San Francisco Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Attorney Michael Rehm — (800) 978-0754

San Francisco Pedestrian Accident Attorney

San Francisco has the highest pedestrian injury rate per capita of any major California city. Pedestrian crashes account for roughly one quarter of all injury collisions in the city, according to the SFMTA Traffic Crashes Report. Vehicle-pedestrian crashes account for two-thirds of fatal collisions citywide. The city's Vision Zero High Injury Network — the 12 percent of streets where more than 68 percent of severe and fatal crashes occur — is concentrated in precisely the corridors with the highest pedestrian foot traffic: Mission Street, Sixth Street, Cesar Chavez Street, Folsom Street, and Van Ness Avenue. Seven of the 26 traffic deaths in San Francisco in 2023 were hit-and-run crashes that killed people who were walking, according to the San Francisco Department of Public Health. Attorney Michael Rehm represents pedestrians injured by vehicles throughout San Francisco and San Francisco County. These claims are filed in San Francisco Superior Court, 400 McAllister Street.

Driver Duties to Pedestrians Under California Law

Vehicle Code § 21950(a) requires every driver to yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. Vehicle Code § 21950(b) requires drivers to exercise due care for the safety of pedestrians and to reduce speed or take other necessary precautions, even outside of crosswalks. Failure to yield at a crosswalk is the second most common vehicle code violation contributing to pedestrian injury crashes in San Francisco. Violation of a Vehicle Code provision is evidence of negligence per se under California Evidence Code § 669.

Drivers making turns at intersections bear a heightened duty of care to pedestrians in the crosswalk. Vehicle Code § 21801(a) requires a left-turning driver to yield to approaching traffic and pedestrians. The Embarcadero, Market Street, and the streets around Union Square and the Financial District are intersection environments where driver-pedestrian conflicts are frequent and the consequences of a failure to yield are severe.

Muni and Public Transit Pedestrian Accidents

Muni light rail vehicles, buses, and cable cars operate throughout San Francisco and are a significant source of pedestrian injuries. A pedestrian struck by a Muni vehicle has a claim against the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). Muni is a common carrier under Public Utilities Code § 2100, held to the utmost care and diligence under Public Utilities Code § 2101. Claims against SFMTA require a government tort claim under Government Code § 911.2 within six months of the incident. Missing this deadline can potentially bar a lawsuit. Tolling may apply depending on the facts.

Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accidents

Seven of San Francisco's 26 fatal traffic crashes in 2023 involved a driver who fled the scene. A pedestrian injured by a hit-and-run driver who cannot be identified may have a claim under their own uninsured motorist coverage under Insurance Code § 11580.2. California requires uninsured motorist coverage to be offered with every automobile liability policy. If the injured pedestrian or a resident household member has an automobile insurance policy, that policy's UM coverage may apply to a pedestrian knockdown even though the injured person was not in a vehicle at the time. Timely notification to the UM insurer is required.

Damages in Pedestrian Accident Cases

Pedestrian injuries from vehicle collisions are frequently catastrophic because pedestrians have no protection. Head and brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, pelvic fractures, and multiple long-bone fractures are common in pedestrian knockdowns at typical urban speeds. Damages include all past and future medical expenses, lost wages and lost earning capacity, and non-economic damages for pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. In fatal cases, surviving family members may bring a wrongful death claim under Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60.

Filing Deadlines

The personal injury statute of limitations is two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Claims against SFMTA or the City of San Francisco require a government tort claim within six months under Government Code § 911.2. None of these deadlines are self-executing and tolling may apply — contact Attorney Michael Rehm to assess the specific timeline in your case.

Attorney Michael Rehm represents pedestrian accident victims throughout San Francisco on a contingency fee basis. No fee without a recovery. Call (800) 978-0754 to arrange a free consultation.

The information on this page is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case turns on its own facts. The law can change — statutes are amended, cases are decided, and regulations are revised; nothing on this page should be relied upon as a statement of current law without verification. Deadlines and legal bars discussed on this page are general guides — whether a particular deadline applies, has run, or is subject to tolling, and whether a particular doctrine bars or limits recovery in your case, requires individual analysis. Contact Attorney Michael Rehm to discuss the specific facts of your situation.

San Francisco Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Attorney Michael Rehm — (800) 978-0754