San Francisco Car Accidents
The city of San Francisco, with 883,405 residents in 2018, is the 4th largest in California and the 13th most populated in the United States. The bustling financial, cultural, and commercial hub of Northern California covers a mere 46.89 miles, making it the second most densely populated American city. The large number of people in such a small space makes it no surprise that car accidents as well as resulting injuries and fatalities are all too common.
San Francisco Car Accident Causes and Statistics
San Francisco is a dangerous city for motorists, as well as pedestrians and bicyclists interacting with them. Until 2016, San Francisco had been averaging 30 traffic fatalities and over 500 “serious” accident injuries annually.
To combat this trend, at the urging of Mayor Lee the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency started Vision Zero SF program in 2014 to try and eliminate all traffic fatalities through analysis, street engineering, traffic law enforcement by police, and safety awareness campaigns. There has been some success – only 20 traffic fatalities were recorded in 2017, which was fewest in recorded city history.
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the region’s transportation planning agency, found during a 2017 study that though more long-distance commuters and an increasing population may account for a small amount of the traffic fatalities, the main factor in fatal San Francisco car accidents is unsafe driving behavior – specifically:
- Speeding,
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and
- Unsafe turning.
Another factor that according to experts may be contributing to a lesser extent is distracted driving behavior such as: texting and driving, checking phones, and using interactive vehicle touch screens on the road. A slower rate of new safety feature development and adoption could also play a part in the large number of accidents in San Francisco.
Most if not all these motor vehicle accident causes can be avoided through improved driver attention and awareness. These behaviors, as well as other negligent or reckless conduct behind the wheel can spur accidents and potentially catastrophic, permanent, or even fatal injuries.
Steps to Take When You Are Involved in a Car Accident in San Francisco
If you are involved in a San Francisco car accident, some simple actions can greatly improve your odds of recovery, protect your rights, and strengthen any potential personal injury claims you bring.
- Get medical care – even if you think you’re not injured, it is important to put your health first and be seen by a medical professional. Some injuries may not present symptoms immediately, and it is best to avoid worsening injuries you may have sustained and receive proper treatment. Follow doctor recommendations, attend appointments, and take medicine as prescribed.
- Notify police – if you can, call the police at once. Give a detailed statement and keep a copy of their report.
- Get witness information and collect evidence – if possible, take photographs of the accident scene and get the contact information of anyone who may have witnessed the accident.
- Gather records – it is important to have evidence to substantiate your injury claims in court, so you should retain all hospital records, insurance reports, accident records, paystubs to show lost wages, and receipts reflecting expenses you have incurred because of your car accident.
- Contact a knowledgeable San Francisco personal injury attorney – if you were injured through the fault of another, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. An experienced car accident attorney can explain your options to you and help guide you through the process.
Bringing Legal Claims for Compensation
If you are injured in a San Francisco car accident caused by another person, you are entitled to compensation for the harms you have suffered physically, psychologically, emotionally, and financially. If you bring a personal injury claim against the responsible party, their insurance company will usually pay if their insured driver was at fault. If you can establish the driver acted negligently, you may be awarded financial compensation for losses suffered due to your injury such as hospital bills, lost wages, and property damage. You may also recover damages as compensation for injuries that have no fixed price tag like emotional distress or loss of consortium. In certain circumstances, if you can show the driver acted in a particularly vile or reprehensible manner and satisfy additional criteria, you may also receive an award of punitive damages intended to punish the other driver’s bad behavior.
If someone you love was killed in a San Francisco car accident, a wrongful death claim may be filed against the responsible party. Though it cannot bring your loved one back, a wrongful death claim may help you with unexpected financial expenses related to their death and help you get your life back on track. You may be able to recover damages to help cover medical bills, your loved one’s lost earnings from which you expected to benefit, and funeral expenses.
Speak with An Attorney About Your San Francisco Car Accident Claim
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in San Francisco, it is highly advisable you contact the skilled auto accident attorneys at Daneshrad Law today to understand your options, protect your rights, and pursue the course of action most likely to deliver the compensation you deserve. San Francisco car accident attorney Alan Daneshrad has spent years advocating tirelessly for victims just like you to get the maximum amount financial compensation possible so you can get your life back on track after a traumatic injury or the sudden loss of a loved one in a car accident. With an experienced attorney representing you, you can focus on your recovery and let us navigate the complicated waters of proving negligence, substantiating damages, defeating defense arguments, and understanding insurance laws.
Our attorneys at Daneshrad Law are knowledgeable and have the skill you want when you decide to pursue a personal injury or wrongful death claim for your San Francisco car accident. Contact us today at (310) 858-8239 or toll free at (888) 881-3529 to schedule a free, no obligation initial case consultation. Let us evaluate the facts of your unique case and deliver personalized representation to secure the best possible outcome for you from an unfortunate situation.
