If you were hurt in a crash anywhere in the Bay Area, you can get a free consultation with a car accident lawyer today — confidential, unhurried, and with zero obligation to hire me. I am John J. Roach, a bilingual San Francisco personal injury attorney with extensive trial experience and more than $25 million recovered for injured clients in settlements, jury verdicts, and arbitration awards. Call (415) 851-4557 — I take calls evenings and weekends, because crashes don’t keep business hours.
What a Free Car Accident Consultation Actually Includes
A consultation with my office is not a sales call with an intake screener. You talk to me — the attorney who would handle your case. In that first conversation, I will:
- Listen to exactly what happened, in English or Spanish, without rushing you
- Give you an honest early read on liability — who is legally at fault and what evidence will prove it
- Identify every insurance policy that may apply: the other driver’s, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, umbrella policies, and rideshare coverage if Uber or Lyft was involved
- Explain the deadlines that apply to you — including the six-month government claim deadline if a Muni bus, city vehicle, or dangerous public road was involved
- Tell you what your claim may realistically be worth, and just as honestly, tell you if I don’t think you need a lawyer at all
Why Talk to a Lawyer Before the Insurance Company
Within days of a crash, the other driver’s insurer will call you. The adjuster is friendly, and the call is recorded. Their job is to close your claim cheaply: to get you to minimize your injuries, accept partial fault, or take a quick settlement before you know how badly you’re hurt. Once you sign a release, the case is over — even if you need surgery six months later.
A free consultation flips that dynamic. Thirty minutes with me costs you nothing and tells you what the insurer already knows: what the claim is worth, what evidence matters, and what mistakes to avoid. That’s why I tell every caller — talk to a lawyer first, even if you never hire one.
No Fee Unless I Win — How the Contingency Fee Works
- No money up front. Not for the consultation, not to open the case, not for filing fees or investigators — I advance the case costs.
- No hourly bills. My fee is a percentage of what I recover for you, agreed in writing before we start.
- No recovery, no fee. If I don’t win compensation for you, you owe me nothing.
This is how a hotel housekeeper and a tech executive can hire the same trial lawyer: the quality of your case matters, not the size of your bank account.
Serving Car Accident Victims Across the Entire Bay Area
From my office at 1388 Sutter Street in San Francisco, I represent crash victims throughout the region — San Francisco, Daly City, Oakland, Berkeley, San Jose, San Mateo, Fremont, Hayward, Concord, Richmond, and Sunnyvale. Most of a case can be handled by phone, video, and email — and if your injuries make travel difficult, we work around you, not the other way.
What to Have Ready (If You Can)
Photos of the vehicles and scene, the other driver’s insurance information, the police report number, your own auto policy, and any medical paperwork or discharge instructions. Missing pieces are completely fine — collecting evidence is my job, not yours. Camera footage, vehicle data, and witness memories fade fast, which is the single best reason not to wait.
What Happens After the Consultation
If we work together, the path is clear: I open the investigation and preserve evidence; you focus on medical treatment while I deal with every adjuster; when your recovery stabilizes, I build a demand backed by records and, where needed, experts; then I negotiate from strength — and if the insurer won’t pay what the case is worth, I file suit and prepare for trial. Insurers track which lawyers actually try cases. That reputation is what moves offers.
Consulta Gratis en Español — Sin Intérpretes
Soy completamente bilingüe. Atiendo a la comunidad hispana del Área de la Bahía directamente en español — llamadas, documentos y preparación del caso, sin intérpretes y sin importar su estatus migratorio. Lea más sobre la consulta gratuita en español.
Free Consultation FAQs
Is the consultation really free — what’s the catch?
There is none. The consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation. I only earn a fee if I take your case and win it.
How long does it take?
Usually 20–40 minutes. Complicated cases take longer, and that’s fine — you will not be rushed off the phone.
How do I know if I even have a case?
That’s precisely what the consultation answers. Generally, you may have a case if someone else’s carelessness caused your injuries. If you don’t have one, I’ll tell you directly and explain why.
I already gave the insurance company a statement. Is it too late?
No — call anyway. Earlier missteps can usually be managed, but don’t give any further recorded statements until we talk.
How soon after the accident should I call?
As soon as you reasonably can. In California you generally have two years to file an injury claim — but only six months for claims against government entities, and key evidence disappears within days.
What if I can’t come to San Francisco?
You don’t need to. Phone and video consultations work for clients across the Bay Area, and I can arrange to meet injured clients where they are.
Get Your Free Consultation Today
Call (415) 851-4557 now, or start with my consultation request form and I’ll get back to you promptly. The conversation is free. The information could change your case.