Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Jeffrey Johnson, J.D.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida.
After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Court judge. He researched and wrote legal precedent in published opinions on behalf of the Court.
He has been an editor, columnist and journalist at the Miami Herald, The Dallas Morning News, The Oregonian, Golf Digest, FindLaw.com and other media outlets.
He lived in Colombia and Argentina teaching legal English to attorneys and law students. He is also a Spanish-language subject matter expert.
An avid waterman, he surfs and scuba dives frequently.
Reviewed
Adam Ramirez, J.D.
Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida.
After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Court judge. He researched and wrote legal precedent in published opinions on behalf of the Court.
He has been an editor, columnist and journalist at the Miami Herald, The Dallas Morning News, The Oregonian, Golf Digest, FindLaw.com and other media outlets.
He lived in Colombia and Argentina teaching legal English to attorneys and law students. He is also a Spanish-language subject matter expert.
An avid waterman, he surfs and scuba dives frequently.
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
San Francisco is home of the 49ers, the Golden Gate Bridge and plenty of traffic. Unfortunately, traffic inevitably leads to auto accidents, which can often lead to lawsuits.
If you’ve had the misfortune of being involved in a wreck, you don’t want to just pick any attorney to help you out. You’ll want to find one of the best car accident lawyers in San Francisco to take on your case. Whether you’re at fault or injured or struggling to deal with an insurance company, the right lawyer can make all the difference.
We’ve gathered a list of some of the best auto accident lawyers in San Francisco. Not only that, but we’ve also created a guide for finding the lawyer that’s the perfect fit for your case.
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Best Car Accident Attorneys in San Francisco
Compare Our Top Attorneys
| Lawyer Name | CA Bar Association Status | Year Admitted to CA Bar | Law School Attended | LEARN MORE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Danko | Active | 1983 | University of Virginia School of Law | View More | ||||
| B. Mark Fong | Active | 1981 | University of California Hastings College of Law | View More | ||||
| Kristine K. Meredith | Active | 1992 | Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School | View More | ||||
| Dale Minami | Active | 1972 | University of California Berkeley School of Law | View More | ||||
| J. Kevin Morrison | Active | 1992 | Albany Law School | View More | ||||
| Scott P. Nealey | Active | 1997 | University of California Berkeley School of Law | View More | ||||
| Robert J. Nelson | Active | 1987 | New York University School of Law | View More | ||||
| Spencer J. Pahlke | Active | 2007 | University of California Berkeley School of Law | View More | ||||
| Sara M. Peters | Active | 2008 | Southern Methodist University School of Law | View More | ||||
| Valerie N. Rose | Active | 2010 | University of California Berkeley School of Law | View More |
Other California Car Accident Lawyers
Car Insurance and Accident Laws in California
California, like most states, is a fault-based system for car insurance. This means that all drivers are required to carry liability insurance in order to drive and this insurance pays for damages that drivers cause to others.
The system depends on a determination of who is actually at fault—the driver who is not responsible for an accident shouldn’t have to pay anything for injury or repairs. In practice, sometimes the driver who is found to be at fault doesn’t have enough insurance to pay for the damages, though.
In these circumstances, you can sue the at-fault driver for damages but you may never actually recover anything. This is when having uninsured/underinsured driver insurance is a great idea. And when you see what the minimum requirements are in California, you may think underinsured driver coverage is an even better idea.
Car Insurance Requirements in California
In most states, drivers are required to carry a minimum amount of car insurance in order to be able to register and drive a car. California is no exception.
| California Auto Insurance Requirements (minimum) | ||
|---|---|---|
|
$15,000 in bodily injury liability per person
|
$30,000 total bodily injury liability
|
$5,000 property damage
|
As you can see, a driver can operate a car perfectly legally in California without a lot of insurance coverage. If you’ve bought a car in the last decade or two, you probably realize that $5,000 in property damage won’t go very far in a serious accident.
That’s why it’s a great idea to carry uninsured/underinsured driver 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 California Driving Laws
If you’re under 18 and planning on making a phone call while driving, you better think again in California. California does not allow using your phone while driving at all if you’re under 18. For those of us older than 18, the state still makes it illegal to use your phone with your hands. Hands-free devices are acceptable if you’re older than 18, but no phone use at all is permitted to those under 18.
California also requires the use of car seats longer than many states. If you are driving in a car with a child below age eight or shorter than four feet nine inches (4’9”), they are required to sit on a booster seat or other approved child seat for their age and height.
If stopped with a child who isn’t in the right kind of seat, the first offense will set you back at least $100.
How to Find a San Francisco Car Accident Lawyer
The easiest way to find a San Francisco car accident lawyer is to look at a billboard, bus or bench. You’re sure to see a big, bold phone number—possibly with a person in a suit and a few dollar signs—without searching too hard.
The easiest way is not, however, the best way.
Here are five things to consider when you need a car accident attorney in San Francisco
Seek Referrals
There are a lot of accidents every year, and that probably means that someone in your personal network has been in an accident, unfortunately, in the not too distant past. Ask around and see if anyone has a car accident attorney that they would recommend.
You can ask what they did and didn’t like about their experience with that lawyer and consider whether to reach out. This can help weed out which attorneys to consider.
Look for an Expert
Personal injury law can be a broad specialization. You can find car accident lawyers who do nothing but car accidents, and you can find personal injury attorneys who work on a dozen different kinds of cases.
While you don’t need 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 Fees
Car accident lawyers in San Francisco will likely not charge you an hourly fee.
Most personal injury attorneys work on contingency, which means they only get paid when you do—whether that’s through a settlement or verdict. They usually take a percentage of whatever they get you, often between 25% and 40%.
Sometimes the percentage will vary based on how far the case goes. A lawyer might only get 25% if they can settle without filing a case, for example, but would get 35% or more if the case goes all the way to a verdict.
Make sure you understand the fee structure before you agree to representation.
Find Out If They Can Litigate
Most car accident cases don’t ever see the inside of a courtroom. In fact, more than 95% of cases are settled.
If you’re in that less than 5% that do go to trial, however, you 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 to get things in writing as you decide whether to agree to representation. Car accident cases can take months or even longer to resolve, and you should be prepared for that. Find out how your lawyer will communicate and if you can expect regular updates. Figure out if the lawyer will communicate in a way that works for you.
Methodology
To come up with the Best Car Accident Lawyers in San Francisco in 2024, Forbes Advisor considered many factors. Forbes Advisor’s mathematical module considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we take into account factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
- Legal experience
- Special licenses & certifications
- Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
- Legal thought leadership
- Education & employment background
- Scholarly lectures & writings
- Awards & honors
Forbes Advisor collects public data from a variety of sources, including state bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. This information should not be considered comprehensive, however. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Bear in mind that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds, but does not evaluate their personalities or their knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are my rights as a passenger in a car accident in California?
Passengers have the right to have their medical bills covered by the insurance of the at-fault driver. They also have the right to have any pain and suffering covered and to be compensated for wages lost due to injury.
Can my passengers sue me if I’m at fault in a California car accident?
Yes.
If you were at fault and caused harm to your passengers they can make a claim against your insurance and, if necessary, file a lawsuit against you.
