When we’re hit as pedestrians, it can feel like time speeds up and slows down at the same moment. Cars keep moving, people scatter, and within minutes the scene starts to change. Skid marks fade, debris gets kicked away, and traffic cameras can overwrite footage faster than we expect.
That’s why documenting a pedestrian accident scene matters, even when we feel “mostly okay.” In Los Angeles, we’re often dealing with busy intersections, short walk signals, and drivers who are rushing. Some injuries also show up later, like head, neck, or back symptoms. Getting checked out is about health first, but it also creates a record that connects the crash to what we’re feeling.
In this guide, we’ll walk through simple steps to protect our safety, capture the right proof, and build the kind of paper trail that helps with insurance and a future claim.
Start with safety and a clear timeline before we start taking photos
Right after a pedestrian crash, our first job is to get out of danger. If we’re in a lane, a crosswalk, or near turning traffic, we can be at risk of a second impact. If we can move safely, we should step to the sidewalk, a corner, or a protected area. If we can’t move, we should ask for help and try to stay visible.
In Los Angeles, calling 911 is often the right move when we’ve been hit. We want medical help on the way, and we want an official response started as early as possible. While we wait, we keep our focus on facts, not blame. Arguments at the scene don’t help. They just create confusion, and people’s memories shift under stress.
Once we’re safe, we start a quick written timeline on our phone. Think of it like freezing a screenshot in words. A good timeline includes the basics: the exact location, the time, the direction we were walking, and what the signals were doing. These details can matter later if the driver claims the light was different or that we stepped out “suddenly.”
In LA, police don’t always respond quickly, and sometimes they won’t respond at all for non-injury collisions. Pedestrian crashes often involve injury, so response is more likely, but it still varies by area, staffing, and call volume. Either way, we don’t wait for someone else to preserve the story.
Here’s a short checklist we can follow while things are still fresh:
- Safety first: Move out of traffic if we can, accept help if we’re hurt.
- Call 911: Ask for medical help and request an officer response.
- Write the timeline: Time, location, signal status, weather, road hazards.
- Keep it factual: Describe what happened, don’t argue fault.
When should we call police, and what if officers do not come?
We call police when there’s injury, pain, a head impact, a child involved, a hit-and-run, suspected impairment, or any real dispute about what happened. In LA, we also call when the driver is acting aggressive or refusing to share information.
If officers don’t come (it happens during busy shifts), we can still take steps that protect us:
We ask 911 for medical help if we’re hurt, and we request an incident number or call reference. We write down the time we called and who we spoke with. If we later go to a local station to report, we bring the driver’s information, photos, and our timeline notes.
Police reports often help because they capture an independent snapshot: parties involved, basic scene details, witness names, and sometimes citations. That third-party record can stop an insurance company from treating the crash like a he-said-she-said situation. For more context on why documentation matters in injury claims, we can review why evidence matters in LA personal injury cases.
What not to say at the scene so it does not get used against us later
After a crash, it’s easy to blurt out something polite or panicked. The problem is that early words can get repeated later in insurance calls, reports, and even court.
Statements we avoid include:
“I didn’t see you.” “I’m fine.” “It’s my fault.” “I’m sorry.” “I was distracted.”
Even “I’m fine” can backfire. Many pedestrian injuries don’t show up right away, and insurers may later point to that line to argue we weren’t really hurt. We stick to what we know: where we were, what direction we were traveling, what we saw, and what we felt.
If an adjuster calls us fast, we’re allowed to say we’re not ready to discuss details yet. If we want guidance on safe communication, we can read steps to take when dealing with insurance after an injury.
Collect the right evidence at the scene, the details that prove how the crash happened
A pedestrian case often turns on one big question: who had the right-of-way, and what did the driver do (or fail to do) in the seconds before impact? We can’t always answer that in the moment, but good evidence can.
We start with photos and short videos. We don’t just capture the car and our injuries. We capture the street like a map.
In Los Angeles, pedestrian crashes often happen near turning lanes, bus stops, driveways, and wide intersections where sightlines get blocked by parked cars. When we’re documenting, we try to include pedestrian-specific details that show context:
Crosswalk markings (or faded lines), the walk signal box, curb ramps, and the corner geometry. If a parked SUV blocked the driver’s view, we photograph that. If there’s a construction zone, cones, or a blocked sidewalk that pushed us into the street, we photograph that too. At night, we photograph lighting, street lamps, and any dark areas.
We also exchange driver details and document them with photos if we can. We want the driver’s name, phone number, insurance company and policy number, license plate, and the vehicle make and model. If the driver has a rideshare sticker or delivery signage, that can matter for insurance coverage, so we capture it.
One more LA reality: cameras can be everywhere, and they can disappear fast. City traffic cameras, Metro cameras, gas stations, restaurants, and apartment buildings may have footage that helps. Many systems overwrite within days, sometimes sooner.
Mini checklist for on-scene evidence:
- Photos and video: Wide angles, close-ups, and a 360 walk-around
- Driver info: Name, phone, insurance, license plate, vehicle details
- Scene details: Signals, crosswalks, curb ramps, lighting, obstructions
- Cameras: Note business names and addresses right away
Photo and video shot list we can follow in under 5 minutes
If we only have a few minutes, we shoot in this order:
- Wide shots in all four directions (show traffic flow and the full intersection)
- Street signs and visible address numbers on nearby buildings
- Crosswalk markings and the walk signal or pedestrian button
- Traffic lights facing the driver’s direction
- Vehicle position before it moves (plus the path it likely took)
- Damage photos on the vehicle, including bumper, hood, windshield, mirrors
- Skid marks, debris, broken plastic, and any road surface issues
- Lighting and weather (street lights, glare, rain puddles, wet pavement)
- Our injuries, plus a follow-up photo later when bruising changes
- Our shoes and clothing, especially if torn or scuffed
- Nearby cameras (storefronts, poles, parking lot entrances)
If our phone allows it, we turn on time and location data for photos. Then we back everything up to cloud storage or text it to a trusted person, so we don’t lose it if our phone breaks.
Witnesses and cameras, how we lock in third party proof
In pedestrian cases, independent witnesses can be the difference between a strong claim and a dragged-out fight. Drivers sometimes claim we “darted out,” crossed mid-block, or ignored the signal. A neutral witness can cut through that fast.
If someone saw what happened, we politely ask for:
Their name, phone number, and email, plus a one to two sentence summary of what they saw (“I saw the walk signal on” or “the car turned right without stopping”). If they’re willing, we can record audio on our phone with permission. If they won’t record, we can type their quote into our notes and confirm it with them.
For cameras, we act quickly and document carefully:
We write down the exact address, the business name, and where the camera points (toward the corner, into the street, toward the driveway). If staff is present, we ask them to preserve the footage and we note who we spoke with. Even if they won’t hand it over to us, asking early helps because it creates a record that we tried before the video was overwritten.
If we want to understand broader rights and claim basics for LA pedestrian injuries, we can also review our complete guide to Los Angeles pedestrian accident claims.
Build the paper trail after we leave, medical records, reports, and organized files
The scene photos tell one story. Medical records tell the other half: what the crash did to our body and our life.
We get evaluated as soon as we can, even if it feels “just sore.” Pedestrian impacts can cause concussions, internal injuries, fractures, and soft tissue damage that stiffens over the next day or two. Early care creates a baseline that insurers can’t easily dismiss.
We keep copies of:
ER or urgent care records, imaging results (X-ray, CT, MRI), discharge instructions, prescriptions, and follow-up notes. If we go to physical therapy, we keep PT visit summaries. If we miss work, we keep employer notes, pay stubs, and a simple record of missed hours. We also save receipts for rides to appointments, medical supplies, and co-pays.
We also request the police traffic collision report when it exists. We check it for basic accuracy, like the date, location, names, and involved vehicle. If something is wrong, we address it early, before it becomes “the official story.”
California also has a reporting rule many people don’t know: if the crash caused injury (or property damage over a set threshold), we may need to file a DMV SR-1 report within 10 days. That’s separate from any police report and separate from insurance. If we’re unsure, we ask for legal help.
How medical documentation connects the crash to our injuries
Insurance companies love gaps. A long delay between the crash and medical care gives them room to argue our injuries came from something else.
We protect ourselves by telling medical providers every symptom, even if it seems small: headache, dizziness, neck stiffness, back pain, numbness, sleep problems, anxiety, or nausea. We also follow the treatment plan and attend follow-ups when we can. Consistent care shows the injury is real and ongoing.
This isn’t about being dramatic. It’s about being accurate. When we’re hit on foot, our body absorbs force in ways we can’t always see right away.
A simple evidence folder system that makes our case easier to prove
We don’t need fancy software. A phone-based system works:
We create one photo album labeled with the crash date. We keep one notes file for the timeline, including witness names and camera locations. We create a folder for PDFs (medical records, claim letters, reports). We keep a simple spreadsheet of expenses and missed work.
We also save every insurance email, claim number, and adjuster name. Then we back it up, cloud storage plus a second copy emailed to ourselves.
If we want practice-specific help after a crosswalk crash, our Encino pedestrian accident attorney page explains what we handle and what to expect.
FAQs: hiring a Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyer and protecting claim value
How much is a pedestrian accident case worth in Los Angeles?
Value depends on injuries, treatment length, proof of fault, and how the injuries change daily life. A fracture with surgery and months of rehab is usually valued higher than a strain that resolves fast. Clear evidence like camera footage, a strong police report, and consistent medical care often raises settlement pressure.
What damages can we claim in California?
We can usually pursue medical bills, future care, lost income, reduced earning ability, and non-economic damages like pain, stress, and loss of enjoyment of life. In some cases, other losses apply, such as help needed at home during recovery.
Why online settlement calculators aren’t reliable
Most calculators don’t understand the hard parts: future treatment, scar impact, job limits, comparative fault arguments, and insurance policy layers. They also can’t measure how strong (or weak) liability proof is.
When do we need a lawyer right away?
We get help early if we have serious injury, a head impact, a hit-and-run, a commercial vehicle involved, a government entity involved (claims can have shorter deadlines), or the driver denies fault. We also get help if insurers push for a recorded statement or a quick settlement.
How long does a pedestrian injury case take in LA?
Many cases settle after treatment stabilizes and we can document the full medical picture. Disputed fault, delayed care, or multiple parties can slow things down. If a case goes toward litigation, it can take longer because of investigation, discovery, and scheduling.
Conclusion
A pedestrian accident scene is like a sand drawing on a windy day. If we don’t capture it fast, it changes. When we put safety first, document a clear timeline, and gather photos, witnesses, and reports, we protect the facts. When we follow up with medical care and keep organized records, we protect our health and the value of our claim.
If the injuries are serious, fault is disputed, or insurance starts pushing hard, getting legal help early can take weight off our shoulders. With contingency fees, we don’t pay attorney fees unless money is recovered, and direct communication with a lawyer keeps decisions clear when stress is high.
If we were hit walking in Los Angeles and need answers, we can reach out for a free consultation and let our team handle the evidence, the calls, and the fight for fair compensation.