San Francisco
Personal Injury Attorney
Injured in San Francisco?
A serious injury changes everything at once. You are in pain. You miss work. The medical bills start to arrive. And an insurance company you have never met decides what your recovery is worth. You did not choose any of this. Someone else’s carelessness did.
Samer Habbas & Associates is a personal injury law firm in San Francisco at 575 Market Street, 4th Floor. We help injured people recover money for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. You pay no fee unless we win. If a car, rideshare, pedestrian, bicycle, or other accident hurt you in San Francisco, California law usually gives you two years to file (California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). You get only six months if a government body such as Muni or the City caused the harm (Government Code §911.2). Call (415) 870-8708 for a free, private case review.
San Francisco is one of the most dangerous California cities for people outside a car. The city had 25 traffic deaths in 2025, down from 43 in 2024 (San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency). Pedestrians and cyclists suffer many of the worst injuries on streets like Market Street, Van Ness, and the Tenderloin. “The insurance company’s first offer is almost never what a San Francisco injury case is really worth,” says Samer Habbas, founder of Samer Habbas & Associates. “Our job is to prove the full cost of an injury — the surgeries, the lost pay, the future care — and make the at-fault party pay all of it.”
Since 2006, our firm has recovered more than $380,000,000 for injured people in California and Arizona. We hold an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and a 4.9-star average across 356 Google reviews. Request your free consultation, or read on to learn your rights.
Key takeaways
- Deadline to file: Most San Francisco injury claims must be filed within 2 years (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §335.1); claims against a public entity (Muni, the City, BART) require a written claim within 6 months (Cal. Gov. Code §911.2).
- Partial fault is not a bar: California follows pure comparative negligence (Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 1975) — you can recover even if you were partly to blame; your award is simply reduced by your percentage of fault.
- Uninsured drivers are common: An estimated 20.4% of California drivers are uninsured (Insurance Research Council, 2023) — making uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage critical after an SF crash.
- Where cases are filed: Most San Francisco civil injury lawsuits are filed at the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco — Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister Street.
- Medical malpractice cap (2026): California caps non-economic damages in medical negligence cases at $470,000 for injury and $650,000 for wrongful death, rising each year under Civil Code §3333.2.
- No fee unless we win: Samer Habbas & Associates handles San Francisco injury cases on contingency — you pay nothing up front and no attorney fee unless we recover for you.
On this page
- What is a San Francisco personal injury attorney?
- Why choose Samer Habbas & Associates in San Francisco?
- What types of injury cases do you handle in San Francisco?
- How long do I have to file a claim in California?
- What if I was partly at fault?
- How much is my San Francisco injury case worth?
- What should I do after an accident in San Francisco?
- How much does a San Francisco injury lawyer cost?
- The San Francisco legal landscape
- Case results
- Fast answers (Who / What / Why / When / Where / How)
- Frequently asked questions
- Contact our San Francisco office
What is a San Francisco personal injury attorney?
A San Francisco personal injury attorney is a lawyer who represents people hurt by someone else’s carelessness — in car, rideshare, pedestrian, bicycle, workplace, or property accidents — and seeks money for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering under California law. A local injury attorney knows the courts, the insurers, and the roads of San Francisco. The attorney files the case in the San Francisco County Superior Court. The attorney works on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing unless the case wins.
Why choose Samer Habbas & Associates in San Francisco?
Samer Habbas & Associates gives you the power of a firm that has recovered over $380 million, with close, local help for San Francisco injury victims. We started in 2006. Today we serve the Bay Area from our office at 575 Market Street in the Financial District, with a team of more than 70 people across California and Arizona. You get direct attorney access, hard investigation, and a firm that takes on the largest insurers.
- $400,000,000+ recovered for injury victims since 2006.
- A+ BBB accredited and a 4.9-star average across 356 Google reviews.
- Recognized advocates: Best Lawyers in America (2018–2026), Super Lawyers (2022–2025), Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and an Avvo 10.0 “Superb” rating.
- Founder Samer Habbas, Esq. (California Bar #243683) personally oversees the firm’s litigation strategy.
- No fee unless we win — every case is handled on contingency, with a free initial consultation.
- 24/7 intake — we answer the phone when you need us, and we can come to you if you are hospitalized.
Learn more about our firm, meet our attorneys, or read client reviews.
Get Samer on your side. Call (415) 870-8708 or contact us online for a free consultation.
What types of injury cases do you handle in San Francisco?
We handle the full range of personal injury cases in San Francisco — from traffic and rideshare collisions to premises liability, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death. Each practice area below is a focused part of our San Francisco personal injury practice.
Personal injury practice areas served from our San Francisco office
| Practice area | Typical San Francisco scenarios | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Car accidents | Rear-end and intersection crashes on Market St, Van Ness, US-101 & I-80 | Car accident claims |
| Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) | Passenger and third-party injuries in TNC vehicles downtown | Rideshare accident claims |
| Pedestrian accidents | Crosswalk and Muni-corridor strikes in SoMa, the Tenderloin & Mission | Pedestrian accident claims |
| Bicycle accidents | Dooring and right-hook collisions in SF bike lanes | Bicycle accident claims |
| Motorcycle accidents | Lane-splitting and left-turn crashes on city streets and freeways | Motorcycle accident claims |
| Truck accidents | Delivery and commercial-vehicle crashes on I-80 and the Bay Bridge approach | Truck accident claims |
| Slip & fall / premises liability | Falls in hotels, retail, apartment buildings and offices | Slip & fall claims |
| Brain & spinal cord injuries | Traumatic brain and spinal injuries requiring lifetime care | Brain injury claims |
| Catastrophic injuries | Amputations, severe burns, and permanent disability | Catastrophic injury claims |
| Dog bites | Strict-liability dog attacks in parks and residential areas | Dog bite claims |
| Medical malpractice | Misdiagnosis and surgical errors at Bay Area hospitals | Medical malpractice claims |
| Wrongful death | Fatal accidents caused by another party’s negligence | Wrongful death claims |
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in California?
In most San Francisco injury cases you have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §335.1). Some cases have a much shorter deadline. A claim against a government body — such as SFMTA/Muni, BART, or the City and County of San Francisco — needs a written claim within just six months (Cal. Gov. Code §911.2). If you miss a deadline, you usually lose the right to recover. Act quickly.
California injury-claim deadlines by case type
| Claim type | Filing deadline | Statute / authority |
|---|---|---|
| Most personal injury (car, pedestrian, premises, etc.) | 2 years from injury | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §335.1 |
| Wrongful death | 2 years from date of death | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §335.1 & §377.60 |
| Claim against a government entity (Muni, City, BART) | 6-month written claim, then generally 6 months to sue | Cal. Gov. Code §911.2 |
| Medical malpractice | 3 years from injury or 1 year from discovery, whichever is first | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §340.5 |
| Injured minors (most cases) | Generally until the 2nd birthday after turning 18 | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §352 |
Deadlines change with the facts of your case. Confirm your exact deadline with an attorney right away. Do not rely on this table alone.
What if I was partly at fault for the accident?
You can still recover money in California even if you were partly at fault, because California uses a “pure comparative negligence” rule. This rule comes from the California Supreme Court in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975). Your damages drop by your share of fault. For example, if you are 30% at fault and your losses are $100,000, you can still recover $70,000. Even a person who is mostly at fault can recover a smaller amount. Insurers often try to blame you to pay less. That is why strong evidence matters.
How much is my San Francisco injury case worth?
The value of a San Francisco injury case depends on how bad your injuries are, your total money losses, and how clearly we can prove fault. There is no fixed formula. California lets injured people recover economic damages (measurable costs) and non-economic damages (human losses). In medical malpractice cases, California limits non-economic damages under Civil Code §3333.2. That cap does not apply to ordinary accident cases.
Types of compensation available in a California injury claim
| Category | What it covers | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Economic damages | Measurable financial losses | Medical bills, future medical care, lost wages, lost earning capacity, property damage |
| Non-economic damages | Human, non-monetary losses | Pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life |
| Punitive damages | Punishment for egregious conduct | Awarded in cases of malice, oppression, or fraud (e.g., DUI, intentional harm) |
| Medical malpractice cap (2026) | Non-economic cap for medical negligence | $470,000 (injury) / $650,000 (wrongful death) — Civ. Code §3333.2 |
Get Samer on your side. Call (415) 870-8708 or contact us online for a free consultation.
What should I do after an accident in San Francisco?
After a San Francisco accident, protect your safety and get medical care first. Then save evidence. Do not give a recorded statement to the other side’s insurer before you talk to an attorney. What you do in the first hours and days can make or break your case. Follow these steps.
- Get medical help. Call 911; San Francisco’s Level I trauma center is Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital & Trauma Center, 1001 Potrero Avenue. Prompt treatment protects both your health and your claim.
- Report the incident. Call SFPD for a police report; report Muni/BART incidents to the transit agency.
- Document the scene. Photograph vehicles, hazards, injuries, and the surrounding area; get witness names and numbers.
- Exchange information — but do not admit fault or speculate about what happened.
- Do not sign or give a recorded statement to the at-fault insurer before getting legal advice.
- Call a personal injury attorney to preserve evidence (traffic-camera footage, black-box data) before it disappears.
How much does a San Francisco personal injury lawyer cost?
We handle San Francisco injury cases on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing up front and no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. The first consultation is free and private. Our fee is a share of the recovery, and we agree on it in writing before we start. This means your lawyer wins only when you win.
The San Francisco legal landscape
San Francisco is a dense city-county of about 826,000 people in just 46.7 square miles (U.S. Census, 2025). That density packs traffic, transit, and foot traffic close together — and it raises injury risk. The tight grid, heavy Muni and rideshare traffic, and steep, crowded streets cause many multi-party crashes. Our office at 575 Market Street is in the Financial District, minutes from the courthouse where most San Francisco injury lawsuits are decided.
- Where cases are filed: Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco — Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA 94102.
- Emergency & trauma care: Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital & Trauma Center (1001 Potrero Ave) — the only Level I trauma center serving San Francisco.
- Major roadways: US-101 (Central Freeway/Bayshore), I-80 (the Bay Bridge approach and Skyway), and I-280 (Junipero Serra Freeway).
- High-risk corridors: Market Street, Van Ness Avenue, and the streets of SoMa, the Tenderloin, and the Mission see a disproportionate share of severe crashes.
- Neighborhoods we serve: Financial District, SoMa, Union Square, Mission, Nob Hill, the Marina, Sunset, Richmond, and the greater Bay Area.
We also serve injury victims across California from offices in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Orange County.
Case results
Below are representative recoveries our attorneys have won for injured people across California, including results from the Northern and Central California region we serve from our San Francisco office. The office at 575 Market Street opened recently, so these are not San Francisco–venue verdicts; we will add San Francisco–specific results here as local cases close. Each regional result links to its full case summary.
Firm-wide highlights:
- $11,000,000 — commercial truck accident settlement
- $3,450,000 — motorcycle accident settlement
- $1,177,158 — pedestrian accident jury verdict
Results across the Northern & Central California region we serve:
Representative Northern & Central California results (each links to its full case summary)
| Amount | Case |
|---|---|
| $2,000,000 | Settlement for sexual misconduct by a school employee in San Joaquin County |
| $1,000,000 | Settlement for a sexual assault in a hotel/motel |
| $800,000 | Bus accident in Tulare County |
| $425,000 | Rideshare accident in Rohnert Park, CA |
| $400,000 | Pedestrian accident in Vallejo |
| $370,000 | Truck accident in Bakersfield |
| $300,000 | Disputed-liability truck accident on I-880 in Fremont, CA |
| $249,999.99 | T-bone auto accident claim |
| $140,000 | Broken-sidewalk trip & fall in Kern County |
| $115,000 | Gym accident (premises liability) in Kern County |
See more of our verdicts and settlements and read client reviews.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different, and the value of any claim depends on its own facts.
Fast answers: Who, What, Why, When, Where, How
- Who can file an injury claim in San Francisco? Anyone injured by another party’s negligence — and, in fatal cases, surviving spouses, domestic partners, children, and certain dependents (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §377.60).
- What can I recover? Medical bills, lost income, future care, property damage, and pain and suffering — plus punitive damages in egregious cases.
- Why hire a local SF firm? Local counsel knows San Francisco’s courts, insurers, transit agencies, and roadways, and can move fast to preserve evidence.
- When must I act? Generally within 2 years (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §335.1) — or 6 months for claims against a public entity (Cal. Gov. Code §911.2).
- Where is my case filed? Usually the San Francisco County Superior Court, Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister Street.
- How much does it cost? Nothing up front — we work on contingency and charge no fee unless we win.
Contact our San Francisco personal injury office
If you were injured in San Francisco, call Samer Habbas & Associates at (415) 870-8708 for a free, no-obligation consultation. We answer 24/7, work on contingency, and can come to you if you are hospitalized.
Law Offices of Samer Habbas & Associates, P.C.
575 Market Street, 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: (415) 870-8708
Hours: Open 24 hours (intake)
Serving: San Francisco and the greater Bay Area
Request your free consultation →
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in San Francisco?
Generally two years from the date of injury under California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1. Claims against a government entity such as Muni, BART, or the City require a written claim within six months (Cal. Gov. Code §911.2). Confirm your deadline with an attorney right away.
Do I have a case if I was partly at fault?
Yes. California follows pure comparative negligence (Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 1975), so you can recover even if you were partly to blame — your compensation is simply reduced by your percentage of fault.
How much does it cost to hire Samer Habbas & Associates?
Nothing up front. We work on a contingency-fee basis, so you pay no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. The consultation is free.
What if the driver who hit me had no insurance?
About 20.4% of California drivers are uninsured (Insurance Research Council, 2023). If you carry uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, you may be able to recover through your own policy. We can review your coverage and identify every source of recovery.
How much is my San Francisco injury case worth?
It depends on the severity of your injuries, your economic losses, and liability. Cases range widely — our representative results include settlements and verdicts from six figures to $11 million. A free case review is the best way to get a realistic estimate.
Which court will handle my San Francisco injury case?
Most San Francisco civil injury lawsuits are filed at the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco — Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA 94102.
How long will my case take?
Some claims settle in a few months; cases that require litigation can take a year or more. We push for the best result as efficiently as possible and keep you informed at every step.
Do I have to go to court?
Most personal injury cases settle without a trial. If the insurer refuses a fair offer, we are prepared to file suit and take your case to a San Francisco jury.
What is the deadline to sue Muni or the City after a bus or transit injury?
Claims against public entities like SFMTA/Muni or the City and County of San Francisco require a written government claim within six months of the incident (Cal. Gov. Code §911.2) — much shorter than the standard two-year deadline.
Is there a cap on damages in California injury cases?
No cap applies to ordinary accident cases. A cap applies only to non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases — $470,000 for injury and $650,000 for wrongful death in 2026, rising annually under Civil Code §3333.2.
What should I not do after an accident?
Do not admit fault, do not give a recorded statement to the at-fault insurer, and do not accept a quick settlement before you understand the full extent of your injuries. Talk to an attorney first.
Can I still file a claim for a loved one who died in an accident?
Yes. Surviving spouses, domestic partners, children, and certain dependents can bring a wrongful death claim within two years (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §377.60 & §335.1). We handle these cases with care and determination.
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