No win, no fee personal injury lawyers: You pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.
One accident is all it takes to change your life. In a split second, your health and future can feel uncertain.
If your accident wasn’t your fault, a San Francisco personal injury lawyer at Stoll & Haynes can help you pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
We get how overwhelming everything is right now. Pain. Emotional trauma. Uncertainty. But you don’t have to struggle alone.
If you need a San Francisco personal injury lawyer, our team represents clients throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.
Injured in an accident? Getting answers starts with a free online consultation:
Since 1994, Stoll & Haynes has focused on personal injury matters, such as automobile accidents, slip and fall accidents, and wrongful death. Located on Montgomery Street in the Financial District, our firm offers:
Experience with San Francisco courts and local laws
No attorney’s fees unless we secure compensation for you
Free consultations at our downtown office
Proven results, including multi-million-dollar victories
Meet Our San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyers
Learn more about the personal injury attorneys at Stoll & Haynes:
Albert G. Stoll, Jr.
Al has 30+ years of legal experience and has handled over 40 jury trials. He holds an AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Personal Injury Success Stories from Stoll & Haynes
We’ve helped clients throughout the Bay Area secure compensation after life-changing accidents, including multi-million dollar settlements. Here are just a few of the results our San Francisco personal injury lawyer team has achieved over the years:
Slip and fall in a San Fran store
Amount awarded: $350,000
A customer tripped over signage left in a walkway at a store, resulting in a foot fracture and complications. We proved that the store failed to maintain a safe environment for its customers.
Pedestrian struck by semi-truck
Amount awarded: $750,000
A police investigation suggested that a pedestrian may have failed to yield in a marked crosswalk, leading to an accident with a semi-truck. Our investigation revealed that the truck driver’s speed and inattention were the primary factors that caused the collision.
Dementia patient fatal accident
Amount awarded: $1 million
A man living with dementia and Alzheimer’s was arrested for loitering. After being released from jail without proper supervision, he was killed while crossing a roadway. Our investigation showed that the release was negligent and avoidable, even considering governmental immunities.
Burn injuries
Amount awarded: $5.5 million
A 10-year-old boy suffered severe burns due to unsafe housing conditions. We held those responsible accountable, resulting in a compensation amount of $5.5 million.
Life-altering injuries
Amount awarded: $9.6 million
After two-and-a-half years of litigation, we secured a confidential $9.6 million settlement for a client who suffered brain damage due to a defective product.
Personal Injury Lawyer in San Francisco and the Bay Area
Stoll & Haynes proudly represents injury victims like you throughout the San Francisco metro area and the greater Bay region. What sets us apart from other personal injury law firms in NorCal? Our attorneys have extensive experience with local courts, California law, insurance practices, and the everyday risks people face in our community.
Whether it’s a traffic accident at a Market Street intersection or a slip and fall on a SoMa sidewalk, our firm has handled personal injury claims with respect and compassion for nearly three decades — essentially a lifetime in this field. Firm founder, Albert G. Stoll, Jr. has an AV® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, a nationally recognized honor for the highest ethical standards and legal ability. He also has an Avvo rating of 9.3/10 based on experience, legal community recognition, thought leadership, and other factors.
If you need a San Francisco personal injury lawyer, working with a firm that truly knows the city — and the people who call it home — can make a real difference in how your case is resolved and how much compensation you may be able to receive.
Here are some testimonials from our personal injury clients:
“I was involved in a very serious car accident after being hit by an underinsured driver. Despite having health insurance, my medical bills neared $100,000… Al was instrumental in guiding me through the process of dealing with insurance companies, the hospital, and the at-fault driver… I can recommend him without hesitation to anyone involved in a personal injury situation. Five stars.”
Jeff L., Berkeley, CA
“I was involved in a personal injury case that had dragged on for years. Al Stoll picked up my case after being referred by my previous attorney and was able to get the case wrapped up in a manner that I was really pretty happy with… Throughout the case, Al and the staff at his office have been thorough and helpful, and I would honestly recommend him to anyone in the same situation I was in.”
Adam R., Novato, CA
“Walter Haynes gets to the bottom of cases and figures out what really happened — going out to the scene himself, using investigators if he needs to, and then going after the other guy (and the other guy’s insurer) relentlessly. You hope that you never need to hire a personal injury lawyer, but when you need one, Walt is tops.”
E.A., San Francisco, CA
Why You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer in San Francisco
A good personal injury attorney does more than just handle paperwork. Here’s how they make a meaningful difference to your claim for compensation:
Investigating your claim: An attorney can track down witnesses and collect evidence that proves the other party’s negligence.
Calculating your damages: Lawyers know how to determine how much compensation you may be entitled to under California law.
Protecting your rights: Working with a personal injury attorney makes sure insurance companies don’t undercut your claim or try to blame you for your accident. A good lawyer ensures your case is handled properly.
Negotiating a settlement: The right attorney can often negotiate a fair and full offer without you having to go to court. That said, they should be prepared to take your case to court if it’s necessary — for example, when insurers just won’t play ball.
With an attorney by your side, you can focus on healing rather than paperwork or deadlines and all the stress that comes with those things.
What Is Personal Injury Law?
Personal injury law exists for one reason: to help you recover damages for another party’s negligence or intentional wrongdoing. It’s all about holding them accountable for what they’ve done.
Personal injury in California covers a very wide range of accidents, from car crashes to slips and falls. However, the goal is the same. The law provides a way for victims to seek compensation for losses they’ve suffered.
So, personal injury claims seem simple, right? If you suffered a loss from an accident that wasn’t your fault, compensation will follow. Unfortunately, things aren’t always that straightforward.
In a personal injury claim, you’ll typically need to prove:
Liability (who caused the injury)
Extent of fault (how responsible they were)
Damages (what losses resulted)
On top of all that, California has specific time limits, called statutes of limitations, that determine just how long you have to file a personal injury claim. In most cases, it’s just 2 years from the date of the injury. Miss that deadline, and you may lose your right to compensation.
Thankfully, you don’t need to go through this alone.
Common Types of Personal Injury Accidents
One moment you’re going about your day, and the next, everything changes. Here are some personal injury accidents people experience:
Motor vehicle crashes
According to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), around 3,720 people were injured in a traffic crash in the city in 2024, just slightly down from the year before. From rear-ends to rideshare accidents, vehicle crashes might leave victims with serious injuries and financial losses.
Wrongful death
Losing a loved one because of someone else’s actions is devastating. Families can pursue compensation and hold the responsible party liable.
Slips and falls
Property owners must maintain safe conditions. It’s the law. Slippery floors, broken steps, and other hazards can cause serious harm.
Animal attacks
Even a simple dog bite may lead to long-lasting injuries and medical bills. Compensation could cover the cost.
Product liability
Whether it’s a faulty car part or a broken appliance, defective products are no joke. Victims shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s mistakes.
These cover financial losses caused by an accident:
Medical bills
Lost wages
Reduced earning capacity
Future medical needs
Property damage
Non-economic damages
These cover all the things you can’t put a price on:
Pain and suffering
Emotional trauma
Loss of enjoyment of life
Punitive damages
In rare cases, the court may award extra money if the at-fault party acted with malice or extreme recklessness.
Comparative Fault
If you were partly at fault for your accident, you can still pursue compensation for your injuries under California law. However, any amount you receive may be reduced by your share of responsibility. This is known as pure comparative fault.
Here’s an example:
Say you’re injured in a car crash, but the court determines that you were 20% at fault. If your total damages are $100,000, you’d receive $80,000 — a 20% reduction.
California’s comparative fault rules can be tricky, so it’s best to talk to a personal injury lawyer if you think you’re partly to blame for your accident.
Or call a personal injury attorney at 415-576-1500
How Much Money Can You Get From a Personal Injury Claim in California?
In California, personal injury settlements can range from thousands to millions of dollars. However, every situation is different, and outcomes vary widely based on the specific facts of each case.
How much you could receive from a personal injury claim might depend on factors such as:
The severity of your injuries
How much income you’ve lost
The total cost of your medical bills
More serious injuries may result in higher payouts than smaller ones, but there’s no one-size-fits-all formula. That said, here are broad estimates based on publicly reported settlements and other factors. The outcome of your case might be different.
Minor injuries
Examples
Bruises, minor cuts, mild whiplash, injuries that heal quickly
Estimated settlement value
A few thousand dollars
Moderate injuries
Examples
Some fractures, sprains/strains, soft tissue injuries, ligament injuries
Estimated settlement value
Tens of thousands of dollars
Serious injuries
Examples
Brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, severe fractures, long-term disabilities
Estimated settlement value
Hundreds of thousands of dollars or more
An experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer like Stoll & Haynes can evaluate your claim and estimate its value based on settlements and court verdicts in similar cases.
How Personal Injury Claims Work
Personal injury claims usually hinge on the following elements:
Duty of care: The responsible party had a legal obligation to keep you safe.
Breach of duty: They failed to meet that obligation.
Causation: Their actions directly led to your injury.
Damages: You suffered actual losses due to the injury.
Even if it seems obvious to you who caused your injury, you still have to show the specific damages you suffered, such as medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
All of this is a lot to handle, especially if you’re still in recovery. That’s why it’s important to get legal guidance.
Contacting an experienced San Francisco personal injury attorney like Stoll & Haynes can help you answer important questions:
Am I even entitled to compensation?
How do I prove my financial losses?
What if the other party refuses to take responsibility?
What To Do After an Injury
The moments after an accident are often critical, and the things you do next can strengthen your personal injury claim.
Get medical care
No ifs or buts. Your health comes first. Even small injuries might turn into bigger problems if you ignore them. Getting the care you need also creates a clear medical history tied to your accident, which you can later use to support your claim.
Document the accident scene
Photos, videos, and witness contact information can show what really happened during an accident and who’s at fault. Once it’s safe to do so, collect as much evidence as you can while everything’s fresh.
Report the incident to the police
Filing a police report means you have an official record of the accident, which can help support your claim.
Keep records safe
Save all documents related to your accident, such as medical bills, photos of injuries, and letters from insurance companies. You might need them later.
Get in touch with a San Francisco personal injury lawyer
The sooner you contact a lawyer, the better. They can recommend your next steps and guide you through the legal process.
What Happens When You File a Personal Injury Claim?
Filing a personal injury claim might seem scary, especially if you’ve never done it before. But you don’t have to handle all of this alone. Here’s what typically happens when you contact a San Francisco personal injury lawyer:
Consultation: This is where it begins. An attorney will listen carefully to what happened and explain your rights in clear language. Stoll & Haynes offers a FREE consultation.
Investigation: If things move forward, your attorney starts gathering evidence to strengthen your claim.
Claim filing: Next, your attorney formally files your claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company, officially starting the claims process.
Negotiation: Your attorney will then negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. The goal? To get you a fair and full settlement.
Litigation: Most personal injury claims settle before going to court. But if a settlement can’t be reached, the claim may move forward as a lawsuit in court. This sounds a little intimidating, but your legal team will support you every step of the way.
Want to file a personal injury claim in San Francisco? Call Stoll & Haynes at 415-576-1500.
San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyer FAQs
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in California?
The statute of limitations for California personal injury claims is generally 2 years from the date of the accident. Leaving things too long might mean you lose out on compensation.
What kind of compensation can I recover for an injury?
It all depends on your circumstances. However, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. In some cases, the court might award punitive damages if the at-fault party was particularly negligent or reckless.
Do I need a personal injury lawyer if I only have small injuries?
Even minor injuries can lead to long-term complications and expensive medical bills. A San Francisco personal injury lawyer can make sure you get the right amount of compensation.
What is comparative fault in California?
If you were partly to blame for your accident, you can still pursue compensation for your losses after an injury. However, bear in mind that California has a pure comparative fault rule, which means any compensation you may receive might be reduced by your percentage of fault.
How much does a personal injury lawyer in San Francisco cost?
Personal injury firms like Stoll & Haynes work on a contingency basis, which means you don’t pay attorney’s fees unless you recover compensation.
Been involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault? Our personal injury lawyers proudly serve clients throughout San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area communities.
Get in touch with Stoll & Haynes now. We have experience and local knowledge.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need advice about your specific situation, please contact Stoll & Haynes directly.
