Top-Rated Rear-End Collision Lawyers in the San Francisco Bay Area

 

Rear-end collisions are among the most common types of car accidents that occur on Bay Area roads. From stop-and-go traffic on Highway 101 and I-80 to crowded streets in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Mateo, these crashes happen in seconds. Still, they can leave victims with serious, long-lasting injuries.

If you’ve been hurt in a rear-end collision, you may be struggling with costly medical bills, lost income from missed work, and ongoing pain that affects your daily life. At The Hassell Law Group, our award-winning team of car accident lawyers has over 90 years of combined legal experience representing auto crash victims throughout the Bay Area. We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars for injured clients, and we’re ready to fight for the compensation you deserve.

You don’t have to face the insurance companies alone. Let us stand by your side and protect your rights every step of the way.

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Common Causes of Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end crashes may seem straightforward, but dealing with insurers who have their own interests at heart in the aftermath can make getting paid much more difficult. In the Bay Area, heavy traffic congestion and distracted drivers combine to create a dangerous mix. Some of the most common causes of rear-end accidents include:

• Distracted driving – Texting, reading email, scrolling social media, using GPS, or even eating behind the wheel.
• Tailgating – Following too closely, leaving no time to stop when traffic slows.
• Sudden stops – Heavy city and freeway traffic with cars often stopping quickly and unexpectedly can lead to accidents.
• Speeding – Excessive speed reduces reaction time and increases the force of a crash.
• Weather conditions – Fog, rain and slick roads on bridges and highways can reduce road surface conditions and visibility leading to crashes.

When another driver’s negligence leads to a rear-end crash, they can and should be held accountable- and we can help.

Injuries Caused by Rear-End Crashes

Rear-end accidents could appear “minor” at first under the stress of the event, but the resulting injuries are can be anything but. Even low-speed crashes can cause significant trauma, and high-speed crash impacts will frequently cause serious and devastating injuries.

Some of the most common injuries we see include:

• Whiplash and neck injuries – Sudden back-and-forth motion injures the neck and spine.
• Back and spinal cord injuries – Herniated discs, spinal fractures, or paralysis in severe cases.
• Head trauma and concussions – Hitting the head during impact can cause traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).  Concussions can also occur without hitting the head in violent collisions.
• Broken bones – Arms, wrists, ribs, and legs are often injured when bracing for impact.
• Soft tissue damage – Painful sprains, strains, and tears can occur and take months to heal.
• Emotional trauma – Mental injury can occur from trauma and cause anxiety, panic, fear of driving, PTSD, and reduced quality of life is also common after serious auto crashes.

Prompt medical evaluation is important and very valuable as it documents that injuries were sustained and provides diagnoses for injury symptoms. Some injuries may take hours or even days for symptoms to appear, but medical treatment should not be delayed after an accident. Initial evaluation is important to proving injury if you plan to make a claim for injury, it’s always prudent to get checked out.

Who Is at Fault in a Rear-End Accident?

In California, the rear driver is presumed to be at fault in most all rear-end collisions. The law expects drivers to maintain a safe following distance and be able to stop if traffic slows.

However, fault isn’t always simple. Exceptions may apply when:

• The driver ahead suddenly changes lanes with insufficient clearance in front of a vehicle that rear ends it.
•  The driver ahead slams on the brakes and stops very suddenly and is rear ended.
• The driver ahead rear ends the car ahead of it first, then gets rear ended by the car behind it.  These commonly occur on the freeway and can involve multiple vehicles in a chain reaction.
• A vehicle suffers mechanical failure at night on the freeway and is stopped with no lights on and is rear ended.

California’s comparative negligence law provides that even if you happen to share some responsibility for the accident, you can still recover compensation but it will be reduced by your percentage of fault. Our experienced car accident lawyers can help gather evidence, interview witnesses, and build a strong case to protect your rights.

Compensation You May Be Entitled To

After a rear-end crash, you may be entitled to recover damages for both financial losses and pain and suffering from physical injuries and the crash itself, and emotional distress. These include:

• Medical expenses – ER visits, surgery, doctor visits, physical therapy, medications.
• Lost wages – Income lost while recovering and while obtaining future medical care, as well as compensation for any loss of or reduction in future earning capacity caused by your injuries.
• Pain and suffering – Physical pain, physical/mental suffering, and emotional distress.
• Property damage – Repair of your vehicle, or total loss payout.
• Punitive damages – In certain cases, such as when a drunk driver or reckless driving caused the crash.

Our goal is to take the burden of handling your claim off of you and maximize your recoverable compensation, allowing you to focus on healing.

What to Do After a Rear-End Collision in the Bay Area

The steps you take immediately after an accident can make a huge difference in your case. Important steps to take:

1. Call 911 – Report the accident to the police and request medical help whenever possible.  Police will often not do a police report unless someone is injured and requests aid.  Obtain the police report after the accident.
2. Seek medical care – Even if injuries might initially seem minor, keep in mind that the adrenalin and shock of an accident can interfere with your awareness of the extent of your injuries.  Get medically evaluated immediately.
3. Document the scene – Take photos of all damage to involved vehicles, of the scene, of road conditions, and of any visible injuries.
4. Exchange information – Collect driver and witness phone numbers and addresses and take a photo with your cell phone of the other person’s insurance card and driver’s license.
5. Avoid admitting fault – Refrain from saying things that tend to admit fault. Avoid speculating verbally about who is at fault.
6. Contact The Hassell Law Group – Let us handle the insurance companies and legal process on your behalf.  You pay nothing up front and nothing unless we win.

Why Choose The Hassell Law Group

Choosing the right lawyer can make all the difference. Here’s why Bay Area residents trust us:

• Proven and Top outcomes – We’ve achieved consistent multi-million-dollar results for injured auto accident victims.
• High degree of recognition in legal community– Selected to Best Lawyers 2025, National Trial Lawyers Top 100, members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and recognized year after year by TopVerdict for obtaining some of the highest case results in California.
• Very high success rate – Our track record speaks for itself.
• Client-centered approach – We treat every client with compassion and respect.

When your future is at stake, experience matters.

Our Recent Case Results

Here are just a few examples of how we’ve helped clients after serious motor vehicle accidents:

$12.5 Million+ Confidential Settlement Result for woman severely injured in a head-on collision caused by a commercial truck driver.

$5,000,000 settlement for injured woman in her 70s and her husband, who was killed in a head-on collision caused by a negligent driver.

$4,900,000 result for client in his mid-50s seriously injured when his vehicle was T-boned by a cement truck.

$4,677,244 court judgment in San Mateo County in a serious motorcycle accident caused by wrong way driver.

$4,500,000 settlement for pedestrian in her 60’s hit by a vehicle while crossing in the crosswalk in San Francisco.

$2,525,000 result for two pedestrians involved in an accident caused by a loose trailer pulled by a commercial vehicle.

These results are evidence of our commitment to securing justice and financial recovery for our clients.

FAQs About Rear-End Collisions

Who is usually at fault in a rear-end collision?

Typically, the driver who hits another car from behind is at fault, but there are some exceptions.

Do I need a lawyer for a rear-end accident?

Yes. Insurance companies often downplay these claims. A lawyer is your best option to ensure you get the full value of your case. Having our firm help costs nothing up front and nothing unless we win.  Having a good lawyer adds value. Studies show victims with counsel often recover many times more than what they’d recover without a lawyer.

What if the other driver is uninsured?

You can still recover compensation through your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.  A competent lawyer can help you navigate and obtain any and all applicable coverage and ensure involved insurers pay what’s fair.

How long do I have to file a claim in California?

Generally, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim, unless a public entity is involved, in which case you have only 6 months from the date of the accident to file a formal notice of claim. Don’t wait to retain counsel. The sooner you retain counsel, the better your chances of a successful outcome.

Contact Our San Francisco Bay Area Rear-End Collision Lawyers Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in a rear-end collision, don’t wait. Evidence may no longer be available, and insurance companies act fast to benefit themselves and minimize payouts. At The Hassell Law Group, we’re ready to fight for you from day one.

Call us today for a free consultation at (415) 334-4111. We proudly serve clients across the San Francisco Bay Area, including Oakland, Berkeley, Daly City, San Mateo, and beyond.

Let us handle the legal battle while you focus on recovery.

The general information provided on this website should not be considered legal advice, and does not constitute legal advice. For legal advice, you should consult directly with an attorney. If you contact us by telephone, email, letter, or by contact form submission through this website, please note that such communication does not create or constitute an attorney-client relationship. We cannot act as your attorney until we are hired as your attorney by a formal written agreement.