Los Angeles has one of the worst pedestrian safety records of any major city in the United States. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, Los Angeles County consistently leads the state in pedestrian fatalities, with hundreds of deaths and thousands of serious injuries recorded annually. Crosswalks on Wilshire Boulevard, intersections in Koreatown, sidewalks through Downtown LA, and crossings near USC and UCLA all see pedestrian crashes regularly. When a driver strikes you, the insurer’s first move is to blame the pedestrian. Pedram Law represents pedestrian accident victims across Los Angeles County and confronts those blame-shifting tactics directly. Free case evaluation. No fees unless we win.
Attorneys who handle pedestrian accident cases across California know how to defeat fault-shifting defenses with reconstruction analysis, surveillance footage, and an understanding of exactly how California crosswalk law and the Freedom to Walk Act actually apply.
Why Pedestrian Cases in Los Angeles Are Legally Complex
Los Angeles pedestrian crash litigation involves complications that do not appear in standard auto cases. The combination of dense urban traffic, aging crosswalk infrastructure, high numbers of uninsured drivers, and sophisticated local insurance defense teams makes LA one of the most challenging pedestrian crash markets in California.
Blame-the-pedestrian tactics are systematic. LA insurers approach pedestrian cases with a default posture that the pedestrian was distracted, crossing outside a crosswalk, or walking against a signal. California’s Freedom to Walk Act (Assembly Bill 2147, effective January 2023) decriminalized safe jaywalking, but adjusters still cite outdated jaywalking arguments as if they bar recovery. They do not. Drivers still have a continuing duty of care toward pedestrians regardless of crosswalk location. An attorney who knows the current law defeats these arguments from the first demand letter.
Government entity deadlines are frequently missed. Los Angeles has more government-owned vehicles, city-maintained crosswalks, county-operated roadways, and public transit than any other California city. If your crash involved an LAPD vehicle, an LA Metro bus, an LADOT vehicle, a city-maintained crosswalk defect, or a signal timing failure at a city-controlled intersection, you have six months to file an administrative claim under the Government Claims Act. Many pedestrian crash victims in LA do not realize a government entity was involved until an attorney reviews the circumstances.
Hit-and-run cases are common and recoverable. Los Angeles has among the highest hit-and-run rates of any major city in California. Many pedestrian victims assume a hit-and-run means no recovery. It does not. Your own uninsured motorist coverage under California Insurance Code Section 11580.2 may apply even though you were on foot at the time of the crash. Pedram Law identifies every available source of recovery including UM coverage on every hit-and-run pedestrian case.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Los Angeles
- Call 911. Request police and medical response. The LAPD or CHP report creates the official record. If a government vehicle was involved, the report will document it and start the clock on the six-month administrative claim deadline.
- Get medical attention the same day. Pedestrian crash injuries are among the most severe in motor vehicle litigation. Adrenaline masks pain. Internal injuries, spinal trauma, and traumatic brain injury frequently present hours or days after impact. A gap between the crash and your first medical visit gives the insurer its primary defense argument.
- Do not move from where you were struck if it is safe to stay. Your position relative to the crosswalk, the curb, the lane markings, and traffic signals is evidence. Photograph your position before moving.
- Photograph the scene immediately. The vehicle and its damage, the driver’s license plate, traffic signals and crosswalk markings, road surface, lighting conditions, and your visible injuries before treatment begins.
- Preserve your clothing. Do not wash, repair, or discard the clothes and shoes you were wearing. Damage patterns and impact marks document the severity of the crash.
- Get witness contact information. In dense LA neighborhoods, witnesses are often present. Get names and numbers before they leave. Independent witnesses defeat the driver’s claim that the pedestrian appeared suddenly or was not visible.
- Report the crash to your own insurer factually. Time, location, basic facts. Do not speculate about fault or describe injuries in detail before a complete medical picture exists.
- Contact a Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyer before speaking with the driver’s insurer. The first call from the adjuster is built to extract admissions about your location, your awareness, and your conduct. Do not have that conversation without representation.
California Laws That Apply to Your Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident
Statute of limitations. Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit against a private party. If a government vehicle or government entity was involved, including LAPD, LADOT, LA Metro, or a city-maintained crosswalk or signal, you have six months to file an administrative claim under California Government Code Section 911.2. Missing the six-month deadline permanently bars the government portion of the case.
Driver duty of care at crosswalks. California Vehicle Code Section 21950 requires drivers to yield to pedestrians within marked or unmarked crosswalks at intersections. The driver’s duty of care toward pedestrians does not disappear because the pedestrian was outside a crosswalk. Drivers who failed to maintain a proper lookout, drive at a safe speed, or take reasonable steps to avoid striking a pedestrian remain liable regardless of crosswalk location.
Freedom to Walk Act. California Assembly Bill 2147, effective January 2023, decriminalized safe jaywalking. Pedestrians may legally cross outside crosswalks when it is safe to do so. Jaywalking alone no longer bars recovery and no longer functions as the defense argument it once was. A pedestrian may still share comparative fault if they created a foreseeable hazard by stepping into traffic recklessly, but the legal landscape changed significantly in 2023 and LA adjusters who cite the old jaywalking rule are applying outdated law.
Pure comparative fault. California is a pure comparative fault state. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault but never eliminated. If your case is worth $1,000,000 and a jury finds you 30% at fault for stepping into traffic, you still recover $700,000. LA defense teams inflate pedestrian fault percentages aggressively. Reconstruction analysis, witness testimony, and surveillance footage push back.
Uninsured motorist coverage for pedestrians. California Insurance Code Section 11580.2 requires auto insurers to offer UM and UIM coverage with every policy. This coverage applies to pedestrians struck by uninsured or hit-and-run drivers even though the victim was not in a vehicle. If you were struck by a driver who fled or who had no insurance, your own UM policy may provide recovery.
Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accidents in Los Angeles
Los Angeles has among the highest hit-and-run rates in California. A driver who flees the scene after striking a pedestrian creates a recovery challenge but not a recovery barrier. Several sources may still provide compensation.
Your own uninsured motorist coverage applies to hit-and-run crashes under California Insurance Code Section 11580.2 even when the driver is never identified. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses, traffic cameras, and dashcams from other vehicles frequently captures the fleeing vehicle. LAPD investigates hit-and-run pedestrian crashes as serious felonies, and their investigation may identify the driver. If the driver is later identified, their personal liability insurance applies. Pedram Law pursues every available recovery source on hit-and-run pedestrian cases from the day of the crash.
Why Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Victims Choose Pedram Law
Nima Pedram and Silvia Gonzalez represent pedestrian accident victims across Los Angeles County with a direct approach to blame-the-pedestrian defense tactics. They obtain surveillance footage before it overwrites, retain accident reconstruction experts in disputed liability cases, and identify every government entity deadline that applies before the six-month window closes.
Silvia Gonzalez represents Spanish-speaking clients regularly and brings specific strength to cases involving pedestrians in LA’s dense immigrant communities who are navigating the California legal system for the first time. The firm handles pedestrian accident cases on contingency. No fees unless we win. Free case evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I was crossing outside a crosswalk when I was hit in Los Angeles?
You can still recover. California’s Freedom to Walk Act decriminalized safe jaywalking effective January 2023. Drivers have a continuing duty of care toward pedestrians regardless of crosswalk location. A driver who failed to maintain a proper lookout, drive at a safe speed, or take reasonable steps to avoid striking you remains liable. Your comparative fault may be higher if you stepped into traffic unsafely, but the claim is not barred. LA adjusters who tell you jaywalking eliminates your case are applying outdated law.
What if an LA Metro bus or city vehicle hit me?
You have six months to file an administrative claim with the responsible government entity under California Government Code Section 911.2, not the standard two years. LA Metro, LAPD, LADOT, and LA County fleet vehicles all trigger this shorter deadline. Many pedestrian victims do not realize a government vehicle was involved until an attorney reviews the facts. Call immediately if any government vehicle contributed to the crash.
What if the driver fled the scene and I cannot identify them?
Your own uninsured motorist coverage under California Insurance Code Section 11580.2 may apply even though you were on foot. UM coverage covers pedestrians struck by hit-and-run drivers in California. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses, traffic cameras, and dashcams from other vehicles frequently captures the fleeing vehicle. LAPD investigates pedestrian hit-and-run crashes as serious felonies. Pedram Law pursues every available recovery source from the day of the crash.
How long do I have to file a pedestrian accident lawsuit in Los Angeles?
Two years from the date of the crash under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1 for accidents involving private parties. Six months if a government vehicle or government entity was involved including LA Metro, LAPD, LADOT, or a city-maintained crosswalk or signal defect. Missing the six-month deadline permanently bars the government portion of the case.
What if I was partially at fault for the accident?
You can still recover. California’s pure comparative fault rule reduces your damages by your percentage of fault but does not eliminate them. If your case is worth $500,000 and a jury finds you 25% at fault, you still recover $375,000. LA defense teams inflate pedestrian fault percentages aggressively. Reconstruction analysis and witness evidence push back on overstated fault assignments.
How much does it cost to hire a pedestrian accident lawyer at Pedram Law in Los Angeles?
Nothing upfront. Pedram Law handles Los Angeles pedestrian accident cases on contingency. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Your initial case evaluation is free.
Serving Pedestrian Accident Victims Across Los Angeles
Pedram Law represents pedestrian accident victims throughout Los Angeles County, including Downtown LA, Koreatown, Hollywood, East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Westwood, USC and UCLA areas, Venice, Culver City, Inglewood, and the San Fernando Valley.
Pedram Law, PC
8383 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1024
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
(844) 344-4444
If you were struck by a vehicle anywhere in Los Angeles County, Pedram Law is ready to evaluate your case at no cost and identify every deadline and coverage source that applies. Free case evaluation. No fees unless we win.
This content has been reviewed by the attorneys at Pedram Law, PC, licensed to practice law in the State of California.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship.
