s bridges and freeways.
The persons who were injured and the family of the person who died may be considering seeking damages from the driver and owner of the box truck. Anyone who has been injured or lost a loved one in a similar collision may wish to consider seeking damages for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. An experienced personal injury attorney can provide a helpful evaluation of the evidence and an estimate of the likelihood of recovering damages.