San Francisco Car Accident Lawyer

After a San Francisco car crash, the at-fault driver’s insurance usually pays first, and your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may fill the gap. Uber, Lyft, robotaxi and Muni crashes follow different rules. You generally have two years to sue for injuries, but only six months to file a claim against the City. A San Francisco car accident Lawyer can identify every available policy and protect those deadlines.

The city recorded 25 traffic deaths in 2025, down from 43 in 2024, according to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. Those figures cover all road users, not only car occupants. Nonfatal crashes can also cause serious physical and financial harm.

Pacific Law Firm offers a free consultation to review the crash and discuss possible next steps. Our personal injury lawyer San Francisco page covers the firm’s broader injury practice.

What Should I Do After a Car Accident in San Francisco?

Check for injuries and move to safety if you can. Call 911 if anyone needs urgent care or the scene presents immediate danger. Exchange names, contact details, license information, registration, and insurance details. Photograph vehicle damage, road conditions, signals, and visible injuries. Get witness contact information.

Seek medical attention quickly, even if symptoms appear later. Keep medical records, repair estimates, receipts, and notes about missed work. Avoid guessing about fault or giving another insurer a recorded statement before you understand your rights. Contact with car accident lawyer San Francisco to seek your legal attention.

Request a copy of the SFPD collision report when one is available. The department explains how to request a traffic collision report. California also requires an SR-1 report to the DMV within 10 days when a crash causes an injury or death, or property damage over $1,000. That report is separate from any police or insurance report. Review the California DMV SR-1 instructions.

For a fuller checklist, read our guide on what to do after a car accident in San Francisco.

Who Pays After a San Francisco Car Accident?

Payment depends on who caused the crash, the policies involved, and the available limits. More than one policy may apply. The table below explains common possibilities, but the policy language and facts control each claim.

Possible source	When it may apply	Important point
At-fault driver’s liability insurance	Another driver’s negligence caused the crash	For policies issued or renewed from January 1, 2025, California’s standard minimum limits are $30,000 for injury to one person, $60,000 per crash for bodily injury to multiple people, and $15,000 for property damage. See Vehicle Code § 16056.
Your uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage	The at-fault driver has no insurance, insufficient coverage, or cannot be identified in qualifying circumstances	Coverage depends on your policy and California law. See Insurance Code § 11580.2.
Uber or Lyft insurance	A rideshare driver’s app status and trip stage trigger coverage	While logged on and awaiting a request, statutory coverage generally includes $100,000 bodily injury, $30,000 property damage, plus $200,000 excess coverage. During an accepted trip, primary coverage is $1 million for death, injury, and property damage. Separate $$300,000 uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage applies to passengers while in the vehicle. See Public Utilities Code § 5433.
City or public agency	A Muni bus or another public entity may have caused or contributed to the crash	Government claims have special presentation rules and short deadlines.
Robotaxi or autonomous vehicle	Evidence suggests negligence or another legal basis involving a vehicle, operator, or company	Liability is not automatic. Preserve trip records, vehicle details, photos, and witness information. See the California DMV autonomous vehicle program.

Minimum limits may not cover every injury. Several injured people may need to share one liability limit. Other policies may also help.

What Types of Car Accidents Can Lead to a Claim?

Claims may arise from collisions such as:

Rear-end crashes: A driver follows too closely or fails to stop in time.
T-bone and intersection collisions: A driver ignores a signal, fails to yield, or turns across another vehicle’s path.
Left-turn and head-on crashes: A driver misjudges oncoming traffic or crosses into another lane.
Freeway and multi-vehicle collisions: A chain reaction on US-101, I-280, or an approach to the Bay Bridge can involve several drivers and insurers.
Hit-and-run crashes: California Vehicle Code § 20001 imposes duties after a collision involving injury or death. Report the crash promptly and preserve identifying details.
Rideshare, commercial, and robotaxi crashes: App records, employer information, vehicle data, and additional insurance may matter.

Crashes near Market Street, Van Ness Avenue, or 19th Avenue still require a fact-specific investigation. See our guide to pedestrian crash risk after the time change and our page on fatal crash claims.

Robotaxi and Autonomous Vehicle Crashes in San Francisco

San Francisco is one of the largest driverless-car markets in the country. Waymo operates a commercial robotaxi service in San Francisco, and other AV operators run testing programs under permits issued by the California DMV.

When a robotaxi is involved in a crash, the claim is more complex than a standard two-driver collision. Several issues arise that do not appear in ordinary cases:

Who is liable: The AV operator, the vehicle manufacturer, a software vendor, or a combination of parties may share responsibility depending on where the failure occurred in the vehicle’s sensors, software, or remote monitoring.
Evidence to preserve immediately: Screenshot app records showing trip status, photograph all vehicle markings and license plates, note the exact intersection and direction of travel, and record any company name displayed on the vehicle.
California reporting requirements: Companies testing or deploying autonomous vehicles must report collisions to the California DMV, which publishes those reports on its autonomous vehicle page. Request the report as part of your documentation.
Insurance coverage: California requires companies that test or deploy autonomous vehicles to carry insurance, a surety bond or self-insurance (Veh. Code § 38750). Robotaxi passenger services also operate under California Public Utilities Commission permits with their own conditions. The coverage available depends on the company and the permit.

An auto accident attorney handling an AV case needs to move quickly. Vehicle data logs, remote monitoring records, and onboard sensor data are time-sensitive. Pacific Law Firm can send a preservation letter to the AV operator as early as possible to request that this data be kept.

Who May Be Liable for a Car Accident in San Francisco?

The driver who caused the crash may be responsible, but other parties may share liability. Depending on the evidence, they may include a vehicle owner, employer, commercial operator, or manufacturer.

California follows a pure comparative fault, recognized in Li v. Yellow Cab Co.. You may still recover damages if you share responsibility, but your recovery may be reduced by your share of fault. Evidence may include photos, witnesses, vehicle damage, medical records, camera footage, and electronic data. Read more about being partly at fault in a California car accident.

What Compensation May Be Available After a Car Accident?

Compensation may cover treatment for whiplash, fractures, concussions, or traumatic brain injury, as well as:

Emergency treatment, hospital bills, medication, rehabilitation, and future medical care.
Lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and other documented financial losses.
Vehicle repairs, replacement value, towing, and reasonable rental expenses.
Pain, emotional distress, and limits on daily activities.

Support claimed losses with evidence. Keep bills, pay records, repair documents, and notes about how injuries affect daily life. Available damages depend on liability, medical evidence, policy limits, and case-specific facts. No lawyer can promise a result.

If you were injured while driving for work, workers’ compensation or a separate third-party claim may also need review.

How Can a Car Accident Lawyer in San Francisco CA Help You?

A lawyer can organize evidence, identify potentially responsible parties, review insurance policies, and communicate with adjusters. The review may include medical records, repair estimates, witness statements, and available video or vehicle data. Your San Francisco car accident attorney can explain settlement offers, help document future losses, and assess whether litigation is appropriate. You should receive clear explanations about strategy, next steps, and fees. The written fee agreement should explain attorney fees and case costs. No attorney can guarantee a recovery.

How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Claim in California?

Deadlines depend on the claim and defendant. Common rules include:

Personal injury: California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 generally gives you two years to file a lawsuit.
Vehicle or other property damage: Section 338 generally provides three years for an action involving injury to personal property.
Government claims: A claim for personal injury or damage to personal property against a public entity generally must be presented within six months under Government Code § 911.2. If the agency sends a written rejection, you generally have six months to sue under Government Code § 945.6. If the public entity does not send a written notice of rejection, you generally have two years from the date the cause of action accrued to file suit under Government Code § 945.6(a)(2).

Read Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, Code of Civil Procedure § 338, Government Code § 911.2, and Government Code § 945.6. Exceptions may change a deadline. Do not assume the standard period applies to every situation.

Claims involving a city vehicle can require action much sooner than a standard injury lawsuit. The California Courts’ guide to government claims explains the general process. Get legal advice promptly if a public agency may be involved.

How Long Does a Car Accident Case Take?

No single timeline fits every case. Ongoing treatment, disputed fault, multiple insurers, or disagreements about damages can extend a claim. A lawsuit can take longer. Settling too early may leave future medical needs or lost income unresolved. Review the evidence and losses before deciding what resolution makes sense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to report the crash to the police or the DMV?

Yes, if anyone was hurt. Report an injury or fatal crash to police within 24 hours, and file an SR-1 with the DMV within 10 days if anyone was injured or property damage is over $1,000. A police report does not replace the SR-1.

Who Pays If the Other Driver Has Minimum Insurance or No Insurance?

The other driver’s policy may cover damages up to its limits. Applicable uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may also help. Recovery depends on policy terms, evidence, and California law. Minimum limits may not cover a serious injury.

What if an Uber, Lyft, or Waymo Vehicle Was Involved?

Save your ride receipt, app messages, vehicle details, photos, and witness information. Uber and Lyft coverage changes with app status and trip stage. A robotaxi claim may require review of company conduct, vehicle data, and available coverage. Our report on San Francisco robotaxi crash statistics explains recent local reporting. A crash report alone does not prove civil liability.

What if a Muni Bus or Another City Vehicle Hit Me?

Government claims have special procedures. A personal injury claim against a public entity generally must be presented within six months. The deadline to file a lawsuit after a written rejection is usually separate. Contact a lawyer promptly because missing a required step can affect your rights.

What Is the Deadline for a California Car Accident Claim?

Many injury lawsuits have a two-year deadline, while property damage lawsuits often have three years. Claims against public entities can have much shorter presentation deadlines. Exceptions may apply, so confirm the deadline for your facts before relying on a general rule.

Can I Recover if I Was Partly at Fault?

Possibly. California uses comparative fault, so your recovery may be reduced by your percentage of responsibility. Evidence about signals, speed, right of way, and each driver’s actions can affect the fault assessment.

Speak With a San Francisco Car Accident Lawyer

Medical bills, missed pay, and insurance questions can pile up after a crash. You may also face pressure to accept a settlement before you understand your injuries or losses.

Talk with Pacific Law Firm before deciding your next step. During a free consultation, we can review how the crash happened, discuss insurance coverage that may apply, and explain deadlines that could affect your claim.

Pacific Law Firm, 535 Mission St #14, San Francisco, CA 94105 | 855-722-5290

Contact Pacific Law Firm to discuss your options with a car accident attorney San Francisco.

The information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It does not create an attorney-client relationship and is not legal advice.