Pedestrian Accidents
Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
A walk to the store, the bus stop, or your own car should never end in the emergency room. When a driver hits a person on foot, the injuries are often severe, and the medical bills arrive fast. Yarijanian & Associates, PLC, known as Ask Hamlet, is a personal injury law firm in Los Angeles. Our team fights for pedestrians who were hurt by careless drivers, and we help you recover money for your care, your lost pay, and your pain. Your first call is free.
A person on foot has almost no protection in a crash. A car can weigh two tons or more, so even a low-speed hit can break bones or cause lasting harm. While you focus on healing, the driver’s insurance company often looks for ways to pay you less or blame you for the crash. You deserve a lawyer who knows California law and who will push back.
How Crashes Happen
Common Pedestrian Accident Scenarios in Los Angeles
Pedestrian crashes happen in many ways across the city. These are the cases we see most often.
Crosswalk crashes. Drivers who turn without looking, run red lights, or speed through an intersection strike people who have the right of way. These crashes often happen at busy corners and during left turns.
Hit-and-run. Some drivers flee the scene after hitting a pedestrian. This is a crime, and it also changes how you recover money. Even when the driver is never found, you may still have a path to payment through your own insurance.
Parking lot and driveway incidents. Backing cars, tight lanes, and blind spots make lots and garages a common spot for pedestrian injuries. Drivers often say they never saw the person on foot.
Crashes away from a crosswalk. A person can be hit while crossing mid-block or stepping off a curb. California law changed in 2023, and crossing outside a crosswalk is no longer automatically against the rules. Fault still depends on what each person did, and a driver can be responsible even when the pedestrian was not in a marked crosswalk.
Know Your Rights
California Law and Driver Duty to Pedestrians
California Vehicle Code 21950 sets the core rule. A driver must yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk at an intersection. This includes marked crosswalks with painted lines and unmarked crosswalks, which exist at most intersections even when there is no paint on the road. A driver who approaches a crossing must slow down and use care to protect the safety of people on foot.
The law also asks pedestrians to use reasonable care. A person should not suddenly leave a curb and step into the path of a car that is so close it cannot stop in time. Still, the duty placed on a pedestrian does not free a driver from the duty to drive safely and avoid a crash.
In January 2023, the Freedom to Walk Act took effect. Crossing the street outside a crosswalk, sometimes called jaywalking, is no longer something police can ticket on its own. An officer can act only when there is an immediate danger of a crash. This shift matters in pedestrian cases because insurance companies can no longer point to a jaywalking ticket to dodge responsibility.
California also follows a rule called pure comparative negligence. If you share part of the blame for the crash, your money award is reduced by your share, but you are not blocked from recovering. For example, if a court finds you ten percent at fault, you can still recover ninety percent of your damages. Insurance adjusters often try to pin a large share of blame on the injured person to cut what they pay, which is one reason early legal help is valuable.
Injuries We See
Serious Injuries in Pedestrian Crashes
Because a person on foot has no airbags, seat belt, or metal frame, pedestrian injuries are often severe and slow to heal. We handle cases that involve:
- Traumatic brain injury from striking the road or the vehicle
- Spinal cord injury that can affect movement and feeling
- Broken bones in the legs, hips, arms, and pelvis
- Internal injuries to organs that may not show symptoms right away
These injuries can mean long hospital stays, surgery, months of therapy, and time away from work. Some change a person’s life for good. A fair claim should account for the full road ahead, not just the first bill.
Sources of Recovery
Who Pays After a Pedestrian Accident
More than one source of money may apply to your case. We look at every option so nothing is left on the table.
At-fault driver liability. The driver who hit you is usually the first source. Their auto liability insurance can pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. If the driver fled, has no insurance, or carries too little to cover your harm, your own uninsured motorist coverage may step in. This is often the key source in a hit-and-run case.
Medical payments coverage. Many auto policies include medical payments coverage, known as MedPay. It can help pay early medical costs no matter who caused the crash.
Sorting out which policy applies, and in what order, takes a careful read of the coverage. We handle that for you and deal directly with the insurance companies.
Deadlines
The Statute of Limitations in California
You do not have unlimited time to act. In most California personal injury cases, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, the court can throw out your case for good.
A shorter deadline applies when a government body may share fault, such as a crash tied to a poorly designed crossing or a city vehicle. In those cases, you generally must file a formal claim within six months. Because these timelines move quickly and the facts take time to gather, it helps to speak with a lawyer soon after the crash.
After a Crash
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident
The steps you take after a crash can protect both your health and your claim.
- Call 911 and get medical care, even if you feel only shaken at first. Some injuries hide for hours or days.
- Ask for a police report and get the report number.
- Take photos of the scene, the vehicle, the crossing, and your injuries if you are able.
- Get names and numbers from any witnesses.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the driver’s insurance company before you speak with a lawyer.
- Keep your medical records, bills, and notes about how the injury affects your days.
Why Choose Us
Why Choose Ask Hamlet
You have a choice when you hire a pedestrian accident lawyer in Los Angeles. Here is what sets our firm apart.
You pay nothing up front. We take these cases on a contingency fee, so you owe no legal fees unless we win money for you. Your first consultation is free, and we answer the phone 24 hours a day. We serve clients in English, Spanish, and Armenian, so you can tell your story in the words that feel right. While you heal, we handle the insurance adjusters, the records, and the paperwork. Attorneys Hamlet Yarijanian and Marian Y. Saad lead every case with care.
Our firm also handles related claims. If a crash involved a vehicle, see our Los Angeles car accident lawyers. When a pedestrian crash takes a life, our wrongful death lawyers help families seek justice. We will also handle bicycle accident cases, with a dedicated page coming soon.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Under California Vehicle Code 21950, a driver must yield to a pedestrian crossing at an intersection, in both marked and unmarked crosswalks. A driver who fails to yield and hits you is usually at fault. Fault can be shared, so the final answer depends on what each person did.
Often, yes. Since the 2023 Freedom to Walk Act, crossing outside a crosswalk is no longer an automatic violation, and a driver can still be responsible for hitting you. California uses pure comparative negligence, so even if you share some blame, you can recover money reduced by your share of fault.
You may still have options. Your own uninsured motorist coverage can step in after a hit-and-run, and medical payments coverage may help with early bills. Report the crash to police, save the report number, and contact a lawyer so we can track down the driver and the available coverage.
Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee, which means you pay no legal fees unless we recover money for you. The first consultation is free, so you can learn where you stand at no cost.
In most cases you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. If a government body may share fault, you generally must file a formal claim within six months. Because these deadlines pass quickly, it is best to act soon.
A claim can cover medical bills, future treatment, lost wages, lost earning power, property damage, and pain and the loss of your normal daily life. We value your full claim before you accept any offer from the insurance company.
Talk to a lawyer today
Talk to a Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
If a driver hit you while you were walking, talk to a lawyer who will treat you like a person, not a file number. Your consultation is free, and you owe nothing unless we win. We answer 24/7 in English, Spanish, and Armenian.