Various Wrongful Death Lawsuits Move Forward in the Bay Area
Over the past few days and weeks, numerous wrongful death lawsuits have moved forward in the Bay Area. Families are not willing to simply sit back and accept these losses without pursuing legal action, and who can blame them? When a loved one’s death is caused by clear negligence, it is difficult to simply continue with life as if nothing happened. For many families, wrongful death lawsuits help achieve a sense of justice, closure, and compensation. Could you be eligible to file a lawsuit after the death of a loved one? This is something that may be worth discussing alongside a wrongful death attorney in San Francisco.
Family Sues Bart After Elderly Woman Pushed Onto Tracks
In January of 2025, it was reported that a family in San Francisco had sued Bay Area Rapid Transit for their role in a fatal incident. The family’s relative was standing at the Powell Street Station platform when she was pushed into the tracks by an assailant. The assault was intentional, and it caused the elderly woman to suffer fatal head injuries. She fell forward and was subsequently struck by an approaching train.
Immediately after the incident, BART released an official statement claiming that these incidents are rare. However, the family’s attorneys disagree – pointing to several similar incidents across BART stations. This “history of violence” essentially paves the way for a premises liability claim. Specifically, the family is probably suing on the basis of “negligent security.”
The plaintiffs argue that BART knowingly allowed violent criminals to wander through its premises, posing hazards to members of the public. The individual who committed this homicide has a long history of criminal behavior. The plaintiff’s counsel notes that he habitually dodged transit fares and that he was a convicted sexual predator. In addition, a judge had ordered him to stay away from BART stations. Records indicate that this individual has been arrested 27 times in various counties throughout the Bay Area. Police say that they observed him assaulting BART riders on at least one previous occasion. He is homeless, although he is currently in jail.
The victim’s nephew claims that when he rushed to the station after his aunt’s death, he noticed “dozens” of people wandering around the premises. He admitted that he did not feel safe around these people, and he is asking why BART did not remove them. The victim helped pay for her nephew’s college tuition, allowing him to become a doctor.
The family’s attorneys also point to several other violent incidents across BART stations – challenging their suggestion that such murders are rare. In 2024, one woman was slashed with a knife – while another was stabbed to death. Both incidents occurred at BART stations. In 2018, three sisters were assaulted with a knife at a BART station in Oakland, and one died of neck wounds.
In 2021, a man tried to push a woman onto the tracks at Bay Fair Station, but she managed to keep her balance and avoid getting electrocuted. A year earlier, another victim was shoved onto the tracks at Berkeley Station, and he did not survive.
Wrongful Death Lawsuits Continue Over Shootings
In related news, the Half-Moon Bay survivors are still waiting for justice – having filed numerous wrongful death lawsuits over the infamous workplace shooting. The shooter who killed seven farmworkers is still waiting to be tried, and the family’s lawsuits are also stalling. Dozens of employees of this farm have already received hundreds of thousands of dollars in unrelated wage lawsuits. The families claim that the farm should have taken more effective steps in reaction to previous acts of violence at the workplace.
Can a Wrongful Death Lawyer in San Francisco Help Me Achieve Justice?
If you have lost a loved one and you believe that negligence is to blame, a wrongful death lawyer in the Bay Area may be able to help. Perhaps your loved one was subjected to an unsafe environment in a transit station or workplace. Maybe they were struck and killed by a reckless driver. As we have seen, even wildfire deaths can potentially lead to lawsuits in California. To navigate the next steps with confidence, consider contacting Mary Alexander & Associates today.
