Getting hit by a car while walking is one of those moments that stops life cold. One second you are in a crosswalk or parking lot, the next you are on the ground, in pain, confused, and worried about what comes next.
A pedestrian accident is any crash where a person on foot (or using a scooter, skateboard, or wheelchair) is struck by a vehicle. In Los Angeles and Encino, this often happens in crosswalks on busy streets like Ventura Boulevard, in crowded shopping areas, or in parking lots where drivers are distracted or rushing.
The physical injuries are only part of it. There is fear, sleepless nights, time away from work, and growing medical bills. In this kind of chaos, getting legal representation early is one of the most effective ways to protect your rights, lower stress, and increase your chance of full and fair compensation.
In this guide, we walk through what to do right away, how California law treats pedestrian crashes, how insurance companies behave, and how a focused Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyer can help.
What to do right after a pedestrian accident in Los Angeles
Those first minutes and days can shape your entire case. A few simple steps can protect both your health and your future claim.
Immediate safety and 911: Protecting your health first
If you are in the street, and you can safely move, get to the sidewalk or a safe spot away from traffic. If you feel severe pain in your neck, back, or head, or you cannot stand, try to stay still and wait for help.
Call 911, or ask someone nearby to call, even if you think your injuries are “not that bad.” Police and paramedics can:
- Give you emergency care
- Document the scene
- Create a police report that later supports your claim
In California, serious injury crashes should always be reported. If officers do not come to the scene, go to a local station as soon as you can and file a report yourself.
Gathering evidence at the scene before it disappears
If you are able, or a friend can help, try to collect simple evidence before the scene changes:
- Photos of the vehicle, license plate, and damage
- Photos of the crosswalk, signals, stop signs, skid marks, and debris
- Photos of torn clothing and visible injuries
- Names and contact details for witnesses
- Driver’s license, insurance information, and plate number
- Names of nearby businesses that may have cameras
These details help your attorney show how the crash happened and how hard you were hit. For a deeper step-by-step list, our Los Angeles pedestrian accident rights guide explains what matters most.
Getting medical care even if you “feel fine”
Pedestrian crashes often cause hidden injuries. Head trauma, internal bleeding, and soft tissue injuries can take hours or days to show full symptoms.
Go to the ER, urgent care, or your doctor as soon as possible. Tell them you were hit by a vehicle and describe every area that hurts, even if it seems minor.
Quick treatment:
- Protects your health
- Creates medical records that link your injuries to the crash
- Prevents insurers from arguing that you were not really hurt
Insurance companies often point to any delay in treatment as a reason to cut your settlement.
How California law treats pedestrian accidents
California has rules that help protect pedestrians, but those rules are often misunderstood or twisted by insurance adjusters. Knowing the basics helps you see why having a local lawyer makes such a difference.
Right of way rules for pedestrians and drivers in California
Drivers must yield to pedestrians in both marked and unmarked crosswalks at intersections. An unmarked crosswalk exists where two streets meet and there are sidewalks on both sides, even if there are no painted lines.
At the same time, pedestrians must use reasonable care. You should not suddenly step into traffic so close that a driver cannot stop in time.
After a crash, police reports and traffic laws both matter. A skilled attorney can point to the correct sections of the Vehicle Code and traffic patterns to argue fault, even when a driver or insurer tries to blame you for being in the crosswalk.
Comparative fault: Can you still recover if you were partly at fault?
California uses a system called comparative negligence. That means you can still recover money even if you were partly at fault.
For example:
- Your total damages are valued at $500,000
- You are found 20% at fault for stepping into the street early
- Your recovery would be reduced by 20%, to $400,000
Insurance companies often try to increase your share of blame to save money. A strong lawyer fights back by using witness statements, video, measurements, and accident reconstruction to lower your percentage of fault, which can greatly increase your final result.
Deadlines to file a pedestrian injury claim in California
In most California personal injury cases, you have:
- 2 years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit for bodily injury
If a government entity is involved, such as a city bus or a dangerous public crosswalk, you may have only 6 months to file a government claim before a lawsuit.
Missing these deadlines usually means losing your right to any recovery. That is one of the biggest reasons to speak with a lawyer as soon as you can after a pedestrian accident.
Why getting a pedestrian accident lawyer early can protect your claim
When you hire an attorney early, the process changes in your favor. At California Personal Injury Attorneys, our Encino based team steps in so you can focus on treatment while we handle the stress.
We give direct access to your lawyer, regular updates, and a concierge style approach that includes help with practical needs and certain out-of-pocket costs.
Stopping insurance companies from taking advantage of you
After a crash, insurers may:
- Call quickly with a low offer
- Ask for recorded statements and twist your words
- Suggest you were “not watching where you walked”
- Push you to sign a release before you know your full injuries
Once you sign a release, you usually cannot ask for more money, even if you later need surgery. Talking with a knowledgeable attorney before you speak to the insurer or sign any forms is one of the best protections you have.
Building a strong case with evidence and expert support
We go far beyond basic photos. Our team can seek:
- Traffic and security camera footage
- Phone records when distraction is suspected
- Black box data from vehicles on speed and braking
- Detailed medical records and specialist reports
- Expert opinions from accident reconstruction and life care planners
This deeper work supports fault, shows how the crash happened, and proves the full impact on your health and daily life.
Measuring the full value of your pedestrian injury claim
A fair settlement looks at much more than ER bills. In California, damages can include:
- Medical care, past and future
- Lost wages and reduced earning ability
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- Help with daily tasks and loss of independence
We also look at the long term: rehab, future surgery, mobility aids, or home changes. Online “settlement calculators” often ignore these layers and do not match how insurers or juries value real cases. For example, our firm has recovered results in the multimillion dollar range for auto versus pedestrian cases when injuries were life changing.
Handling negotiations, settlement talks, and trial if needed
Most pedestrian cases settle, but a strong case takes time and structure:
- Investigation and evidence
- Ongoing medical treatment and documentation
- Demand letter and settlement talks
- Possible mediation
- Filing a lawsuit and, if needed, trial
Our trial experience gives weight in negotiations. While you go to appointments and work on healing, we track deadlines, draft court papers, and guide strategy.
When you absolutely should hire a pedestrian accident lawyer in Los Angeles
Some crashes are too serious or complex to handle alone.
Warning signs your case is too serious to handle alone
You should get legal help right away if you have:
- Broken bones, head or spinal injury, or surgery
- Ongoing pain or scars
- Time off work or risk of losing your job
- A hit and run driver
- A drunk, drugged, or distracted driver
- Multiple vehicles involved
- A city, school district, or business as a potential defendant
- An insurance company that is denying, delaying, or blaming you
Each of these raises the stakes and the legal complexity. Going alone in these situations often leads to an unfair result.
How timing affects your case and your final settlement
Calling a lawyer early helps:
- Protect video before it is erased
- Reach witnesses while memories are fresh
- Avoid harmful statements on insurance forms
- Get your medical care and records organized from day one
Waiting can cause gaps in treatment and missing proof, which insurers use to argue that your injuries are minor or unrelated.
Rare times you might not need a lawyer
If your injuries are truly minor, you missed no work, and your medical bills are very low, you might handle a small claim yourself. Even then, a short free consultation can help you understand fair value and avoid signing away rights.
Our goal is to help you make informed choices, not to pressure you.
What to expect when you hire a Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney
We try to make the process as simple and human as possible.
Free consultation and contingency fees: How payment works
Most pedestrian accident lawyers, including our firm, work on a contingency fee. That means:
- No upfront fees
- We get paid only if we recover money for you
- Our fee is a percentage of the settlement or verdict
- We usually advance case costs, such as experts or records
We explain the fee agreement in plain language so you know what to expect.
How we work with you throughout your pedestrian accident case
When you hire us as your Encino pedestrian accident lawyer, you can expect:
- Direct contact with an attorney, not just staff
- Regular updates on your case
- Help finding doctors if you need it
- Guidance on what to say to employers and insurers
- Support with tracking bills and receipts
You can help your own case by following medical advice, keeping a simple pain or recovery journal, saving every bill, and sending new information to us quickly. We treat our clients like family and keep communication clear and respectful.
Pedestrian accident FAQs for Los Angeles and Encino
How long does a pedestrian accident case usually take?
Simple cases with clear fault and good recovery can resolve in a few months. Cases with serious injuries, surgery, or disputed fault often take a year or more, especially if a lawsuit is filed. Healing time and the need to understand your long term medical outlook can add months but also protect you from settling too low.
What are common mistakes that hurt pedestrian injury claims?
Common mistakes include not calling police, skipping medical care, posting about the crash on social media, giving recorded statements without legal advice, and accepting the first offer. Delays in treatment or big gaps between visits are especially harmful, since insurers use them to argue that you were not badly hurt.
What types of damages can I recover after a pedestrian accident?
You may seek payment for medical bills, future treatment, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. In drunk driving or extreme misconduct cases, punitive damages may also be available.
When should I contact a lawyer after being hit as a pedestrian?
As soon as you are safe enough to make the call. Early help protects evidence, helps with reporting rules, and gives you a guide before speaking with any insurance company.
Conclusion
After a pedestrian accident in Los Angeles or Encino, you are not just dealing with bruises and broken bones, you are dealing with insurance tactics, strict legal deadlines, and real worries about the future. Strong legal representation can protect you from unfair blame, capture the full value of your losses, and give you space to focus on healing.
If you or someone you love has been hit by a car, reach out to California Personal Injury Attorneys for a free, no pressure consultation. Our Encino based lawyers are available 24/7 to answer your questions, explain your options, and carry the legal burden while you work on getting better. You do not have to go through this alone.