If you’re hit by a car as a pedestrian in California, you should get emergency medical care, call 911 to report the crash, and contact an experienced California pedestrian accident lawyer like The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus immediately so we can protect your health, your rights, and the full value of your case.

Being hit by a car while walking — especially in a busy place like Los Angeles — is terrifying, painful, and confusing. If the driver was an Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare vehicle, it becomes even more complicated.

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through exactly what to do after a pedestrian accident in California, how rideshare insurance works, what your case may be worth, and how The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus fights to get you maximum compensation — not whatever the insurance company decides is “fair.”

We handle serious pedestrian accident cases throughout Los Angeles and all of California — including cases involving Uber and Lyft pedestrians hit in crosswalks, in parking lots, and on some of the most dangerous corridors in the state.

📞 Injured? Call 818-784-8544 now for a FREE, same-day case evaluation.
No fees unless we win.

Why Pedestrian Accidents in California Are So Serious

California is one of the most dangerous states in the country for people on foot. Recent data from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) shows:

• In a recent year, more than 1,100 pedestrians were killed on California roads.

• California’s pedestrian fatality rate has been significantly higher than the national average and remains among the highest in the country.

Most of these deaths and serious injuries happen on busy urban streets — exactly the kinds of streets we walk every day in places like Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, Koreatown, the San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, Palmdale, and across LA County.

Los Angeles has identified a High-Injury Network — roughly 6% of city streets that account for the majority of deadly and severe crashes involving people walking and biking.

That’s the backdrop to your case: you did not cause this safety crisis — dangerous drivers, dangerous road design, and distracted rideshare traffic did. Our job is to hold them accountable.

Step-by-Step: What to Do Immediately After You’re Hit by a Car (At the Scene)

You may only remember bits and pieces of what happened. That’s normal. Do not worry if you can’t do every step perfectly — your safety comes first.

1. Get to Safety, But Don’t Leave the Scene

• If you’re in the middle of the street and can move safely, get to a sidewalk or shoulder.

• Do not chase the car or cross more lanes of traffic.

• If the driver tries to move you or tells you to “just get up,” stay seated or lying down if you feel severe pain, dizziness, or numbness.

2. Call 911 — Even If You “Feel Okay”

Tell the dispatcher:

• You were hit as a pedestrian

• Your location (intersection, nearby business, or landmark)

• Whether the driver stayed or fled

• If the vehicle is an Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare

Ask for both:

• Paramedics (to check and document your injuries), and

• Police (to create a written collision report — crucial evidence for your case).

3. Get the Driver’s and Rideshare Information

If you can safely do so, collect:

• Driver’s full name

• Driver’s license number

• License plate and vehicle description

• Insurance company and policy number

• If they’re a rideshare driver:

  • Whether they were online with Uber/Lyft

  • Whether they had a passenger or were en route to a pickup

  • Take screenshots of:

    • The driver’s profile in the app

    • Your trip screen (if you were the passenger)

    • Any messages in the app

This information helps us identify which insurance policies apply — personal auto insurance, rideshare insurance, or both.

4. Get Witnesses Before They Leave

Witnesses are pure gold in a pedestrian accident case, especially at busy Los Angeles intersections where drivers often try to blame the pedestrian.

Ask each witness for:

• Full name

• Cell phone number

• Email address

You can say something simple:

“I’ve been hit and I’m in shock. Could I please get your contact information so my lawyer can follow up? It really helps.”

5. Take Photos and Video (Or Ask Someone to Help)

If you’re able — or a friend or bystander can do it — take photos and video of:

• The entire intersection or roadway

• Crosswalk lines, stop signs, and traffic lights

• The vehicle that hit you (and any other vehicles involved)

• Damage to the car (especially the front bumper, hood, and windshield)

• Your visible injuries (bruises, cuts, torn clothing, blood)

• Street signs, business signs, and landmarks

• Any skid marks or debris on the road

If it was dark, raining, or visibility was poor, capture that too. This helps us prove the driver was going too fast for conditions or not paying attention.

6. Note Any Cameras Nearby

Look around for:

• Store security cameras

• Apartment or home doorbell cameras

• Traffic or intersection cameras

• Rideshare dashcams

Make a note on your phone: “Camera on NE corner above liquor store,” etc. Our firm can send preservation letters before footage is erased.

7. Don’t Admit Fault — Ever

After a trauma, people often say things like “I’m sorry” or “I didn’t see you” just to be polite or because they’re in shock. Insurance companies twist those words against you.

• Do not apologize.

• Do not argue about fault.

• Simply say: “I was walking and the car hit me. I need medical help.”

8. Tell the Police What Happened — But Keep It Simple

When the officer arrives:

• Describe what you remember, not what you guess.

• If you’re unsure, say “I’m not sure” or “It happened fast.”

• Don’t minimize your pain. If something hurts, say so.

Ask how to get a copy of the Traffic Collision Report and write down the report number.

9. Call The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus Immediately

The driver’s insurance (and Uber/Lyft’s insurers if it’s a rideshare crash) will start building a defense within hours. You need someone doing the same for you.

📞 Call 818-784-8544 right now or contact us online.
We can:

• Send an investigator to the scene

• Preserve camera footage

• Talk to witnesses before memories fade

• Stop insurance adjusters from contacting you directly

You focus on getting medical care. We focus on protecting your case.

Step-by-Step: What to Do in the First 24–72 Hours

Even after you leave the scene, what you do next can increase — or decrease — the value of your claim by tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.

1. Get a Full Medical Evaluation Right Away

Go to:

• The ER

• An urgent care

• Or your primary doctor — the same day, if possible

Tell the doctor everything that hurts, even if it seems minor. Many serious injuries — like traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, and spinal damage — don’t fully show symptoms for hours or days.

Your medical records become Exhibit A in your case. If you delay treatment, the insurance company will argue:

“If they were really hurt, they would have gone to a doctor right away.”

2. Follow All Medical Advice

• Fill prescriptions

• Go to follow-up appointments

• Attend physical therapy

• Follow restrictions on work and activity

If you skip or delay treatment, the insurer will try to discount your pain and future medical needs.

3. Start an Injury & Recovery Journal

Every day, write or text yourself:

• Where you hurt

• What activities you could not do

• How the pain affected your sleep, mood, and family life

• Missed work or school days

This makes it easier for us to prove pain and suffering, and lost quality of life, months or years later.

4. Preserve Evidence at Home

• Don’t wash or throw away damaged clothes or shoes.

• Keep your brace, sling, cast, or medical devices.

• Save every bill, receipt, and insurance letter.

Put everything in a box or folder labeled “Pedestrian Accident – Do Not Throw Away.”

5. Don’t Talk to Any Insurance Company Before You Talk to Us

Insurance adjusters are trained to:

• Get you to say things that hurt your case

• Convince you to accept a lowball settlement

• Trick you into a recorded statement

If Uber, Lyft, or a personal auto insurer calls you, simply say:

“I’m represented by The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus. Please contact my attorney.”

Then give them our number: 818-784-8544.

6. Call a Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Lawyer ASAP

The sooner we get involved, the more we can do:

• Gather evidence

• Hire reconstruction experts if needed

• Track down rideshare data and app logs

• Coordinate your medical care and bills

Waiting only helps the insurance company.

Special Rules for Uber & Lyft Pedestrian Accidents in California

If you were hit by an Uber or Lyft while walking, your case involves Transportation Network Company (TNC) insurance rules — which are very different from a standard car crash.

Rideshare “Coverage Periods” Matter

Roughly speaking, coverage depends on what the driver was doing at the time:

1. App OFF (driver not working)

   • Only the driver’s personal auto insurance applies.

2. App ON, waiting for a ride (Period 1)

   • TNCs like Uber and Lyft must provide contingent liability coverage, often around $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident for injuries, plus property damage coverage, on top of the driver’s personal policy.

3. Driver accepted a ride or is carrying a passenger (Periods 2 & 3)

   • Historically, Uber and Lyft carried $1,000,000 in liability coverage (and additional uninsured/underinsured coverage) for injuries caused by their drivers during active trips.

New California Law Has Reduced Some Rideshare Coverage

Recent California legislation tied to rideshare driver unionization has reduced some of the required insurance minimums, especially for underinsured motorist coverage, in certain situations — lowering some protections from the traditional $1 million “safety net” to lower per-person and per-accident limits.

What does that mean for you?

• Coverage is more complex than ever.

• The exact limits may depend on when your crash happened and what the rideshare driver was doing in the app at that moment.

• You need a law firm that understands how to stack and sequence multiple policies to reach maximum compensation.

At The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus, we know how to:

• Pull app logs and trip data

• Track down every potentially applicable policy

• Fight attempts to shift blame between the driver, the rideshare company, and other vehicles

If you were hit by an Uber or Lyft driver anywhere in Los Angeles or throughout California, call 818-784-8544 now and let us take over.

Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries in California

When a two-ton vehicle hits an unprotected human body, the injuries are often catastrophic. Data from California safety studies shows pedestrians are a relatively small share of total crashes but a disproportionate share of fatal and severe injuries.

Common injuries we see after pedestrian and rideshare-pedestrian accidents include:

1. Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

• Concussions

• Skull fractures

• Brain bleeds (intracranial hemorrhage)

• Post-concussive syndrome

Even a “mild” TBI can cause lifelong headaches, memory issues, mood changes, and difficulty concentrating.

2. Spinal Cord & Back Injuries

• Herniated or bulging discs

• Spinal fractures

• Nerve damage

• Partial or complete paralysis

These can require surgery, injections, or long-term pain management.

3. Broken Bones & Fractures

• Legs, ankles, feet

• Arms, wrists, hands

• Pelvic and hip fractures

• Facial fractures

Pedestrians often suffer multiple fractures because they’re struck and then thrown to the ground or onto the hood of the vehicle.

4. Internal Injuries

• Organ damage (spleen, liver, kidneys)

• Internal bleeding

• Lung contusions

These are life-threatening and may not show obvious external signs at first — another reason immediate medical care is critical.

5. Soft Tissue, Scarring & Disfigurement

• Deep lacerations

• Road rash

• Torn ligaments and tendons

• Permanent scars

Visible scars — especially on the face, neck, or hands — dramatically increase the value of your non-economic damages.

Where Do Pedestrian Accidents Happen Most in Los Angeles & Across California?

Pedestrian accidents can occur anywhere, but certain streets and intersections in Los Angeles and other California cities see far more crashes and injuries than others.

Studies and news reports have repeatedly flagged dangerous LA locations such as:

• Hollywood & Highland – Heavy tourist traffic, turning vehicles, and complex crosswalks.

• Sunset Blvd & Vine St – Busy entertainment district with high foot and vehicle traffic.

• Wilshire Blvd & Westwood Blvd – Dense traffic near UCLA and high-volume bus routes.

• Slauson Ave & Western Ave – Identified in crash data and legal analyses as a high-risk intersection.

• S. Vermont Ave & W. Florence Ave – Ranked among the most dangerous intersections in LA for serious crashes.

• Sections of Sepulveda Blvd, Roscoe Blvd, and key corridors in the San Fernando Valley and South LA that sit on the city’s High-Injury Network.

Statewide, similar patterns show up in:

• Dense urban corridors in San Francisco, San Diego, Oakland, Fresno, and Sacramento

• Multi-lane arterial roads with high speeds, poor lighting, and long crossing distances

• Areas near freeway ramps, major bus stops, and transit hubs

If your crash happened at or near one of these high-risk areas, that can strengthen claims involving:

• Dangerous road design

• Inadequate signage or crosswalks

• Failure to implement known safety improvements

Our team knows how to build these arguments using traffic studies, High-Injury Network maps, and expert testimony.

Who May Be Liable When You’re Hit as a Pedestrian?

California uses a pure comparative negligence system. That means: even if you were partly at fault (for example, crossing mid-block or looking at your phone), you can still recover money — your compensation is just reduced by your percentage of fault.

Potentially liable parties include:

• The driver who hit you (car, truck, rideshare, delivery vehicle, bus, etc.)

• Uber, Lyft, or another rideshare company (through their TNC insurance coverage)

• A third-party driver who caused a chain-reaction crash

• The employer of a commercial or delivery driver

• A government entity (for dangerous roads, broken signals, or poorly marked crosswalks)

⚠️ Important: Claims against government agencies in California usually require a formal claim within 6 months and have strict deadlines. 

We investigate every angle to find all possible sources of compensation, not just the obvious one.

What Compensation Can a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Help You Recover?

Every case is different, but a serious pedestrian accident claim in California may include:

• Past and future medical bills

• Lost wages and lost future earning capacity

• Rehabilitation and physical therapy

• Home health care or assistance

• Pain and suffering

• Emotional distress and PTSD

• Scarring, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life

• Wrongful death damages (if a loved one was killed)

Our job at The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus is to prove the full impact of your injuries — not just what’s in the first hospital bill.

How The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus Fights for Pedestrian Accident Victims

When you hire us after a pedestrian or rideshare-pedestrian accident in California, we:

1. Move Fast on Investigation

• Obtain police reports and 911 audio

• Request and preserve video from nearby businesses, homes, and traffic cameras

• Get rideshare app data and trip records

• Inspect the scene and measure sight lines, speeds, and stopping distances

2. Prove Fault and Beat Comparative Negligence Arguments

Drivers and their insurers love to blame pedestrians. We push back by:

• Using accident reconstruction experts

• Highlighting violations of California Vehicle Code (speeding, failure to yield, distraction)

• Demonstrating unsafe speeds and line-of-sight issues

• Using High-Injury Network and crash data to show the road was already known to be dangerous

3. Build the Medical & Life-Impact Story

• Work with your doctors to document long-term prognosis

• Use specialists (neurologists, orthopedists, pain management)

• Show how your injuries affect your work, family, mobility, and independence

4. Aggressively Negotiate — and Go to Court if Needed

We don’t accept lowball offers. We’re prepared to file suit and take your case to trial if that’s what it takes to get full value.

FAQs: Pedestrian & Rideshare Pedestrian Accidents in California

1. What should I do first if I’m hit by a car as a pedestrian in California?

Get medical help, call 911, and contact a California pedestrian accident lawyer immediately. Do not give statements to any insurance company before talking to your attorney.

2. What if I was hit by an Uber or Lyft as a pedestrian?

You may be covered by a combination of the driver’s personal policy and rideshare insurance, depending on whether the app was on, the driver had accepted a ride, or was carrying a passenger at the time. These rules are complex and have recently changed — talk to a lawyer who understands California rideshare law and TNC coverage.

3. What if I was jaywalking or partly at fault?

Under California’s pure comparative negligence rule, you can still recover money even if you were mostly at fault; your compensation is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. Do not assume you don’t have a case — let us evaluate it.

4. How long do I have to file a pedestrian accident claim in California?

In most cases, you have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit — but only six months to file an administrative claim if a government entity (like a city or county) is involved. There are exceptions, so you should call a lawyer as soon as possible.

5. Do I really need a lawyer, or can I deal with the insurance company myself?

You can try — but insurance companies handle these claims every day and know how to minimize payouts. A skilled pedestrian accident lawyer can often increase your net recovery significantly, even after attorney’s fees, by uncovering additional coverage, documenting full damages, and fighting lowball offers.

6. How much does it cost to hire The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus?

We work on a contingency fee basis:

• No upfront fees

• No hourly charges

• You pay nothing unless we win money for you

Your Next Step (Don’t Wait)

If you or someone you love was hit by a car — or by an Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare driver — as a pedestrian anywhere in Los Angeles or throughout California, you do not have to fight this alone.

✅ Free, same-day case evaluations
✅ We can come to you or meet by phone/Zoom
✅ No fee unless we win

📞 Call The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus now at 818-784-8544 for immediate help! 

No excuses. No delays. Just results.