San Francisco has many famous landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, and Chinatown, all of which attract people to live and vacation there. It is the cultural center of Northern California and the second-most densely populated city in the U.S. However, San Francisco also witnesses more injuries and deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes than any other major city in California, based on the number of miles driven. If you are injured in a crash caused by someone else, the San Francisco car accident attorneys at Sharifi Firm may be able to help you recover compensation.
Pursuing Compensation for a Car AccidentMost car accidents are caused by negligence. A plaintiff trying to prove a defendant's negligence must show by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant owed them a duty of care, which they breached, thereby causing injuries. In California, all drivers owe a duty to others on the road to use reasonable care.
What reasonable care is depends on the circumstances, but in general it means that a driver must follow traffic laws, pay attention to changing conditions on the road, and be careful to try to avoid causing harm to people or property. When a driver texts while driving, runs a red light to try to get through an intersection, cuts off another driver without using a turn signal, speeds while it is raining, or otherwise behaves inappropriately on the road, a jury is likely to find them negligent.
Often, more than one person causes a car accident. For example, one person may have road rage because another driver is texting instead of paying attention to traffic and weather conditions. You can potentially recover compensation from another driver for your injuries even if you were partially to blame for an accident, as long as the other driver bears some responsibility. California follows the rule of comparative negligence, whereby a jury will assign percentages of liability for an accident to all of the parties found to be at fault, and a plaintiff's damages are reduced by their own percentage of fault.
When someone dies in a car accident due to negligence or a wrongful act, the survivors of the deceased person or the personal representative of that person's estate may bring a wrongful death lawsuit. Unlike in a criminal case, liability will only be expressed through monetary damages. This type of lawsuit is brought for the benefit of the victim’s survivors. Specific people are allowed to bring the case: a surviving spouse, a surviving domestic partner, a surviving child, or if none of these exist, anyone who would be entitled to inherit from the victim through intestate succession laws. People who were financially dependent on the victim, such as stepchildren or parents, may also have the right to bring a wrongful death claim.
Consult an Experienced Car Accident Attorney in San FranciscoAt Sharifi Firm, our experienced San Francisco car accident lawyers may be able to help you recover compensation if you were injured or a loved one was killed in a crash. We have a strong reputation as advocates for victims throughout California, as well as experience negotiating with insurers and taking cases to trial when needed. Contact us online or call us at (866) 422-7222 to set up a free consultation with a motor vehicle collision attorney.