A pedestrian collision, an injury in an apartment building, and an allegation of negligent medical care can each lead someone to look for a San Francisco personal injury lawyer. The right starting point is identifying the claim and finding a firm with relevant experience.
Useful comparisons include the attorney’s work on similar matters, who will handle the case, how communication will work, and the written financial agreement. Office accessibility and language support may also matter during recovery.
This 2027 list introduces ten personal injury law firms with published offices in San Francisco. It also outlines California-specific questions about insurance, public entities, medical negligence, deadlines, and fees.
Understanding Personal Injury Claims in California
Shared Fault and Insurance Coverage
In ordinary California negligence claims, an injured person’s share of responsibility can reduce damages proportionately. Being partly at fault does not automatically prevent recovery, making evidence about the conduct of everyone involved important.
Insurance coverage requires its own review. A liability claim against another party differs from a request for benefits under your own policy. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage and optional medical payments coverage, often called MedPay, may raise additional issues depending on the policy and incident.
Bring available policies, claim correspondence, and coverage decisions to a consultation. Ask which liability and insurance matters the attorney would handle.
Public Transit, Rideshare, and Autonomous-Vehicle Incidents
A collision involving a public-transit vehicle, a rideshare trip, or an autonomous vehicle warrants specific questions about the responsible parties and available evidence.
Identify the operator, vehicle, location, and trip details. Preserve receipts, app records, photographs, witness information, and correspondence. Ask the attorney what additional records should be requested promptly and which insurance policies need investigation.
If a public entity may be involved, establish the correct agency and claim-presentation requirements. California DMV also maintains autonomous-vehicle incident-reporting resources, but a safety report should not be treated as preserving a civil claim or establishing fault.
Premises Liability and Injuries in Rental Properties
Injuries in apartments, condominium common areas, hotels, stores, and construction settings can require investigation of the condition that caused the harm and the parties responsible for it.
Useful questions include who owned or controlled the area, who maintained it, whether earlier complaints exist, and whether repairs or inspections were documented. Photographs, incident reports, maintenance correspondence, and available video can help an attorney assess the circumstances.
A tenant’s injury may require different representation from an ordinary dispute about rent or repairs. Confirm that the proposed firm accepts bodily-injury matters involving the relevant property conditions.
Medical Negligence and the 2027 MICRA Changes
Medical negligence has separate legal requirements, including deadlines and rules affecting attorney fees. A poor outcome alone does not establish negligence; the care provided and its connection to the injury need assessment.
California’s Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act, or MICRA, also limits certain noneconomic damages. For claims governed by the amended MICRA framework, the scheduled 2027 limits are $510,000 for non-wrongful-death actions and $700,000 for wrongful-death actions within each applicable statutory category.
These figures are not universal limits on total compensation. Economic losses are distinct, and separate categories involving healthcare providers, institutions, and qualifying unaffiliated defendants may apply. The year of judgment, arbitration award, or settlement matters when determining the applicable scheduled amount.
Ask a medical-malpractice attorney which provisions govern the particular claim.
How We Selected These San Francisco Personal Injury Law Firms
The shortlist draws on official firm websites, published San Francisco office information, and descriptions of services for injured claimants. Research also included checking the State Bar record of one associated attorney for each practice.
Firms appear alphabetically, disregarding an initial “The.” The profiles describe published services and consultation questions; inclusion does not guarantee current availability, suitability, or results.
Before signing an agreement, check the assigned attorney’s current license status and public record through the State Bar of California. A firm name or directory entry does not establish who will personally handle a new case.
San Francisco Personal Injury Law Firms at a Glance
| Firm | San Francisco location | Areas to explore |
|---|---|---|
| Abramson Smith Waldsmith LLP | Tehama Street | Serious injuries, premises, construction, products, and public-entity claims |
| Altair Law | California Street | Catastrophic injuries, medical malpractice, premises, products, and transportation |
| The Cartwright Law Firm, Inc. | Front Street | Vehicle injuries, defective products, premises, construction, and elder abuse |
| Choulos, Choulos & Wyle | California Street | Bicycle, motorcycle, pedestrian, vehicle, and premises injuries |
| Dolan Law Firm | Market Street | Catastrophic injuries, medical malpractice, premises, and government liability |
| The Hassell Law Group | 19th Avenue | Traffic, rideshare, scooter, stairway, elevator, and other premises injuries |
| Mary Alexander & Associates, P.C. | Montgomery Street | Serious injuries, fires, defective products, unsafe properties, and public transit |
| Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn | Montgomery Street | Brain and spinal injuries, transportation, medical, construction, and industrial claims |
| Veen Firm | Haight Street | Catastrophic injuries, workplace incidents, products, and tenant injuries |
| Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger | California Street | Serious injuries, medical negligence, rideshare, and product-related claims |
10 Personal Injury Law Firms in San Francisco to Consider
1. Abramson Smith Waldsmith LLP
San Francisco office: 19 Tehama Street, Suite A
Abramson Smith Waldsmith LLP describes a serious-injury practice involving vehicle and bicycle incidents, unsafe premises, defective products, construction, and public-entity liability. Its published services also include elder abuse.
The boutique firm states that it deliberately limits its caseload. Prospective clients can use that point to ask about current capacity, attorney involvement, and the process for deciding whether to accept a matter.
For an injury connected with a building, product, or public entity, ask what investigation would be needed to identify the responsible parties. Establish whether technical experts or records from several organizations may be required.
What to confirm: Current case selection, the attorney responsible for the investigation, and how communication and expenses would be managed. The firm advertises free consultations.
2. Altair Law
San Francisco office: 465 California Street, 5th Floor
Altair Law publishes services involving catastrophic injuries, medical malpractice, unsafe premises, defective products, public entities, and construction or industrial incidents. Its practice also includes traffic and rideshare-related injuries.
The firm describes practical accommodations, including hospital or home meetings, and services in English, Spanish, Hindi, and Punjabi. Confirm which arrangements and language support are available for the proposed attorney and case.
Altair advertises free case evaluations and no attorney fees unless compensation is recovered. Its website separately states that clients may be responsible for case-related costs and expenses, making the written agreement an important consultation topic.
What to confirm: Relevant claim experience, accessibility and language arrangements, and the distinction between attorney fees and expenses if the case is unsuccessful.
3. The Cartwright Law Firm, Inc.
San Francisco office: 222 Front Street, 5th Floor
The Cartwright Law Firm describes a plaintiff practice involving vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle accidents, defective products, construction injuries, unsafe premises, elder abuse, and wrongful death. Its published categories also include recreational and water-related incidents.
The firm’s product-liability history provides a useful point of comparison when an injury may involve equipment or another allegedly unsafe product. Ask how the team would preserve the item, investigate its condition, and determine whether expert examination is necessary.
Its broader practice means the intake discussion should identify the particular claim and the attorney with relevant experience. The firm advertises free consultations.
What to confirm: Who would evaluate the matter, what evidence should be preserved immediately, and the complete written fee and expense terms.
4. Choulos, Choulos & Wyle
San Francisco office: 425 California Street, Suite 900
Choulos, Choulos & Wyle publishes services involving serious personal injury, wrongful death, motorcycle and bicycle accidents, pedestrian injuries, vehicle collisions, defective products, and unsafe premises.
The firm describes its attorneys as riders and cyclists and discusses involvement in those communities. That focus offers prospective clients a concrete subject for questions about comparable incidents and the practical details of investigating a riding-related injury.
For a bicycle or motorcycle case, bring available photographs, collision reports, witness information, and details of damaged equipment. Ask the attorney what further evidence would help evaluate disputed accounts of the incident.
What to confirm: The assigned lawyer’s relevant experience, current capacity, and the financial agreement. Free consultations and contingency representation are advertised.
5. Dolan Law Firm
San Francisco office: 1438 Market Street
Dolan Law Firm describes injury services involving catastrophic vehicle incidents, brain injuries, medical malpractice, wrongful death, unsafe premises, and government liability. It also maintains separate employment and discrimination practices.
That range can be relevant when an injury situation raises additional questions about work or civil rights. Explain those concerns during intake and establish which issues the proposed representation would include. Related matters may require separate assessment or arrangements.
For a potential government claim, ask how the team would identify the responsible entity and address early procedural requirements. The firm advertises free consultations and contingency-based injury representation.
What to confirm: The lead attorney, responsibility for any related proceedings, and whether the agreement covers the full set of issues discussed during intake.
6. The Hassell Law Group
San Francisco office: 4079 19th Avenue
The Hassell Law Group publishes services involving vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle, rideshare, and scooter incidents, along with serious brain and spinal injuries, construction injuries, and wrongful death.
Its premises-related categories include stairways, elevators, and escalators. The practice also describes tourist-injury matters, offering a relevant consultation point for someone hurt while visiting San Francisco.
The firm’s locations information identifies its Ingleside office and describes accessibility and visit arrangements for clients unable to attend. Ask what would work for your circumstances, particularly if travel or ongoing treatment complicates meetings.
What to confirm: Experience with the specific incident, options for remote or in-person communication, and responsibility for case expenses. The firm advertises free evaluations and fees contingent on recovery.
7. Mary Alexander & Associates, P.C.
San Francisco office: 44 Montgomery Street, Suite 1303
Mary Alexander & Associates publishes services involving serious injuries, defective products, fires, abuse, unsafe premises, balcony incidents, negligent security, and public transportation. Its transit-related material includes Muni and BART matters.
The firm’s discussion of trial technology describes using visual presentations to explain complex evidence. Prospective clients can ask how technical information, a building condition, or the sequence of an incident would be investigated and communicated.
For a fire or property-related injury, establish whether records from owners, managers, contractors, or other parties may be needed. For transit incidents, clarify the entity involved and any early claim requirements.
What to confirm: Current intake, the attorney’s experience with comparable matters, and the proposed investigation. The firm advertises free consultations.
8. Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn
San Francisco office: 417 Montgomery Street, Suite 910
Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn publishes services involving catastrophic brain and spinal injuries, pedestrian and bicycle incidents, scooter and train accidents, medical and pharmaceutical injuries, construction, and industrial settings.
This range makes the consultation an opportunity to distinguish the cause of the incident from the long-term consequences of the injury. Ask how the proposed attorney would evaluate both responsibility and the evidence needed to document continuing limitations.
Where several businesses or activities may be involved, discuss how the investigation would be coordinated. The firm advertises free consultations and no attorney fees unless the case is successful; the treatment of expenses should be confirmed separately.
What to confirm: Relevant case experience, responsibility for coordinating experts, and how future care and lost earning capacity would be evaluated.
9. Veen Firm
San Francisco office: 20 Haight Street
Veen Firm describes a catastrophic-injury practice covering vehicle incidents, workplace and industrial injuries, unsafe premises, defective products, medical negligence, and tenant-related injuries.
Its dedicated tenant-injury material discusses unsafe stairways, poorly maintained elevators, electrical hazards, blocked exits, and neglected repairs. This is a useful distinction for someone injured in a rental building or common area.
The firm’s published focus is serious bodily injury, so explain the harm and relevant property conditions during intake. Ask what records could establish earlier complaints, maintenance responsibilities, or changes to the condition after the incident.
What to confirm: Whether the injury meets current case-selection criteria, who would lead the matter, and how property-related evidence would be preserved. The firm advertises free case evaluations.
10. Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger
San Francisco office: 650 California Street, 26th Floor
Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger publishes services involving serious personal injuries, wrongful death, medical malpractice, birth and brain injuries, pedestrian and bicycle incidents, and rideshare or delivery-related injuries.
Its published product-related services also address vehicle defects and lithium-ion battery fires. When a case may involve both an incident and an allegedly defective product, ask how the team would investigate the competing explanations and obtain necessary technical evidence.
For a medical-negligence matter, establish the initial review process, required records, and potential expert involvement. The firm’s broad practice makes the assigned attorney’s specific experience a useful comparison point.
What to confirm: Current intake, responsibility for specialized investigation, and the applicable financial terms. Free consultations are advertised.
Which Type of Firm Fits Your Claim?
Begin with the facts that make the matter different. The following questions help turn a general shortlist into a more useful comparison.
| Claim situation | Experience to investigate | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrian, bicycle, motorcycle, or vehicle collision | Similar incidents, responsibility disputes, and insurance coverage | Which liability and policy issues would you handle? |
| Rideshare or autonomous-vehicle incident | Operator identification, relevant coverage, and electronic evidence | What trip and vehicle records should be preserved? |
| Injury in an apartment, condominium, hotel, or store | Premises claims and investigation of unsafe conditions | How would you identify control, maintenance duties, and earlier complaints? |
| Alleged medical negligence | Comparable care issues, expert review, and MICRA | What must be assessed before accepting the case? |
| Workplace incident involving another business or person | Third-party civil claims and benefits coordination | Would you handle workers’ compensation, a civil claim, or both? |
Workers’ compensation and a potential third-party lawsuit involve different processes. Confirm the scope of representation rather than assuming that an injury firm accepts both.
For a lasting injury, also discuss how medical evidence, functional limitations, future care, and earning capacity would be evaluated. Ask about accessible meetings and communication arrangements during recovery.
California Injury Deadlines and Government Claims
Many ordinary California personal injury actions fall under a two-year limitation period. The starting date, discovery rules, possible tolling, and claim type still require individual assessment. Medical negligence has separate deadlines and pre-suit considerations.
For many bodily-injury claims involving state or local government, formal claim presentation is generally required within six months of accrual, subject to exceptions. A separate lawsuit deadline follows the agency’s response or failure to respond.
An injury involving public transit, a public facility, or an allegedly dangerous public condition warrants prompt attention. Establish the correct entity and recipient; submitting information to the wrong organization may not meet the applicable requirements.
Give the attorney all relevant dates, existing claim forms, notices, and correspondence. Ask who is responsible for the next procedural step and when representation formally begins. An insurance discussion or initial inquiry to a firm should not be assumed to preserve a deadline.
Evidence may disappear sooner. Video can be overwritten, damaged equipment discarded, and building conditions repaired or altered while a claim is being evaluated.
Attorney Fees, Case Expenses, and Your Net Recovery
Contingency representation generally ties the attorney’s fee to a recovery. The written agreement should also explain expenses and other financial responsibilities.
California generally requires a contingency contract signed by the attorney and client, with a copy provided to the client. Its required terms address the fee rate, how costs affect the calculation and recovery, and possible compensation for related matters. Outside claims governed by the medical-negligence fee statute, the contract must explain that the fee is negotiable. Medical-negligence clients can negotiate rates below the statutory maximums.
Ask about records, filing fees, expert evaluations, depositions, and other anticipated expenses. Establish who advances those amounts and what could be owed if the case is unsuccessful or representation ends early.
For an ordinary injury claim outside the medical-negligence fee rules, a hypothetical $150,000 recovery with an agreed 30% fee and $15,000 in expenses would leave $90,000 if the fee were calculated on the gross recovery. Deducting those expenses before calculating the same percentage would leave $94,500. Both figures exclude medical bills, liens, and reimbursement obligations.
This example illustrates the effect of the calculation method; it does not suggest a standard fee or predict a result.
Medical-negligence claims have separate statutory fee limits and calculation rules. Ask for a claim-specific explanation rather than applying an ordinary injury agreement’s assumptions. Before approving a settlement, request a clear breakdown of the expected net payment.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a San Francisco Injury Attorney
Use a written checklist to compare consultations:
- Have you handled claims involving similar injuries and circumstances?
- Who will lead the case and serve as my regular contact?
- What evidence needs to be preserved immediately?
- Which insurance, benefits, or related proceedings would your agreement cover?
- How will you evaluate lasting limitations and future losses?
- How are fees and expenses calculated, and what could I owe without a recovery?
- What meeting, accessibility, or language arrangements are available?
- Which deadlines apply, and when will the firm confirm representation?
Keep notes on the answers, including any documents the attorney needs before deciding whether to accept the matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Recover Compensation if I Was Partly at Fault?
In an ordinary California negligence claim, shared fault generally reduces damages according to the injured person’s percentage of responsibility. It does not automatically prevent recovery. The evidence and applicable legal rules still need individual review.
How Long Do I Have to Bring a California Injury Claim?
Many ordinary injury actions have a two-year limitation period, subject to exceptions and rules about when the claim accrues. Medical negligence and claims involving government entities require separate assessment. Seek advice promptly about the particular deadlines.
What Changes if a Government Agency May Be Responsible?
Many bodily-injury claims require formal presentation to the appropriate public entity within six months, with exceptions. Further lawsuit deadlines apply. Identify the responsible agency and applicable process early, including when public transportation is involved.
How Much Does a San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
Some firms accept qualifying matters on contingency. Percentages, expense treatment, and obligations without a recovery depend on the agreement and applicable law. Medical-negligence cases have separate fee rules. Request an illustration showing the deductions from a hypothetical recovery.
How Do I Check a California Attorney’s License?
Use the State Bar of California’s attorney search to review the individual lawyer’s current license status and public record. Match the name and bar number to the attorney who would represent you, and confirm that person’s role directly with the firm.
What Should I Bring to the First Consultation?
Bring a short timeline, incident reports, photographs, witness details, relevant medical information, insurance correspondence, and any claim notices or legal papers. For rideshare incidents, include available trip records. Ask how to provide sensitive documents securely.
This publication provides general information. An attorney can assess the law, deadlines, and options that apply to a particular matter.
