SAN FRANCISCO, CA · FREE CONSULTATION
Personal Injury Attorney in San Francisco
If someone else’s negligence hurt you, a personal injury attorney in San Francisco can help you recover compensation for medical bills, lost income, and pain. At The Hackett Law Firm, your consultation is free and you pay no attorney fee unless we win. California generally allows two years to file, so call (415) 742-6232 today.
Free Consultation. No Fee Unless We Win.
- Former Deputy District Attorney on your side
- $0 up front — fee only if we recover for you
- Office at 1606 Stockton St, San Francisco
- We handle every call with the insurance company
Mon – Fri 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
HOW WE HELP
How a San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyer Helps After an Injury
A San Francisco personal injury lawyer investigates how you were hurt, identifies every party responsible, documents your losses, and handles all communication with the insurance companies. If the insurer will not offer fair compensation, your lawyer files a lawsuit and prepares the case for trial. Your job is to focus on your recovery.
Under California law, every person is responsible for injuries caused by a lack of ordinary care toward others (Civil Code §1714). That failure to act carefully is called negligence, and it is the basis of most personal injury cases. You can read more in our guide to negligence in California personal injury cases.
What is a personal injury claim?
A personal injury claim is a formal request for compensation from the person, business, or government agency whose negligence caused your injury. Most claims begin with a demand to the at-fault party’s insurance company. When negotiation does not produce a fair result, the claim becomes a lawsuit filed in civil court.
Do I have a case?
You likely have a case if you can show four elements that California courts require in a negligence claim. Many people are unsure which lawsuits they can bring after an accident, and these four questions are the starting point. A free consultation is the fastest way to apply them to your facts.
- 1 Duty: The other party owed you a duty of reasonable care, such as a driver's duty to drive safely or a property owner's duty to fix known hazards.
- 2 Breach: The other party failed to meet that duty.
- 3 Causation: That failure caused your injury.
- 4 Damages: You suffered real losses, such as medical expenses, lost wages, or pain and suffering.
PRACTICE AREAS
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in San Francisco
The Hackett Law Firm represents people injured in traffic collisions, on unsafe property, by dangerous products, and through the negligence of businesses and caregivers. Each practice area below links to a detailed guide. If your situation is not listed, call us; the consultation is free and we will tell you whether we can help.
Pedestrian accidents
Drivers who fail to yield at crosswalks and intersections
Rideshare accidents (Uber and Lyft)
Injuries to passengers and others in rideshare collisions
Slip and fall and premises liability
Wet floors, broken stairs, poor lighting, and landlord negligence
Construction accidents
Falls, equipment failures, and unsafe job sites
Nursing home and elder abuse
Neglect, abuse, and unsafe care of older adults
The firm also handles workers’ compensation and employment matters such as wrongful termination.
WHY HACKETT LAW
How to Choose the Best Personal Injury Attorney in San Francisco
The best personal injury attorney in San Francisco for your case is one with courtroom experience, a local office, the willingness to take on large corporations and their insurers, and clear fee terms before you sign. Here is how The Hackett Law Firm meets each of those standards.
A Former Prosecutor on Your Side
Dylan Hackett served as a Deputy District Attorney in San Mateo County before representing injured people. Prosecutors build cases from evidence: witness accounts, records, and a clear timeline of what happened. Dylan applies that same discipline to personal injury claims, building each case on documented evidence from the start. Learn more about Dylan and our team.
Based in San Francisco, Serving the Bay Area
Our only office is in San Francisco, at 1606 Stockton St, Suite 302. As a personal injury attorney in the San Francisco Bay Area, Dylan Hackett represents clients in San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, San Jose, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Hayward, and throughout Alameda County. The firm also accepts cases from Sacramento.
San Francisco
Oakland
Berkeley
San Jose
San Mateo
Santa Clara
Hayward
Alameda County
Sacramento
Willing to Take On Major Corporations
In 2023, Dylan Hackett represented an elderly San Francisco woman in a lawsuit filed in San Francisco Superior Court against a Fillmore District McDonald’s. The suit alleged that employees failed to secure a coffee lid and that she suffered third-degree burns, as reported by The San Francisco Standard. Learn more about coffee burn injury claims.
AS REPORTED BY
The San Francisco Standard
We Handle the Insurance Companies
Insurance adjusters work to limit what their company pays. After an accident, they may contact you quickly, ask for a recorded statement, suggest that you share the blame, or offer a settlement before the full cost of your injuries is known. Once you hire us, all communication with insurers goes through our office.
COMPENSATION
How Much Is My San Francisco Injury Case Worth?
There is no fixed formula for the value of a San Francisco injury case. The value depends on how serious your injuries are, the total of your financial losses, how clearly the evidence shows the other party was at fault, and the insurance coverage available. An attorney who reviews your records can tell you what your claim may include.
Factors that affect your settlement
- The severity and permanence of your injuries
- The cost of past and future medical treatment
- Income lost during recovery and any lasting effect on your ability to work
- Your own share of fault, if any
- The insurance policies that apply to the at-fault party and to you
Types of compensation you may recover
ECONOMIC DAMAGES
Losses with a measurable dollar amount
Medical bills, future medical care, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage
NON-ECONOMIC DAMAGES
Personal losses without a receipt
Pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life
PUNITIVE DAMAGES
An additional award meant to punish the defendant
Available only when clear and convincing evidence shows oppression, fraud, or malice (Civil Code §3294)
DEADLINES
Filing Deadlines for San Francisco Injury Claims
In California, most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury. Claims against a government agency, such as the City and County of San Francisco, Muni, or BART, require a written claim within six months. Missing a deadline usually ends your right to compensation, so speak with an attorney as early as possible.
| Type of claim | Deadline | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Most personal injury claims | 2 years from the date of injury | Code of Civil Procedure §335.1 |
| Wrongful death | 2 years from the date of death | Code of Civil Procedure §335.1 |
| Claim against a government entity | Written claim within 6 months of the injury | Government Code §911.2 |
| Injured minors | The deadline is generally paused until the child turns 18; this pause does not apply to most claims against public entities | Code of Civil Procedure §352 |
Deadlines depend on the facts of each case. Confirm your exact deadline with an attorney rather than relying on this table alone.
6 MONTHS
Injured by Muni, BART, or the City? The 6-Month Rule
If a city bus, a BART train, a damaged public sidewalk, or another government-owned property caused your injury, you must file a written government claim within six months before you can sue. This rule is much shorter than the standard two-year deadline. Our guide explains how to file an injury claim against a city or government agency.
NEXT STEPS
What to Do After an Accident in San Francisco
What you do after an accident in San Francisco can protect both your health and your claim. Get medical care first, report the incident, and preserve evidence while it is still available. Avoid giving statements to the other side’s insurance company until you have spoken with an attorney. These six steps cover the essentials.
1
Get medical care.
Call 911 if anyone is seriously hurt. Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center is the city’s trauma center. Prompt treatment protects your health and creates a medical record of your injuries.
2
Report the incident.
Ask the San Francisco Police Department to prepare a report. Report incidents on Muni or BART to the transit agency as well.
3
Document the scene.
Photograph vehicles, hazards, injuries, and the surrounding area. Collect the names and phone numbers of witnesses.
4
Do not admit fault.
Exchange contact and insurance information, but do not speculate about what caused the accident.
5
Be careful on social media.
Insurers review public posts to challenge injury claims.
6
Call a personal injury attorney.
Evidence such as video footage and vehicle data can disappear quickly. Call (415) 742-6232 for a free consultation.
NEXT STEPS
No Win, No Fee: How Our Contingency Fee Works
Dylan Hackett works as a no win, no fee personal injury lawyer in San Francisco. You pay nothing up front, the consultation is free, and you owe no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. Our fee is a share of the recovery, set out in a written agreement before any work on your case begins.
A contingency fee, the arrangement in which the attorney is paid only from a successful recovery, allows injured people to hire experienced counsel without paying out of pocket. California law requires contingency fee agreements to be in writing (Business and Professions Code §6147), so you will know the terms before you sign.
The Hackett Law Firm does not offer pro bono representation. The contingency model exists so that cost is never the reason an injured person goes without a lawyer.
$0
Up front. Nothing to pay to start your case.
Free
Consultation. Confidential, with no obligation to hire us.
In writing. Fee terms set out before any work begins.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions | San Francisco Personal Injury
How much does a personal injury attorney cost in San Francisco?
At The Hackett Law Firm, hiring a personal injury attorney costs nothing up front. The consultation is free, and we work on a contingency fee, which means our fee comes only from the compensation we recover for you. If we do not win your case, you owe no attorney fee.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in California?
You generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in California (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). If a government agency is responsible, you must file a written claim within six months (Government Code §911.2). Confirm your exact deadline with an attorney promptly.
What if I was partly at fault for the accident?
You can still recover compensation in California even if you were partly at fault. California follows pure comparative negligence, the rule set by the California Supreme Court in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975). Your award is reduced by your share of fault. If you were 20% at fault, your recovery is reduced by 20%.
Do I need a lawyer for a personal injury claim in California?
California law does not require you to hire a lawyer for a personal injury claim. However, insurance companies have trained adjusters and attorneys working to reduce what they pay. A lawyer identifies every source of compensation, values your claim accurately, and meets every deadline. Read more: Car accident in California: do you need a lawyer?
Can I sue if I can't afford a lawyer?
Yes. Not having money today does not prevent you from pursuing a personal injury claim. Because our fee comes only from a successful recovery, we evaluate your case on its facts, not on your ability to pay. Start with a free consultation at (415) 742-6232; there is no obligation to hire us.
How do I sue for emotional distress in California?
In most personal injury cases, emotional distress is included as part of your non-economic damages, alongside pain and suffering. Whether emotional distress can support a claim without a physical injury depends on the specific facts. An attorney can review your situation and identify the evidence that will matter, such as medical or counseling records.
What if the driver who hit me had no insurance?
You may still recover compensation through your own auto policy. California requires auto insurers to offer uninsured motorist coverage, which a policyholder can decline only in writing (Insurance Code §11580.2). An attorney can review your policy and identify every other source of recovery available to you.
Do I have to go to court?
Not necessarily. Many personal injury claims are resolved through a settlement with the insurance company, without a trial. If the insurer refuses to offer fair compensation, filing a lawsuit may be the next step, and the case could be decided in court. Your attorney will explain your options at each stage.
What should I bring to my free consultation?
Bring any documents related to the accident: the police or incident report, photos of the scene and your injuries, medical records and bills, insurance information, and letters from any insurance company. If you do not have these yet, call anyway. Your attorney can help you gather what is missing.
FREE CONSULTATION
Contact Our San Francisco Personal Injury Attorney
To speak with Dylan Hackett about your injury, call (415) 742-6232 or complete the form below. The consultation is free and confidential, and there is no fee unless we win. Our office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, at 1606 Stockton St in San Francisco.
The Hackett Law Firm
Personal Injury Attorney, San Francisco, CA
1606 Stockton St, Suite 302
San Francisco, CA 94133
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Free Case Review
Tell us what happened. Your consultation is free and there’s no obligation.
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The information on this page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.