San Francisco Car Accident Lawyers

In California, you’re required to report a car accident taking place on a street, highway, or private property within 10 days if there was an injury, death, or property damage in excess of $1,000.

If a car accident causes an injury or death, the driver must report and file a written report with the police within 24 hours. Or, if a police officer responds to the accident, the officer will file the report. If a driver cannot submit the report, any passengers in their vehicle at the time of the accident must file it. 

Furthermore, if a driver in a car accident was traveling in a company vehicle when the incident occurred, this individual must submit a report within five days.

Don’t respond to calls or emails from the opposing driver’s insurance company after a car accident. The insurance company may try to get you to accept a settlement following the accident, but it’s likely this offer will be much lower than what you deserve. Also, the company may try to avoid paying altogether by getting you to accept full responsibility. 

If an opposing driver’s insurance company contacts you following a car accident, consult with a personal injury attorney. At this time, your attorney can help you move forward with a lawsuit against the at-fault party if the insurance company is stalling, or they can steer negotiations to obtain fair compensation for your losses.

California drivers must have auto insurance or provide proof of financial responsibility to the DMV. If a California driver is involved in an accident, the motorist must be able to provide proof of insurance at the scene. 

If an at-fault driver is uninsured, you may be covered if you have uninsured motorist coverage included on your insurance policy. Even with this coverage, you can pursue financial compensation against the uninsured motorist responsible for the accident.

A car accident can seem minor at first but escalate quickly. Thus, it helps to meet with a personal injury attorney to discuss your accident and learn about your rights. Your attorney can review the facts of your case and help you decide what steps you need to take.

Most personal injury attorneys use a contingency fee arrangement. This means a personal injury attorney determines how much you pay based on the results of your case, and no fees are required unless your case is successful. 

For instance, a personal injury attorney can offer a contingency fee arrangement that entitles them to a predetermined percentage of the amount you receive in your car accident case. If you win your case, only then will your attorney receive a percentage of your compensation. And if you lose your case, your attorney receives no compensation.

The short answer is that you should file a San Francisco auto accident injury claim with our firm if you’ve suffered an injury caused by a car accident. Even if you’re unsure whether you have a case, contact us for a consultation regardless. You may have a case and not realize it yet.

That said, there are a few factors that contribute to the most successful San Francisco car accident lawsuits, including:

• Negligent actions caused the accident in question.
• Your accident involved one or more injuries.
• The accident involved one or more fatalities.
• Your car accident involved a public entity (examples of public entities found later in this article).
• Upon recovery from the accident, you could not perform your job or return to your place of employment.