I am a San Francisco personal injury attorney. I handle every case myself — from your first call to the day we settle or win at trial. You will not be passed off to an associate or a paralegal. You work with me. That’s the difference.
I represent clients throughout the Bay Area and beyond — San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Daly City, South San Francisco, San Mateo, Marin, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sacramento counties. Wherever your accident happened, I know the local courts, the judges, and the tactics the insurance companies use in that venue.
If you’ve been seriously injured in a car accident, truck collision, pedestrian incident, or any other accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you need an attorney who will treat your case with the personal care it deserves. That’s exactly what you get here.
A Proven Track Record of Success for Injury Victims
Since 2009, I have represented injury victims throughout the Bay Area. I have recovered more than $25 million in settlements, jury verdicts, and arbitration awards for victims of serious injuries. My results speak to my ability to secure substantial recoveries in challenging cases:
- $6 million settlement for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle who suffered a traumatic brain injury
- $2.185 million settlement in another traumatic brain injury case (pedestrian vs. auto)
- $1.6 million settlement for a client with multiple severe fractures and long-term disability (pedestrian vs. auto)
- $750,000 arbitration award in an underinsured motorist (UIM) claim involving mild traumatic brain injury from a rear-end collision — far exceeding the insurer’s initial offer, after proving the long-term cognitive and emotional impacts through expert evidence and strategic advocacy
- $650,000 settlement for lumbar spine injury affecting work (auto vs. auto)
- $495,000 settlement for lumbar spine injury requiring spinal cord stimulator (auto vs. auto)
- $425,000 settlement for slip and fall with disputed liability and mild traumatic brain injury
- $300,000 jury verdict in Converse v. Adkins (Alameda Superior Court No. RG21109307, 2025) — a dog owner negligence case where the jury awarded full non-economic damages with no reduction for comparative fault, after a trial emphasizing foreseeability and the sudden emergency doctrine (no physical contact between dog and victim)
- $200,000 settlement for spinal injury (auto vs. auto)
- $100,000 jury verdict for lumbar spine injury (auto vs. auto collision)
These are not outlier results. They reflect a consistent ability to secure life-changing compensation in complex car accident cases, brain injury claims, spinal cord injuries, wrongful death matters, rideshare/Uber/Lyft collisions, dog attacks, and underinsured motorist arbitrations.
Insurance companies know that when I am on the other side, they are dealing with an attorney who is fully prepared to take the case to trial or binding arbitration if that is what justice requires. Notable arbitration successes include cases against major insurers like CSAA, where strategic presentation of evidence led to favorable awards validating severe injuries and rejecting low offers.
Recognition and Client Reviews
- Super Lawyers: 2021–2026 (Rising Stars prior to that)
- Avvo: 10.0 “Superb” rating
- Yelp: 4.8/5 stars across 26+ reviews
- Google: 5.0 stars across dozens of reviews
Super Lawyers recognition is awarded by fellow attorneys based on peer review and professional achievement. Clients describe me as thorough, transparent, and someone who — as one put it — “genuinely enjoys practicing law” and “brings integrity to that practice.” One reviewer, who couldn’t hire me due to a prior settlement, wrote that a single consultation left them with “a renewed faith in the law and what the client attorney relationship can potentially be.” Read client reviews →
I am trusted by fellow San Francisco trial attorneys as a preferred referral for serious personal injury and catastrophic injury cases throughout the Bay Area.
Thought Leadership & Commitment to the Legal Community
What truly sets me apart as a San Francisco personal injury attorney is my active role in advancing the profession and supporting fellow trial lawyers. I am a frequent contributor to the two most respected publications in the California plaintiffs’ bar, sharing practical insights, case analyses, and lessons from the courtroom.
Publications in Plaintiff Magazine
- “My First Trials” (February 2015) — Practical lessons from preparing and trying small cases as if they were million-dollar matters early in my career. Read the article | Download PDF
- Profile: John Roach (October 2019) — Full feature on my transition from prominent plaintiffs’ firms to building a successful solo practice, with mentorship insights. Read the profile | Download PDF
- “The In-Person Jury Trial During the Pandemic: One Lawyer’s Experience” (January 2021) — First-hand account of conducting the first in-person civil jury trial in San Francisco Superior Court after the March 2020 shutdown. Read the article | Download PDF
- “Converse v. Adkins as an Evolution of Palsgraf and the Law of Foreseeability” (June 2025) — In-depth analysis from my trial in Converse v. Adkins, examining jury instructions on the sudden emergency doctrine and foreseeability in negligence law. Read the article | Download PDF
Publications in The Trial Lawyer (SFTLA Magazine)
- “Enough: Plaintiff Attorneys Take on the Tenderloin” (Spring 2025 / May 2025 issue) — Article spotlighting impactful plaintiff-side work addressing issues in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district. View SFTLA Publications & Magazine Archives
- Interview / Feature with a San Francisco Superior Court Judge (July 2023 issue) — Reflective piece featuring a long-serving SF Superior Court judge, contributed via my Magazine Committee role. View SFTLA Publications & Magazine Archives
YouTube Channel and Legal Blog
I maintain an active YouTube channel as an educational resource for attorneys. The channel features real-world examples of various types of depositions, including videotaped expert and party depositions in personal injury cases. It has become a practical resource for attorneys building their deposition skills and sharpening their questioning techniques. In addition to depositions, the channel covers recent cases, trial insights, and topics like maximizing non-economic damages (e.g., the per diem method in catastrophic claims).
I also regularly publish on my legal blog, with in-depth posts on California personal injury law, car accident claims, traumatic brain injuries, underinsured motorist (UIM) arbitrations, wrongful death, spine injuries, and practical advice for injury victims — including what to do after a crash, navigating insurance, and maximizing compensation.
Legal Education and CLE Leadership
I serve as Co-Chair of the SFTLA Education Committee, where I help design and produce continuing legal education (CLE) programs for the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association. In February 2026, I organized and chaired the highly attended SFTLA Mental Health & Wellness CLE for Lawyers — a program addressing trial stress, wellness strategies, and support resources for attorneys facing the unique pressures of litigation.
I also presented “How to Market Your Firm as a LinkedIn Badass” in partnership with ADR Services, Inc. (September 2025), and continue to develop CLE programming and educational content for the San Francisco trial bar through my role on the SFTLA Education Committee.
Current Leadership in the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association (SFTLA)
I serve as a Board Member on the SFTLA Board of Directors. In a city where personal injury law is intensely competitive, this elected leadership role reflects the deep respect I have earned from my peers in the San Francisco plaintiffs’ bar. Few solo practitioners achieve this level of governance and influence within the organization that shapes trial practice in Northern California. View current SFTLA Board →
The Power of True Personal Attention
You have my cell phone number. Not a case manager’s, not an intake coordinator’s — mine. From the free first call to settlement or verdict, I am the attorney you reach. In car accident cases, quick decisions about medical care, insurance negotiations, and preserving evidence can mean the difference between fair compensation and a lowball offer.
An injury doesn’t just hurt your body. It disrupts your life, your family, and your financial future. That is why I offer:
- No fees unless we win (contingency fee basis)
- Free, no-obligation consultations — in person, by phone, or video
- Fluent Spanish-language representation
- Home and hospital visits when needed
- Aggressive pursuit of all available compensation — medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, future care, and more
Why Bay Area Injury Victims Choose My Firm
Big personal injury firms advertise heavily, then hand your case off to a junior associate. I don’t work that way. Clients choose me because I handle every case personally — and because I am respected by the judges, insurance companies, and fellow trial lawyers I face every day.
Whether your case involves a rear-end collision on the Bay Bridge, a T-bone crash in the Mission or Oakland, a pedestrian struck in downtown San Francisco or Berkeley, or a complex brain or spine injury anywhere from Marin to Santa Clara or Sacramento, I bring the same dedication, trial experience, and community leadership that have made me one of the most trusted solo practitioners in the region.
If you or a loved one has been injured, don’t settle for less than the best personal attention and results. Contact my office today for a free consultation. I will treat your case like it is the most important matter in my practice — because it is.
Call (415) 851-4557 or fill out my consultation form. I am ready to fight for you.
Frequently Asked Questions: John J. Roach — San Francisco Personal Injury Attorney
I have been fighting for injury victims throughout the Bay Area since 2009. I founded the Law Office of John J. Roach in 2015 as a solo practitioner dedicated to providing personalized, aggressive representation.
I have recovered over $25 million in settlements, jury verdicts, and arbitration awards for injured clients — including a $6 million settlement for a traumatic brain injury victim and a $2.185 million settlement in another TBI case.
Yes. I am fluent in Spanish and proudly serve the Bay Area’s Spanish-speaking community. All legal services are available in both English and Spanish.
I serve clients throughout the Bay Area including San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Daly City, South San Francisco, San Mateo, Marin, Alameda County, Contra Costa County, Santa Clara County, Solano County, and Sacramento.
Yes. I have been selected to Super Lawyers every year from 2021–2026 and was previously on the Rising Stars list. I serve as a Board Member of the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association and Co-Chair of the SFTLA Education Committee. I have a 10/10 Avvo rating and 4.8 stars on Yelp from 26+ reviews.
I handle car accidents, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, wrongful death, dog bites, slip and fall, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, motorcycle accidents, trucking accidents, and rideshare accidents involving Uber and Lyft. I work on a contingency fee basis — no fee unless we win. Browse common personal injury questions →
Are You an Attorney Looking to Refer a Client?
I welcome referrals from Bay Area attorneys for serious personal injury cases. I handle every referred case personally, keep referring counsel informed throughout, and manage all fee-sharing arrangements in full compliance with California Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 1.5.4.