San Francisco Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers

What to Look For in the Best San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyers

When you are suffering from an injury after an accident in San Francisco, the thought of having to file and pursue a personal injury claim can be daunting.

It is critical that you speak with an experienced injury attorney to learn your rights and legal options.

A skilled attorney will advocate for fair financial compensation to cover the damages you suffered because of your injury, including your medical bills, lost wages and advancement opportunities at work, and your pain and suffering damages.

In San Francisco, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury claim. It is in your best interest to work with a personal injury lawyer. While you focus on your physical recovery, your lawyer can work hard to seek a fair settlement with the insurance provider involved in your case.

When you are searching for the right accident lawyer to handle your case, keep the following in mind to help you determine the best fit for your claim. Generally, the best bay area personal injury lawyers fit the following:

The Best Personal Injury Lawyer for you has Experience Handling Cases In San Francisco

If you were injured in a car accident, you want an experienced car accident lawyer to handle your case. A lawyer with a lot of experience pursuing slip and fall cases might be great at working with these victims, but he or she might not have the expertise and professional connections to build your car accident claim as well as a lawyer who focuses on car accidents.

Ask each lawyer specifically about the experience he or she has pursuing cases like yours in San Francisco. Whether the accident occured in the financial district or Chinatown we know the area. Ideally, your lawyer has years of experience with your case type. If he or she has decades of relevant experience, even better.

You should also look beyond case types when choosing the right lawyer for your claim and consider whether the lawyers you interview have experience pursuing compensation for victims suffering from the same type of injury you sustained. A car accident lawyer who does not have experience pursuing compensation for traumatic brain injury victims, for example, might not be the ideal lawyer for you if this is the type of injury you suffered, even if he or she is otherwise highly recommended for car accident victims.

If you suffered a serious injury, it is very important that you work with a lawyer who has experience with personal injury claims for serious injuries like paralysis, amputations, and permanent brain damage. You will likely seek compensation to cover the damages that will follow you for years, possibly the rest of your life, and you need a lawyer who has a proven track record of securing this type of compensation.

If you were Injured in the San Francisco Area, your Lawyer Should be Familiar with the Injury Risks Unique to our Region

The ideal lawyer for handling a personal injury claim in San Francisco is one who understands the unique risks present in San Francisco. Many of our streets are steep and our thick fog can make it very difficult to see when walking, bicycling, or driving down the street. Our city is also home to historic street cars that can pose injury risks unlike other types of public transportation.

In addition to the injury risks present in our area, your lawyer should be familiar with the state laws that govern your case type. For example, medical malpractice claims are bound to a different statute of limitations than other types of personal injury claim.

We are also experts in the geographic areas. For example, we know that:

• Pedestrian accidents are more common near Fisherman’s Wharf where there is a lot of foot traffic.
• eScooter accidents were more common in the northeastern quadren of the city south of Market street, Hayes Valley, and Western Addition neighborhoods (sfdph.org)
• Interstate 80, The Golden Gate Bridge, and state route 101 regularly experience car accidents.

Your Lawyer Should Also have Experience Pursuing Cases Like yours in San Francisco

San Francisco Civic Center Courthouse

Not all personal injury cases are resolved through a settlement between the claimant and the negligent party’s insurance provider. When a case cannot be resolved this way, the claimant could have to file a lawsuit to have the case heard and ruled upon in court. When you choose a lawyer to handle your claim, choose a lawyer who has experience litigating cases for his or her clients.

Each court is unique, so be sure to work with a lawyer who has worked with the local courts before. This way, he or she will be equipped to anticipate issues that can arise and know how to work well with the specific court where your claim is handled.

Another benefit to working with a lawyer who has specific experience pursuing cases like yours in San Francisco is his or her knowledge of previous similar cases and his or her professional network. A personal injury lawyer in San Francisco should be familiar with local healthcare providers and other professionals who can provide useful information to support your claim, like an accident reconstruction specialist.

A local lawyer should also be familiar with local law enforcement, which could also come in handy if you need to get in touch with the officer who recorded your accident.

Here are some local organizations we have handled public transportation cases with:

• BART
• San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI)
• Bay Area Rapid Transit
• Amtrak
• Caltrain

If you Can’t Make it to your Lawyer’s San Francisco Office, They Should be Able to Get to you

When you are suffering from an injury, it can be difficult to get yourself to a lawyer’s office. Depending on the type of injury you are facing, this could even be impossible. When you are suffering from an injury, you should not have to get yourself to a lawyer’s office for your initial consultation or at any other point in the personal injury claim process.

The best injury lawyers know this and meet their clients where the clients can meet them, which could be in the clients’ homes, offices, or other reasonable locations. Our team has numerous offices across northern California to better serve local clients. Do not be afraid to ask your lawyer if he or she will travel to meet you in a specific location to discuss your case.

Your Lawyer Should be Able to Produce Results of Previous Successful Case Settlements

A new personal injury lawyer can secure you the compensation you need for your damages, but when you work with an inexperienced lawyer, you take the risk of his or her lack of experience hurting your case. Although you might be tempted to save money by working with somebody who is just starting his or her personal injury law career, remember that spending a little bit more to work with an experienced lawyer can actually benefit you financially by leading to a larger settlement.

Ask each prospective lawyer about his or her previous settlements and jury verdicts. Your lawyer should be willing to share this information with you and compare your case to previous cases he or she has handled. What your lawyer should not do, though, is make any kind of guarantee about your case’s outcome.

Although he or she might have secured a million dollars or more for a previous client with a similar case, there is no guarantee that your case will garner the same results. Do not work with a lawyer who makes any promises about the dollar figure for your compensation settlement.

Your Lawyer’s Involvement in the San Francisco County Community Should Go Beyond Practicing in the City

If you live here, or even if you have only visited, you know San Francisco is a great place to be. Our team of personal injury lawyers is more than just aware of this – they actively work to make it a better place. We proudly sponsor charities and organizations throughout the city that raise awareness and provide resources for residents in need, such as:

Ask your attorney about how his or her firm is involved in the community. Community involvement is an ideal way to give back to the communities that support our firm. GJEL has been a San Francisco Personal injury law firm since 1972.

Cases We Handle in San Francisco

Motorcycle Accidents

Bicycle Accidents
We are expert bicycle accident lawyers that have helped seriously injured cyclists get the compensation they deserve after a bike accident in San Francisco. According to Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) bike accidents are much more frequent in San Francisco than any other US city.

Fatal car accidents in the Bay Area

Scooter Accidents: Now that electric scooters are all around the city, accidents are prevalent. GJEL handles car vs. scooter accident cases.

Car Accidents: We have recovered over $10 Million Dollars for San Francisco car wreck victims. This includes rear end accidents, hit and run accidents, and all other traffic collisions. Motor vehicle accidents happen on I-80 and the Bay Bridge everyday.

Wrongful Death Claims: We have recovered over $10 Million Dollars for wrongful death claims in the bay area.

Uber, Lyft and Rideshare Accidents: Whether you were taking a taxi, a Lyft, or Uber if you were injured due to no fault of your own you may be entitled to compensation.

Pedestrian Accidents: Distracted drivers cause many pedestrian accidents as well as unsafe upkeep of public and private areas.

Slip & Falls: Companies have an obligation to make sure their premesis are safe. Slip and falls are common when retail establishments are negligent.

Truck Accidents: Truck accidents involving 18 Wheelers, Big Rigs or delivery trucks happen everyday in Northern California.

eBike Accidents: Now that the city has eBikes in busy city areas there has been a rise in accidents.

Muni and Bart Accidents: Public transportation in San Francisco is generally safe, but sometimes things go wrong.

All Serious Injuries: If you experienced a serious or catastrophic injury contact GJEL Accident Attorneys for a free case review today.

Schedule your Free Consultation with Our Team of Experienced San Francisco Personal Injury Attorneys

Choosing the right personal injury lawyer to handle your accident case is not always easy. Before you commit to working with a lawyer, interview a few personal injury lawyers to get a better feel for what you can expect from the personal injury claim process and how each lawyer’s personal style affects how he or she works. Whether you were injured in the city, South San Francisco, or SFO, you should talk to a local attorney.

Do not simply go with the lawyer whose office is closest to your home or the lawyer your friend or relative recommends – although that individual could be a great personal injury attorney, they might not be the best fit for you and your case. To learn more about how our team at GJEL Accident Attorneys can serve you, contact our firm today to set up your free legal consultation with us.

San Francisco Bus Accident & Muni Accident Lawyers

GJEL is one of the most experienced bus accident law firms in the bay area. We have recovered over 10 million dollars for our previous clients who have been injured in public transportation and bus accidents. Bus accidents can be complex and require experienced personal injury attorneys to investigate and hold the wrongdoers accountable.

Visit our San Francisco Meeting Location

GJEL Accident Attorneys
Address: 220 Montgomery St Suite 2100
San Francisco, CA 94105
Hours: Open ⋅ Closes 5PM
Phone: (415) 986-4777