Top Rated Personal Injury Attorney in San Francisco, CA

Newsletters

• Most of the rain in California occurs during the winter.  In fact, January and February are typically when we see the most rain.  Wet roads can be hazardous for cyclists: slipping tires, debris, oil, and even hidden potholes are all real dangerous.  Here are some things to be aware of and what you can do to prepare for riding on wet roads:  Stay Away From Road-Rainbows:Rain, and especially the first rain after a dry spell, can cause oil to surface from roads.  When oil sits on water, it creates a rainbow-like sheen.  You'll want to avoid these patches of oil to prevent any loss of traction with the road.  They are most common at intersections and in parking lots where cars stay-put for prolonged periods of time.  Painted-on road stripes with high reflectivity can also be slippery - if it's shiny, it's slick!Puddles Hide Potholes:Potholes are no good for any tire; be it bicycle, motorcycle, or car.  During and after rainfall, potholes may be full of water and essentially hidden from view.  Leave the puddle-splashing to children in galoshes and steer clear of them while on your bike.Wet Leaves and Mud Equal Trouble:Leaves can be so beautiful when they change colors and flutter to the ground, but once they hit the road, leaves decompose and become extremely slippery.  They can also create a dam and prevent mud from draining away from the road, adding to the potential loss of traction for your tires.  Treat clumps of leaves in the bike lane as a hazard.Adjust Your Riding Habits For the Conditions:Speed can be dangerous in any condition, but when the roads are wet, going too fast will only compound the problem.  Remember you'll need longer to brake (also consider getting new brake pads this time of year), and traction can be lost more easily by doing things like leaning heavily into turns (many avid cyclists like to switch tires to something with more traction for riding when it might be wet).  There are also more obstacles to avoid after rainfall.    Plan AheadGetting stuck in the rain to fix a flat is no fun.  Take the time to prepare your bike in advance: a winter bicycle checkup should include reapplying (and even upgrading) your chain lube, checking/replacing brake pads, replacing head/taillight batteries, replacing aged tires and tubes, and restocking your cycling emergency kit.  If you're unsure of how many lights you need to ride in the dark in California, read our Winter Cycling Safety Tips blog here or download our Cyclist's Quick Reference Guide for California here., Winter: Riding on Wet Roads, Cyclists, Commuters, Bicyclists

Scholarly Lectures/Writings

• Two-Wheeled Single Vehicle Collisions, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, Summer 2007, Speaker
• "Rules of Evidence: Pre-trial proceedings, witness preparation, lay versus expert testimony", Speaker, Lorman Education Services, 2009
• "Deposition Boot Camp: Practical Tips on Winning Depositions", Speaker, State Bar Of California 81st Annual Meeting, 2008
• Author, Establishing School District Liability in Student on Student Assauts, Plaintiff Magazine, 2010
• Profile: Shaana Rahman: Trial lawyer pays her dues, makes her own success and shows others the way by Stephen Ellison, Plaintiff Magazine, October 2014
• A toolkit for representing cyclists in injury collisions, Bike Law 101, Plaintiff Magazine, 2011
• Speed Kills, Plaintiff Magazine, 2016
• Bike Bias in Jury Selection and Using Challenges for Cause, Plaintiff Magazine, 2017
• Deposition Skills, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, October 11, 2008, Instructor
• Why women are underrepresented in the plaintiffs' bar and how to overcome these challenges, Wanted: Women Trial Lawyers, Plaintiff Magazine, 2013
• www.plaintiffmagazine.com/recent-issues/item/diversity-making-it-more-than-just-a-buzzword, Plaintiff Magazine, 2015
• Litigating Bad Faith Claims Against Insurance Companies, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, June 2014
• Eliminating Bias in the Legal Profession, Moderator, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, October 25, 2011
• Focus Groups: Six Keys to Success, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, November 27, 2007, Speaker
• Litigating MUNI Cases: Perspectives from Both Sides of the Fence, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, Speaker
• Preparing for and Completing Depositions of Persons Most Qualified, State Bar of California 81st Annual Meeting, September 26, 2008, Speaker
• Pre-Trial Proceedings, Lorman Education Services, June 16, 2009, Speaker
• Building Trial Skills, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, June 24-27, 2010, Instructor
• Deposition Skills, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, October 15-17, 2010, Instructor
• Strategies and Timing of Depositions in Multiple Defendant Cases, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, October 19, 2010, Speaker
• “Navigating the California Tort Claims Act,” by Shaana A. Rahman, (Consumer Attorneys of California FORUM, Vol 34/No. 8, October 2004), San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association
• “Settlements Without Mediation,” by Shaana A. Rahman, (Consumer Attorneys of California FORUM, Vol 35/No.5, June 2005)
• “Commencing Actions Against State and Federal Public Entities,” by Shaana A. Rahman, (Consumer Attorneys of California FORUM, Vol 36/No.2, March 2006)
• "Defense Attorneys as the Thought Police: Providing Damages While Preserving Your Client's Privacy in Personal Injury Litigation" by Shaana A. Rahman, (Consumer Attorneys of California FORUM, Vol 37/No.4, May 2007)
• "Two-Wheeled Single Vehicle Collisions: Spotting the Viable Case – The Road to Recovery" by Shaana A. Rahman, (Consumer Attorneys of California FORUM, Vol 37/No.9, November 2007)
• "Keeping the Premises Safe and Habitable: The Scope of a Landlord's Duty" by Shaana A. Rahman, (Consumer Attorneys of California FORUM, Vol 37/No.10, December 2007)

Bar/Professional Activity

• Chair, Diversity Committee
• Member, Board of Directors, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 2004

Pro bono/Community Service

• Member, Bike East Bay
• Member, San Luis Obispo County Bike Coalition
• Member, Central Coast Bicycle Communities
• Member, Marin County Bicycle Coalition
• Member, Board of Directors, Walk San Francisco
• Member, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition
• Member, Bay Area

Videos

• A Bicycle Accident Attorney Who Rides, Too, Bicycle Accident Personal Injury

Educational Background

• Santa Clara University, B.S., Major: Political Science, 1993, Honor: Political Science Student Association, President, Honor: Speech and Debate Association,President, Honor: Academic scholarship, Recipient, 1993

Honors/Awards

• The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2015
• Preeminent Woman Lawyer, Martindale Hubbell
• The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2014
• Member, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
• Named 20 Best San Francisco Personal Injury Attorneys in San Francisco by Expertise.com, 2017
• Super Lawyer for Northern California
• The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2013
• Unity Award, Minority Bar Coalition, 2015
• Named a Top Women Attorney in Northern California, San Francisco Magazine, 2016
• The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, 2012

Industry Groups

• Board Of Directors SFTLA
• Construction Accident
• Consumer Attorneys Of California
• Dog Bites
• Industries served: cyclists
• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Motorcyclists
• Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
• Pedestrians
• Personal Injury Plaintiffs