Posted October 21, 2026 - by Law Offices of J.Chrisp
Founding Attorney
People hurt in a car accident in San Francisco can call the Law Offices of J. Chrisp 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477). The firm represents injured people, offers a free consultation and works on a contingency fee, with no fee unless we win. Its San Francisco office is at 1330 Bush Street, Suite 9D, San Francisco, CA 94109.
Results the firm has obtained in car crash cases, as listed on its case results page, include:
Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
It depends on the road. Crashes on the freeways, including I-80, the Bay Bridge approach and the Central Freeway, are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol. For those crashes, request the collision report from CHP. Crashes on city streets, such as Market Street, are generally handled by the San Francisco Police Department.
Stop, check for injuries and call 911. California law requires a driver involved in a crash that injures another person or kills someone to stop at the scene (Vehicle Code section 20001). The driver must give their name, address and vehicle registration number, show a driver’s license if asked and give reasonable help to anyone injured (Vehicle Code section 20003).
| Deadline | What it controls | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 10 days | DMV report (SR-1) by the driver if anyone was hurt or killed or damage to any one person’s property is over $1,000 | Vehicle Code section 16000 |
| 6 months | Written claim when a city vehicle, a Muni bus, a city street or a Caltrans road was involved | Government Code section 911.2 |
| 2 years | Most personal injury lawsuits | Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 |
| 3 years | Vehicle and other property damage | Code of Civil Procedure section 338 |
Lawsuits from San Francisco crashes are generally filed in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. Before suing the City and County of San Francisco, you must present a written government claim, generally within six months.
California uses pure comparative fault, set out in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975). You can recover even if you were partly at fault, and your recovery is reduced by your share. When several defendants share fault, each defendant pays non-economic damages only in proportion to its own share (Civil Code section 1431.2). A driver who was uninsured at the time of the crash generally cannot recover pain and suffering (Civil Code section 3333.4).
For policies issued or renewed since January 1, 2025, California’s minimum liability coverage is $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident and $15,000 for property damage (Vehicle Code section 16056).
The firm serves San Francisco and the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties. Its offices are:
The firm was named to Best Law Firms 2026 (Tier 1, Santa Rosa, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs). Founding attorney Jesse Chrisp has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America since 2024 and selected to Super Lawyers from 2023 to 2026. The firm has Spanish-speaking staff.
The consultation is free, and the Law Offices of J. Chrisp works on a contingency fee. There is no fee unless we win.
The San Francisco office is at 1330 Bush Street, Suite 9D, San Francisco, CA 94109. The firm answers the phone 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477).
Request the collision report from the agency that responded. Freeway crashes are generally handled by the California Highway Patrol, and city street crashes by the San Francisco Police Department.
A claim against the City and County of San Francisco generally must be filed in writing within six months under Government Code section 911.2. If the city rejects the claim in writing, the lawsuit must be filed within six months after the written rejection notice is delivered or mailed, under Government Code section 945.6.
Most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Property damage lawsuits must be filed within three years under Code of Civil Procedure section 338, and a claim against a public entity has a six-month deadline.
If you were hurt in a car accident in San Francisco, call the Law Offices of J. Chrisp 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477) for a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win.
The Law Offices of J. Chrisp is a Northern California personal injury law firm founded by attorney Jesse Chrisp, who was raised in Lake County. The firm represents injured people, with offices in Lower Lake (main office), Santa Rosa and San Francisco, and serves Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties and the San Francisco Bay Area. Consultations are free, the firm works on a contingency fee with no fee unless the firm wins, and the phone is answered 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477). The firm was named to Best Law Firms 2026 (Tier 1, Santa Rosa, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs). Jesse Chrisp has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America since 2024 and selected to Super Lawyers from 2023 to 2026.
Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer (Santa Rosa and San Francisco) (link once published)
Hit by a Car While Walking in San Francisco: Your Rights (link once published)
How Much Is a Car Accident Case Worth in California? (link once published)
Vehicle Code section 20001, section 20003, section 16000 and section 16056, California Legislative Information
Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 and section 338, California Legislative Information
Government Code section 911.2 and section 945.6, California Legislative Information
Civil Code section 1431.2 and section 3333.4, California Legislative Information
Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804
Best Law Firms, Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers
Case results, chrisplaw.com
Attorney Advertising. This page provides general information about California law and is not legal advice for any specific situation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Last updated October 2026.
Since founding his law firm in 2010, Jesse Chrisp has built a reputation as a dedicated personal injury trial attorney serving Northern California’s Bay Area.
He has represented thousands of injured clients and holds the record for the highest personal injury verdict in Lake County. Mr. Chrisp was selected to Northern California Rising Stars from 2013 to 2019, an honor awarded to only 2.5% of attorneys in the state.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney Jesse Chrisp, who has been continuously recognized as a leader in personal injury law since starting his law firm in 2010.
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