Being hit by a car is terrifying. One moment you are crossing the street or walking along the sidewalk. The next, you are on the ground in pain, confused about what just happened.

Pedestrian accidents in Los Angeles happen every single day. If you or someone you love was struck by a vehicle, you need to know exactly what to do next. The steps you take in the hours and days after the accident can protect your health — and your right to fair compensation.

How Common Are Pedestrian Accidents in Los Angeles?

Pedestrian accidents are a serious and growing problem across California, and Los Angeles is one of the most dangerous cities for people on foot.

According to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), pedestrians account for a significant share of all traffic fatalities in the state each year. The City of Los Angeles has been working to reduce these numbers through its Vision Zero program, but pedestrian crashes remain alarmingly common throughout Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County.

Busy intersections, distracted drivers, speeding, and failure to yield are among the leading causes. When a driver is careless, the person on foot almost always suffers the most serious consequences.

What Should You Do Right After Being Hit by a Car?

The most important thing to do right after being hit by a car is to call 911 — both for medical help and to get a police report on the scene.

Even if you feel okay in the moment, do not walk away without taking these steps:

• Call 911 immediately. Ask for both an ambulance and police. A police report creates an official record of what happened.
• Stay at the scene. Do not leave, even if the driver asks you to handle things privately.
• Get the driver’s information. Collect the driver’s name, phone number, license plate, driver’s license number, and insurance information.
• Talk to witnesses. If anyone saw the accident, ask for their name and phone number.
• Do not admit fault. Even saying “I’m sorry” can be used against you later. Let the facts speak for themselves.
• Accept medical help. If paramedics arrive, let them evaluate you on the scene.

Shock and adrenaline can make injuries feel less serious than they really are. Your safety comes first — always.

Why Is Getting Medical Care So Important After a Pedestrian Accident?

Seeing a doctor immediately after a pedestrian accident is critical because many serious injuries — including internal bleeding and brain injuries — do not show obvious symptoms right away.

Some injuries can take hours or even days to fully appear. If you wait too long to get checked out, the insurance company may argue that your injuries were not caused by the accident. That argument can seriously hurt your claim.

Go to an emergency room, urgent care center, or your primary care doctor as soon as possible after the accident. Make sure you follow all treatment recommendations and attend every follow-up appointment. Your medical records will be one of the most important pieces of evidence in your case.

Common injuries suffered by pedestrian accident victims include:

• Broken bones and fractures
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Internal organ damage
• Soft tissue injuries
• Lacerations and road rash
• Emotional trauma and PTSD

What Evidence Should You Collect After a Pedestrian Accident?

Gathering strong evidence right after the accident gives you the best foundation for a successful claim.

If you are physically able, use your phone to document everything at the scene. Here is what to collect:

• Photos and video of the scene, the vehicle, your injuries, skid marks, traffic signals, and crosswalk markings
• The police report number so you or your attorney can obtain the full report later
• Witness contact information
• Surveillance footage — note any nearby cameras on businesses, traffic lights, or homes. These recordings can disappear quickly.
• Your own written account of what happened while the details are fresh in your memory

Keep all records related to the accident in one safe place. This includes medical bills, receipts for out-of-pocket expenses, and any written communication with the insurance company.

Should You Talk to the Driver’s Insurance Company?

You are not required to give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurance company — and in most cases, you should not do so before speaking with an attorney.

Insurance adjusters are trained to limit payouts. They may ask questions that seem friendly but are designed to get you to say something that reduces the value of your claim. Phrases like “I feel okay” or “I wasn’t looking” can be taken out of context.

You do need to notify your own auto insurance company if you have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. But for everything else, let an experienced pedestrian accident attorney guide your communications. This one step alone can protect you from settling for far less than you deserve.

What Does California Law Say About Pedestrian Rights?

California law gives pedestrians the right of way in crosswalks — both marked and unmarked — and drivers are legally required to yield to people on foot.

Under the California Vehicle Code Section 21950, drivers must yield to pedestrians crossing in a crosswalk. Failure to do so is a violation of the law and can establish negligence in a personal injury claim.

California also follows a legal rule called pure comparative negligence. This means that even if you were partly at fault — for example, crossing outside of a crosswalk — you can still recover compensation. Your award is simply reduced by your percentage of fault. So if you were 20% at fault and suffered $100,000 in damages, you could still recover $80,000.

The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in California is generally two years from the date of the accident under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. If you wait too long, you may lose your right to file a lawsuit entirely.

What Kind of Compensation Can a Pedestrian Accident Victim Receive?

A pedestrian accident victim in California may be entitled to both economic and non-economic damages depending on the severity of their injuries and the impact on their life.

Economic damages cover your actual financial losses, including:

• Medical bills (past and future)
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy costs
• In-home care expenses
• Property damage

Non-economic damages compensate you for losses that are harder to put a number on, such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium (impact on your family relationships)

In cases involving extreme recklessness — like a driver who was intoxicated or street racing — punitive damages may also be available. To understand what a fair settlement might look like in your case, visit our guide on the average settlement for a personal injury lawsuit in California.

What If You Suffered a Head Injury or Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury is one of the most serious and life-changing injuries a pedestrian can suffer — and it is also one of the most commonly overlooked in the immediate aftermath of an accident.

TBI symptoms can include headaches, confusion, memory problems, mood changes, sensitivity to light, and difficulty concentrating. These symptoms may not show up for days or even weeks after the crash. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), TBI is a major cause of death and disability in the United States.

If you were struck by a vehicle and hit your head — or even if you did not hit your head but experienced any of the symptoms above — tell your doctor right away. TBI cases require specialized medical documentation and expert witnesses to prove the full scope of your injuries.

Our firm has deep experience handling traumatic brain injury cases. Learn more about how to prove a brain injury claim and maximize your compensation in California.

When Should You Call a Pedestrian Accident Attorney?

You should call a pedestrian accident attorney as soon as possible after the accident — ideally within the first few days.

The earlier an attorney gets involved, the better. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget details. Surveillance footage gets deleted. Insurance companies start building their defense the moment the accident is reported to them.

An experienced attorney can:

• Investigate the accident and preserve critical evidence
• Handle all communication with the insurance company on your behalf
• Work with medical experts to document the full extent of your injuries
• Calculate the true value of your claim — including future medical costs and lost earning potential
• Negotiate aggressively for a fair settlement or take your case to trial if necessary

Most pedestrian accident attorneys — including the Law Offices of Mann & Elias — work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing unless they win your case.

Why Do Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Victims Choose Mann & Elias?

The Law Offices of Mann & Elias has spent over 30 years fighting for injured people across Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County — and the results speak for themselves.

The firm has recovered more than $100 million for clients and maintains a 99% client success rate. Founding partner Scott Mann is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), a credential that requires 50 or more civil jury trials — a distinction that carries real weight when you are up against well-funded defense teams. He graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law, where he was a Law Review member and won the prestigious Vincent Dalsimer Moot Court tournament.

Founding partner Imad Elias has been selected to the California Super Lawyers list every single year since 2015 — an honor reserved for the top 5% of attorneys in the state. He holds an AVVO Rating of 10.0 Superb and has tried more than 35 jury trials in his career. The firm is also recognized in Best Lawyers in America and is affiliated with the American Board of Trial Attorneys.

At Mann & Elias, you are never just a case number. The firm takes a personal, client-first approach and communicates in both English and Spanish to serve the full range of Southern California communities.

If you were injured as a pedestrian anywhere in Southern California, do not wait. Contact the Law Offices of Mann & Elias today for a free case review. You pay nothing unless we win.

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Disclaimer: This blog post is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Mann & Elias. Every pedestrian accident case is unique, and the outcome of any legal matter depends on the specific facts and circumstances involved. Past results do not guarantee or predict similar outcomes in future cases. If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident in California, please consult with a qualified personal injury attorney to discuss your specific situation. The Law Offices of Mann & Elias is licensed to practice law in the State of California only.