Cases We Believe In.
People We Care About.

Award-Winning Counsel

Nationally Recognized Attorneys by Your Side
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  • Nation's Top One Percent 2023
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$500 Million in Record-Breaking Results

  • Cerebral Palsy $84,300,000
  • Personal Injury $63,429,980
  • Workplace Negligence $58,539,959
  • Child Catastrophic Injury $47,500,000
  • Amputations & Paraplegia $29,000,000
  • Car Crash $24,000,000
  • Dangerous Exposure $20,000,000
  • Reporter Electrocuted $17,800,000
  • Personal Injury $16,000,000
  • Traumatic Leg Injury $14,500,000
  • Auto Accident $13,400,000
  • Catastrophic Brain Injury $13,100,000
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San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyers

Serving the Bay Area Since 1980

If you were injured through no fault of your own, you need a San Francisco personal injury lawyer by your side. Put your trust in Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn.

Founded in 1980, our personal injury law firm has built a reputation as strong legal advocates helping those injured all across the Bay Area.

Over the years, our team has resolved thousands of personal injury claims, recovering over $500 million for clients. We are known in San Francisco for our commitment to professional excellence and our skill in standing up for clients. Our San Francisco injury attorneys have often been recognized within the legal community.

A few of our achievements include AV Preeminent® ratings from Martindale-Hubbell® for ethics and legal talent, Best Lawyers in America recognition since 1991, being named one of the “Best Law Firms” in 2021 by U.S. News – Best Lawyers®, and selection for Super Lawyers® from 2004 to present.

Contact Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn today at (415) 940-7176 to schedule your FREE, no-obligation consultation with our San Francisco injury lawyers.

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Real Stories. Real People.

  • “Thank you Sir once again!”

    - Robert
  • “I cannot thank you enough for the pure excellence.”

    - Michelle
  • “I am very grateful for all the hard work all the staff did. GREAT STAFF!”

    - Guadalupe Hernandez

Personal Injury and Car Accident Attorneys in San Francisco Who Take Cases We Believe In

At Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn, we have made a name for ourselves by taking cases we believe in, and working with people we care about in matters involving brain injuries, car accidents, drug injuries, wrongful death, and more.

To the public, our peers, our opponents, and judges, we are professionals who take on powerful corporations and businesses, and win. To our clients, we are compassionate, approachable, and skilled legal advocates. This winning combination of experience, drive, and creativity has enabled our firm to resolve thousands of cases, resulting in numerous honors. Two of our attorneys have even been named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers®.

While we are nationally recognized advocates, we maintain a small boutique law firm, which allows us to get to know you, answer your calls in a timely manner, and be available whenever you need us. You can count on Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn for superior representation marked by dedicated counsel and excellent professional support. Our ability to provide top-tier advocacy for wrongfully injured victims continues to set us apart.

Car Accident Attorneys in San Francisco

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, you may be wondering if you need to hire an attorney. While it is possible to handle the case yourself, there are many benefits to working with an experienced car accident attorney in San Francisco.

An attorney can help you navigate the complex legal system and ensure that your rights are protected. They can also help you obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries and damages.

An experienced car accident attorney in San Francisco will have a thorough understanding of the laws that apply to car accidents. They can help you determine who is liable for the accident and what type of compensation you may be entitled to.

In addition, an attorney can help you gather evidence to support your claim and build a strong case. They can also negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and make sure that you receive the maximum amount of compensation possible.

If you have been involved in a car accident, contact an experienced car accident attorney in San Francisco today to schedule a free consultation.

Call the San Francisco injury lawyers from Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn today at (415) 940-7176 to discuss your legal options in a free consultation.

We're Committed to Our Clients

Our firm secured a $24 million settlement for a Bay Area woman in a car accident that involved a drunk driver.

A spinal cord injury sustained in the rollover accident left her paralyzed. Attorney Timothy Tietjen represented her, securing a major victory in her personal injury lawsuit. View coverage from CBS San Francisco to learn more about this case.

  • Largest Settlements In The Bay Area
  • 150+ Years of Collective Experience
  • No Attorneys' Fees Unless We Win
  • Nationally Accredited Counsel
  • Top-Rated by U.S. News–Best Lawyers®
  • Over $500 Million Recovered
RFTM Makes History $47.5 Million Recovered Settlement for an Injured Child.

Rouda, Feder, Tietjen, and McGuinn, secured a $47.5 million settlement for a child who was catastrophically injured when a rotten tree fell on his tent. The settlement reached with the County of San Mateo and utility giant PG&E is the largest pretrial personal injury settlement for a single plaintiff in California history!

80+ Years of Experience On your side

Meet Your Team of Established & Award-Winning Attorneys
  • Ronald H. Rouda Photo
  • John M. Feder Photo
  • Timothy G. Tietjen Photo
  • Cynthia  McGuinn Photo
  • June P. Bashant Photo
  • Loren  Schwartz Photo
  • Ronald H. Rouda Photo
    Ronald H. Rouda

    1934-2022

    If practice makes perfect, then Ron should be getting close. In 2010 he celebrated 50 years in practice. But he is far from slowing down. He continues to combine his wealth of experience with an insatiable curiosity and desire for justice, making him one of the most respected (and feared) trial lawyers in California. Rouda is the firm’s founding partner. He has obtained numerous multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients. 

  • John M. Feder Photo
    John M. Feder

    Partner

    John’s tenacity and compassion are unmatched. He develops strong bonds with his clients and their families. John’s boundless energy and his dedication to his clients make for a combination that is difficult to beat. This is reflected in the impressive results he has obtained for his clients over the last 40 years. Outside of work John enjoys traveling, waterskiing, bicycling and other outdoor activities with his wife and children.

  • Timothy G. Tietjen Photo
    Timothy G. Tietjen

    Partner

    Mr. Tietjen’s 35+ year career history is star-studded with remarkable victories and multimillion-dollar settlements for his clients. One of his most notable cases involves a worker who was badly electrocuted while performing his duties; the result was a $29 million dollar settlement – one of the largest ever recovered for a personal injury case in California. Mr. Tietjen enjoys several hobbies in his free time.
  • Cynthia  McGuinn Photo
    Cynthia McGuinn

    Partner

    Cynthia’s skills in the courtroom are the envy of many attorneys and she has the trial record to prove it—a number of her jury trials have resulted in eight-figure verdicts and in 2015 she earned the record for the largest personal injury verdict in the history of Sonoma County. Cynthia has an A.V. Preeminent® rating for ethics and legal talent rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Her jury verdict results are available upon request.

  • June P. Bashant Photo
    June P. Bashant

    Partner

    A Bay Area consumer safety and wrongful death attorney, June’s client-centered focus is dedicated to providing the emotional support and resources her clients need to restore security to their lives following a catastrophic injury. June’s work on behalf of her clients has resulted in improved safety standards and consumer protections – leveling the playing field when powerful corporations act irresponsibly or negligently.
  • Loren  Schwartz Photo
    Loren Schwartz

    Attorney

    Loren Schwartz represents clients in high-stakes personal injury, medical negligence, and wrongful death matters. He has a demonstrated track record of obtaining outstanding results for his clients, whether by jury verdict at trial, mediation, or pre-litigation negotiations.
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WE ARE GROWING!

We are thrilled to announce the exciting news of our continued growth by welcoming attorney Loren Schwartz to our dynamic legal team, effective January 1, 2024.

Loren is a USF graduate, who brings over 15 years of expertise in litigating catastrophic injury cases. His remarkable achievements include:

  • America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys, 2020 – 2023
  • Northern California Super Lawyer from 2016 - 2023
  • 2020 San Francisco Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist
  • SFTLA Board of Directors, and Chairperson of the SFTLA Membership Committee from 2018 – present

Loren will continue to advocate for severely injured individuals.

Common Personal Injury Questions

Turn to Our San Francisco Injury Attorneys for the Answers You Need
  • Q:What is the time limit for filing a personal injury case in California?

    A:As soon as an accident occurs, the clock starts ticking. Under the law, you must bring forth a claim seeking damages within a set period of time. This is called the statute of limitations. The time limits will vary, depending on the case, but most personal injury lawsuits in California will need to be filed within two years of the incident. However, personal injury or wrongful death claims against California state or local governments must be filed within six months of the incident. Because the deadline for bringing a claim varies, it is essential to speak to a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. This helps protect your right to file a lawsuit and allows your attorney to get involved and investigate while the evidence is still fresh. 

  • Q:How do I choose the right personal injury lawyer for my case?

    A:Working with a personal injury lawyer is important. Representing yourself is not recommended because these claims are highly complex, and you can't trust the insurance company to have your best interest in mind. Having an advocate on your side could make all the difference in your case and, consequently, your future. When choosing an attorney, you need to understand that the person you hire will be with you for quite a while, as personal injury cases often take more than a year to resolve. The lawyer you select can also dramatically affect the value of your case. Contingency fee lawyers, like those at our firm, usually won't charge to meet with you. Consider speaking to two or three different attorneys to find one who is the right fit for you.

  • Q:What can I expect during an initial consultation with your firm?

    A:If you decide to schedule a consultation with one of our San Francisco personal injury attorneys, we’ll usually want to take down some initial information over the phone. This ensures that the consultation is appropriate. If we feel that we are not the right fit, we may suggest that you speak with another lawyer who is better suited to handle your case. The initial consultation may take place at our office, or we may decide to come to you, depending on your location and level of mobility. You will be asked about what happened, how you are doing, and what you expect from the lawsuit. We will also want to look at any documentation you have; the more information you can bring to the meeting, the better. Photos, accident reports, statements, medical records, receipts—anything that can help us understand your situation—are important. At Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn, we always make the first consultation free of charge. Any lawyer who asks to be paid for an initial consultation for a personal injury or wrongful death case should be avoided.

  • Q:When should I contact a personal injury lawyer about my case?

    A:If you have not already hired a lawyer, it is important that you collect as much information as possible. Names and contact information of witnesses, photographs of the scene, physical evidence (such as the car or product involved in the accident), a police report, medical records—all of these are important to your case. At Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn, we like to get started on the case investigation as soon as possible. This allows our personal injury attorneys to lock down evidence and get witness statements while the events are still fresh in people’s minds. The investigation can involve all sorts of activities, such as sending our investigators out to get evidence and statements, tracking down important records, and conducting Internet research or asset searches.

  • Q:Will my case go to trial? Can I just settle my claim?

    A:As much as we enjoy the challenge of bringing a case to trial, we also recognize that the best result for our client is a speedy resolution for maximum recovery. At Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn, our personal injury lawyers in San Francisco make it a practice to approach the other side before a lawsuit is filed in order to explore the options for a settlement. If the opposing side requests medical records or a brief analysis of the case, we are willing to provide that to the appropriate parties. In a civil case, we need to prove our facts to a jury, and the other side will get all this information during the discovery phase of the lawsuit. According to how we see it, we might as well show the other side how we will prevail and why they should settle the case now. Some cases can be resolved during this pre-lawsuit phase. These tend to be lower-value cases where the defendant has limited insurance, or the defendant desperately wants to avoid negative publicity. When possible, we find the right type of pressure, and we apply it.

  • Q:What happens during a deposition? What can I expect?

    A:A deposition is a formal question-and-answer session. When one lawyer requests that a party or witness appear for a deposition, all the other lawyers have the right to attend and ask questions. The process typically takes place in a lawyer’s office. While depositions are not conducted in a courtroom, the answers fall under the penalty of the perjury clause, meaning that the witness is sworn in at the beginning of the process. The questions and answers are taken down by a certified court, which then produces a booklet that contains the testimony. Depositions are oftentimes videotaped so that the witness’ behaviors, not just the answers, are properly recorded. With rare exception, almost every party in a lawsuit will be required to sit for a deposition.

  • Q:How does mediation work when settling a claim?

    A:In the mediation process, the mediator (typically a retired judge or a qualified attorney) serves as a neutral third party who works with both parties involved in the personal injury case to resolve the matter outside of court. The mediator's job is solely to provide guidance. He or she cannot force the parties to reach a settlement—it is up to the parties involved to come to this decision. When the parties mutually agree on an amount of compensation, a settlement is reached and the parties can avoid taking the case to trial. Settlements are often seen as a more favorable solution over litigation. While you may be giving up the possibility of a larger outcome that may occur with a trial, a settlement is a sure way of securing compensation. Furthermore, when you choose to resolve the case through a settlement, you avoid the costs and hassle of taking the matter to court.

  • Q:What is my case worth? How much can I recover?

    A:This will depend on a variety of factors, including the severity of your injury, the circumstances that caused your injury, and how much your injury will affect your life in the years to come. This analysis cannot be completed without a full investigation of the facts of your case. Schedule a complimentary consultation with Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn to receive a specific analysis from a seasoned personal injury lawyer on our team.

  • Q:How much will it cost to hire a personal injury attorney?

    A:At our firm, we do not charge an upfront hourly fee, and we often front litigation costs for our clients if necessary. If you do not recover, there will be no fee for our services whatsoever. If you do, our fee will be taken as a percentage from the final recovery. This levels the playing field, making it possible for everyone to have access to the courts to pursue the justice they deserve without the trauma of further financial strain.