In 1869, Andrew Smith Hallidie watched a horse-drawn streetcar slip down one of San Francisco’s steepest slopes on a damp summer’s day. The British native’s father had the first patent for wire rope, and it did not take long for Hallidie to design the very first cable car system in San Francisco, aimed at preventing the type of disastrous slippage he had witnessed. The first cable car system was near the top of Nob Hill, at Clay and Jones streets, and since then the cable car has become a hallmark of our beautiful San Francisco.

Because cable cars are publicly owned, any victims of an accident have six months to file a proper claim. This means that it is essential to seek legal counsel immediately after an accident of this sort.

Similar to bus accidents, cable cars carry many passengers and have the potential to cause serious damage because of their size and weight. They also lack seatbelts and other safety devices that might prevent injuries from happening.

While many of the factors that might provoke a cable car accident are the same as those in a bus accident, there are some unique features of the cable car that can result in serious injury. All of us know that the cable cars travel San Francisco’s steepest hills and any loss of control by the operator or due to equipment malfunction, can be disastrous.

As in other types of vehicular accidents, injuries sustained as a result of a cable car accident can be serious and traumatic. Cable cars are open-air vehicles, allowing tourists and commuters unobstructed views of our bay and classic skyline as they traverse the city. But cars and other vehicles can cause accidents not realizing that cable car technology is old and stopping is not instantaneous. Accidents caused by the cable car itself, other vehicles or operator error, can occur. Passengers can easily be ejected from the cable car leading to serious or catastrophic injuries, head injuries, spinal cord injuries, and sadly, fatalities.

Our public transportation systems have a duty to ensure the safety of all who pay the fare to utilize them, which is a much greater charge than the average motorist on the road. So when something goes wrong due to the negligence of those who operate, maintain, or design a cable car, it is important that you contact the Righthand Law Office, where you will find expansive knowledge of cable-car accidents and a dedicated counsel who will seek full compensation for your injuries.