San Francisco Car Accident Lawyers

Understanding Car Accidents

Car accidents are not uncommon in San Francisco. Most bring a negative impact on the normal course of life. You have to repair and replace damaged property and undergo long and expensive treatment for various injuries. At the same time, you have to fight to receive compensation for the expenses incurred. San Francisco car accident lawyers can help you with this very effectively. They are professionals in their field and seek fair compensation for their clients.

Data on car accidents in San Francisco

According to San Francisco’s Open Data Portal (DataSF), in 2023, 2,927 car accidents occurred in San Francisco with the following consequences:

• Fatal – 26
• Injury Severe – 216
• Injury Other Visible – 802
• Injury Complaint of Pain – 1883.

Types of Car Accidents and Dangerous Places

Data from DataSF provides a comprehensive understanding of the types of car accidents in San Francisco in 2023:

Vehicle/Pedestrian	486
Head-On	189
Hit Object	120
Not Stated	91
Broadside	972
Rear End	441
Sideswipe	404
Other	165
Overturned	59

Also, using this data, you can find places with a large number of accidents. Here are the TOP 10 road intersections with the most accidents in 2023:

• Valencia st and 17th st
• Junipero Serra blvd and 19th ave
• Geary st and Larkin st
• Eddy st and Polk st
• Bay Shore blvd and Silver ave
• Eddy st and Hyde st
• San Jose ave and Randall st
• Eddy st and Van Ness ave
• Market st and Octavia st Divisadero st and Geary blvd

These Types of Injuries are Most Often Caused by Car Accidents

The injuries that can be sustained in car accidents range from bruises to fatal injuries. However, it is still possible to identify the most typical ones for road accidents.

Whiplash is the most common neck injury in a car accident. Overloads to which the neck is exposed as a result of a collision often lead to such an injury. Such trauma may not always appear immediately after an accident, but also after some time.

Back injuries are common in car accidents. Slipped discs, pinched nerves, and spinal fractures can occur as a result of various types of collisions.

Traumatic brain injuries are often the most serious injuries that occur in car accidents. Hitting your head on parts of a car can cause concussions, paralysis, and sometimes death.

Injuries to the arms and legs are frequent accompaniments of road accidents. Dislocations of joints, broken bones, lacerations, amputations of limbs – all these types of injuries are possible in an accident.

Typical Cases for Car Accident Lawyers in San Francisco

One of the main criteria in a car accident case is the cause that led to the accident. Based on the cause of the accident, you can understand what kind of case a car accident lawyer takes on.

According to DataSF statistics, the most common causes of accidents in 2023 were:

Unsafe speed for prevailing conditions	548
Red signal – driver or bicyclist responsibilities	312
Unsafe turn or lane change prohibited	271
Driver or bicyclist to yield right-of-way at crosswalks	257
Violation of right-of-way – left turn	160
Following too closely prohibited	136
Failure to stop at STOP sign	119
Unsafe starting or backing on highway	88
Pedestrians must yield right-of-way outside of crosswalks	76
Driving under influence of alcohol and/or drugs	60
Entering highway from alley or driveway	57
Lane straddling or failure to use specified lanes	55
Violation of right-of-way – entering through highway	51
Violation of right-of-way or uncontrolled intersection	41
Opening door on traffic side when unsafe	35

Benefits of Hiring San Francisco Car Accident Lawyers

If the car accident did not have serious consequences and the insurance company offers an acceptable level of compensation, you do not need to seek the help of a lawyer. But such situations do not occur often. You should contact San Francisco car accident lawyers to discuss the future of your case. If a good profit is possible, then the next step is up to the lawyer.

He will investigate the causes of the accident and determine the extent of your fault and the fault of the other party or parties. Review the police report and witness statements, and review surveillance video. Receive reports and opinions of medical specialists. Based on the collected materials, he will estimate the cost of the claim and prepare a claim.

After preparing the claim, we will proceed directly to the case settlement process. The first step is to negotiate with the insurance company. In most cases, this stage is the main and only one in the settlement process; the parties come to a mutually beneficial agreement. But some cases, for various reasons, cannot be resolved through negotiations and then the case is referred to the court.

Now the lawyer will have to use all his knowledge of local laws and the nuances of court procedures to convince the jury of the correctness of your position and the fairness of your compensation claims.

Criteria for Selecting San Francisco Car Accident Lawyers

Experience
A good lawyer should be able to do more than handle car accident cases. He must have positive experience in representing clients’ interests. With each new case, he must improve his skills in accident investigation, and hone his abilities in negotiation and persuasion.

Specialization
A car accident lawyer should specialize in personal injury law. Must know the consequences of common injuries in road accidents and the cost of recovery. Also, good San Francisco car accident lawyers should have contacts with leading medical experts who can provide opinions on various injuries and their consequences.

Compassion
An experienced car accident lawyer in San Francisco should be able to go through the entire case shoulder-to-shoulder with his client. Be able to find words of support at the right time. Keep the client informed of all developments in his case.

Tips for Finding San Francisco Car Accident Lawyers

Search can be divided into two types: Internet search and local search.

Internet search:

• local firm websites: check lawyers’ reputations and client reviews
• social networks: look for recommendations in various legal forums and groups, ask your questions in them
• specialized directories such as Avvo or Findlaw: use a convenient filter system to find suitable lawyers.

Local search:

• referrals: Find out from friends, family, or co-workers who have had a positive experience hiring a car accident lawyer in San Francisco and ask them for recommendations.
• advertising in local publications and on transport: pay attention to the advertising of lawyers, call the contact details, and sign up for a free consultation
• initial consultations: Attend initial consultations, which many lawyers provide free of charge, and discuss the prospects for your car accident case with them.

Steps to Take After a Car Accident

After a car accident, it is advisable not to succumb to stress and act judiciously. You can follow the plan with simple recommendations:

• anyone with injuries or suspected injuries should seek medical attention
• you need to go to a safe place to avoid getting into another accident
• call the police to the scene of the accident and wait for them to arrive, get a report from them about the accident
• notify your insurance company about the accident
• take photos of car damage
• exchange all necessary information with other participants in the accident
• save witness contacts
• consult San Francisco car accident lawyers for advice.

Don’t Do This After a Car Accident

Agreement for a quick settlement
In most cases, insurance companies offer a settlement level that is not sufficient to cover the damage, taking advantage of the client’s stressful state immediately after the accident. Therefore, consult with a car accident lawyer in San Francisco before making a final decision on a quick settlement.

Guilty plea
This will be the most harmful thing you can do after an accident. When communicating with the police, insurance company, or others involved in the accident, avoid the topic of admitting fault. Tell only the facts, without any judgment of your actions during the incident.

Late seeking of medical help
Some injuries may not become fully apparent until some time after the accident and it will be more difficult to prove their connection with the accident and receive compensation for them. Therefore, if after an accident there is even a suspicion of injury, immediately seek medical help and record the results of the treatment.

Car Accident Compensations

California, the state in which San Francisco is located, adheres to the principle of comparative negligence. This means that all parties may be partially at fault. Compensation amounts are reduced by the percentage of fault.

Compensation is awarded for economic and non-economic damage.
Economic:

• restoration of damaged property
• medical expenses
• lost wages
• rehabilitation costs.

Non-economic:

• pain and suffering
• loss of consortium
• decreased enjoyment of life.

Punitive damages are rarely applied, in exceptional cases where the guilty party specifically caused damage.

Responsible Driving Can Prevent Car Accidents

Follow traffic rules.

Pay full attention to the road situation, and eliminate distractions.

Do not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Avoid aggressive driving style.

Consider weather conditions when driving.

Make sure your car is in good condition.

Choose your travel route in advance.

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