The San Francisco Personal Injury Attorneys That Can Help You Recover Compensation After an Accident
Golden State Accident Lawyers is a personal injury law firm focusing on serious injury cases in San Francisco. If you have suffered severe injuries due to someone else's careless or reckless actions, you can seek compensation for suffering damages and injuries with the help of our award-winning San Francisco personal injury attorney.
We proudly offer legal representation to accident victims across the San Francisco Bay Area for personal injuries due to another person's negligence and have done so for over 25 years. Our personal injury attorneys understand the burden of an unexpected serious injury, and our personal injury firm is committed to pursuing the compensation you need to recover fully.
Free Consultation
If you or a loved one have suffered physical injuries in an accident, don't hesitate to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at Golden State Accident Lawyers to discuss your personal injury case. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you don't pay us if we don't recover compensation on your behalf.
Our law office is located at 149 New Montgomery St., 4th Floor, Suite 431, San Francisco, CA 94105, for our clients' convenience. To schedule your free consultation, call (415) 636-6474.
Updated: 11-December-2023
Award-Winning Personal Injury Attorneys
Golden State Accident Lawyers
149 New Montgomery St., 4th Floor, Suite 431
San Francisco, CA 94105
United States (US)
Phone: (415) 636-6474
Are Golden State Accident Lawyers the Right Personal Injury Attorneys for You?
Serious accidents can be life-changing and result in confusion and emotional distress. Going through the legal process under these conditions can be overwhelming. When you have suffered injuries in an accident, it can feel like you are going through it alone.
A personal injury lawyer from Golden State Accident Lawyers understands this, and our law firm wants you to know that you are not alone. A personal injury lawyer can tend to all your legal needs and give you the peace of mind to focus on your recovery.
This legal process can include:
- Communicating with insurance company adjusters
- Gathering evidence to build your personal injury case
- Completing the paperwork required to file your claim
You shouldn't have to pay for someone else's negligence. Our personal injury lawyers are dedicated and passionate about fighting for the rights of those whom the wrongdoing of others has injured, and we have a proven record of success to show for it.
Featured Attorney
Practice Areas
Vehicle Accidents
What is Personal Injury?
A personal injury is an injury or loss one party suffers due to another party's negligence. Serious injuries can be anything from broken bones or fractures to debilitating spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries.
A personal injury can happen to anyone at any time. What's more, it can occur as the result of a variety of different circumstances, including:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Traumatic brain injury
- Wrongful death
- Premises liability
- Workplace accidents
If you have suffered a personal injury in San Francisco, the first and most important thing to do is to seek immediate medical attention for any injuries you sustained. Then, contact an experienced San Francisco personal injury attorney to help preserve your right to compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and out-of-pocket expenses.
DO YOU NEED A WINNING ACCIDENT LAWYER?
Why Hire a San Francisco Personal Injury Attorney?
Hiring the right San Francisco law firm to assist you with pursuing a personal injury claim is essential. Personal injury attorneys will act as your advocate and advise you on the proper steps to recover maximum compensation for your damages and injuries sustained.
In addition to a winning success rate, you should look for a lawyer with a great deal of trial experience – preferably one with experience in the type of personal injury case you have.
You will find sufficient personal injury law firms in San Francisco. Still, you'll need to choose the one specializing in your personal injury case. It is also important to note that you should get an attorney involved as soon as possible. Evidence needs to be secured to prove your personal injury case, witnesses need to be interviewed before their memories fade, and you need to be made aware of what you should or should not do to strengthen your compensation claim.
Here are a few other reasons why it may be in your best interest to consult with and hire an experienced San Francisco personal injury attorney after being involved in an accident:
Defense
Perhaps you caused a car accident or were partially responsible for the motor vehicle collision. You may require the representation of legal counsel to defend yourself against legal liability and possible criminal prosecution.
Proving Fault
California is an at-fault state as it concerns liability for personal injuries. To recover damages, a personal injury victim must prove that someone else caused or contributed to them being injured. Proving fault for a personal injury claim is often a complex process. In many personal injury cases, the parties share responsibility for causing the accident.
Also, there may be an intense dispute over who is at fault. Proving fault frequently requires amassing technical data, witness reports, depositions and interviews, and expert testimony. A person pursuing a personal injury claim without an attorney is typically ill-equipped to handle such a challenge.
Ensuring a Fair Settlement
Getting a fair settlement after a personal injury accident without the legal representation of a qualified personal injury attorney can be difficult. Even when the fault for a car accident is apparent, the liable insurance company will do everything it can to pay you as little as possible to settle your claim or, if possible, deny it altogether.
Without the representation of an experienced personal injury lawyer, the liable insurance company will likely offer you an inadequate amount to compensate you for your injuries and ongoing medical needs. However, accepting such a settlement could be a huge mistake, particularly if your ongoing medical bills continue and last for a long time.
Obtaining a Higher Settlement
A 1999 study conducted by The Insurance Research Council revealed that personal injury victims whom a competent attorney represents routinely recover as much as 350% more compensation than those without the personal injury representation. Therefore, the best advice is that you should not take on the challenge of pursuing an out-of-court settlement alone.
Determining Liability in a Personal Injury Case
In California, liability for a personal injury is based on fault. Simply put, you cannot successfully sue another party for compensation unless they were at fault for causing the injuries, at least to some degree.
Fault in most personal injury claims is based on either negligence or an intentional act of wrongdoing. In other words, a party is "at fault" for your injuries only if they were caused by negligence or a deliberate wrongful act on that party's part.
Negligence is a failure to act in a reasonably responsible manner toward others.
To succeed in a personal injury claim, you and your attorney must prove the existence of the following essential elements of negligence:
Duty
The party who injured you must have owed you a duty of care under the law to act or not act in a certain way. For example, motorists must follow traffic laws and drive responsibly so as not to cause injury to other drivers and pedestrians on the road.
Breach
The party who injured you must also have breached the duty of care owed to you. When motorists drive recklessly, they breach the duty of care they owe to others on the road.
Causation
The party's breach of duty must have caused your personal injuries. You must prove that the party's negligence or intentional act was the actual and proximate cause of your injuries.
Damages
You must demonstrate that you have suffered damages, e.g., medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, emotional distress, or an inability to engage in the same activities as before the accident. You have no personal injury claim if you have not suffered any verifiable damages.
What To Do Immediately After Suffering a Personal Injury in San Francisco
Your ability to recover compensation can depend on what you do immediately after a personal injury.
Here are some essential things to do that will preserve your right to be fully compensated and strengthen your claim:
Seek medical attention
Although you may be worried about the cost of medical care, your health and well-being should be your number one priority after a severe accident. Furthermore, gaps in medical treatment may cast doubt on the authenticity of the injuries you claim.
Contact the authorities
Contact the police to come to the scene and make a police report. Getting a police report ensures that there is an official record of the facts of the accident. Bear in mind, however, that the police department does not usually declare who is at fault for causing an accident. Fault for causing an accident is determined by insurance companies or by a judge or jury in a court of law.
Collect evidence
Take pictures of your injuries, the accident scene, the vehicles involved, or the things or conditions that caused you to be injured. Also, exchange information with the other parties involved and collect the names and contact information of anyone who witnessed the incident in which your injuries manifested.
Make no apologies
Regardless of who is at fault, a natural reaction following an accident is to say, "I'm sorry." Do not apologize in any way for what happened. What you say can be used against you to indicate that you believe you caused the accident, even if you did not.
Do not discuss the accident with anyone
Refrain from discussing the accident with anyone until you consult an attorney. Anything you say, right or wrong, can be used to limit or deny any personal injury claim you file later on. Please consult a qualified attorney before giving a statement to anyone, especially the liable party or their insurance company.
Contact an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer
Your attorney will handle negotiations with the liable insurance company and will assist you with assembling the necessary evidence and then sharing it with the insurance company, along with a demand letter outlining the compensation you require.
If settlement negotiations cannot reach a satisfactory resolution, your attorney will file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf. This lawsuit will seek adjudication of the fault for causing the accident and your injuries and request a judge or jury make an award for damages.
Resolving a personal injury claim at trial can be expensive and take a long time. So, most personal injury cases settle outside of court, long before trial or while a trial is imminent or in progress. Either way, your attorney will keep you advised every step of the way and discuss with you how the case should proceed.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Law Firm
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury, contact a trusted and experienced injury lawyer for legal representation. Our award-winning personal injury attorneys in San Francisco have over 25 years of experience dealing with car accidents and personal injuries.
Our attorneys are here to help personal injury plaintiffs. We will negotiate with the liable insurance companies to get you the medical help and compensation you and your loved ones deserve. Call Golden State Accident Lawyers today, or complete our contact form to start the process.
Client Reviews
After a very difficult car accident, Golden State Accident Lawyers were wonderful. They were professional, competent, and kind. The efficiency they exhibited and the consistency with that they got back to me were truly exceptional. I would not hesitate to recommend their services. Again thank you for everything!
Quentin Estrada - Google Review
The attorneys and support staff at Golden State Accident Lawyers are wonderful to work with and truly care about their clients. If you're looking for a legal team that will have your back from day one and has the experience to be an attorney for you, look no further.
Barney Parker - Google Review