Best San Francisco Car Accident Lawyers

Car accidents in San Francisco can leave you facing medical bills, lost wages, and pushy insurance adjusters. Finding the right attorney matters. This list features Bay Area law firms with proven track records in auto collision cases.

Check Out Top Car Accident Attorneys In San Francisco, California

Screenshot of the Walkup Personal Injury Lawyers Website
650 California St 26th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA

Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger is a San Francisco car accident law firm with more million-dollar verdicts than any other in Northern California. The firm has served Bay Area injury victims since 1959 and recovered over $1 billion for clients.

Their attorneys have held a 98% recovery rate over the past decade. Notable results include a $47.5 million truck accident settlement and a $26.3 million verdict in a vehicle rollover case. The firm employs a licensed physician on staff to analyze complex medical issues.

Fourteen attorneys appear on the Super Lawyers list. Walkup was named California's #1 Personal Injury Law Firm and "Best Law Firm" by Best Lawyers. They offer free consultations and charge no upfront fees.

Screenshot of the Dolan Law Firm, PC Personal Injury Lawyers Website

Christopher Dolan leads this San Francisco injury law firm with over 30 years of experience in the Bay Area. The firm has collected more than $1 billion for clients in auto accident, employment, and civil rights cases.

Dolan personally secured 26 settlements and jury awards exceeding $1 million. His advocacy helped establish the requirement that Uber and Lyft carry $1 million in insurance coverage for injured passengers.

The Daily Journal named him among the Top 25 Plaintiff Lawyers in California. He formerly served as President of the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association. The firm handles cases in San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, and Redondo Beach. Spanish-speaking staff available.

Screenshot of the Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers Website
10990 Wilshire Blvd # 1050, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA

Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers is a California personal injury firm with over 35 years of experience and $750 million recovered for clients. The firm operates 17 offices throughout the state, including locations in the Bay Area.

Their car accident verdicts include $32.6 million, $29.2 million, and $18.3 million awards. A $16.4 million bicycle accident verdict demonstrates their range across vehicle injury cases.

Attorneys Jeff Nadrich, Michael Kahn, and Jeff Garfinkel lead the team. The firm is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and maintains a Lead Counsel rating. They handle Uber and Lyft assault cases and rideshare accidents statewide. Free case evaluations available in English and Spanish.

Screenshot of the Anderson Franco, Esq. Website
One Embarcadero Ctr #2860, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA

Anderson Franco is a San Francisco personal injury attorney who earned a Super Lawyers Rising Star designation. Only 2.5% of Northern California attorneys receive this recognition. He also won the Forty Under 40 award from the North Bay Business Journal.

The Recorder named Franco a 2025 Lawyer on the Fast Track in its California Legal Awards. He graduated from UC Berkeley Law and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Berkeley Business Law Journal.

Franco represents clients in car crashes, construction accidents, and traumatic brain injuries. He handles cases throughout the Bay Area from offices in San Francisco and Marin County. His firm provides services in both English and Spanish. Initial consultations are free.

Screenshot of the Law Offices of Matthew J. Quinlan Website
3223 Webster St, San Francisco, CA 94123, USA

Matthew Quinlan founded this San Francisco injury firm in 2005. The firm has recovered tens of millions for Bay Area accident victims. MJQLAW built a reputation as a leading dog bite law firm in the region after representing hundreds of clients.

Featured on CBS, SF Chronicle, and SFGate. The team handles auto accidents, bicycle crashes, pedestrian injuries, and MUNI claims. Notable settlements include $660,000 for a wrongful death case against San Francisco's public transit system. Attorney Daniel Aguilar serves as co-counsel.

Screenshot of the Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP Website
275 Battery St 29th floor, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA

Lieff Cabraser is a San Francisco class-action law firm that has recovered over $133 billion since 1972. The New York Law Journal named them 2025 Products Liability/Mass Tort Litigation Department of the Year.

The firm handles complex injury cases involving defective products, dangerous drugs, and vehicle safety defects. They maintain offices in San Francisco, New York, Nashville, and Munich. Their attorneys serve as court-appointed lead counsel in major litigation nationwide.

Screenshot of the Callaway & Wolf Website
1388 Sutter St Suite 1010, San Francisco, CA 94109, USA

Callaway & Wolf are Bay Area car accident attorneys with over 30 years of courtroom experience. Attorney Boone Callaway holds Martindale-Hubbell's highest AV rating and Super Lawyer status. Fewer than 5% of attorneys achieve both designations.

Callaway belongs to ABOTA, the American Board of Trial Advocates. Membership requires an invitation from fellow attorneys and judges. The firm handles motor vehicle crashes, medical malpractice, and brain injuries from offices in San Francisco and Oakland. Featured on NBC News.

Screenshot of the Abramson Smith Waldsmith LLP Website
19 Tehama St, Suite A, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA

Abramson Smith Waldsmith is a boutique San Francisco injury firm with 100 years of combined trial experience. Since 1975, the partners have specialized in catastrophic injuries and wrongful death cases. Ninety percent of referrals come from other attorneys.

Partners hold memberships in the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Three attorneys appear on the Super Lawyers list. The firm takes a limited number of cases to provide personal attention to each client.

Screenshot of the The Brandi Law Firm Website
354 Pine St, Floor 3, San Francisco, CA 94104, USA

The Brandi Law Firm has secured over $1.5 billion in verdicts and settlements since 1992. Founder Thomas Brandi won 19 jury verdicts ranging from $1 million to over $1 billion. He holds the 2004 California Trial Lawyer of the Year title from CAOC.

Brandi earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from the SF Trial Lawyers Association. He appears in Best Lawyers and ranks among Northern California's Top 100 Super Lawyers. The firm handles serious auto collisions and wrongful death cases throughout California.

Screenshot of the Berg Injury Lawyers Website
2440 Santa Clara Ave., Alameda, CA 94501

Berg Injury Lawyers is a Northern California firm that has won over $1 billion for clients since 1981. Founder William Berg built a team of 13 attorneys across offices in Alameda, Sacramento, Modesto, and Fresno.

The firm recently obtained a recovery worth 60 times an insurance company's original settlement offer in an auto crash case. They offer a No Fee Guarantee—clients pay nothing unless Berg wins. Cases include car wrecks, truck crashes, and motorcycle collisions.

Screenshot of the Guy O. Kornblum, A Professional Law Corporation Website

Guy Kornblum is a San Francisco injury and insurance bad faith attorney with over 45 years of trial experience. He has resolved more than 4,000 litigated cases and secured multiple million-dollar settlements.

Super Lawyer every year since 2006. Listed in Best Lawyers in America. Kornblum authored "Negotiating and Settling Tort Cases," published by Thomson Reuters. He's certified in Civil Trial Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

Screenshot of the Brod Law Firm Website
100 Pine St #1250, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA

Gregory Brod founded this San Francisco personal injury firm in 2004. The firm represents individuals in car crashes, bicycle accidents, and wrongful death cases throughout California.

Brod handles claims against insurance companies that offer unfairly low settlements. The firm does not represent corporations or insurers. Free case evaluations available. Open 24 hours for new client inquiries.

Screenshot of the Bracamontes & Vlasak, P.C. Website
220 Montgomery Street, Suite 2100, San Francisco, CA 94104
Screenshot of the Law Offices of Benjamin Winslow Website
3223 Webster St, San Francisco, CA 94123, USA

Benjamin Winslow is a Bay Area trial attorney with Martindale-Hubbell's highest AV rating. His listing in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers places him among just 3% of the practicing bar. He handles wrongful death, auto collisions, and bicycle crashes.

Screenshot of the Injury Lawyers SF Website

Alan Daneshrad leads this California injury firm with over 10 years of experience. The team handles car crashes, motorcycle accidents, and wrongful death claims throughout Northern and Southern California. Recognized among the top 2.5% of attorneys in the region.

Screenshot of the Accident Lawyers SF - Tork Law Website
1 Sansome Street, 35th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104

Tork Law has recovered over $250 million for injury victims across California. US News named them among the Best Law Firms for five consecutive years. The plaintiffs-only firm handles auto crashes, motorcycle wrecks, and wrongful death claims with no upfront fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do right after a car accident in San Francisco?

Your actions in the first hours matter for both your health and any future claim:

  • Call 911 – An SFPD report documents crash details and helps establish fault. Request the report number before officers leave.
  • Take photos – Capture vehicle damage, skid marks, traffic signals, and street signs. Include wide shots showing the intersection layout.
  • Collect contact information – Get names, phone numbers, and insurance details from all drivers involved. Note license plate numbers and vehicle descriptions.
  • Identify witnesses – Ask bystanders if they saw what happened. Their statements can prove valuable later.
  • Get medical attention – Some injuries like whiplash or internal bleeding show symptoms days later. A medical record links your injuries to the crash.
  • Report to your insurer – Notify your insurance company, but avoid giving recorded statements until you understand your options.

How does California's fault system affect my car accident claim?

California uses pure comparative negligence, which works differently from many other states:

You can recover damages even if you were partially at fault. However, your compensation decreases by your share of responsibility. If a jury finds you 30% at fault for a $100,000 claim, you receive $70,000.

Insurance adjusters often try to shift more blame onto injured drivers to reduce payouts. They may point to speeding, distracted driving, or failure to yield. An attorney can challenge unfair fault assessments using police reports, witness accounts, and accident reconstruction experts.

California also allows claims against multiple at-fault parties. In a multi-car pileup, you might recover from several drivers and their insurers.

What compensation can I seek after a San Francisco car crash?

California law allows recovery across several categories:

Damage TypeWhat It Covers
Medical expensesER visits, surgery, physical therapy, medications, medical equipment
Lost incomeMissed work during recovery, used sick days or vacation time
Property damageVehicle repairs or replacement, damaged personal items
Pain and sufferingPhysical discomfort, inconvenience, reduced quality of life
Emotional distressAnxiety, depression, PTSD, fear of driving
Future damagesOngoing medical care, permanent disability, reduced earning capacity

Serious accidents involving spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or wrongful death typically result in higher compensation due to long-term impacts.

How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in California?

Strict deadlines apply to injury claims:

  • Personal injury claims – Two years from the accident date
  • Property damage only – Three years from the accident date
  • Claims against government entities – Six months to file an administrative claim (applies to accidents involving MUNI buses, city vehicles, or Caltrans)
  • Wrongful death – Two years from the date of death

Courts rarely grant exceptions. Missing the deadline usually ends your ability to recover compensation through a lawsuit.

What if the other driver has no insurance or flees the scene?

Uninsured and hit-and-run accidents happen frequently in San Francisco. Your options depend on your own coverage:

Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) pays for your injuries when the at-fault driver lacks insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) kicks in when their policy limits fall short of your damages.

For hit-and-run crashes, file a police report immediately. Your UM coverage can apply if the other driver remains unidentified. Security cameras, doorbell footage, and witnesses sometimes help track down fleeing drivers.

California requires insurers to offer UM/UIM coverage, though drivers can decline it in writing. Check your policy to understand your protection level.

Do I need a lawyer for a minor car accident?

Not every fender bender requires legal help. You might handle a claim yourself if:

  • You have no injuries or only minor soreness that resolves quickly
  • Vehicle damage is cosmetic and clearly the other driver's fault
  • The insurance company offers a fair settlement promptly

Consider hiring an attorney when:

  • You sustained injuries requiring medical treatment
  • The other driver disputes fault or their insurer denies your claim
  • You missed work or face ongoing medical expenses
  • The accident involved a commercial vehicle, rideshare, or government entity
  • Your injuries may have long-term effects

Most San Francisco car accident lawyers offer free consultations and work on contingency. You pay nothing unless they win your case.

How long does a car accident case take to settle?

Timelines vary based on case complexity:

Simple cases with clear fault and minor injuries often settle in 3-6 months once you finish medical treatment. Insurers need final bills to calculate offers.

Complex cases involving disputed liability, severe injuries, or multiple parties can take 1-2 years or longer. Some proceed to litigation if settlement talks fail.

Factors that extend timelines include:

  • Ongoing medical treatment
  • Disputes over fault percentage
  • Uncooperative insurance companies
  • Cases involving commercial trucks or rideshare companies
  • Need for expert witnesses or accident reconstruction

Attorneys often advise against settling too quickly. Accepting an early offer before understanding the full extent of your injuries can leave money on the table.

What if I were injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in San Francisco?

Rideshare accidents involve extra layers of insurance coverage:

If your Uber/Lyft driver caused the crash – The rideshare company's $1 million liability policy applies when the app shows a ride in progress.

If another driver hit your rideshare vehicle – You can file against that driver's insurance. Uber and Lyft provide backup coverage if the at-fault driver is uninsured.

If you were hit by a rideshare driver – Coverage depends on the driver's app status at the time. Different policy limits apply when the driver is waiting for a ride request versus actively transporting a passenger.

Document the ride through your app and get the driver's information. Rideshare companies have dedicated claims processes, though they often try to minimize payouts.