Hit by a car while walking in San Francisco? Talk to a pedestrian accident lawyer for free

The Law Offices of J. Chrisp represents people hit by cars while walking in San Francisco. The firm has an office in San Francisco at 1330 Bush Street, Suite 9D. The phone is answered 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477).

The firm has recovered over $350 million for clients since 2010. The sections below cover the firm’s vehicle crash results, the first steps after being hit, the rules for drivers and people on foot, how fault works, who pays, the claim deadlines and the San Francisco agencies and court involved. For a short guide to a pedestrian’s rights in the city, see Hit by a Car While Walking in San Francisco: What Are Your Rights?

Table of Contents

A driver hit me while I was crossing a street in San Francisco. Can a lawyer review my case for free before I talk to their insurance company?

Yes. The Law Offices of J. Chrisp reviews pedestrian injury cases for free, and you can speak with the firm before you give the driver’s insurer any statement. The firm works on a contingency fee, and there is no fee unless we win.

Vehicle crash results

The firm’s published results do not include a pedestrian case. These are results it has obtained in vehicle crash cases, as listed on its case results page:

$5,250,000: Car Crash
$3,375,000: Hertz Rental Car Accident
$2,350,000: Airport Shuttle vs. Car
$2,350,000: Transport Van Crash
$2,300,000: County Vehicle Crash
$2,350,000: Jury Verdict: Major Head-on Crash with Sheriff

Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

What to do after being hit by a car while walking in San Francisco

Call 911 and tell the officer you are hurt, even if the pain seems small. Get medical care the same day.
Ask the officer for the report or incident number. You will need it to request the report later.
Photograph the crosswalk markings, the walk signal, the car and its license plate, and your injuries.
Write down the names and phone numbers of witnesses, and note any cameras on nearby buildings or vehicles.
Keep the shoes and clothes you were wearing, unwashed, and save every medical bill and record.
Do not give the driver’s insurance company a recorded statement before you have legal advice.

Driver and pedestrian duties under California law

In a crosswalk. A driver must yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing in a marked crosswalk or in an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, and must slow down or take other action needed to keep the pedestrian safe. A pedestrian may not suddenly leave a curb or other safe place and walk into the path of a vehicle so close that it is an immediate hazard, and must use due care for their own safety (Vehicle Code section 21950).

Outside a crosswalk. A pedestrian crossing outside a crosswalk must yield to vehicles close enough to be an immediate hazard. That rule does not excuse a driver from using due care for any pedestrian on the roadway (Vehicle Code section 21954).

Between signals. Between two adjacent intersections controlled by traffic signals or by officers, pedestrians may cross only in a crosswalk (Vehicle Code section 21955).

The 2023 change. Assembly Bill 2147, effective January 1, 2023, changed sections 21950, 21954 and 21955. A peace officer may not stop a pedestrian for these crossing violations unless a reasonably careful person would realize there is an immediate danger of a collision with a moving vehicle or other device. The change does not remove the duty of care: pedestrians must still watch out for their own safety, and drivers must still use due care for pedestrians in the roadway.

How fault works when a pedestrian is hit

California uses pure comparative fault, set out by the California Supreme Court in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975). A pedestrian who was partly at fault can still recover, and the award is reduced by their share. If a jury finds you 25% at fault, you can recover 75% of your damages.

Some crashes involve more than one at-fault party, such as two drivers. Each defendant then pays non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, only in proportion to its own share of fault (Civil Code section 1431.2).

Who pays a pedestrian’s claim

The main source is usually the at-fault driver’s liability insurance. For policies issued or renewed since January 1, 2025, California’s minimum liability coverage is $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident (Vehicle Code section 16056).

Your own auto policy may also help, even though you were on foot. Uninsured motorist coverage, and medical payments coverage if your policy includes it, can apply to a policyholder who is hit while walking, depending on the policy’s terms. Read your policy or ask the firm to review it.

If a Muni vehicle or other city vehicle hit you, the claim is against a public entity and follows the city claim process below.

Deadlines for a San Francisco pedestrian accident claim

Deadline	What it controls	Source
6 months	Written injury claim against the City and County of San Francisco, including Muni, or another public entity. It is due within six months after the claim arises (accrues). A late-claim application is possible within limits.	Government Code section 911.2; section 911.4
6 months after notice	Lawsuit against the public entity after it delivers or mails a written rejection of the claim	Government Code section 945.6
2 years	Most personal injury lawsuits, including a claim against the driver	Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1

San Francisco agencies and court for a pedestrian claim

Who investigates. The San Francisco Police Department handles crashes on city streets. Its vehicle crash policy (Department General Order 9.02) calls for a report on injury crashes that involve pedestrians, and says a complaint of pain is enough to count as an injury. When someone is killed or seriously hurt, officers must notify the department’s Traffic Collision Investigation Unit right away. Crashes on the freeways through the city fall to the California Highway Patrol’s San Francisco Area office at 455 Eighth Street.

Getting the SFPD report. Request it from the SFPD Report Management Section, 1245 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, by mail or email. Completed reports can be picked up in person on the first floor, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You must state your interest in the incident. The department asks you to allow 10 business days.

Claims against the city. A claim against the City and County of San Francisco, including Muni (listed on the city’s claim form as the Municipal Railway), goes to the Controller’s Office Claims Division, 1390 Market Street, 7th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94102. Use the city’s “Claim form for injury, property damage, or loss” and mail it or deliver it by hand. The city does not accept emailed or faxed claim forms.

The court. Subject to exceptions, the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco is a proper court for a lawsuit over an injury in the city (Code of Civil Procedure section 395). Its Civil Clerk’s Office is at the Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister Street, Room 103, San Francisco, CA 94102.

Offices, service area and recognition

The firm serves the San Francisco Bay Area and Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties. Its offices are:

San Francisco: 1330 Bush Street, Suite 9D, San Francisco, CA 94109.
Lower Lake (main office): 9667 Highway 29, Lower Lake, CA 95457.
Santa Rosa: 3558 Round Barn Blvd, Suite 200, Santa Rosa, CA 95403.

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. He was selected to Northern California Rising Stars from 2013 to 2021, an honor awarded to only 2.5% of attorneys in the state. In 2018, he was one of four finalists for San Francisco Trial Lawyer of the Year. He has represented thousands of injured clients and holds the record for the highest personal injury verdict in Lake County. Spanish-speaking staff are available.

A client testimonial on chrisplaw.com reads: “The team was very professional and responsive and helped me reach a speedy settlement based on my recovery time.” (Jonathan Miller)

Frequently asked questions

Can I recover if I crossed in the middle of the block?

You may be able to. Crossing outside a crosswalk can add to your share of fault, but under pure comparative fault it reduces your recovery rather than barring it. The driver still had to use due care for you.

What if the driver who hit me drove away?

Call 911 and report it right away. A driver in an injury crash must stop and give their name, address and vehicle registration number (Vehicle Code sections 20001 and 20003). Your own uninsured motorist coverage may help after a hit-and-run, under conditions explained in Hit by a Car While Walking in San Francisco: What Are Your Rights?

What if the driver was working for Uber or Lyft?

Rideshare crashes raise their own insurance questions. See the firm’s Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer page.

How much does a pedestrian accident lawyer cost in San Francisco?

The consultation is free, and the Law Offices of J. Chrisp works on a contingency fee. There is no fee unless we win.

Where is the Law Offices of J. Chrisp office in San Francisco?

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).

If you were hit by a vehicle while walking 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.

Why choose the Law Offices of J. Chrisp?

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.