1. Richard Schoenberger – Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, catastrophic injuries, brain injuries, burn injuries, wrongful death, product liability, medical malpractice, workplace injuries, premises liability
Case Types Handled: Multi-vehicle accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, propane explosions, industrial accidents, defective product injuries, medical negligence cases, catastrophic injury cases, wrongful death cases
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, demand letter preparation, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, product liability litigation
Background: Licensed in California. Decades of experience handling complex personal injury cases throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California. More multi-million dollar outcomes than any other personal injury law firm in Northern California. 98% success rate for clients. Notable results include $52 million verdict in propane explosion wrongful death case, $17 million jury verdict in product liability brain injury case. Handles cases in San Francisco, San Jose, and throughout the Bay Area.
Location: 650 California Street, 26th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94108
Contact: (415) 981-7210 | https://www.walkuplawoffice.com
Bar Number: Active (California State Bar)
Consultation: Free case evaluation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery)
2. Robert Buccola – Buccola Law Group
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, catastrophic injuries, rideshare accidents
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, intersection accidents, highway accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, Uber and Lyft accidents, hit-and-run accidents
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, demand letter preparation, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Licensed in California. San Francisco personal injury attorney. Handles car accident and personal injury cases throughout San Francisco County and the Bay Area. Focus on serious injury and wrongful death cases.
Location: San Francisco, California
Contact: (415) 632-1234 | https://www.buccolalaw.com
Bar Number: Active (California State Bar)
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery)
3. Sally Morin – Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers
Practice Focus: Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, Uber and Lyft accidents, scooter accidents, rideshare accidents
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, intersection accidents, highway accidents, rideshare accidents, hit-and-run accidents, dooring accidents, accidents involving tech workers and commuters
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, settlement negotiations, demand letter preparation, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims
Background: Licensed in California. San Francisco-based personal injury law firm. Focus on traffic accidents in urban environments. Experience with rideshare and alternative transportation accidents common in San Francisco. Serves clients throughout the Bay Area.
Location: San Francisco, California
Contact: (415) 413-0033 | https://www.sallymorinlaw.com
Bar Number: Active (California State Bar)
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery)
4. GJEL Accident Attorneys
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, brain injuries, amputation injuries, workplace injuries
Case Types Handled: Multi-vehicle accidents, highway accidents, intersection accidents, rear-end collisions, T-bone accidents, head-on collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, fatal accidents, permanent disability cases
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, demand letter preparation, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Licensed in California. Over 40 years of experience. Over $950 million recovered for Bay Area clients. 99% success rate. Offices throughout the Bay Area including San Francisco. Award-winning legal team recognized for outstanding representation.
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Contact: (415) 986-4777 | https://www.gjel.com
Bar Number: Active (California State Bar)
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery)
5. Dolan Law Firm
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, catastrophic injuries, premises liability
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, intersection accidents, highway accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, multi-vehicle accidents
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, demand letter preparation, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Licensed in California. San Francisco personal injury law firm. Christopher Dolan is the founding attorney. Experience handling complex personal injury and wrongful death cases. Known for trial work and substantial verdicts.
Location: San Francisco, California
Contact: (415) 421-2800 | https://www.dolanlawfirm.com
Bar Number: Active (California State Bar)
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery)
Car Accident Laws and Regulations in California
Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims: Two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline typically bars recovery of compensation.
Statute of Limitations for Property Damage Claims: Three years from the date of the accident.
Claims Against Government Entities: Must file a notice of claim within six months if the accident involves a government vehicle or entity (such as SFMTA buses or city vehicles).
Fault System: California is an at-fault state. The driver responsible for causing the accident is liable for resulting damages.
Comparative Negligence Rules: California follows a pure comparative negligence system. Injured parties can recover compensation even if they share fault for the accident. Recovery is reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to the injured party. There is no bar to recovery regardless of fault percentage.
Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements (Effective January 1, 2025):
- Bodily Injury Liability: $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident
- Property Damage Liability: $25,000
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Now mandatory (can be waived in writing)
Personal Injury Protection (PIP): California does not require PIP coverage. It is an at-fault state.
Damage Caps: California does not impose caps on compensatory damages in personal injury cases. Proposition 213 prohibits uninsured drivers from recovering non-economic damages.
Accident Reporting Requirements: File SR-1 report with DMV within 10 days if injury, death, or property damage exceeds $1,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What should I do after a car accident in San Francisco?
A: California law requires specific steps after an accident. Stop your vehicle and check for injuries. Call 911 if anyone is injured. Exchange information with other drivers. Document the scene with photographs including street signs, traffic signals, and damage. Get witness contact information. Do not admit fault. Seek medical attention promptly. File an SR-1 report with the DMV within 10 days if there were injuries, deaths, or damage over $1,000. Contact your insurance company. Consider consulting a personal injury attorney before providing recorded statements. San Francisco’s unique traffic patterns (hills, heavy pedestrian areas, transit) can complicate fault determinations.
Q: How does California’s pure comparative negligence affect my San Francisco car accident claim?
A: Under California’s pure comparative negligence system, you can recover damages even if you were significantly at fault for the accident. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you have $200,000 in damages but were 60% at fault, you could still recover $80,000. There is no threshold that bars recovery entirely, unlike states with modified comparative negligence.
Q: What types of damages can I recover in a San Francisco car accident case?
A: California allows recovery of economic damages (medical expenses, lost wages, future medical care, property damage, rehabilitation costs) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium). There is no cap on these damages in personal injury cases. However, if you were driving without required insurance, Proposition 213 prevents recovery of non-economic damages.
Q: How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in San Francisco?
A: California provides two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit and three years for property damage claims. Claims against San Francisco city vehicles (SFMTA buses, city vehicles) or California state entities require a notice of claim within six months. Missing these deadlines typically bars your claim permanently.
Q: Are rideshare accidents (Uber/Lyft) handled differently in San Francisco?
A: Rideshare accidents can involve multiple insurance policies depending on the driver’s status at the time of the accident. When a driver is logged into the app waiting for a ride request, limited coverage applies. When en route to pick up a passenger or during a ride, Uber and Lyft provide $1 million in liability coverage. Determining which policy applies and pursuing all available coverage requires understanding these distinctions. An attorney experienced with rideshare accidents can help navigate these complex insurance scenarios.