San Francisco Car Accident Lawyers
A San Francisco car accident can cause a serious injury or fatality. When accidents do happen and the consequences are severe, victims or their families can pursue financial compensation from the at-fault parties.
Car accidents are problematic in San Francisco. As a result, city officials are taking steps to protect against San Francisco car accidents.
San Francisco prioritizes Vision Zero, an initiative designed to stop traffic deaths. In 2020, San Francisco officials recorded 30 traffic deaths, and San Francisco lawmakers continue to explore opportunities to further reduce fatal traffic accidents. However, despite the city’s best efforts, accidents still happen.
A San Francisco car accident can cause a serious injury or fatality. When accidents do happen and the consequences are severe, victims or their families can pursue financial compensation from the at-fault parties.
Cutter Law P.C. has experienced San Francisco car accident lawyers on staff. We can review your car accident claim and help you get the maximum amount of damages you need to recover physically, emotionally, and financially.
Dangerous Roads and Intersections in San Francisco
Drivers should always use caution when accessing any roadway, but some streets pose more hazards than others. Some of the most dangerous roads and intersections in San Francisco include:
- California State Route 138: In a five-year period, there were 56 fatalities and 875 injuries reported in car accidents on this highway.
- Interstate 10: Many drivers merge at high speeds into slow traffic on Interstate 10, making it a dangerous highway for motorists.
- Interstate 40: Heavy traffic is a leading cause of car accidents on Interstate 40.
Car accidents can occur on any road or intersection in San Francisco. If a car accident causes an injury or fatality, victims can seek out financial compensation to hold the responsible party or parties accountable for their losses.
Steps to Take After a San Francisco Car Accident
Following a San Francisco car accident, resist the urge to panic. Instead, try to stay calm, cool, and collected and follow these steps:
Get off the road
If possible, move to a safe spot on the side of the road or other location out of the way of other motorists. Then, check for injuries to anyone involved in the accident.
Call 911
Notify the police and emergency responders about your car accident. Doing so allows you to get immediate medical help. Plus, a police officer can arrive on scene, collect information from those involved in your car accident, and file a police report.
Get medical treatment
Don’t wait to receive medical treatment. Rather, get immediate help if you’re injured and ensure anyone else who requires medical attention receives it right away. Even if you don’t feel injured, seeking a full medical evaluation is a good idea to ensure your safety and protect your rights should you need to file a legal claim for compensation later.
Here are some of the top hospitals in San Francisco to visit following a car accident:
- Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center
- Saint Francis Memorial Hospital
- UCSF Health
Exchange insurance information
Share your car insurance information with the other driver involved in the car accident. Collect this driver’s insurance information, along with their name, contact information, driver’s license number, and license plate number.
Take photos
Use your smartphone to capture photos from the scene. Snap photos of your car and any damage it sustained in the accident. In addition, take photos of any bumps or bruises you experienced as a result of the crash.
Notify your insurance company
Contact your insurance company and provide your agent with details about your car accident.
Contact a personal injury attorney
As soon as you’re able, speak with a San Francisco personal injury attorney who can review the facts of your accident and determine if you’re eligible to receive compensation for your damages.
How much is my San Francisco car accident case worth?
The amount you can receive in a San Francisco car accident case varies based on several factors, including:
- Your share of blame for the accident
- The nature and severity of your injuries
- Your medical expenses
You can pursue any of the following types of damages in a San Francisco car accident case:
- Economic: Damages that are objective and monetary, including those associated with medical expenses or loss of compensation.
- Non-Economic: Damages that are subjective and monetary, including those associated with pain and suffering or emotional trauma.
- Punitive: These damages are not economic or non-economic. Punitive damages are awarded to deter reckless or unlawful behaviors. They’re intended to punish the wrongdoer and prevent similar wrong acts. These damages are reserved for defendants who act egregiously without concern for another person’s well-being.
There are no caps on personal injury compensation claims in California.
Can I still receive compensation if I’m partially to blame for the accident?
California is a pure comparative fault state. You can receive financial compensation from an at-fault party if you are a California car accident victim. However, the compensation you get can be limited if you’re partially at fault.
For example, you can file a car accident lawsuit for $10,000 against an at-fault party. If a judge or jury finds you 20% responsible for the accident, your compensation is reduced by 20%. In this instance, you’ll receive $8,000.
What if my loved one died in a San Francisco car accident?
You can file a lawsuit against anyone responsible for the death of a loved one in a San Francisco car accident. To do so, you’ll need to submit a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party.
Certain surviving family members of a San Francisco fatal car accident victim can file a wrongful death lawsuit to pursue financial compensation from an at-fault party for the following losses:
- Funeral or burial expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of income
If you intend to file a wrongful death lawsuit in California, you must do so within two years. For example, if your family member dies in a car accident, you have two years from the date of the their passing to submit your legal claim. This date might differ from the date of the accident occurred. It’s important to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible so that you don’t lose your window of opportunity to pursue compensation and hold the offending party accountable for your devastating loss.
How long do I have to file a San Francisco car accident lawsuit?
There’s a two-year statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit in California. Following the two years, you lose the right to pursue financial compensation from an at-fault party in a car accident.
If you have concerns or questions about filing a San Francisco car accident lawsuit, our personal injury attorneys can assist you. We can review your car accident case, determine your legal options, and help you submit your claim. We can ensure your case is accurate and timely.
Why should I hire the San Francisco personal injury attorneys at Cutter Law to handle my car accident case?
We are a proven choice for San Francisco car accident cases. Our team understands the challenges associated with managing car accident cases and we can help you identify and address these challenges in their early stages.
Our personal injury attorneys have over 130 years of combined experience. Regardless of the personal injury case, we maintain the same approach, remaining client-focused and results-driven to achieve the justice you deserve for your harm.
If you’re a San Francisco car accident victim and want legal help, consult with our team today. We offer a free, confidential case evaluation to determine how we can help you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About San Francisco Car Accidents
If you’ve recently been in a car accident, you likely have a ton of questions. We are here to help ease your confusion and concerns. We offer transparency and accessibility throughout the legal process.
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.
