San Diego Personal Injury Accident Lawyer
Injured in an accident in San Diego? Call (888) 919-8889 for a free consultation.
One moment on the I-5, a crosswalk in the Gaslamp Quarter, or a parking lot in Mission Valley can change everything. Medical bills arrive, paychecks stop, and the insurance adjuster calls asking for a recorded statement. You need someone on your side who knows San Diego and knows how to fight insurance companies.
Tien Law Firm is a California personal injury law firm founded by award-winning attorney Sonya Tien. For more than a decade, Sonya has represented injured people and families across San Diego County, from Chula Vista to Oceanside and from La Jolla to El Cajon. We handle the claim so you can focus on healing.
- Free, no-obligation case review by phone, video or in person
- No attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you
- Local San Diego office and a team that answers your calls
- We come to you if you are in the hospital or recovering at home
Call (888) 919-8889 or Get My Free Case Review
Why Injured San Diegans Choose Tien Law Firm
Insurance companies have teams of adjusters and lawyers whose job is to pay you as little as possible. Tien Law Firm levels the field with personal attention and a decade of trial-ready experience.
Meet Sonya Tien, Founding Attorney
Sonya Tien founded Tien Law Firm to give injured people in San Diego the kind of representation she would want for her own family. With more than ten years practicing personal injury law in California, she has gone up against major insurers and corporate defendants, and she prepares every case as if it is going to trial. Sonya has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star for the past seven years and Top 40 Under 40 and Top 100 by The National Trial Lawyers. She is licensed by the State Bar of California.
What Sets Us Apart
- You work directly with your attorney. Your case is not passed off to a call center. Sonya and her team know your name and your file.
- Local knowledge matters. We know San Diego’s courts, freeways, hospitals and police departments, including how SDPD, CHP and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department document crashes.
- We build the case early. We move fast to secure traffic camera footage, witness statements, 911 records and vehicle data before they disappear.
- We handle the insurance companies. Once you hire us, adjusters talk to us, not you.
- We help with medical care. If you lack health insurance, we can help you find doctors who will treat you on a lien, paid from your settlement.
San Diego Accident and Injury Cases We Handle
If someone else’s carelessness hurt you, Tien Law Firm can help. Our San Diego personal injury practice includes:
- Car accidents: rear-end, T-bone, head-on and freeway pileups on I-5, I-8, I-15 and I-805
- Truck accidents: big rigs and delivery vans near the Otay Mesa and San Ysidro border crossings and on SR-905
- Motorcycle accidents: lane-splitting and left-turn crashes on Highway 94, Sunrise Highway and coastal routes
- Pedestrian accidents: crosswalk injuries downtown, in Hillcrest, North Park and Pacific Beach
- Bicycle and e-scooter accidents: crashes on bike lanes along Pacific Highway, Harbor Drive and the Mission Beach boardwalk
- Rideshare accidents: Uber and Lyft crashes, including airport pickups at San Diego International
- Bus and trolley accidents: MTS bus and San Diego Trolley incidents
- Hit-and-run and uninsured motorist claims
- Premises liability and slip and fall injuries at stores, apartments, hotels and restaurants
- Wrongful death claims for families who have lost a loved one
- Catastrophic injuries: traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, burns, amputations and broken bones
Where San Diego Accidents Happen
We know these roads because we live and work here. Many of our clients are hurt on the busy freeways, interchanges and streets San Diegans use every day:
- I-5 and I-805, especially the I-5/I-805 merge near Sorrento Valley and the stretch through Downtown and Barrio Logan
- I-8 through Mission Valley, where heavy traffic near Hotel Circle, Fashion Valley and Snapdragon Stadium leads to frequent rear-end collisions
- I-15, from Mission Valley north through Kearny Mesa, Mira Mesa and Rancho Bernardo to Escondido
- SR-163, SR-94 and SR-52, with tight curves, short on-ramps and fast merges
- El Cajon Boulevard and University Avenue, busy corridors through City Heights, North Park and Hillcrest with heavy pedestrian traffic
- Garnet Avenue and Mission Boulevard in Pacific Beach, where cars, cyclists, scooters and pedestrians share crowded streets
- Broadway, Market Street and Harbor Drive downtown and around the Gaslamp Quarter and Petco Park
- Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Balboa Avenue and Friars Road, high-volume roads with frequent left-turn crashes
- Rosecrans Street in Point Loma and the Coronado Bridge
Wherever your accident happened in San Diego County, we will gather the police report, scene photos and any available camera footage to show exactly what went wrong.
Get Medical Care First: San Diego Hospitals and Trauma Centers
Your health comes first, and prompt treatment also creates the medical records that prove your injuries. If you were hurt, get checked out even if you feel fine, since concussions and soft tissue injuries often show up hours or days later.
San Diego County’s trauma system includes:
- Scripps Mercy Hospital in Hillcrest
- UC San Diego Health – Hillcrest Medical Center
- Sharp Memorial Hospital in Kearny Mesa
- Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla
- Palomar Medical Center Escondido for North County
- Rady Children’s Hospital for injured children
Many of our clients also receive care at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista, Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside, Jacobs Medical Center in La Jolla and Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center.
Already in the hospital? Call (888) 919-8889. We can meet you at your bedside or at home, and we will help you keep track of bills and records from the start.
What to Do After an Accident in San Diego
The steps you take in the first hours and days can protect your health and your claim.
- Call 911. Request medical help and police. Inside city limits, San Diego Police respond; on freeways, the California Highway Patrol handles the report.
- Get medical attention, even if your injuries seem minor.
- Document the scene. Photograph vehicles, injuries, road conditions, traffic signals and skid marks.
- Exchange information with the other driver, including insurance, license plate and contact details.
- Get witness names and phone numbers before they leave.
- Report the crash to the DMV using form SR-1 within 10 days if anyone was injured or property damage exceeds $1,000.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company before speaking with a lawyer.
- Stay off social media about the accident or your injuries.
- Call Tien Law Firm at (888) 919-8889 for a free consultation.
California Personal Injury Law: What San Diego Accident Victims Should Know
Deadlines Are Strict
In most California personal injury cases, you have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit (Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1). If your claim is against a government agency, such as the City of San Diego, Caltrans, or MTS, you generally must file a formal claim within six months (Government Code § 911.2). Missing these deadlines can end your case, so contact a lawyer as soon as possible.
You Can Recover Even If You Were Partly at Fault
California follows pure comparative negligence. If you were partly responsible for the accident, you can still recover compensation, reduced by your share of fault. Insurance adjusters often exaggerate a victim’s fault to cut payouts. We push back with evidence.
Compensation You May Be Entitled To
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering and emotional distress
- Property damage, including vehicle repair or replacement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members
- Punitive damages in rare cases, such as some drunk driving crashes
How Your Case Works with Tien Law Firm
- Free consultation. Tell us what happened. We explain your rights and options with no pressure.
- Investigation. We collect police reports, medical records, photos, video and witness statements.
- Treatment and documentation. You focus on recovery while we track your bills, lost wages and progress.
- Demand and negotiation. We present a detailed demand to the insurance company and negotiate for full value.
- Litigation if needed. If the insurer will not be fair, we are prepared to file suit in San Diego County Superior Court and take your case to trial.
No Fee Unless We Win
Tien Law Firm handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront, and you owe no attorney fees unless we recover money for you. We explain all fees and case costs in writing before you sign anything.
Serving Injured People Across San Diego County
We represent accident victims throughout the county, including:
| Region | Communities |
|---|---|
| City of San Diego | Downtown, Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, Hillcrest, North Park, City Heights, Mission Valley, Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, Mira Mesa, Pacific Beach, Point Loma, La Jolla, Rancho Bernardo |
| South Bay | Chula Vista, National City, Imperial Beach, Otay Mesa, San Ysidro, Coronado |
| East County | El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, Lakeside, Alpine |
| North County | Escondido, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista, San Marcos, Encinitas, Poway |
Can’t come to us? We offer phone and video consultations and can meet you where you are.
San Diego Personal Injury FAQ
How much does a San Diego personal injury lawyer cost?
At Tien Law Firm, the consultation is free and we work on contingency. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in California?
Generally two years from the date of injury. Claims against a government entity usually require a formal claim within six months. Talk to a lawyer right away to protect your deadline.
What is my San Diego injury case worth?
Every case is different. Value depends on your medical bills, lost income, the severity and permanence of your injuries, insurance limits, and who was at fault. We can give you a realistic assessment after reviewing your case.
Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company?
You should report the accident to your own insurer, but avoid giving a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company before speaking with an attorney. Adjusters may use your words to reduce your claim.
What if the driver who hit me has no insurance?
You may be able to recover through the uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage on your own policy. We can review your policy and pursue that claim for you.
Do I need a lawyer if my injuries seem minor?
Some injuries, like concussions and whiplash, get worse over time. A free consultation helps you understand your rights before you accept any settlement.
How long will my case take?
Many cases settle within several months to a year after treatment is complete. Cases that go to trial can take longer. We will keep you updated at every stage.
Talk to a San Diego Personal Injury Lawyer Today
You did not choose to get hurt, but you can choose who fights for you. Sonya Tien and the team at Tien Law Firm are ready to listen, answer your questions and help you take the next step.
Call (888) 919-8889 now for your free consultation. Get My Free Case Review. No fee unless we win.