At TITOparaTI, we understand how dramatically life can change when you’re involved in a crosswalk accident. One moment, you’re simply crossing the street—the next, you’re facing serious injuries, mounting medical bills, and an uncertain future. Our recommended experienced California crosswalk accident lawyers are dedicated to protecting your rights and helping you pursue the full compensation you deserve. If you’ve been hit while crossing the street, we’re here to fight for you—every step of the way.
California’s busy streets and intersections present significant dangers to pedestrians. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, thousands of pedestrians are injured or killed in traffic accidents each year, with a substantial percentage occurring in marked crosswalks where pedestrians should be safest. These statistics aren’t just numbers to us—they represent real people whose lives have been disrupted by negligence and carelessness.
Our team of dedicated crosswalk accident attorneys brings decades of combined experience to your case. We’ve successfully represented pedestrian accident victims throughout California, securing millions in settlements and verdicts. We know the physical, emotional, and financial toll these accidents take, and we’re committed to helping you rebuild your life.
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The steps you take immediately following a pedestrian accident can significantly impact your health and legal claim. Our crosswalk accident attorneys in California recommend:
Even if you believe your injuries are minor, seek medical attention right away. Some serious injuries, including internal bleeding and traumatic brain injuries, may not show immediate symptoms. Additionally, prompt medical care:
Creates documentation linking your injuries to the accident
Demonstrates that you took your injuries seriously
Prevents insurance companies from claiming your injuries occurred elsewhere
Always call the police after a crosswalk accident. A police report provides:
Official documentation of the accident
Preliminary determination of fault
Contact and insurance information from all parties
Statements from witnesses
Notes about road and weather conditions
Request a copy of the report for your records.
If your injuries permit, collect as much evidence as possible:
Take photos of the accident scene, including the crosswalk, traffic signals, and surrounding area
Photograph your injuries and damage to personal property
Get contact information from witnesses
Note the exact location, time, and conditions
Record the driver’s information, including license plate, insurance details, and contact information
This evidence may prove crucial to your case.
Be careful what you say at the accident scene and afterward:
Don’t apologize or make statements that could be interpreted as admitting fault
Don’t minimize your injuries by saying you’re “fine”
Don’t provide recorded statements to insurance companies without legal representation
Don’t post about your accident on social media
Insurance companies may use your words against you.
Before speaking with insurance adjusters or accepting any settlement offers, consult with our team at TITOparaTI, we offer free initial consultations to evaluate your case and provide guidance on next steps.
At TITOparaTI, we focus exclusively on helping injured pedestrians across California get the compensation they deserve. With millions recovered for clients, we know how to take on insurance companies—and win.
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Crosswalk accidents occur when a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle while crossing the street, typically in a designated crosswalk. Despite California’s strict traffic laws designed to protect pedestrians, these accidents still happen with alarming frequency—often because of distracted, reckless, or negligent drivers.
California Vehicle Code Section 21950 establishes that drivers must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing roadways within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. This means motorists are legally required to:
Stop for pedestrians in crosswalks
Exercise due care and reduce speed when approaching a crosswalk
Not overtake and pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk
Yield to pedestrians even at unmarked crosswalks at intersections
While these laws exist to protect pedestrians, they’re frequently violated. When drivers fail to follow these regulations, the consequences can be devastating.
Understanding the different types of crosswalks can help establish liability in your case:
Marked Crosswalks: These feature painted lines, patterns, or other markings indicating where pedestrians should cross.
Unmarked Crosswalks: These exist at intersections without painted lines but still carry legal protection for pedestrians.
Controlled Crosswalks: These include traffic signals, pedestrian signals, or stop signs.
Uncontrolled Crosswalks: These lack signals or stop signs but still require drivers to yield to pedestrians.
Mid-Block Crosswalks: These are marked crosswalks between intersections, often in areas with high pedestrian traffic.
Understanding what causes crosswalk accidents is crucial to establishing liability in your case. Our experienced California crosswalk accident lawyers have identified these frequent contributing factors:
The rise of smartphones has led to an epidemic of distracted driving. Drivers who are:
Texting or making phone calls
Adjusting GPS systems or entertainment controls
Eating or drinking
Looking at something outside their vehicle
All have significantly impaired attention and reaction times, making them dangerous to pedestrians in crosswalks. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, sending or reading a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for approximately 5 seconds—enough time to travel the length of a football field at 55 mph.
Drivers exceeding the speed limit or driving aggressively have:
Reduced time to notice pedestrians
Increased stopping distances
More severe impacts when collisions occur
Speed is a critical factor in pedestrian accident outcomes. Research shows that pedestrians have a 90% chance of survival when struck by a vehicle traveling 20 mph, but less than a 50% chance of survival when struck at 30 mph.
Many crosswalk accidents occur simply because drivers fail to yield the right-of-way as required by law. This happens due to:
Ignorance of traffic laws
Impatience and rushing
Rolling through stop signs
Making turns without checking for pedestrians
“California stops” (rolling stops) at intersections
Impaired drivers have significantly compromised:
Judgment
Reaction time
Visual function
Coordination
Ability to track moving objects
Despite strict laws and public awareness campaigns, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs remains a serious problem in California, contributing to many pedestrian accidents.
Factors that reduce visibility include:
Nighttime driving
Adverse weather conditions like rain or fog
Poor street lighting
Overgrown vegetation obscuring crosswalks
Parked vehicles blocking views of crosswalks
In these situations, drivers must exercise additional caution, but many fail to do so.
Drivers making turns at intersections often focus on vehicle traffic and fail to notice pedestrians. This is particularly common with:
Right turns on red (where drivers look left for vehicle traffic but not right for pedestrians)
Left turns across traffic (where attention is divided between oncoming vehicles and the turn path)
Sometimes, the design of roads and crosswalks contributes to accidents:
Poorly marked or faded crosswalk lines
Inadequate signage
Insufficient crossing time at signalized intersections
Poor lighting
Lack of pedestrian islands on wide roads
These factors can form part of your claim if they contributed to your accident.
Pedestrians are exceptionally vulnerable in traffic accidents, lacking the protection of a vehicle’s structure and safety features. Our California crosswalk accident lawyers have represented clients with a wide range of injuries, including:
Brain injuries can range from mild concussions to severe trauma resulting in permanent cognitive impairment. Even “mild” TBIs can have long-lasting effects on:
Memory and concentration
Mood and personality
Speech and language abilities
Sensory processing
Balance and coordination
These injuries often require extensive rehabilitation and may prevent return to previous employment.
Damage to the spinal cord can result in:
Partial or complete paralysis
Loss of sensation
Chronic pain
Loss of bladder or bowel control
Respiratory complications
These catastrophic injuries typically require lifelong medical care and assistive devices.
Pedestrians commonly suffer:
Multiple fractures
Compound fractures (where bone breaks through skin)
Crush injuries to extremities
Pelvic fractures
Rib fractures
These injuries often require surgery, hardware implantation, and extended physical therapy.
The force of impact can cause:
Internal bleeding
Punctured lungs
Damage to the liver, spleen, or kidneys
Ruptures to the bladder or other organs
These injuries may require emergency surgery and can be life-threatening.
Beyond obvious fractures, pedestrians often suffer:
Torn ligaments and tendons
Severe sprains
Damage to muscles
Nerve damage
Road rash and skin abrasions
These injuries can cause chronic pain and limited mobility.
The emotional impact of being struck by a vehicle shouldn’t be underestimated. Many victims experience:
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Anxiety about crossing streets or being near traffic
Depression related to injuries and lifestyle changes
Sleep disturbances and nightmares
Fear of driving or riding in vehicles
These psychological effects are legitimate injuries deserving of compensation.
Determining liability in crosswalk accidents requires thorough investigation and knowledge of California traffic laws. While drivers are often primarily at fault, multiple parties may share responsibility.
In most cases, the driver bears significant responsibility. California law requires drivers to:
Yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in crosswalks
Exercise due care to avoid colliding with pedestrians
Stop and remain stopped for pedestrians until they have safely crossed
Violation of these duties typically results in driver liability.
While pedestrians have the right-of-way in crosswalks, they also have legal duties:
To use due care for their own safety
Not to suddenly leave the curb and walk into the path of a vehicle that is so close it constitutes an immediate hazard
To obey pedestrian signals where present
Not to unnecessarily stop or delay traffic while in a crosswalk
California follows a “pure comparative negligence” rule, which means:
Each party can be assigned a percentage of fault
A pedestrian’s compensation will be reduced by their percentage of fault, if any
Even if a pedestrian is partly responsible, they can still recover damages from other at-fault parties
For example, if you’re found 20% responsible for your crosswalk accident and your damages total $100,000, you could still recover $80,000.
In some cases, parties other than the driver may share responsibility:
Government entities responsible for dangerous crosswalk design or maintenance
Construction companies that created hazardous conditions
Employers of drivers who were on the job when the accident occurred
Vehicle manufacturers if a defect contributed to the accident
Our California crosswalk accident lawyers thoroughly investigate all potential sources of liability to maximize your recovery.
With over 10,000 attorneys in California, Tito para Ti connects you directly to the top few who actually go to trial.
Our skilled trial attorneys are well-versed in handling a full spectrum of matters.
Settlements for pedestrian accidents vary widely based on factors including:
Severity and permanence of injuries
Total medical expenses (past and future)
Lost income and earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Available insurance coverage
Comparative fault considerations
While some cases settle for tens of thousands of dollars, severe injury cases often result in settlements or verdicts of hundreds of thousands or even millions. Each case is unique, and past results don’t guarantee future outcomes.
Our California crosswalk accident lawyers evaluate each case individually to determine fair compensation. We’re committed to maximizing your recovery through skilled negotiation or, if necessary, litigation
California’s statute of limitations typically gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, important exceptions apply:
Missing these deadlines can permanently bar your right to compensation. Contact our crosswalk accident attorneys promptly to protect your legal rights.
Yes, several insurance policies may provide coverage:
Driver’s Liability Insurance: California law requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance of $15,000 for injury/death to one person and $30,000 for injury/death to multiple people. This coverage applies to pedestrians struck by the insured vehicle.
Your Own Insurance: If you have auto insurance with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, it may cover you even as a pedestrian if the at-fault driver has insufficient or no insurance.
Health Insurance: Your health insurance will typically cover medical treatment, though they may seek reimbursement from the settlement.
Med-Pay or PIP Coverage: If you have Medical Payments (Med-Pay) or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage on your auto policy, it may provide additional coverage regardless of fault.
Working with insurance companies can be challenging, as they often attempt to minimize payouts. Our experienced crosswalk accident lawyers handle all insurance negotiations to ensure fair compensation.
California’s pure comparative negligence system allows you to recover compensation even if you were partially at fault. Your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of responsibility.
Common situations where pedestrians might share fault include:
Even if you think you might have been partly responsible, don’t assume you don’t have a case. Our California crosswalk accident attorneys can investigate the circumstances and often find that drivers bear greater responsibility than pedestrians initially realize.
The timeline for resolving pedestrian accident claims varies based on:
Simple cases with clear liability might settle within 3-6 months. Complex cases involving severe injuries, disputed liability, or multiple parties can take one to two years or longer, especially if a lawsuit must be filed and taken to trial.
Our crosswalk accident lawyers work efficiently while never rushing to accept inadequate settlements. We recommend waiting until you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI) before settling, so the full extent of your injuries is known.
Yes, government entities can be held liable for dangerous conditions of public property, including poorly designed, maintained, or marked crosswalks. However, claims against government entities in California:
Our experienced crosswalk accident attorneys understand the complexities of government claims and can help navigate these specialized procedures.
