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San Francisco County Personal Injury Lawyer
If you were hurt in a car crash, truck crash, fall, or other accident in San Francisco, Geller Legal can help you pursue a claim against the person, company, or public agency responsible. Civil cases are filed at the Civic Center Courthouse. San Francisco is a single City and County, so one government claim covers both, and it must be filed within six months. Call 213-770-4870 for a free, confidential consultation.
Which San Francisco Superior Court courthouse hears personal injury cases?
The Civic Center Courthouse. The San Francisco Superior Court’s Civil Clerk’s Office takes civil filings there.
| Case type | Courthouse |
|---|---|
| Civil, including personal injury | Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister Street, Room 103, San Francisco. |
Represented parties generally must eFile. Source: SF Superior Court: Civil Clerk’s Office; Civic Center Courthouse
Who takes crash reports in San Francisco?
The San Francisco Police Department takes reports for crashes on city streets. The CHP covers freeways and state highways in San Francisco.
San Francisco Police (SFPD)
Incident report requests, including traffic collisions, through the SFPD online portal or by mail. Source: SFPD: Request Copy of Police Incident Report
CHP Area offices serving San Francisco County
The CHP San Francisco Area covers the city’s freeways and state highways. The CHP Marin Area also lists San Francisco among the counties it serves. Report requests go to the Area office that handled the crash. If you are not sure which office that is, use the CHP Find an Office page.
| CHP Area | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | 455 Eighth Street, San Francisco | (415) 276-5300 |
| Marin | 53 San Clemente Drive, Corte Madera | (415) 413-9400 |
Source: CHP San Francisco Area; CHP Marin Area; CHP: Request a Crash Report
How do I file a claim against the City and County of San Francisco?
Mail or hand deliver the original, completed claim form to the Controller’s Office Claims Division, 1390 Market Street, 7th Floor, San Francisco, within six months of the injury. Emailed or faxed claim forms are not accepted.
- Form: the City’s claim form, linked from the SF.gov File a Claim page.
- Deadline: 6 months for death or injury to a person or personal property, and 1 year for other claims (Gov. Code §911.2).
- After filing: the City generally has 45 days to act on the claim (Gov. Code §912.4). After a written denial, you generally have six months to sue (Gov. Code §945.6).
A claim against BART, a school district, or another separate public agency goes to that agency. A claim against Caltrans for $12,500 or less is filed with Caltrans; larger claims against Caltrans and claims against most other State agencies go to the Department of General Services Government Claims Program. Source: SF.gov: File a Claim
Major routes in San Francisco County
These routes in San Francisco are named on the CHP Area office pages for the county. Crashes on freeways and state highways are usually handled by the CHP Area office for that stretch of road.
- US-101
- I-80
- I-280
- SR-1
Cities we serve in San Francisco County
Geller Legal represents people hurt anywhere in San Francisco, a consolidated City and County. For practical steps after a crash in a specific city, see our city accident guide.
San Francisco Accident Guide
SFPD and CHP reports, plus how to file a City and County claim.
More guides are on the Accident Guides page.
Injury cases we handle in San Francisco County
Car Accidents
Crashes on surface streets and freeways, including uninsured and hit-and-run drivers.
Truck Accidents
Collisions with big rigs, delivery trucks, and commercial vehicles.
Motorcycle Accidents
Riders hurt by drivers who turn, merge, or change lanes into them.
Pedestrian Accidents
People hit in crosswalks, parking lots, and driveways.
Bicycle Accidents
Bike and e-bike riders hit by cars or hurt by road hazards.
Rideshare Accidents
Passengers, drivers, and others hurt in Uber and Lyft crashes.
Slip and Fall
Falls caused by unsafe conditions on someone else’s property.
Dog Bites
Bites and attacks, under California’s strict liability dog bite law.
Catastrophic Injuries
Brain, spinal cord, and other life-changing injuries.
See all personal injury practice areas.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file a personal injury lawsuit in San Francisco County?
At the Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister Street, where the San Francisco Superior Court’s Civil Clerk’s Office takes civil filings.
How long do I have to file a claim against the City and County of San Francisco?
Six months for death or injury to a person under Government Code section 911.2. Mail or hand deliver the claim to the Controller’s Office Claims Division, 1390 Market Street, 7th Floor. You generally must file that claim, and have it denied, before you can sue the City.
Who do I get my crash report from in San Francisco County?
From SFPD for crashes on city streets, or from the CHP for crashes on freeways and state highways.
How long do I have to file an injury lawsuit in California?
For most injury claims against a private person or company, two years from the injury under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Claims against a public entity follow the shorter government claim rules, starting with the six-month claim.
How much does it cost to hire Geller Legal?
Nothing up front. Geller Legal handles injury cases on a contingency fee, so there is no fee unless we recover. The first consultation is free and confidential.
Talk with Geller Legal about your options in a free, confidential consultation. 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.
This page is general information about California law and San Francisco County procedures, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Agency addresses, phone numbers, and 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.