San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyer

A serious injury can change everything in an instant. One moment you are crossing Market Street, riding your bike down the Wiggle, or driving across the Bay Bridge. The next, you are facing painful injuries, medical bills, time away from work, and insurance companies that seem more interested in protecting their profits than helping you recover.

At Tien Law Firm, we believe injured people deserve both strong advocacy and genuine care. San Francisco personal injury lawyer Sonya Tien has spent more than a decade helping accident victims rebuild their lives. From our San Francisco office, we represent people injured in car crashes, pedestrian and bicycle accidents, rideshare collisions, and other serious accidents throughout the Bay Area.

We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you. Call (415) 881-8820 today for a free, confidential consultation.

Why Choose Tien Law Firm?

Choosing a lawyer after an accident is an important decision. You need someone with the experience to stand up to large insurance companies and the compassion to treat you as a person, not a file number.

Experience and Recognition

Founder Sonya Tien has more than a decade of experience representing injured people and their families. Her work has earned recognition, including:

Super Lawyers Rising Star for seven years
10.0 “Superb” Avvo attorney rating maintained for thirteen years

A Lawyer Who Truly Cares

Sonya Tien founded Tien Law Firm because she cares about the people she represents. She understands that behind every case is a person dealing with pain, uncertainty, and financial stress. Our clients can expect:

Direct access to your attorney. You will not be passed from person to person. We return calls and answer questions promptly.
Clear communication. We explain each step in plain language so you always know where your case stands.
Personalized strategy. Every injury and every client is different, and we build each case around your specific needs and goals.
Support beyond the legal claim. We can help you understand your options for medical care, vehicle repairs, and dealing with bills while your case moves forward.

No Fee Unless We Win

We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. There is no upfront cost to hire us, and you pay no attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you through a settlement or verdict.

Convenient San Francisco Office

Our office is in San Francisco, and we serve clients throughout the Bay Area. If your injuries make travel difficult, we can meet by phone, by video, at your home, or at the hospital.

Personal Injury Cases We Handle

Vehicle Accidents

Car accidents, including rear-end, intersection, head-on, and hit-and-run collisions
Rideshare accidents involving Uber and Lyft drivers or passengers
Autonomous vehicle accidents involving self-driving cars and robotaxis
Truck and commercial vehicle accidents, including delivery vans and box trucks
Motorcycle accidents
Bus and public transit accidents involving Muni, BART, cable cars, and private shuttles
Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims

Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Scooter Accidents

San Francisco is one of the most walkable and bike-friendly cities in the country, but pedestrians and cyclists have little protection when a driver is careless. We represent people injured in:

Pedestrian accidents in crosswalks, intersections, and parking lots
Bicycle accidents, including dooring, right-hook, and bike lane collisions
E-scooter and e-bike accidents

Other Injury Cases

Slip and fall and premises liability injuries caused by unsafe conditions at stores, restaurants, hotels, apartment buildings, and other properties
Dog bites, which in California can make owners strictly liable in many situations
Wrongful death claims for families who have lost a loved one because of someone else’s negligence

Accidents on San Francisco Streets and Bay Area Highways

San Francisco’s steep hills, dense traffic, busy crosswalks, tourists, cable car tracks, and constant double-parking create unique dangers. Serious crashes often happen on:

US-101, including Van Ness Avenue and Lombard Street, and the approach to the Golden Gate Bridge
I-80 and the Bay Bridge approaches through SoMa
I-280 and the Central Freeway
19th Avenue (Highway 1), a high-speed corridor through the Sunset and Parkside
Market Street, Mission Street, and South Van Ness Avenue
Geary Boulevard, Oak and Fell Streets, and Octavia Boulevard
The Embarcadero and busy streets in the Tenderloin, SoMa, and Financial District

Serving San Francisco and the Bay Area

From our San Francisco office, Tien Law Firm represents injured people throughout the Bay Area, including:

San Francisco, including the Mission, Sunset, Richmond, SoMa, Tenderloin, Bayview, Excelsior, Chinatown, and Financial District
San Mateo County: Daly City, South San Francisco, San Bruno, San Mateo, Burlingame, and Redwood City
Alameda County: Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, Hayward, Fremont, and Emeryville
Contra Costa County: Richmond, Walnut Creek, Concord, and San Ramon
Marin County: San Rafael, Sausalito, Mill Valley, and Novato
Santa Clara County: San Jose, Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Santa Clara

Wherever in the Bay Area you were hurt, call (415) 881-8820 to talk with our team.

California Personal Injury Laws You Should Know

Comparative Fault

California follows pure comparative negligence. Even if you were partly at fault for an accident, you can still recover compensation, but your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were found 20% at fault, you could recover 80% of your damages.

Insurance companies often exaggerate an injured person’s share of the blame to reduce what they pay. We investigate thoroughly to show what really happened and protect the value of your claim.

Filing Deadlines

Most personal injury claims: generally two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit
Wrongful death claims: generally two years from the date of death
Claims against government entities such as the City and County of San Francisco, SFMTA (Muni), BART, or Caltrans: a formal government claim generally must be filed within six months of the incident

Missing a deadline can mean losing your right to compensation, so it is important to talk with a lawyer as soon as possible.

Uninsured Drivers and Proposition 213

Under California’s Proposition 213, drivers who were uninsured at the time of a crash generally cannot recover non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, with limited exceptions, including when the at-fault driver was convicted of DUI. Economic damages such as medical bills and lost wages may still be recoverable.

Insurance Coverage

California’s minimum required auto liability coverage is $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, which is often far too little for a serious injury. We look for every available source of recovery, including uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, rideshare company policies, employer and commercial policies, and other liable parties.

Compensation for Your Injuries

Depending on your case, you may be entitled to compensation for:

Medical expenses, including emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, and future treatment
Lost wages and lost earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life
Permanent disability, disfigurement, or scarring
Property damage, including vehicle repair or replacement
Wrongful death damages, such as funeral costs and loss of financial support and companionship

In cases involving especially reckless or malicious conduct, such as some drunk driving crashes, punitive damages may also be available.

What to Do After an Accident in San Francisco

Call 911 and get medical help for anyone who is hurt.
Report the accident. Ask the police to prepare a report. In California, crashes involving injury or significant property damage must also be reported to the DMV, generally within 10 days.
Document the scene with photos and video of vehicles, the location, traffic signals, and your injuries.
Collect information from the other driver and any witnesses, including names, phone numbers, license plates, and insurance details. In a rideshare crash, take screenshots of the trip in the app.
Get medical treatment promptly, even if you feel fine, and follow your doctor’s recommendations.
Do not admit fault or give a recorded statement to the other party’s insurance company.
Keep records of medical visits, bills, missed work, and expenses.
Call Tien Law Firm at (415) 881-8820. We can begin preserving evidence such as video footage, vehicle data, and app records right away.

How We Handle Your Case

Free consultation. We listen to your story, answer your questions, and explain your options.
Investigation. We gather police reports, video, witness statements, and other evidence to prove fault.
Medical and financial documentation. We work to capture the full impact of your injuries on your health, finances, and daily life.
Negotiation. We present a strong demand and negotiate with the insurance companies for a fair settlement.
Litigation if needed. If the insurer will not offer fair compensation, we are prepared to file a lawsuit and pursue your case in court.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to hire a San Francisco personal injury lawyer?

There is no upfront cost to hire Tien Law Firm. We work on a contingency fee, which means our fee is a percentage of the compensation we recover for you. If we do not recover money for you, you owe no attorney’s fee.

How much is my personal injury case worth?

Every case is different. The value depends on factors such as the severity of your injuries, your medical expenses, lost income, how your life has been affected, the available insurance, and how fault is divided. We can give you a better sense of your claim after a free consultation.

Can I still recover if I was partly at fault?

Yes. Under California’s pure comparative negligence rule, you can still recover compensation even if you share some of the blame, although your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

Who is responsible if I was hit by an Uber, Lyft, or robotaxi?

Liability depends on the facts, including what the driver or vehicle was doing at the time of the crash. Rideshare companies carry insurance that may apply when a driver is logged into the app, and companies operating autonomous vehicles may also be responsible. We investigate to identify every potentially liable party and insurance policy.

What if I was hit by a Muni bus or another city vehicle?

Claims against government agencies have special rules and short deadlines. In most cases, a formal claim must be filed within six months. Contact a lawyer right away to protect your rights.

Should I accept the insurance company’s first offer?

Not before talking with a lawyer. First offers are often far less than a claim is worth and may come before you know the full extent of your injuries. Once you accept and sign a release, you usually cannot ask for more.

How long will my case take?

Some cases settle in a few months, while others take a year or more, especially when injuries are serious or liability is disputed. We work to resolve your case efficiently while making sure you are not pressured into settling for too little.

Talk to a San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyer Who Cares

You deserve a lawyer who will fight for you and treat you with compassion. Sonya Tien brings more than a decade of experience, seven years of recognition as a Super Lawyers Rising Star, and a 10.0 Superb Avvo rating maintained for thirteen years to every client she represents.

Your consultation is free, and you pay no attorney’s fee unless we win. Call Tien Law Firm today at (415) 881-8820 or complete our online contact form to schedule your free case review.