I’m John J. Roach, a San Francisco personal injury attorney with extensive trial experience and a proven record of recovering more than $25 million for injured clients throughout the Bay Area. From catastrophic car, pedestrian, and bicycle accidents on Market Street and Van Ness to brain and spinal cord injuries caused by negligent drivers, rideshare vehicles, and dangerous premises, I handle every case personally from intake through resolution.
I work on a pure contingency fee basis — no recovery, no fee. You pay nothing unless we win.
Call 415-851-4557 for a free, no-obligation consultation. Evening and weekend appointments available. Home and hospital visits available. Hablo español.
Credentials & Recognition
- Super Lawyer — 2021 through 2026
- Avvo 10.0 Rating — “Superb” (highest possible)
- San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association — Board Member and Education Committee Co-Chair
- UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings) — J.D., 2008
- State Bar of California — #262885, licensed in all California state and federal courts
- $25 million+ recovered — through settlements, arbitrations, and verdicts for Bay Area injury victims
- Bilingual — full representation available in English or Spanish
What Is Personal Injury Law in California?
Personal injury law gives people hurt by someone else’s negligence the right to recover financial compensation. California is a fault-based state — the person or entity responsible for causing your injury is liable for your damages, and you can pursue their insurer directly. To win, four elements must be proven: duty of care, breach, causation, and damages. Every case I handle is built around proving all four with evidence.
California Personal Injury Laws You Need to Know
Statute of Limitations
In California, you generally have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. If your injury involves a government entity — such as the City of San Francisco, BART, or Muni — you must file a government tort claim within just six months. Missing these deadlines means permanently losing your right to compensation, regardless of how strong your case is. Contact me immediately after any injury to protect your rights.
Pure Comparative Negligence
California follows a pure comparative negligence rule. Even if you were partially at fault for your own injury, you can still recover damages. Your award is simply reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 30% at fault and your damages total $200,000, you still recover $140,000. Insurance companies work aggressively to assign you as much blame as possible — I push back with evidence to minimize any fault attributed to you.
No-Fault vs. Fault State
California is a fault state, not a no-fault state. This means you are not limited to your own insurance policy after an accident. You can pursue the at-fault party’s insurance directly for the full extent of your damages, including medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Mandatory Insurance Requirements
California requires drivers to carry minimum liability coverage of $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident as of January 1, 2025 — the first increase since 1967. These minimums are often far too low for serious injuries. When the at-fault driver is underinsured, I pursue your own Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage to make up the difference.
San Francisco Personal Injury Practice Areas
- Car Accident Attorney San Francisco — Rear-end collisions on hills, T-bone crashes at busy intersections, hit-and-runs, and multi-vehicle pile-ups on city streets and freeways. Recent recovery: $650,000 lumbar-spine injury settlement.
- San Francisco Brain Injury Lawyer — Traumatic brain injuries, concussions, and post-concussion syndrome from vehicle strikes, falls, or construction accidents. Recent recovery: $6,000,000 pedestrian TBI settlement.
- San Francisco Spinal Injury Lawyer — Herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, spinal cord injuries, and cauda equina syndrome. Recent recoveries include $495,000 for a lumbar-spine case involving a spinal cord stimulator.
- San Francisco Pedestrian Accident Lawyer — Pedestrians struck in crosswalks, on sidewalks, or in foggy conditions along the Great Highway and Embarcadero. Recent recovery: $2,185,000 pedestrian brain injury settlement.
- San Francisco Bicycle Accident Lawyer — Cyclists injured by cars, rideshare vehicles, delivery vans, or hazardous road conditions on the Wiggle, Market Street, and waterfront bike paths.
- San Francisco Motorcycle Accident Lawyer — Motorcyclists often suffer the most severe injuries in multi-vehicle collisions. I have the experience and resources to take on insurance companies and secure maximum recovery.
- San Francisco Trucking Accident Lawyer — Big-rig and commercial truck crashes on 101, 280, and city streets. These cases require immediate evidence preservation and aggressive representation against trucking companies and their insurers.
- San Francisco Uber & Lyft Rideshare Accident Lawyer — Rideshare cases involve complex insurance coverage questions. Uber and Lyft maintain up to $1 million in liability coverage when drivers are actively transporting passengers. I represent injured passengers, drivers, and third parties.
- San Francisco Wrongful Death Lawyer — When negligence causes the loss of a loved one, I help families pursue compensation for medical bills, funeral expenses, lost future income, and the profound emotional loss under California law.
- San Francisco Slip & Fall Lawyer — Property owners have a legal duty to maintain safe premises. If you were injured by a hazardous condition — wet floors, broken stairs, uneven walkways, or inadequate lighting — you may be entitled to compensation. Recent recovery: $425,000 slip and fall with disputed liability.
- San Francisco Dog Bite Lawyer — California Civil Code section 3342 imposes strict liability on dog owners regardless of the dog’s history or the owner’s knowledge of aggression. Recent recovery: $300,000 jury verdict in a dog attack case.
San Francisco & Bay Area Locations I Serve
San Francisco is a city of neighborhoods, and the broader Bay Area spans vastly different legal and traffic landscapes. Each location has its own injury patterns, hazardous corridors, and local court considerations. I represent injury victims across every corner of the region — here’s a quick overview of the San Francisco neighborhoods and Bay Area cities I serve most often.
San Francisco — Downtown & Central
- Civic Center — High pedestrian density, Muni transit lines, and heavy intersection traffic make Civic Center a frequent site for auto and pedestrian collisions.
- SoMa — Dense development, constant rideshare activity, and 4th/5th Street corridors place SoMa among the city’s highest-volume areas for car and bicycle accidents.
- Financial District — Narrow streets, heavy commuter foot traffic, and constant delivery vehicle activity drive frequent pedestrian and vehicle accidents in SF’s commercial core.
San Francisco — Northern & Bayside
- Marina District — Lombard Street traffic funneling toward the Golden Gate Bridge, combined with heavy pedestrian activity near Chestnut Street, produces a steady stream of auto and pedestrian claims.
- Mission District — One of San Francisco’s most heavily trafficked neighborhoods, where Mission Street, Valencia, and 24th Street corridors generate frequent vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle injury claims.
- Bernal Heights — Steep streets, limited visibility at intersections, and mixed residential/commercial traffic patterns make Bernal Heights a common site for rear-end collisions and slip-and-fall claims.
- Noe Valley — Family-dense residential streets with school zones, stroller traffic, and the 24th Street corridor create heightened risk for pedestrian and vehicle incidents.
- Bayview-Hunters Point — Industrial corridors, Third Street Muni activity, and 101/280 freeway access points make Bayview a frequent site for serious auto and trucking injury claims.
San Francisco — Western Neighborhoods
- Richmond District — Geary Boulevard is one of San Francisco’s busiest east-west corridors, with a documented history of serious pedestrian and vehicle accidents.
- Sunset District — Wide avenues, frequent fog conditions, and long residential stretches along Sunset Boulevard create distinct risks for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.
East Bay
- Oakland — Complex freeway interchanges (580, 880, 980), dense downtown traffic, and heavy commuter volume make Oakland a frequent site for auto, truck, and pedestrian accident claims.
- Berkeley — University traffic, high bicycle and pedestrian volume along Shattuck and Telegraph, and Highway 13 congestion drive a steady stream of injury claims.
- Hayward — Major Interstate 880 corridor, industrial trucking activity, and the 92/880 interchange area generate frequent serious vehicle and trucking injury cases.
- Fremont — Silicon Valley commuter traffic on 880 and 680, combined with heavy industrial and rideshare activity, produces significant personal injury case volume.
- Richmond, CA — Refinery truck traffic, Interstate 580/80 corridors, and the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge approach are common sites for serious trucking and auto accidents.
- Concord — Interstate 680 and Highway 242 interchanges, along with heavy commuter traffic through Todos Santos Plaza and surrounding arterials, drive frequent auto injury claims.
Peninsula & South Bay
- Daly City — Highway 1 and Interstate 280 traffic, combined with heavy pedestrian activity along Mission Street, produce a steady volume of auto and pedestrian claims.
- San Mateo — Highway 101 and 92 traffic, airport-adjacent ride activity, and dense Peninsula commuter patterns drive significant personal injury case volume.
- San Jose — As the Bay Area’s largest city, San Jose’s complex freeway system (101, 280, 680, 880) and heavy rideshare activity generate a high volume of serious auto and trucking injury claims.
- Sunnyvale — Silicon Valley tech commuter traffic, high rideshare density around major employers, and Highway 101/Lawrence Expressway corridors produce frequent injury claims.
This list covers my most frequently served locations — I represent injury victims throughout San Francisco and the entire Bay Area. View all areas I serve →
Bilingual Legal Services — Servicios Legales en Español
I am fully bilingual in English and Spanish and proudly serve the Spanish-speaking community throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area. Consultations, case updates, depositions, and full representation are available entirely in Spanish when preferred.
¿Habla español? Llame al 415-851-4557 para una consulta gratuita.
How to Choose a Personal Injury Attorney in San Francisco
Not all personal injury attorneys are the same. Here is what to look for — and what questions to ask — before hiring anyone to handle your case.
Trial Experience vs. Settlement Mills
Some law firms settle every case quickly for whatever the insurer offers because trials are expensive and time-consuming. I have extensive trial experience and a documented record of multi-million-dollar results in San Francisco courts. Insurance companies track which attorneys will fight and which ones will fold — and they offer better settlements to the ones who will fight.
Local Knowledge
San Francisco has its own courts, judges, local rules, and injury patterns. An attorney who knows the high-injury corridors on Market Street, the rideshare insurance layers that apply on Van Ness, and the government claim rules for Muni accidents is worth far more to you than a national firm handling cases remotely.
Contingency Fee — No Upfront Costs
Any reputable personal injury attorney in San Francisco should work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win. Initial consultations are always free and confidential.
Communication and Accessibility
You should never feel like a case number. I personally handle every case from intake through resolution — you will always know who is working on your matter and where things stand. Evening and weekend appointments, home and hospital visits, and bilingual services in English and Spanish are available.
Questions to Ask Any Personal Injury Attorney
- Have you handled cases like mine before, and what were the results?
- Will you personally handle my case or hand it off to a junior associate?
- How do you communicate with clients throughout the case?
- What is your fee structure and what expenses might I owe?
- Have you taken cases to trial in San Francisco Superior Court?
The Personal Injury Claims Process: Step by Step
Most people have never been through a personal injury claim. Here is exactly what the process looks like when you hire me to handle your case.
Step 1 — Free Consultation. I review the facts of your case, explain your legal options, and give you an honest assessment of what I think your case is worth. No obligation, no cost.
Step 2 — Investigation. I immediately begin gathering evidence — police reports, surveillance footage, witness statements, medical records, and accident reconstruction data. Speed matters here: evidence disappears, witnesses move, and cameras overwrite footage.
Step 3 — Medical Treatment. I work alongside your medical team and can refer you to specialists experienced in treating accident injuries. I do not rush you to settle before the full extent of your injuries is known.
Step 4 — Demand Package. Once you have reached maximum medical improvement, I prepare a comprehensive demand package documenting every element of your damages — past and future medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and reduced quality of life — and submit it to the insurance company.
Step 5 — Negotiation. I negotiate aggressively for full compensation. Insurance adjusters will counter low. I know what San Francisco juries award for similar injuries and use that knowledge at the table.
Step 6 — Lawsuit Filing (If Needed). If the insurer refuses to offer fair value, I file suit in San Francisco Superior Court. Most cases settle during the litigation phase once the insurer sees I am prepared to go to trial.
Step 7 — Trial. I am fully prepared to try every case I file. My trial record in San Francisco speaks for itself.
Step 8 — Resolution. Once a settlement or verdict is reached, I walk you through every disbursement so you understand exactly what you are receiving and why.
What Is My San Francisco Personal Injury Case Worth?
Every case is different, but the factors that most influence value in California personal injury cases are:
Severity and permanence of injury. Catastrophic injuries — traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, amputations, permanent disability — command the highest recoveries. Even serious but non-catastrophic injuries like herniated discs, fractures, and nerve damage can support six- and seven-figure claims depending on the impact on your life and career.
Medical expenses. Both past bills already incurred and future projected costs for ongoing treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, and long-term care. I work with life-care planners and economists to project costs decades into the future.
Lost income and earning capacity. If your injuries have affected your ability to work — temporarily or permanently — those losses are fully compensable. In high-cost San Francisco, lost earning capacity claims are often among the largest components of a case.
Pain, suffering, and emotional distress. California allows full non-economic damages for the physical pain, emotional trauma, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and reduced enjoyment of life caused by your injury.
Liability strength. The clearer the defendant’s fault, the stronger your negotiating position. I build airtight liability cases from day one.
I have recovered more than $25 million for clients throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area. View all case results.
Why Choose the Law Office of John J. Roach?
- Proven Results — Over $25 million recovered for San Francisco injury victims.
- Local Expertise — Deep knowledge of San Francisco courts, insurance tactics, and high-injury corridors.
- Personal Attention — I handle every case myself from intake through resolution. No handoffs to junior associates or case managers.
- No Upfront Fees — Pure contingency representation. You pay nothing unless we win.
- Bilingual Services — Full representation available in English or Spanish.
- Resources — Access to top medical experts, accident reconstructionists, and life-care planners.
Frequently Asked Questions: San Francisco Personal Injury Practice Areas
What types of personal injury cases do you handle?
I handle the full range of plaintiff-side personal injury cases throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area, including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, Uber and Lyft rideshare accidents, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, wrongful death, slip and fall, and dog bite cases. If you’ve been hurt by someone else’s negligence, there’s a strong chance I can help.
How do I know which practice area my case falls under?
You don’t need to figure that out before calling. Most cases fall naturally into one of my practice areas based on how the injury happened — a car crash is a car accident case, a fall on a wet floor is a slip and fall case, and so on. Some cases involve multiple areas at once, which is where experience matters most. During your free consultation, I’ll tell you exactly what type of case you have and what compensation you may be entitled to pursue.
What’s the difference between a car accident case and a rideshare accident case?
The injury mechanism looks the same, but the insurance picture is completely different. In a standard car accident case, you’re dealing with the at-fault driver’s personal auto insurance — often capped at California’s $30,000/$60,000 minimums. In a rideshare case, Uber and Lyft maintain up to $1 million in third-party liability coverage when drivers are actively transporting passengers or en route to pick one up. Identifying which insurance layer applies — and when it attaches under California Public Utilities Commission rules — is critical to case value. I handle both case types regularly.
Do you handle catastrophic injury cases like traumatic brain injury and spinal cord damage?
Yes — catastrophic injury is a core focus of my practice. I’ve recovered a $6,000,000 settlement and a $2,185,000 settlement in separate traumatic brain injury pedestrian cases, among other significant recoveries. These cases require a trial-ready approach: insurance companies fight harder, defense experts push back, and the long-term damages (future medical care, lost earning capacity, life-care plans) are where most of the value lives. I work with top neurologists, neuropsychologists, life-care planners, and economists to fully document the impact of catastrophic injuries on my clients’ lives.
What if my injury involves multiple practice areas — like a pedestrian hit by a rideshare driver?
Multi-category cases are common, and they’re often the highest-value cases I handle. A pedestrian struck by an Uber driver is simultaneously a pedestrian accident case, a rideshare case, and — if the injuries are severe — a traumatic brain or spinal injury case. Each layer adds potential insurance coverage and defendants. A dog bite on a landlord’s property can trigger both strict liability against the owner and premises liability against the landlord. I identify every legal theory and every potentially liable party from day one, so nothing gets left on the table.
Do you handle cases against government entities like Muni or BART?
Yes, and these cases require immediate action. Under the California Government Claims Act, you have only six months to file an administrative tort claim against a public entity — that includes the City and County of San Francisco, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (Muni), BART, Caltrain, SFMTA, SFUSD, and the State of California. Missing the six-month deadline is almost always fatal to the claim, regardless of how strong the underlying case is. If you were injured by a Muni bus, on BART property, or by any government vehicle or condition, call me the day of the injury if possible.
Which practice areas have the shortest filing deadlines?
Cases involving government entities have the shortest deadlines — six months to file an administrative claim under the California Government Claims Act. That applies to Muni and BART accidents, injuries on city or county property, and claims against public employees acting within the scope of their duties. Most other personal injury cases — car accidents, truck accidents, dog bites, slip and fall, premises liability — have a standard two-year statute of limitations from the date of injury under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Wrongful death claims are also two years, measured from the date of death. When in doubt, call immediately — waiting is the single biggest mistake injured people make.
What happens if I’m not sure what type of case I have?
Call me. That’s exactly what a free consultation is for. Most people don’t know what type of case they have — that’s my job to figure out. Describe what happened, and I’ll tell you whether you have a case, what practice area it falls under, what potential defendants and insurance coverage are available, and what I think the case is worth. No obligation, no cost, no pressure. Call 415-851-4557 or complete the contact form.
Ready to Discuss Your Case?
Don’t let insurance companies undervalue your injuries. Whether you were injured in a car accident, struck as a pedestrian, or suffered a brain or spinal cord injury, I am here to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Call 415-851-4557 now or complete the contact form for a free consultation.