Pedestrian accident in Los Angeles?Talk to a lawyer for free.

Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). If a public agency's bus, vehicle, sidewalk or signal was involved, a written claim usually comes first, within six months, and if it's rejected, a lawsuit usually has to follow within six months of the notice. Call us early so no deadline slips by.

It doesn't rule one out. Every intersection where streets meet at about right angles has a crosswalk, painted or not, unless signs say no crossing, and drivers must yield to people in it. As for crossing mid-block: since 2023, under the Freedom to Walk Act, police may not stop someone just for that unless a reasonably careful person would realize there was an immediate danger of a collision. It wasn't legalized, though, and an insurer can still raise it to argue shared fault. Drivers still owe due care to people anywhere on the road, and a share of the blame reduces an award instead of erasing it.

The City says 65% of its severe and fatal collisions happen on just 6% of its streets, the corridors it calls the High Injury Network, and LADOT has mapped Priority Safety Corridors for pedestrian collisions to decide where to add safety work. LA County runs its own Vision Zero program for unincorporated communities. For the west Valley, our Woodland Hills pedestrian page names the streets near our office on the City's network.

Get your child seen by a doctor, even if the injuries seem minor, and keep the records; Children's Hospital Los Angeles is the county's only Level I pediatric trauma center. For a claim against a driver, the two-year limit is generally paused until a child turns 18 (Code of Civil Procedure §352), but a claim against a public agency, such as the City or LAUSD, still has a six-month deadline. If it has passed, call us anyway: when the injured person was a child for that whole time, the agency generally must allow a late claim if you ask within a year of the injury.

Report it to the police right away. Your own uninsured motorist coverage, or a family member's you live with, may pay for your injuries even if the driver is never found. The City of Los Angeles offers rewards for information that helps identify and convict the driver, up to $5,000 when someone is injured and up to $25,000 for a permanent, serious injury, and victims can ask the state's Victim Compensation Board for help with bills insurance doesn't cover. Our Los Angeles hit-and-run page explains the rest.

In the City of Los Angeles, people riding on the sidewalk must ride with due regard for people walking; in unincorporated LA County, a 2023 County ordinance requires them to yield to pedestrians. A rider involved in an accident that injures someone must stop, identify themselves and give aid, like a driver. E-bike riders aren't required to carry insurance, so get the rider's name and phone number, and photos, if you can.

Usually your own health insurance pays as bills come in, and is generally repaid from the settlement. If you have no coverage, some doctors will treat you and wait to be paid until the case ends.

Yes. Our office is in Woodland Hills, inside Los Angeles city limits, at 22440 Clarendon St, Suite 200, Woodland Hills, CA 91367, and our Palmdale office serves the Antelope Valley. Come in if you like, or we'll come to you. Call (800) 985-9565 any time, 24/7.

Nothing upfront. Your consultation is free, and no attorney's fees are owed unless we recover compensation for you. You may be responsible for case-related costs and expenses; we'll explain them before you sign.