Injury attorneys for the City and County of San Francisco · Phones answered 24/7
San Francisco County Personal Injury Lawyer
Hit in a crosswalk, injured on Muni, or rear-ended on the approach to the Bay Bridge? We represent people hurt anywhere in San Francisco and deal with the insurers and city agencies for you. Free case review.
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Free San Francisco County case review
Give us a few lines about the crash or fall, and an attorney will read it and call you back.
Key Takeaways
- Pedestrians, cyclists and transit riders face the city's biggest risks, concentrated on its High Injury Network streets.
- Those crashes often cause head, spinal and fracture injuries, while bridge and Van Ness rear-enders bring neck and back damage.
- Claims against the City and County (including Muni), BART or Caltrain are generally due within six months Gov. Code 911.2.
- SFPD writes reports for crashes on city streets; the CHP San Francisco Area office covers the freeways.
Why people in San Francisco County choose Green Law Group
Pedestrians, Muni riders and visitors hurt in San Francisco want a lawyer who understands their medical care and answers the phone. Our founding attorney trained surgeons before law school, and clients give us 5.0 stars.
- Medical records read closely. Steven D. Green trained surgeons in the operating room on spine and cardiac devices, so he reads the head and spine records from a crosswalk crash closely.
- Built for visitors and riders without cars. Your free case review happens by phone or video, even if you have already flown home.
- Rated by the people we serve. 5.0 stars from 53 Google client reviews.
- Free case review. Phones are answered 24/7.
Common causes of serious injuries in San Francisco County
San Francisco is dense and walkable, with heavy transit use, steep grades and state highways running on city streets. People on foot and on bikes, transit riders, and drivers in bridge traffic carry most of that risk.
- The High Injury Network. The SFMTA reports that the 2024 map identifies the 13 percent of city streets where 74 percent of serious traffic injuries or deaths occur. See bicycle and pedestrian accident claims.
- Highways on city streets. Van Ness Avenue is part of US Route 101, and 19th Avenue and Park Presidio Boulevard carry State Route 1 through the Sunset and Richmond, mixing through traffic with crosswalks and buses.
- I-80 and the Bay Bridge. Interstate 80 crosses the bay on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, where Caltrans maintenance closures squeeze lanes. Our car accident page covers these claims, and truck accident claims covers crashes with commercial vehicles.
- Muni, BART and Caltrain. The SFMTA runs Muni buses, light rail, streetcars and cable cars. Boarding falls and sudden stops trigger the short government claim deadline below.
- Older buildings and sidewalks. Uneven sidewalks and worn stairs cause falls; see premises liability.
Common injuries after accidents in San Francisco County
The city's typical crashes hurt people outside a car, so injuries run from head trauma and broken bones to spinal damage. Drivers in bridge and Van Ness traffic more often suffer neck and back injuries.
- Head and spinal injuries. A pedestrian or cyclist struck on a High Injury Network street takes the full force of the vehicle. Brain injuries, fractured vertebrae and spinal cord injuries can follow, often with long rehabilitation.
- Neck and back injuries. Rear-end collisions in stop-and-go traffic toward the Bay Bridge or along Van Ness strain the neck and can damage discs. Symptoms sometimes surface days later, so get checked early. See neck injuries and back injuries.
- Fractures on transit. A sudden stop or a fall while boarding a Muni bus, light rail car or cable car can break a wrist, shoulder or hip, especially for older riders.
- Fatal crashes. When a crash takes a life, the family may bring a wrongful death claim.
Getting your crash report
The San Francisco Police Department writes reports for crashes on city streets. Freeway crashes usually go to the CHP San Francisco Area office at 455 Eighth Street. Once you hire us, we order the report and photos.
Filing deadlines for San Francisco County injury claims
Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years CCP 335.1. A claim against a public agency is generally due within six months of the injury Gov. Code 911.2. Here that includes the City and County, its SFMTA, BART, Caltrain and Caltrans.
The City takes claims at the Controller's Office Claims Division, 1390 Market Street, 7th Floor. BART, Caltrain, the Golden Gate Bridge District and the San Francisco Unified School District each run their own process. After a written rejection, suit is generally due within six months Gov. Code 945.6. A child's injury does not pause the claim deadline CCP 352. Check your dates on the Claim Clock.
Injury cases we handle in San Francisco County
We take San Francisco claims ranging from pedestrians struck in a crosswalk to riders hurt on a cable car, cyclists hit by an opening car door and workers injured on job sites.
- Personal injury
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle and pedestrian accidents
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Premises liability and slip and fall
- Medical malpractice
- Wrongful death
- Workplace injuries and workers' comp
Curious what a San Francisco crash claim might be worth? Our California car accident settlement calculator gives a rough range before you call.
Cities and communities we serve in San Francisco County
The City and County of San Francisco is one consolidated government, so the city is its own county seat. We represent people hurt in every neighborhood.
- South of Market
- Financial District and South Beach
- Tenderloin
- Mission
- Bayview Hunters Point
- Excelsior
- Sunset and Parkside
- Inner and Outer Richmond
- Western Addition
- Chinatown
- North Beach
- Marina
- Haight Ashbury
- Mission Bay
- Potrero Hill
Nearby counties
San Mateo County is San Francisco's only land neighbor, while Marin and Alameda counties sit across the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge. We take cases in all 58 California counties.
Reviewed by Steven D. Green, Esq. · Updated October 13, 2026
Client reviews
Every one of our 53 Google reviews is five stars.
“Steve and his team were always available, handled all insurance details and my questions always with complete professionalism.”
“Steven will cut right through the noise and directly tell you the objective facts, which I highly appreciated.”
“Working with Steven Green and Jen Kearney has been a very easy and smooth ride.”
Testimonials and reviews do not guarantee, warrant or predict the outcome of any legal matter. Every case is different.
Questions
San Francisco County personal injury FAQ
What should I do after being hit in a San Francisco crosswalk?
Call 911 and ask for SFPD so a report is written, then get medical care the same day, since head and spinal injuries can show up later. Photograph the crosswalk, signals and vehicle, and collect the driver's insurance and any witness contacts. If a Muni vehicle hit you, the six-month claim to the City applies (Government Code section 911.2).
I was hurt on a Muni bus or cable car. How do I make a claim?
Muni is run by the SFMTA, a department of the City and County of San Francisco, so the claim goes to the City on its own form. Mail or hand deliver it to the Controller's Office Claims Division at 1390 Market Street within six months (Government Code section 911.2). Emailed claims are not accepted.
How do I get an SFPD traffic collision report?
Send a request by mail or email to SFPD's Report Management Section at 1245 3rd Street. SFPD writes collision reports for hit-and-run, drunk driving and injury crashes, and asks for 10 business days to process a request. Freeway crashes are usually reported by the CHP San Francisco Area office instead.
I was visiting San Francisco and live in another state. Can you still help?
Yes. An injury in San Francisco is generally governed by California law, wherever you live. We can work with your doctors back home, collect the SFPD report and the city hospital records, and keep the case moving by phone and video.
Hurt in San Francisco? Talk to a lawyer tonight.
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