Were You Injured in a Pedestrian Accident in Los Angeles? We Can Help.
Pedestrians are incredibly vulnerable on the busy streets of Los Angeles, where sharing the road with cars, trucks, and buses often leads to devastating injuries like broken bones, spinal cord trauma, and traumatic brain injuries. California consistently records the highest number of pedestrian fatalities in the nation, with Los Angeles County driving a disproportionate share.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Los Angeles pedestrian accident, the skilled pedestrian accident attorneys at Cohen & Marzban are ready to protect your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in LA
As an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer team, we've handled hundreds of cases across Los Angeles County and know that most crashes trace back to a few recurring forms of driver negligence:
- Distracted driving: Drivers who are texting, talking on the phone, eating, or engaging in other distractions are less likely to notice pedestrians, increasing the risk of collisions.
- Speeding: Speeding reduces a driver's reaction time and significantly increases the severity of pedestrian accidents.
- Failure to yield: Drivers who fail to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at crosswalks, intersections, or other designated areas are a major cause of accidents.
- Driving under the influence: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs severely impairs a driver's judgment, reaction time, and coordination.
- Poor visibility: Pedestrian accidents are more likely at night or in poorly lit areas, where drivers have difficulty seeing pedestrians.
- Unsafe road conditions: Poorly maintained roads, inadequate crosswalks, missing or obstructed sidewalks, and a lack of pedestrian signals can create hazardous conditions.
- Left-turn accidents: Drivers making left turns often fail to yield to pedestrians crossing with the right-of-way, resulting in dangerous collisions.
- Rear-end collisions: Inattentive or distracted drivers may rear-end vehicles stopped at crosswalks, pushing them into pedestrians and causing serious injuries.
Accurately defining the type of accident you experienced is vital to holding negligent drivers accountable and securing the financial resources you need to recover and rebuild your life.
Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries We Handle
Pedestrians have no protection in a collision with a vehicle, so the injuries we see at our firm are often severe and require long-term care. Our Los Angeles pedestrian injury accident lawyer team regularly represents victims suffering from:
Many of these injuries don't show full symptoms for hours or days after the crash, which is why we always recommend a complete medical evaluation, even if you feel fine at the scene. Detailed medical records are also crucial evidence for your claim.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Los Angeles
The steps you take in the minutes and days after being struck by a vehicle can make or break your case. If you're physically able, follow this checklist:
- Call 911 immediately — request both police and paramedics, even for "minor" injuries.
- Don't leave the scene until officers have documented the crash and you have the report number.
- Get the driver's information — name, license, insurance, plate number, and contact details.
- Photograph everything — your injuries, the vehicle, the crosswalk, road conditions, traffic signals, and any debris.
- Collect witness contact info — independent witnesses are gold in pedestrian cases.
- Seek medical attention the same day, even if injuries seem minor.
- Don't talk to the driver's insurance company before consulting an attorney for pedestrian hit by car claims.
- Call Cohen & Marzban for a free case review before signing anything or giving a recorded statement.
California Pedestrian Laws and Your Rights
Under California Vehicle Code § 21950, drivers must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. However, pedestrians also have a duty not to suddenly leave a curb or place of safety into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which means you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault. For example, if you were crossing outside a crosswalk when you were struck, it’s possible you may be able to recover some injury compensation. Your final award is simply reduced by your percentage of fault.
Many pedestrians wrongly assume they have no case because they jaywalked or stepped off a curb at the wrong moment. That's exactly the assumption insurance adjusters want you to make, and it's exactly why you need an experienced legal team reviewing the facts.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident?
Liability isn't always limited to the driver who hit you. Our pedestrian accident lawyer in Los Angeles team investigates every potential source of recovery, including:
- The negligent driver and their auto insurance policy;
- The driver's employer, if the driver was working at the time (delivery, rideshare, commercial vehicle);
- The vehicle owner, if different from the driver;
- A rideshare company like Uber or Lyft, when an active driver is involved;
- The City of Los Angeles or Caltrans, when a poorly designed crosswalk, broken signal, or unsafe sidewalk contributed to the crash;
- A third-party motorist who caused a chain-reaction collision;
- A vehicle manufacturer, if a defective brake or sensor failed.
Identifying every responsible party is key to maximizing your compensation, especially in cases involving catastrophic injuries that exceed a single driver's policy limits.
Compensation for Your Injuries
Our dedicated Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorneys will fight to recover the maximum compensation you deserve for your injuries, including:
- Medical expenses: Costs of medical treatment, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and any future medical needs.
- Lost wages: Compensation for income lost due to your injuries and inability to work, plus loss of future earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job.
- Pain and suffering: Damages for the physical pain and emotional distress you have endured.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: Compensation for the impact your injuries have had on your ability to enjoy activities and hobbies you previously practiced.
- Property damage: Reimbursement for damaged phones, glasses, clothing, and personal items destroyed in the crash.
- Loss of consortium: Money damages awarded to your spouse for the loss of companionship and support during your recovery.
Most damages are intended to make the victim financially whole and mitigate the harm they experienced due to someone else's negligence. However, in cases involving gross negligence or intentional misconduct, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the responsible party.
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