7 Things to Do After a Car Accident on the Bay Bridge: A San Mateo Personal Injury Attorney’s Guide
A crash on the Bay Bridge is harder to handle than one on a city street. Parts of the bridge have little room to pull over, traffic keeps moving at freeway speed, and you may be stuck above the water or inside the Yerba Buena Island tunnel when it happens. Many Peninsula commuters cross it every day, and a San Mateo personal injury attorney regularly hears from people who weren’t sure what to do next. Below are seven steps to take after a Bay Bridge accident, followed by five Bay Area firms that handle car accident claims.
What should you do after a car accident on the Bay Bridge?
1. Should you get out of your car after a crash on the bridge?
Usually not. If your car can move, turn on your hazard lights and pull to the shoulder where there is one. Then stay inside with your seatbelt on. The CHP has told KQED that drivers who break down on the bridge should wait in their vehicles for help, because walking in live lanes is dangerous.
2. Who do you call after a Bay Bridge crash?
Call 911 and ask for the CHP, which patrols the bridge as part of Interstate 80. Tell the dispatcher which span you are on and which direction you were heading. The western span runs between San Francisco and Yerba Buena Island, and the newer eastern span runs to Oakland. If no one is hurt and your car simply won’t move, calling 511 and asking for Freeway Assist can bring the Freeway Service Patrol, a free roadside help program.
3. What information are you required to exchange?
California Vehicle Code section 16025 requires drivers in a collision to exchange names, addresses, driver’s license numbers, vehicle registration and insurance details. On the bridge, it may be safer to do this once officers arrive and traffic is controlled. Take photos of the other driver’s license and insurance card rather than writing them down.
4. How can you document a crash when you can’t leave your car?
Take photos through your windows of the other vehicles, the damage and the lane you were in. Note landmarks such as the tunnel or the Treasure Island exit so the location is clear. Save dashcam footage right away, before the camera records over it.
5. How soon should you see a doctor?
The same day if you can. Whiplash, a neck strain caused by a sudden back-and-forth movement, and concussions often take a day or two to cause noticeable symptoms. A medical record dated close to the crash connects your injuries to it and makes it harder for an insurer to argue something else caused them.
6. What should you tell the other driver’s insurance company?
As little as possible until you understand your claim. You must notify your own insurer, but you don’t have to give the other driver’s insurer a recorded statement. California uses pure comparative fault, meaning your compensation is reduced by your share of the blame, so a casual “I didn’t see them” can lower what you recover.
7. What deadlines apply after a California car accident?
Several deadlines start on the day of the crash:
- Report the accident to the DMV on an SR-1 form within 10 days if anyone was hurt or property damage was over $1,000.
- File a personal injury lawsuit within two years, under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1.
- File a government claim within six months if a public agency, such as the one maintaining the roadway, may share responsibility.
Which Bay Area law firms handle Bay Bridge accident claims?
These firms in San Francisco, the East Bay and the Peninsula handle car accident and injury claims:
- Beahm Law
- Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers
- Kleczek Law Office
- Law Office of Allister R. Liao
- Bay Area Injury Law Firm
1. Beahm Law: San Mateo Personal Injury Attorney
Beahm Law is a Bay Area personal injury firm founded by Jason Beahm, Esq. It is based in San Francisco and also serves clients in San Mateo and Oakland, which covers drivers on both ends of the Bay Bridge. The firm handles car accident claims along with catastrophic injuries such as spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries, wrongful death cases and premises liability claims. Clients can request a free case evaluation to talk through the crash, their medical treatment and the insurance process before deciding how to proceed.
2. Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers
Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers is a personal injury firm with an office on Market Street in San Francisco.
3. Kleczek Law Office
Kleczek Law Office is a personal injury law office in downtown Oakland.
4. Law Office of Allister R. Liao
The Law Office of Allister R. Liao is a personal injury practice in San Mateo.
5. Bay Area Injury Law Firm
Bay Area Injury Law Firm is a personal injury practice in Daly City.
When should you talk to a lawyer after a Bay Bridge crash?
The first minutes on the bridge are about staying safe: stay buckled in, call 911 and tell the CHP exactly where you are. After that, document what you can, get checked by a doctor and keep track of California’s deadlines. If you were hurt, a consultation with a San Mateo personal injury attorney before you accept a settlement can help you understand what your claim covers. Reach out while the crash details and your medical records are still fresh.
