San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyer

Accidents are common and often result in traumatic, life-changing injuries. Accident-related injuries may result in mounting medical bills, temporary or permanent inability to work because of disability, and other losses. Those who have been injured in accidents due to the negligence or carelessness of others should speak with an experienced SF Bay Area attorney to learn and understand the legal options that may be available in their situation. Most top-rated San Francisco personal injury attorneys are available to review potential cases in free consultations.

Here at AutoAccident.com, we have personal injury lawyers serving San Francisco residents who can help obtain the justice and maximum financial compensation you deserve. We invite you to set up a meeting for free, friendly case advice with one of our attorneys at (415) 805-7284 or (800) 404-5400.

At our California personal injury law firm, we have obtained favorable results for clients we represent in many types of accident cases. Behind our track record of successful case results is our dedication to assisting the injured in rebuilding their lives and holding at-fault parties accountable. Our experience, skills, and resources in high-value cases encompass our work in catastrophic and fatal accidents. When you need a knowledgeable San Francisco personal injury lawyer to handle your accident case, look no further. Our legal team at AutoAccident.com is prepared to assist and offer free consultations.

According to a 2020 report by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), there was a total of 2,777 injury and fatal crashes in SF city limits. Of the reported motor vehicle collisions, speed contributed to 434 of them, followed by hit-and-run drivers with 486, alcohol involvement with 259, and resulting in 214 DUI arrests. The unfortunate reality behind these statistics is that accidents commonly occur in San Francisco despite initiatives, particularly efforts from the Vision Zero SF plan.

Once SF PD or the CHP has been contacted, medical treatment has been sought, and an official report has been filed for the accident, an injured party should reach out to an experienced attorney for assistance. The right San Francisco personal injury lawyer will know how to properly collect and preserve evidence after an incident to ensure that it is relevant and admissible in civil court. To protect your rights and best interests as an injured party, it is essential to retain important pieces of information at the scene, including:

• Take pictures of the incident site, damaged vehicles, surroundings, roadway signage, traffic lights, and visible injuries if there are any
• Carefully scan the area and note any unusual roadway conditions, such as potholes, foliage obstructing street view, etc.
• See if there are any video cameras or eyewitnesses that may help demonstrate how the incident occurred through surveillance footage of the accident or an independent account of the incident, respectively

If injuries from an accident are serious, and it is not possible to gather and preserve evidence, it is a good idea to have a good friend or family member collect the evidence. This is especially important as evidence at the scene, like skid marks or potholes in the road, can disappear quickly. By following these steps, an injured party can help their injury attorney preserve the evidence necessary to obtain a favorable case result. If you work with our team of San Francisco personal injury lawyers, we often work with investigators and get statements from any and all eyewitnesses to build strong cases for our clients.

A wide array of factors may cause or contribute to an accident. Furthermore, traffic incident reports may be inconclusive or in error regarding liability for the incident. That is why it is recommended that an injured party reach out to an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer. The right attorney can review the police report for any errors, conduct a thorough investigation, and look at other factors that may have contributed to the incident. This includes investigating defective vehicle components and dangerous road conditions where fault may lie with a manufacturer or government entity.

In our years of experience in California personal injury law, our legal team has seen how roadway defects may cause or contribute to an accident. This includes faulty traffic lights, insufficient guardrails, inadequate warning signage, poor roadway design, insufficient maintenance, and more. Remember that cases involving roadway defects often name government entities as defendants. Additionally, these matters are subject to different deadlines. A notice of claim must be filed no later than six months from the accident date. This is outlined in California Government Code Section 911.2.

The statute of limitations for a personal injury case in California is two years from the date of the incident. This means that injured parties have a maximum of two years from the date of loss to file a case in civil court against the alleged defendant(s). As previously mentioned, the statute of limitations is reduced to six months for cases involving public agency negligence (e.g., road defects or government vehicles). Conversely, the statute of limitations is tolled in cases involving injured children, meaning that an injured minor has two years to file their case from their 18th birthday.

Due to the strict filing criteria and deadlines in accident cases, it is recommended that an individual speak with a knowledgeable San Francisco personal injury lawyer immediately.

If you have suffered an injury in an accident, you need assistance from a lawyer with extensive experience handling personal injury cases in the San Francisco Bay Area and across California. At AutoAccident.com, our legal team is ready to help you today. When you work with our law firm, you can expect the following from us:

• At our law office, we are committed to helping our clients rebuild their lives by telling their stories and providing their cases with our undivided attention.
• Our legal team offers free consultations for every potential case. We strive to provide honest evaluations of how we can proceed and what to expect from your case moving forward.
• We apply a unique and personalized approach to every personal injury claim we handle. We believe that it is the best path to success for an accident case.
• Our legal team is committed to providing successful results for each case we take and will work diligently to obtain the best possible outcome, even if that means taking the case to court if necessary.

At our law firm, we understand that injured parties are often in financial hardship due to their accidents. That is why we take San Francisco personal injury cases on contingency. This means clients we represent under a contingency fee agreement do not have to pay upfront or out-of-pocket costs. We only get paid if we obtain a favorable verdict or settlement. Learn more about us in this video.

What to do when an insurance company calls you?

An injured party should be careful of what is said in a phone conversation with the insurance company. Words can be taken out of context in recorded statements with insurers and used against claimants. When this occurs, insurance carriers may use this as a basis for devaluing, delaying, or denying a claim for damages. If the insurance company representing the opposing party contacts you and requests a recorded statement, politely decline. It is best to recommend them to your personal injury lawyer if you have one for your San Francisco accident case.

What should I do if I was injured in a hit-and-run?

Hit-and-run accidents are unfortunately common in San Francisco, with 486 reported by the OTS for 2020. If involved in an accident with a hit-and-run driver, contact SF PD or the CHP immediately and provide as many details as possible about the suspect party and vehicle. Collect information and ask eyewitnesses for their contact information. Seek medical treatment and assistance from an experienced attorney. The right lawyer can help by working with a private investigator to find the fleeing motorist. In the meantime, your attorney will assist with an uninsured motorist claim through your insurer for the hit-and-run case.

Our California law firm understands the devastating and life-changing effects an accident can have on injured parties and surviving family members. That is why we are committed to protecting those we represent and sending a message to negligent parties that exercising due care to others is of utmost importance. If you need a personal injury lawyer serving San Francisco to protect your rights and seek maximum compensation, look no further. Contact our legal team at AutoAccident.com today for free, friendly advice on your potential case at (415) 805-7284 or (800) 404-5400.

^{Photograph Source: By Kehn Hermano through Pexels.com ds [cs 1528]}

Additional Resources: