San Francisco Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

When a vehicle strikes you while you are walking in San Francisco, the physical and emotional trauma can overwhelm every aspect of your life. Medical bills mount while you’re unable to work, and insurance companies may pressure you to accept settlements that don’t address your long-term needs.

Alexander Law Group LLP has advocated for injured pedestrians throughout San Francisco for years. Our San Francisco pedestrian accident attorneys understand the dangerous intersections, know SFMTA regulations, and have helped clients pursue meaningful compensation after being hurt while navigating our city’s streets. We offer consultations in English and Spanish while treating every client with respect and personal attention during this difficult time.

Key Takeaways

• San Francisco pedestrians have strong legal protections under California law, including the right to pursue compensation even when partially at fault for an accident under pure comparative negligence
• Evidence collection starts immediately—medical records, witness statements, and surveillance footage from nearby businesses often disappear within days
• Insurance companies frequently blame pedestrians for accidents to minimize payouts, making experienced legal representation important for pursuing fair compensation
• California’s two-year statute of limitations for pedestrian accidents means it’s important to take action promptly while focusing on your recovery
• Many pedestrian accident cases settle without trial, but having attorneys prepared to fight in court may strengthen your negotiating position

Understanding Pedestrian Accident Compensation in San Francisco

Factors That May Affect Your Claim

The severity of injuries largely influences compensation amounts. Pedestrians tend to suffer more severe injuries than vehicle occupants, leading to higher medical costs and longer recovery periods. Our attorneys evaluate each element that may impact your claim’s value.

Your medical expenses extend beyond emergency room visits. Future surgeries, physical therapy, psychological counseling for trauma, and home modifications for permanent disabilities all factor into compensation discussions. Lost wages include not just missed work days but potential career impacts if injuries prevent you from returning to your previous occupation.

Here are the primary categories of compensation that may be available:

• Economic damages: Financial losses, including medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and transportation costs to medical appointments 
• Non-economic damages: Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and impact on personal relationships
• Future damages: Ongoing medical care, reduced earning capacity, and long-term care needs for permanent injuries 

Understanding these categories helps you recognize when insurance offers may fall short. Many initial settlements only address immediate medical bills, ignoring long-term impacts on your life.

How Attorneys Work to Improve Your Recovery

Insurance companies employ teams that work to minimize payouts. Experienced legal representation helps level this playing field. We gather evidence, evaluate long-term care needs, and when appropriate, consult medical experts to support your claim. We also assess wage losses, including lost benefits and missed career opportunities.

Our approach might include consulting vocational experts when injuries affect your career and working with economists to properly value future losses. This comprehensive strategy may reveal claim values higher than initial insurance offers suggest.

San Francisco’s Pedestrian Accident Landscape

High-Risk Areas for Pedestrians

Certain San Francisco locations see repeated pedestrian accidents. According to SFMTA’s Vision Zero data, the High Injury Network represents 12% of city street miles but captures 68% of severe and fatal injuries. Market Street remains challenging for pedestrians navigating between cars, buses, and bicycles. The intersection at 6th and Mission sees frequent accidents due to heavy foot traffic and driving behaviors.

Van Ness Avenue’s wide lanes may encourage speeding, creating risks even in marked crosswalks. Geary Boulevard, particularly between Fillmore and Masonic, has been identified as a corridor needing safety improvements through the Vision Zero High Injury Network mapping.

Local Factors Contributing to Accidents

Certain local conditions increase the risk of pedestrian injuries in San Francisco. From congested tourist zones to rideshare activity near busy intersections, these factors contribute to accidents involving serious harm. Recognizing these hazards helps explain how and why many pedestrian injuries occur throughout the city:

• Tourism congestion: Visitors unfamiliar with traffic patterns near Fisherman’s Wharf and Union Square
• Rideshare pickups: Drivers stopping suddenly or blocking crosswalks
• Construction zones: Ongoing development forcing pedestrians into temporary walkways
• Shared mobility devices: E-scooters and bicycles creating collision risks

These factors may strengthen your case when properly documented. Our attorneys understand which dangerous conditions have been reported to city agencies.

California Laws Protecting Pedestrians

California Vehicle Code provides strong protections for pedestrians. Under CVC § 21950, drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. Additionally, CVC § 21954 requires drivers to exercise due care to avoid collisions, even when pedestrians cross outside designated areas. These laws establish that drivers maintain responsibility for pedestrian safety regardless of crossing location.

The state’s pure comparative negligence law, established under California Civil Code § 1714, allows recovery even if you’re partially at fault. Our attorneys present evidence to reduce the fault attributed to you and support the strongest possible case regarding the driver’s responsibility. Our goal is to demonstrate the driver bore primary responsibility.

Common Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Pedestrians lack protection against impact, making head injuries common. Even mild concussions may cause lasting effects, while severe TBIs can permanently alter abilities. Our attorneys work with neurologists when appropriate to document both immediate and long-term impacts.

Orthopedic and Spinal Injuries

Vehicle impact often causes fractures and spinal damage. Complex fractures may require multiple surgeries, while spinal injuries can result in chronic pain or mobility limitations. We document how these injuries affect your daily activities and independence.

Internal Injuries and Delayed Symptoms

Internal bleeding, abdominal trauma, or organ damage may not show symptoms immediately after a pedestrian accident. The adrenaline rush following trauma can mask serious injuries for hours or even days. Without prompt diagnosis, these injuries can worsen significantly—often requiring emergency surgery and long-term monitoring.

Our attorneys ensure such delayed-onset injuries are not overlooked in your claim. We work with medical professionals when necessary who understand trauma patterns in pedestrian accidents and can identify subtle signs of internal damage that emergency rooms might miss during initial evaluations.

Psychological Trauma After Pedestrian Accidents

The emotional impact of being struck while walking extends far beyond physical injuries. Many clients develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), experiencing flashbacks when approaching intersections. Anxiety about crossing streets can limit independence and affect employment.

Depression following serious injuries is common, particularly with permanent disabilities. Our attorneys recognize psychological injuries as legitimate damages requiring professional treatment. We may consult mental health professionals with experience in trauma care to help document these invisible injuries when appropriate.

Long-Term Effects of Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injuries often receive less attention than broken bones or head trauma. Yet these injuries can cause chronic pain that disrupts sleep, limits mobility, and reduces quality of life for years. Insurance companies frequently minimize soft tissue injuries as “minor,” but we understand their lasting effects.

Chronic pain affects work performance, family relationships, and overall wellbeing. Our approach includes working with pain management specialists who can document the ongoing nature of these injuries. Our experience helps us anticipate insurance company tactics for minimizing these injuries’ impacts and build stronger cases for comprehensive compensation.

Fighting Insurance Companies After Your Accident

Common Insurance Company Tactics

Insurance adjusters may claim you were distracted, wearing dark clothing, or crossed outside designated areas. These tactics aim to shift blame and reduce their financial responsibility. They may request unnecessary statements or offer quick settlements before you understand your injuries’ extent.

How Legal Representation Helps

Our involvement demonstrates you won’t accept unfair treatment. We handle insurance communications, preventing adjusters from taking advantage during your recovery. Our team obtains traffic camera footage before deletion, interviews witnesses while memories remain fresh, and documents conditions contributing to your accident.

We coordinate with medical providers for proper injury documentation and calculate claim values based on similar cases. This approach may result in more favorable settlements than initial offers.

Critical Time Limits for San Francisco Pedestrian Accident Claims

Understanding California’s Statute of Limitations

California law provides two years from your accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. This deadline is absolute—missing it typically eliminates your right to pursue compensation, regardless of injury severity. While two years may seem sufficient, building a strong case takes time, especially when you’re dealing with serious injuries requiring ongoing treatment.

Acting promptly preserves crucial evidence and strengthens your position during negotiations. Insurance companies know that approaching deadlines weakens your leverage, as you lose the option to file suit if settlement talks fail. 

Special Rules for Government Entity Claims

When your accident involves government entities—such as being struck by a Muni bus, injured due to defective crosswalk signals, or hurt in poorly maintained public property—different rules apply. California Government Code § 911.2 requires filing an administrative claim within six months of the accident before pursuing a lawsuit.

This shortened timeline catches many victims unaware. Missing this deadline generally bars recovery against government entities, even when they bear clear responsibility. You must file the proper Government Claims Form with the correct agency. Our attorneys understand these special procedures and ensure all required claims are filed promptly while you focus on recovery.

Why Early Action Matters

Beyond legal deadlines, practical considerations make early action crucial. Surveillance footage gets overwritten, witnesses become harder to locate, and accident scene conditions change. Starting your case early allows thorough investigation while evidence remains available. It also demonstrates to insurance companies that you take your claim seriously, often leading to better settlement offers.

What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident

Protecting Your Health and Legal Rights

Follow all medical advice and attend appointments. Insurance companies may use missed appointments to argue injuries aren’t serious. Keep a journal documenting pain levels, mobility limitations, and recovery challenges.

Maintain copies of all accident-related documents, including police reports, medical records, and insurance correspondence. Photograph injuries regularly as they heal to demonstrate impact severity.

Building Your Case

Contact our office before giving recorded statements to insurance companies. We prepare you for any necessary statements and attend when possible. Document financial losses by saving receipts for medications, medical equipment, and transportation to appointments.

Important steps for preserving your claim:

• Evidence preservation: Keep damaged clothing and personal items from the accident
• Witness information: Collect contact details from anyone who saw the accident
• Medical compliance: Following treatment plans demonstrates injury seriousness

These early steps significantly impact your case’s potential success. Our team guides you through each phase of the legal process.

When Drivers Were Working During Your Accident

If the driver who struck you was working—delivering food, transporting passengers, or making commercial deliveries—their employer may share liability. Companies like Uber, DoorDash, Amazon, and FedEx can be held responsible when their drivers cause pedestrian accidents during work hours.

This additional liability avenue often leads to more comprehensive compensation, as commercial insurance policies typically carry higher limits. However, companies aggressively defend these claims.

San Francisco’s streets teem with rideshare and delivery drivers. When these drivers strike pedestrians while logged into work apps, multiple insurance policies may apply. Our attorneys investigate all employment angles to identify every possible source of recovery.

FAQ for San Francisco Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

What if I was partially at fault for the accident?

California’s pure comparative negligence law allows recovery even when pedestrians bear some fault. Your compensation may be reduced by your fault percentage but isn’t eliminated. Our attorneys work to minimize your assigned fault percentage while emphasizing driver negligence through evidence and expert testimony.

How long do pedestrian accident cases typically take to resolve?

Case duration varies based on injury severity and liability disputes. Simple cases with clear liability may settle within months, while complex cases involving severe injuries or disputed fault may take longer. Our attorneys work efficiently while ensuring each case is thoroughly prepared to support a strong and well-documented claim.

What types of compensation might be available beyond medical bills?

Compensation in pedestrian accident cases extends far beyond immediate medical expenses. You may pursue damages for lost wages, including future earning capacity if injuries prevent you from returning to your previous work. Non-economic damages address pain, suffering, and diminished quality of life. Property damage to items you carried, like phones, laptops, and jewelry, also qualifies for compensation. Our attorneys evaluate every aspect of how the accident impacted your life to pursue comprehensive recovery.

What if the driver who hit me was uninsured?

Uninsured motorist coverage from your auto insurance or a household member’s policy may provide compensation. We explore all available coverage options and may pursue claims against other potentially liable parties, such as employers if the driver was working under California Civil Code § 2338 (respondeat superior doctrine).

Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company?

We recommend consulting with an attorney before providing any statements to insurance companies. Adjusters may use your words to minimize claims. Our attorneys handle these communications to protect your interests.

What costs are involved in hiring a pedestrian accident attorney?

Alexander Law Group LLP works on a contingency fee basis. You pay no upfront costs or attorney fees unless we successfully recover compensation for your case. This arrangement, standard in California personal injury cases according to the California State Bar, allows you to focus on recovery without financial stress.

Take the Next Step to Protect Your Rights

Being struck as a pedestrian in San Francisco can disrupt every aspect of your life. Medical bills accumulate, work becomes impossible, and insurance companies may blame you for someone else’s negligence. You need advocates who understand both your immediate challenges and long-term needs.

Alexander Law Group LLP combines San Francisco knowledge with proven legal strategies to pursue meaningful compensation for injured pedestrians. Our bilingual team ensures language never creates a barrier to access to quality representation. California law provides protections for pedestrian rights, but these protections require action to enforce. Don’t let insurance companies minimize your injuries or unfairly assign blame. Contact San Francisco personal injury lawyer at (408) 289-1776 today for your free consultation. Let us show you why injured pedestrians throughout San Francisco trust us to fight for the compensation your injuries and recovery may justify under California law.

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Alexander Law Group, LLP – San Francisco Office
Address:1 Sansome St., Ste. 3500
San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: 408-289-1776