Best Car Accident Lawyers in San Francisco: San Francisco is home to the 49ers, the Golden Gate Bridge, and lots of traffic. Unfortunately, traffic inevitably leads to car accidents, which can often lead to lawsuits.
If you have been unlucky enough to be involved in an accident, you do not want to choose just any attorney to help you. You will want to find one of the best car accident lawyers in San Francisco to take on your case. Whether you are at fault, injured, or having difficulty dealing with an insurance company, the right attorney can make all the difference.
We have compiled a list of some of the best traffic accident lawyers in San Francisco. Additionally, we have also created a guide to finding the lawyer that best suits your case.
10 Best Car Accident Lawyers in San Francisco
Here is a comprehensive list of top personal injury attorneys in California, known for their exceptional expertise and track record in achieving significant results for their clients:
01. Mike Danko
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1983
Law School Attended: University of Virginia School of Law
Why are they on our list?
Mike Danko transitioned from a high-paying Wall Street law firm to advocate for injured clients. With a career spanning 40 years, he is renowned for his success in personal injury cases, particularly in aviation accidents due to his extensive flying experience. His practice also covers bicycle, automobile, truck, and snowboard accidents.
Notable Facts and Recognitions
# Experienced pilot with over 4,000 flight hours
# Member of the College of Lawyers-Pilots
# Member of the American Association for Justice
Practice Areas
# Personal injuries
# Aviation accidents
# Product liability
Also Read: Top 10 Best Car Accident Lawyers in Fresno | Guide – 2024
02. B. Mark Fong
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1981
Law School Attended: University of California Hastings School of Law
Why are they on our list?
Mark Fong has achieved numerous settlements and seven-figure verdicts over his four-decade career. He is recognized as a top personal injury attorney in the Bay Area and has experience in both state and federal courts. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Chinatown Community Development Center and lectures on trial strategy.
Notable Facts and Recognitions
# Member of the American Board of Trial Lawyers
# Professor at Golden Gate University of Law
# Member of the Billionaire Advocates Forum
Practice Areas
# Personal injuries
# Medical negligence
# Civil rights
Also Read: Best all Car accident lawyers
03. Kristine K. Meredith
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1992
Law School Attended: Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark School of Law
Why are they on our list?
Kristine Meredith, formerly a defense attorney for medical device manufacturers, now represents victims in automobile accidents, dangerous medications, and medical malpractice cases. Her background gives her a unique perspective in fighting for her clients’ rights.
Notable Facts and Recognitions
# Board of Governors, California Consumer Attorneys
# Former Chairman, San Francisco Bar Association Minority Affairs Committee
# Member of the American Association for Justice
Practice Areas
# Personal injuries
# Wrongful death
# Product liability
Also Read: Best all Car accident lawyers
04. Dale Minami
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1972
Law School Attended: University of California, Berkeley School of Law
Why are they on our list?
Dale Minami is a well-regarded personal injury attorney with a focus on civil rights and personal injury cases. His work has resulted in numerous significant verdicts and settlements. He has been a key figure in Asian American legal advocacy.
Notable Facts and Recognitions
# Co-founder of the Asian Law Caucus
# First Asian American to win the ABA Medal
# Co-Founder of the Greater Bay Area Asian American Bar Association
Practice Areas
# Personal injuries
# Civil rights
Also Read: Top 10 Best Car Accident Lawyers in Fresno | Guide – 2024
05. J. Kevin Morrison
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1992
Law School Attended: Albany Law School
Why are they on our list?
Kevin Morrison focuses on injuries and wrongful deaths from automobile and truck accidents, as well as defective products. He has secured multiple multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements and has been recognized as a leading attorney in San Francisco.
Notable Facts and Recognitions
# President-Elect, San Francisco Chapter of the American Board of Trial Lawyers
# Member of the American Association of Justice
# Former Board of Governors, California Consumer Attorneys
Practice Areas
# Personal injuries
# Medical negligence
# Wrongful death
06. Scott P. Nealey
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1997
Law School Attended: University of California, Berkeley School of Law
Why are they on our list?
Scott Nealey has a strong track record in representing clients affected by automobile accidents and design defects. His practice also includes appellate work, which allows him to pursue justice beyond the trial level.
Notable Facts and Recognitions
# Law clerk to the Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court
# Named 2007 California Lawyer of the Year
# Finalist for the 2008 San Francisco Trial Lawyer of the Year Award
Practice Areas
# Personal injuries
# Insurance claim denial
# Right of appeal
07. Robert J. Nelson
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1987
Law School Attended: New York University School of Law
Why are they on our list?
Robert Nelson is known for his focus on fraud cases, including those involving Big Tobacco and defective vehicle designs. His extensive practice includes personal injury, environmental law, and product liability class actions.
Notable Facts and Recognitions
# Licensed in California, New York, and Washington, DC
# Member of the American Association for Justice
# Two-time winner of the California Lawyer of the Year award
Practice Areas
# Personal injuries
# Product liability
# Whistleblowing law
Also Read: Best all Car accident lawyers
08. Spencer J. Palke
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 2007
Law School Attended: University of California, Berkeley School of Law
Why are they on our list?
Spencer Palke has quickly become a top personal injury attorney in the Bay Area. He is also dedicated to training future legal talent as the director of the Trial Competency Program at UC Berkeley.
Notable Facts and Recognitions
# Teaches at UC Berkeley School of Law
# Director of UC Berkeley School of Law’s Trial Competency Program
# Regional Representative to the National Association of Legal Defense Educators
Practice Areas
# Personal injuries
# Product liability
# Medical negligence
09. Sara M. Peters
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 2008
Law School Attended: Stanford University School of Law
Why are they on our list?
Sara Peters has made significant contributions to California personal injury law as an editor and writer of influential practice guides. Her practice includes truck and auto accidents, as well as rideshare cases.
Notable Facts and Recognitions
# Contributing editor of the Guide to Claims and Defenses of the Rutter Group
# Co-director of the Trial Advocacy course at Stanford Law School
# Contributing author of the Journal of Tort Law
Practice Areas
# Personal injuries
# Product liability
Also Read: Top 10 Best Car Accident Lawyers in Fresno | Guide – 2024
10. Valerie N. Rose
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 2010
Law School Attended: University of California, Berkeley School of Law
Why are they on our list?
Valerie Rose has been recognized as one of the best young lawyers in Northern California, with a focus on personal injury, product liability, and medical negligence cases. Her experience as a lobbyist adds a unique perspective to her practice.
Notable Facts and Recognitions
# Member of the Board of Directors, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association
# Part of a team nominated for Consumer Attorney of the Year by California Consumer Attorneys
# Former registered lobbyist in California
Practice Areas
# Personal injuries
# Product liability
Auto and Accident Insurance Laws in California
California, like most states, has a fault-based auto insurance system. This means that all drivers must have liability to drive and this insurance pays for damages that drivers cause to other people.
The system depends on determining who is really at fault: the driver who is not responsible for an accident should not have to pay anything for injuries or repairs. However, in practice, sometimes the driver who is considered at fault does not have enough insurance to pay for the damages.
In these circumstances, you can sue the at-fault driver for damages, but you may never recover anything. In these cases, having uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance is a great idea. When you see the minimum requirements in California, you may think that underinsured motorist coverage is an even better idea.
Car Insurance Requirements in California
In most states, drivers must have a minimum auto into ordering order and drive a vehicle. California is no exception.
As you can see, a driver can drive a car perfectly legally in California without having to carry extensive insurance coverage. If you’ve purchased a car in the last decade or two, you’ll probably realize that $5,000 in property damage won’t be enough in the event of a serious accident.
That’s why it’s a great idea to have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage in California: this will help pay for some of the damage to your car if the at-fault driver’s coverage is insufficient.
Other Driving Laws in California
If you are under 18 and plan to make a phone call while driving, you better think twice in California. California doesn’t allow phone use while driving if you are under 18 years old. For those of us who are 18 or older, the state still makes it illegal to use your phone with your hands. Hands-free devices are acceptable if you are over 18, but people under 18 are not permitted to use the phone.
California also mandates the use of car seats longer than many states. If you drive a car with a child under eight years old or less than four feet nine inches (4’9”) tall, he or she must sit in a booster seat or other child seat approved for his or her age and height.
If you are caught with a child who is not in the correct type of seat, a first offense will cost you at least $100.
How to Find a San Francisco Car Accident Lawyer
The easiest way to find a San Francisco traffic accident lawyer is to look at a billboard, a bus, or a bank. You’re sure to see a big, flashy phone number (possibly with a person in a suit and some dollar signs) without having to look too hard.
However, the easiest way is not the best.
Here are five things to keep in mind when you need a car accident lawyer in San Francisco
Look for references
Many accidents occur every year, and that probably means that some personal circle has unfortunately been in an accident in the not-too-distant past. Ask around and see if anyone has a car accident attorney they can recommend.
You can ask them what they liked and didn’t like about their experience with that lawyer and consider whether it’s worth contacting them. This can help you rule out which attorneys to consider.
Find an expert
Personal injury law can be a broad specialty. You can find car accident lawyers who focus exclusively on car accidents, and you can find personal injury lawyers who work on a dozen different types of cases.
While it is not necessary to find someone who only handles car accidents, you should feel confident that your attorney is an expert in the field and can handle all the nuances of your specific case.
Find out about rates
Car accident lawyers in San Francisco probably won’t charge you an hourly rate.
Most personal injury lawyers work on a commission basis, meaning they only get paid when you receive your compensation, whether through a settlement or verdict. They usually keep a percentage of what they pay you, often between 25% and 40%.
Sometimes the percentage varies depending on the scope of the case. A lawyer might get only 25% if a settlement without filing a lawsuit, for example, but might get 35% or more if the case goes to verdict.
Make sure you understand the fee structure before agreeing to representation.
Find out if they can litigate
Most car accident cases never make it to react, more than 95% of cases are resolved.
However, if you are among those less than 5% who go to trial, you will want to know that your attorney has the experience and ability to win your case in front of a jury.
Know what to expect
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and get information in writing as you decide whether or not to accept legal representation. Car accident cases can take months or even longer to resolve, and you should be prepared for that. Find out how you will communicate with your attorney and if you can expect regular updates. Find out if the attorney will communicate in a way that works for you.
Each lawyer that appears on this list has its own merits. Please note that our list relates to the legal training of these attorneys, but does not evaluate their personalities or knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
However, one thing that cannot be quantified is the relationship that is established with the lawyer. Personality is very important when working as a team with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and possible starting point in your search for the right attorney for you and your legal concerns.
