San Francisco Accident Guide
If you were hurt in a crash in San Francisco, this guide shows where to get your police report, how to file a claim against the City and County of San Francisco, which intersections and freeways see the most crashes, and the deadlines that matter. Each fact links to the official source.
How do I get a police accident report in San Francisco?
It depends on who wrote the report. SFPD handles crashes on city streets, and CHP covers freeways. SFPD reports are free. Request one through SFPD’s online portal or in person at police headquarters, and allow at least five business days after the crash. CHP reports are online or by CHP 190 form.
| Agency | How to request | Wait, fee, and rules |
|---|---|---|
| SFPD (city streets in San Francisco) | Online: SFPD Incident Report Request Portal; upload a copy of valid ID. In person: SFPD Police Headquarters, Crime Information Services Unit, 1245 Third Street, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. District stations do not provide reports. | Allow at least five business days after the crash. Cost: free. Attorneys must upload a business card showing a State Bar number and proof they represent the injured person. Source: SFPD: Request Copy of Police Incident Report |
| CHP (freeways and state highways) | Online: CHP Online Crash Report System. In person or mail: CHP 190 form (PDF) to any CHP Area office. | Online reports are usually ready about 8 business days after the crash. Fee: $10 for 1 to 25 pages, $10 more per added 25 pages; check or money order. Attach a copy of your ID or have the form notarized. Source: CHP: Request a Crash Report; CHP 190 instructions |
If the report gets the facts wrong or blames you, read what to do when a California collision report blames you.
Who is allowed to get a copy of the crash report?
California limits crash reports to people with a proper interest. That includes drivers, injured people, passengers, vehicle or property owners, parents of injured minors, guardians, and their lawyers or insurance companies. You will usually need ID and the report number, date, and location. A lawyer can request it for you.
- The rule is in Vehicle Code §20012.
- Have the date, time, location, names, and report or case number if you have it.
How do I file a claim against the City and County of San Francisco?
Mail or hand deliver your signed original claim form to the Controller’s Office Claims Division, 1390 Market Street, 7th Floor, San Francisco. Injury claims are due within six months. The City does not accept emailed or faxed claims. Allow up to 45 days for the Claims Division to process and investigate.
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| Form | Claim form for injury, property damage, or loss (PDF). Instructions are on the back, and translated instructions are on the City’s page. |
| Mail or in person | Controller’s Office Claims Division, 1390 Market Street, 7th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94102. No email or fax. |
| After filing | You get a letter with your claim number. The City may postpone its answer until you finish treatment or send bills, and a denial letter gives your deadline to sue. |
Source: SF.gov: File a claim. Tripped on a broken city sidewalk? See suing a California city or county over a broken sidewalk.
Is a claim against San Francisco County filed separately?
No. San Francisco is a single City and County, so one claim to the Controller’s Office Claims Division covers both. That includes City departments such as the police and Public Works. Separate public agencies, like Caltrans for state highways, have their own claim processes, listed below.
- Use the same City and County of San Francisco claim process described above.
Other public agencies
| Agency | How to file |
|---|---|
| Caltrans (state highways) | Claims of $12,500 or less for injury or personal property: form DOT LD-0274 to the Caltrans district claim office listed on the Caltrans page. Larger claims go to DGS. Caltrans: Submit a Damage Claim |
| Other State agencies | DGS Government Claims Program ($25 fee or fee waiver request). DGS: File a Claim |
What is the timeline for a government claim in California?
For an injury, you generally have six months to file the claim. The agency then has 45 days to act, and silence counts as a denial. After a written denial you usually have six months to sue. If no proper written notice is sent, the lawsuit deadline is generally two years.
| Stage | Usual deadline | Law |
|---|---|---|
| 1. File the claim | Within 6 months of the injury | Gov. Code §911.2 |
| 2. Missed it? Ask to file late | Within a reasonable time, no later than 1 year | Gov. Code §911.4 |
| 3. Agency decides | 45 days; no answer counts as a denial | Gov. Code §912.4 |
| 4. File the lawsuit | 6 months after written denial notice; 2 years if no proper notice | Gov. Code §945.6 |
| 5. Late claim denied | Ask the court for relief within 6 months | Gov. Code §946.6 |
Exceptions can shorten or lengthen these dates. For the general two-year rule and other deadlines, read how long you have to file a personal injury claim in California.
What are the most dangerous intersections in San Francisco?
In SFPD collision records for 2022 through 2024 in the state’s crash database, the intersections with the most reported crashes were 13th Street and Van Ness Avenue, 4th and Harrison Streets, and Eddy Street and Van Ness Avenue. Three of the top ten are on Van Ness Avenue, and three are on Market Street.
| Rank | Intersection | Reported collisions, 2022 to 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13th St and Van Ness Ave | 23 |
| 2 | 4th St and Harrison St | 21 |
| 3 | Eddy St and Van Ness Ave | 20 |
| 4 | Market St and Van Ness Ave | 20 |
| 5 | Gough St and Market St | 19 |
| 6 | Market St and Octavia St | 19 |
| 7 | Oak St and Stanyan St | 19 |
| 8 | Eddy St and Larkin St | 18 |
| 9 | 9th St and Mission St | 16 |
| 10 | Divisadero St and Geary Blvd | 16 |
Method: San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) collision records in the CHP Crash Reporting System (CCRS), January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024, counting crashes coded at the intersection itself (no distance from the cross street), combining both street orders and spelling variants, and leaving out freeway ramps. These are only the reports SFPD submitted to the state database, not every crash, and ties are listed alphabetically. Data pulled October 27, 2026 from CCRS on the California Open Data Portal.
The City also publishes a High Injury Network. The 2024 version, built from 2020 to 2024 police, hospital, and other records, identifies the 13 percent of city streets where 74 percent of serious traffic injuries or deaths occur. Source: SF.gov: 2024 High Injury Network map; SFMTA: The New High Injury Network Map
Many of these crashes involve people walking or riding. See your rights after being hit by a car as a pedestrian and who pays after a bicycle or e-bike crash. If the driver fled, read what happens after an uninsured or hit-and-run crash.
Which San Francisco freeways have the most crashes?
In CHP crash records for 2024 within San Francisco city limits, US-101 had the most freeway crashes, followed by I-80, I-280, and SR-1. US-101, I-80, and I-280 together accounted for nearly all freeway crashes CHP reported in the city that year, along with hundreds of injuries.
| Freeway | Crashes | People injured | People killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| US-101 | 843 | 306 | 2 |
| I-80 | 837 | 300 | 5 |
| I-280 | 332 | 155 | 1 |
| SR-1 | 20 | 8 | 0 |
Method: CHP Crash Reporting System (CCRS) records for calendar year 2024 where the city is San Francisco and the crash is marked as on a freeway, grouped by route (both directions). CCRS reflects CHP reports, and recent data can change as reports are reviewed. Data pulled October 27, 2026 from CCRS on the California Open Data Portal.
Freeway crashes often involve big rigs and rideshare drivers. See our pages on California truck accidents and rideshare accident claims.
Do I need to report the crash to the DMV?
Yes, if anyone was hurt or killed, even slightly, or property damage was over $1,000. Each driver must file form SR-1 with the DMV within 10 days, even if police made a report. Your insurance agent, broker, or lawyer can file it for you. Skipping it can lead to a license suspension.
- File online or on paper: DMV: Report of Traffic Accident (SR-1). Law: Vehicle Code §16000.
- If someone was hurt, a written report to CHP or the city police is also due within 24 hours: Vehicle Code §20008.
Where do I file an injury lawsuit in San Francisco?
San Francisco injury lawsuits are filed in San Francisco Superior Court. The Civil Clerk’s Office is at the Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister Street, Room 103. In-person filing is 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on weekdays, and the drop box is open 12:30 to 4 p.m.
- Civic Center Courthouse: 400 McAllister St., Room 103, San Francisco, CA 94102, court information (415) 551-4000. Source: San Francisco Superior Court: Civil Clerk’s Office
What should I do next after a San Francisco crash?
Get medical care, keep every bill and record, request the crash report, and write down your deadlines. File a government claim within six months if a public agency may share blame. Tell your insurer promptly, but think before giving a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer about your injuries.
- Step by step: what to do after a car accident in California.
- How value is judged: what your California personal injury case may be worth.
- Low policy limits: how underinsured motorist coverage works in California.
- By crash type: car accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, and rideshare accidents.
- Forms you may need: California injury forms, insurer claim lines, medical records, and liens.
- Other cities: see all California accident guides.
Deadlines and next steps depend on facts this page can’t see. You can talk with Geller Legal about your options. Call 213-770-4870. No fee unless we recover.*
Contact Geller LegalCall 213-770-4870*Under our written contingency fee agreement, if there is no recovery you owe no attorney fees and do not have to repay the case costs we advanced. Medical bills and other non-litigation expenses remain your responsibility. Offices in Los Angeles and Oakland.
This page is general information about California law and San Francisco procedures, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Fees, forms, and agency procedures change; confirm with the linked official source. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Attorney advertising. Geller Legal, a dba of The Geller Firm, Inc.