San Francisco Car Accident Attorney

We’ve Won Billions for Victims of Negligence

A car accident can leave you with a life-changing injury and mountains of debt. Even if the accident seems minor, injuries can linger, and the true toll may not be felt for months.

Car crash victims have to deal with paying medical bills if they are hospitalized or require extended care, like physical therapy. In addition, some victims must take time off from work during their recovery, which affects a family’s earning power. All, however, must deal with insurance companies that may attempt to limit their liability by offering a quick and easy settlement.

The San Francisco car accident lawyers at Wisner Baum have decades of experience litigating accident cases. We know what it takes to prevail in car accident litigation and earn maximum compensation on your behalf.

Backed by over 40 years of legal experience, we know full well that legal action is the only way for many car accident victims to afford the treatment and time off work that they need to heal. Our Bay Area legal team has successfully advocated for the rights of those injured in a variety of traffic accidents, including rear-end collisions, hit-and-run crashes, big rig accidents, and more. Experience the peace of mind that comes with having award-winning trial lawyers in your corner.

Get started with your complimentary consultation—call a San Francisco car accident lawyer at (855) 948-5098.

Car Accident Victims Have Rights

If negligence caused a car accident that injured you, you have a right to pursue compensation against the at-fault party (or parties). That said, you must prove that negligence was involved to be compensated.

Common examples of negligence in car crashes include:

Driving while distracted, such as texting and driving
Driving under the influence of alcohol or recreational, prescription, or illicit drugs
Driving aggressively (e.g. road rage)
Driving recklessly
Speeding
Failing to yield or signal
Executing dangerous lane changes
Operating a vehicle in poor maintenance
Fatigued driving

If one or more of these types of negligence was a factor in the accident that injured you, you likely have grounds for a case.

When to Get an Attorney for a Car Accident

We recommend that car accident victims consult with an attorney before they speak to insurance companies.

Insurance agents are trained to reduce the value of a claim from the very moment a policyholder reports an accident. They may act overly friendly or claim that something is “the standard” to trick policyholders into giving them more information than needed. For instance, many insurance companies have their agents collect recorded statements from policyholders. While you may be required cooperate with your own insurance company, it is best to speak with an experienced attorney before agreeing to a recorded statement.

The sooner you contact an attorney after your accident, the better. We at Wisner Baum will work to protect you from the predatory tactics occasionally used in the insurance industry. Further, we will work tirelessly to negotiate an accident settlement through insurance and, if necessary, take them to court on your behalf. Taking advantage of our free consultations does not create any obligation for you to move forward with our firm. Schedule a free case review today.

Injuries and Damages in a Car Accident Case

Wisner Baumrepresents car accident victims who have sustained serious injuries, such as:

Amputation
Severe burn injuries
Traumatic brain injuries
Spine injuries
Broken bones
Eye injuries
Orthopedic injuries
Fatal injuries

San Francisco Bay Area Traffic Accident Statistics

Below we break down traffic accident statistics by Bay Area counties.

Bay Area Fatal Traffic Accidents

COUNTY	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	AVG.
ALAMEDA	78	97	78	90	92	87.0
CONTRA COSTA	78	62	73	69	93	75.0
MARIN	10	14	16	20	9	13.8
NAPA	12	15	14	17	19	15.4
SAN FRANCISCO	35	25	28	34	31	30.6
SAN MATEO	46	29	29	27	38	33.8
SANTA CLARA	106	111	116	124	89	109.2
SOLANO	35	32	53	43	39	40.4
SONOMA	42	42	38	36	31	37.8

Bay Area Fatal and Injury Traffic Accidents

COUNTY	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	AVG.
ALAMEDA	481	510	579	643	494	541.4
CONTRA COSTA	328	338	402	430	402	380.0
MARIN	85	95	111	107	106	100.8
NAPA	82	95	90	87	91	89.0
SAN FRANCISCO	308	298	311	341	249	301.4
SAN MATEO	203	224	259	246	220	230.4
SANTA CLARA	442	445	533	558	465	488.6
SOLANO	182	161	190	194	183	182.0
SONOMA	229	213	279	255	218	238.8

Fatal and Injury Accidents in the Bay Area

How Much is My Car Accident Lawsuit Worth?

The value of a car accident case depends on both the injury sustained and the losses, or damages, incurred. Actions by the at-fault party may also warrant punitive damages, also known as exemplary damages, in order to punish the defendant in cases of outrageous conduct or extreme recklessness. Punitive damages in car accident lawsuits are extremely rare, however, as punitive damages are generally reserved for cases involving malice, oppression, or fraud. Every case is different; some may be worth a few thousand dollars, while others may amount to millions. Severely injured accident victims are often eligible for compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, disability care, etc.

Work with an Award-Winning Trial Law Firm

Our trial lawyers at Wisner Baum are known for providing personalized attention and comprehensive counsel to each and every one of our clients. The National Trial Lawyers, U.S. News—Best Lawyers®, Martindale-Hubbell, and The National Law Journal, among others, have recognized our firm for our premier advocacy. While we are honored by this recognition, we find the most pride in the high volume of clients who take the time to leave a message of gratitude for our legal work. You can read for yourself what our past clients have to say about their experience working with us.

If you would like to learn more about protecting your legal rights after a Bay Area car accident, contact the attorneys at Wisner Baum. Submit an online form today to get in touch with a San Francisco car accident attorney. We also accept cases throughout California and the United States.

Contact Us Today

No Fees Unless We Win

First Name
Please enter your first name.
Last Name
Please enter your last name.
+1 Phone
Please enter your phone number.

This isn't a valid phone number.
Email
Please enter your email address.

This isn't a valid email address.
City
Please enter your city.
State
Please make a selection.
Subject
Please make a selection.
Are you a new client?
Please make a selection.
Message
Please enter a message.

Toxic Torts $2.0 Billion Verdict
In May of 2019, the jury in the case of Pilliod et al. v, Monsanto Company ordered the agrochemical giant to pay $2.055 billion in damages to the plaintiffs, Alva and Alberta Pilliod, a Bay Area couple in their 70s.
Pharmaceutical Settlement $105 Million Settlement
Wisner Baum obtained $105 million on behalf of multiple clients involved in a pharmaceutical negligence case.
Whistleblower Settlement $18 Million Settlement
Wisner Baum secured an $18 million settlement against the Boeing Company for overcharging the U.S. government on aircraft maintenance.
A Major US Plane Crash $17.5 Million Settlement
Wisner Baum obtained a $17.5 million settlement on behalf of a client who was killed in a major U.S. plane crash.
Commercial Truck Accident $15 Million Settlement
Wisner Baum secured a $15 million settlement for a person gravely injured by a major truck company.
Commercial Truck Accident $8.5 Million Verdict
Wisner Baum secured a $8.5 million wrongful death verdict against the food industry company, Tyson Foods, for the wrongful death of a young man.

Best Law Firms 2023
A ranking in The U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” is widely regarded by both client and legal professionals as a significant honor. It is considered the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals anywhere.
The Truck Safety Coalition
Wisner Baum is proud to be a sponsor of The Truck Safety Coalition, a a group of caring individuals dedicated to reducing the number of deaths and injuries caused by truck-related crashes. Our support enables them to help families and save lives.
California Powerhouse
Law360 recognizes law firms that have a strong regional presence, working on important matters within their home state. “[Wisner Baum] possesses a David v. Goliath-sized slingshot while seeking justice for everyday citizens it believes were harmed or killed through corporate wrongdoing.”
Elite Trial Lawyers
NLJ and American Lawyer Media honor law firms and attorneys as Elite Trial Lawyers for their cutting-edge legal work on behalf of plaintiffs in practice areas ranging from mass torts to securities litigation.
Listed in Best Lawyers
Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. A listing in Best Lawyers is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor, conferred on a lawyer by his or her peers.
AV Top Ranked Law Firm
Less than one-half of one percent of firms across the nation have achieved this ranking. A firm must have a high percentage of lawyers who have achieved the prestigious AV® Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell®.
Verdicts Hall of Fame
The National Law Journal inducted Wisner Baum into the Verdicts Hall of Fame for obtaining the $2 billion landmark verdict in the Roundup cancer case of Pilliod et al. v. Monsanto. The verdict was #1 in California and #2 in the U.S. in 2019 and is #9 in American history.
Super Lawyers
Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.
National Trial Lawyers Top 100
The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 recognized the law firms of Wisner Baum, the Miller Firm and Audet & Partners with the 2019 Trial Team of the Year award (in the Mass Torts category) for their work in the groundbreaking case of Dewayne “Lee” Johnson v. Monsanto Company.
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
An AV® rating reflects an attorney who has reached the heights of professional excellence. The rating signifies the highest legal ability, and very high adherence to professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability, and diligence.
Avvo 10.0 Rating
Wisner Baum is proud to have all of its lawyers listed in Avvo, a legal directory connecting people in need of legal services with lawyers and connecting lawyers to lawyers. Eight of our attorneys have earned a 10.0 perfect rating with Avvo.
Top Jury Verdict in
CA and USA
TopVerdict.com ranks our $2 billion verdict in Pilliod et al. v. Monsanto as the biggest verdict in California and the second largest verdict in the U.S. in 2019. It is the ninth largest verdict in U.S. history.
Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers
Published annually, the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers list recognizes the “best of the best” in this area of the law through nominations, research, and review by a board of their peers.
Product Liability Practice Group of the Year
In 2020, Law360 honored the law firms ”behind the litigation wins and major deals that resonated throughout the legal industry.” It recognized our success in several landmark cases.
Top Personal Injury Jury Verdict in California
In 2018, our $289 million Johnson v. Monsanto verdict was the largest personal injury verdict in California. TopVerdict.com also ranked it #2 among all verdicts in California and #10 in the nation.
Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
The Bar Register is the definitive guide to the most distinguished law firms in America. It includes only those select law practices that have earned the highest rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory and have been designated by their colleagues as preeminent in their field.

Firm Reviews

What Our Clients Are Saying

I Can’t Imagine a Better Law Firm
“Multiple lawyers recommended Wisner Baum to me and I have been consistently impressed with the quality of their work.”
- Best Law Firms Survey
They Are About Changing the Systems...
“Wisner Baum are not only amazing attorneys but more importantly, they are activists. They are about changing the systems which got us into trouble in the first place. They understand their role in the process of making change.”
- Kim Witczak
Top Legal Minds in the Country
“The Wisner Baum firm has some of the top legal minds in the country; they are driven, determined, trustworthy, ethical and passionate.”
- From Best Lawyers® Best Law Firms
Diligent & Professional Representation
“Thanks to your efforts I was able to recover from a tragic experience and turn my life around for the best.”
- W.T.
Our Best Interest Was Always Number One on Your List
“A special thank you to your Spanish-speaking staff for the extra effort put into this case. The language barrier was never a problem, and we are so very thankful to them. Your name holds much respect in our family.”
- G.C. & C.C