Car Accident Attorneys in San Rafael, CA

The highway through San Rafael backs up daily, and rear-end crashes and sideswipes follow. A California-licensed car accident attorney who handles San Rafael cases will look at yours for free.

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How we match your San Rafael car accident case

When you submit a San Rafael car accident matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A car accident matter needs someone who handles car accident work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under California law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in California who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

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DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm, and is not a State Bar-certified lawyer referral service. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Car Accident cases in San Rafael

More about legal help in San Rafael →

Traffic through San Rafael concentrates on Highway 101 and the interchange feeding the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, with additional congestion on Second and Third Streets, Francisco Boulevard, and Sir Francis Drake corridor traffic heading west. Commuters, bridge backups, cyclists, and delivery vehicles combine to produce frequent rear-end and intersection collisions. Injury claims are filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Marin, and fault is allocated among the drivers involved, so insurers frequently argue the injured person shares blame. DearLegal matches you with a California-licensed attorney who handles car accident cases in San Rafael, with a free review.

Crash injury lawsuits from San Rafael collisions are filed in Marin County Superior Court.
Highway 101, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge approach, and downtown one-way streets are frequent collision points.
Collisions on the bridge's east side or in Sonoma County are typically handled in Contra Costa or Sonoma courts.

California car accident rules at a glance

San Rafael cases run under California law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the California page.

Read the full California car accident guide →

Statute of Limitations: 2 years
2 years for personal injury (CCP § 335.1); 3 years for property damage (CCP § 338)
Fault Rule: Pure comparative
Pure comparative negligence (Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 13 Cal. 3d 804 (1975))
Damages Cap: No cap
No general cap on personal-injury damages; MICRA cap applies only to medical malpractice (Civ. Code § 3333.2)
Minimum Liability Insurance: 30/60/15
$30,000 / $60,000 / $15,000 (raised by SB 1107, effective Jan 1, 2025)
Government Claims Notice: 6 months
6 months to file a government claim (Gov. Code § 911.2)
Typical attorney fee: 33%
33%–40% contingency — no fee unless you win

Exhibit D

How much do San Rafael car accident attorneys cost?

Sample settlement statement

California · Car Accident

Recovery$100,000

Attorney fee · 33%− $33,000

Case costs (advanced by firm)repaid at the end

To you$67,000

Due today$0

Try a different recovery$100,000

$5,000$3,000,000

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Most California car accident attorneys work on contingency: the fee is a share of what they recover, and nothing if they don’t.

Car accident attorneys in California work on a contingency fee basis — typically 33% to 40% of the total recovery. California’s plaintiff-friendly pure comparative-fault rule, lack of general damages caps, and the new SB 1107 minimum-coverage floor mean settlements can be substantial. Case costs are advanced by the firm and deducted from the final recovery.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

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Exhibit F

San Rafael car accident questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a California attorney will review it for free.

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Collisions in San Rafael are generally handled in the Superior Court of California, County of Marin. Where the crash happened and where the other driver lives can both affect venue, especially for bridge and highway wrecks near county lines. An attorney will confirm the correct court before filing.

California allocates fault among the people involved, so sharing some blame reduces recovery rather than automatically eliminating it. Insurers still push fault arguments hard to lower payouts. Police reports, dashcam footage, scene photos, and witness statements are the practical tools for pushing back.

California sets filing deadlines that vary with the type of claim, and much shorter notice requirements can apply when a city, county, or transit agency vehicle is involved. Missing one can end an otherwise strong case. Have a California attorney confirm your specific deadline quickly.

Two years from the date of the crash for personal injury under CCP § 335.1, and three years for property damage under CCP § 338. Claims against a city, county, or state agency require a separate government-claim filing within 6 months under Gov. Code § 911.2 — miss that deadline and the claim is barred.

California applies pure comparative fault under the Li v. Yellow Cab decision (1975). Even if you’re 90% at fault, you can still recover 10% of your damages. This is the most plaintiff-friendly fault rule in the country, in contrast to modified states like Colorado (50% bar) or Texas (51% bar).