San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyers

Andrew R. Gillin, Founding and Managing Partner. California State Bar No. 45226 (admitted 1970). J.D., University of Chicago Law School; B.A., University of California, Berkeley. AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell and selected to Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers. Andy founded GJEL in 1972 and served as one of the lead attorneys in the Tenet Healthcare litigation, which recovered $117 million for injured patients.

Luke Ellis, Partner. California State Bar No. 68863 (admitted 1976). J.D., University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall). Named 2024 Lawyer of the Year for personal injury litigation by Best Lawyers and AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Luke holds one of the largest personal injury jury verdicts on record in Alameda County and serves as a Settlement Commissioner by appointment of the Alameda and Contra Costa County Superior Courts.

Car crashes can cause serious injuries. Our dedicated San Francisco car accident lawyers page covers what to do after a crash (including SFPD reporting and the DMV SR-1 requirement), fault and insurance rules, real case results handled by Andy Gillin, and the deadlines that may apply, including the usual six-month deadline for an administrative injury claim against a government agency after a crash involving Muni or a City vehicle.

California follows a pure comparative negligence rule. Being partly at fault does not automatically prevent a recovery when another party also caused your injury. Damages are reduced by your percentage of responsibility. For example, $100,000 in damages reduced by 20% becomes $80,000. That is a damages calculation, not a guaranteed payment or the amount you would take home. California has followed this pure comparative fault rule since Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975).

Insurance companies know this rule and often try to shift blame onto you to shrink what they pay. This is why preserving evidence early is so important. Photos, witness contact information, and prompt medical care all help establish what really happened and protect your right to full compensation. Do not assume you have no case just because you think you were partly at fault.

This section is general legal information, not legal advice. How California’s comparative fault rule applies to your situation depends on the specific facts of your case. For advice about your claim, speak with a licensed attorney. A GJEL attorney will review the details with you during your free consultation.

A San Francisco injury claim may involve court filings, treatment records, and an accident report. These local resources can help you identify where to find information.

For a case filed in San Francisco Superior Court, the Civil Division is at the Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister Street. Civil cases, including motor vehicle personal injury claims, are handled through the Civil Division in Room 103. The court also maintains a Complex Civil Litigation department, one of only six in the state, for cases that require additional judicial resources.

Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, at 1001 Potrero Avenue, is the city’s only Level I trauma center and provides 24-hour trauma care. The hospital describes itself as the first acute hospital in the country with a certified traumatic brain injury program. In an emergency, call 911 and follow the medical team’s instructions about where to receive care.

Other local hospitals include UCSF Medical Center’s Mission Bay and Parnassus Heights campuses and Sutter Health’s CPMC Van Ness, Davies, and Mission Bernal campuses. UCSF Health’s Hyde Hospital has an emergency department and the Bothin Burn Center. Kaiser Permanente San Francisco and Chinese Hospital also provide care in the city. The appropriate provider depends on your medical needs.

Keep the names of your treating providers, dates of care, and any accident-report number. These details can help identify records relevant to your claim.

Injured in an Accident in San Francisco?

You don’t have to figure this out alone. Our San Francisco personal injury lawyers will review your case, explain your options, and tell you where you stand. There’s no cost and no pressure.

Local Experience That Matters

GJEL has represented injured Californians since 1972. Our San Francisco office offers a free case review so you can discuss your injury and the next steps. Learn more about our firm.

A Record of Results

Our attorneys have been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America, and the firm publishes results from cases it has handled. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in another case. View our car accident settlements.

You Pay Nothing Unless We Win

GJEL offers a free case review and charges no attorney fee unless and until we win. Our fee is a percentage of what we recover for you. Ask us to explain the fee agreement and how case costs are handled before deciding whether to hire us.

Request your accident report from the agency that investigated the crash. SFPD generally handles city-street crashes, while CHP handles freeway crashes, including US-101, I-80, I-280 and the Bay Bridge approaches. The SFPD report is free and is requested through its online portal or at 1245 3rd Street; the CHP uses form CHP 190 and charges by page count. Our guide to getting a San Francisco police accident report walks through both, including what to check when the report arrives.

For an injury lawsuit filed in San Francisco Superior Court, the Civil Division is at the Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister Street. Civil cases seeking more than $35,000 generally fall in unlimited civil jurisdiction; the amount claimed, rather than the description “serious injury,” determines that monetary classification. Our page on how a San Francisco personal injury case moves through court covers each stage, from the emergency room at Zuckerberg San Francisco General, the city's only Level 1 trauma center, to trial.