Los Angeles has two of California’s deadliest crosswalks, according to a July 2026 report on pedestrian safety. A new study released by Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, looked at six years of federal traffic fatality records and pinpointed California counties with the highest pedestrian risks and the most dangerous crosswalks across the state.

S La Cienega Boulevard intersecting with Obama Boulevard and S Central Avenue crossing with E 89th Street have the most dangerous crosswalks in all of California, with 3 pedestrian fatalities each between 2019 and 2024.

In 2024 alone, crosswalks in Hesperia, Costa Mesa, and Compton each recorded 2 pedestrian fatalities.

Orange County is the second most dangerous California region for pedestrians, but it still sees 4 times fewer fatalities than Los Angeles.

The study used the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), the US Department of Transportation’s national census of fatal traffic crashes, covering the 2019–2024 timeline, as 2024 is the most recent year with information available. The research examined every fatal crash in California within these years and identified cases in which a pedestrian was killed on a crosswalk. In total, the study identified 1,036 related pedestrian deaths across 1,025 separate fatal crashes.

You can find the full report findings by following this link.

The Deadliest Crosswalks in California

Los Angeles has two of the most dangerous crosswalks in California. The intersection of S La Cienega Boulevard and Obama Boulevard in Baldwin Hills had 3 pedestrian deaths directly on the crosswalk between 2019 and 2024, the same as at the junction of S Central Avenue and E 89th Street. Crosswalks in Hesperia, Costa Mesa, and Compton each recorded 2 fatal crashes involving people on foot in 2024.

These findings echo a pattern our firm has documented before: fatal pedestrian crashes in Los Angeles cluster on a small number of high-volume arterial corridors. For a street-by-street breakdown, see our companion analyses of the 25 most dangerous intersections in Los Angeles and the most dangerous streets in Los Angeles.

High-Risk Counties for Pedestrians

Los Angeles County is the most dangerous for pedestrians, recording 356 deaths at crosswalks in 6 years. For scale, the Orange County that follows 2nd has 4 times fewer fatal accidents. The statistics are still too high, and Orange County and San Diego County almost match in risk profile, with 89 and 86 fatalities, respectively. Santa Clara and Alameda counties follow, with 53 and 51 fatalities, or around 8–9 crosswalk deaths a year.

Los Angeles County’s dominance in the rankings is consistent with what we found in our Los Angeles pedestrian safety report: the city’s pedestrian fatality rate is roughly three times New York City’s, and traffic deaths in L.A. exceeded homicides in both 2023 and 2024.

What the Numbers Say About Pedestrian Safety Across California

California ranks among the top 10 states with the highest pedestrian fatality rate per population, at 2.84 per 100K residents. These numbers seem low, but that translates to over 6.6K deaths across the state in the last 6 years, or 1.1K+ annually. Crosswalk deaths account for 15.6% of those, showing a huge issue with traffic control and management of different modes of transportation.

That last figure deserves emphasis. A marked crosswalk is precisely where the law places pedestrians and where drivers are legally required to yield — yet more than one in seven California pedestrian deaths happens there. When a pedestrian is killed doing everything the law asks of them, the question shifts from pedestrian behavior to driver conduct and roadway design.

Methodology

This study analyzed six years (2019–2024) of records from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), the U.S. Department of Transportation’s national census of fatal traffic crashes. 2024 is the most recent year for which data is available. Researchers examined every fatal crash recorded in California during the study period and isolated cases in which a pedestrian was killed on a crosswalk. Fatalities were then aggregated by intersection, city, and county to produce the rankings above. In total, the analysis identified 1,036 crosswalk pedestrian deaths across 1,025 separate fatal crashes. The full dataset and complete findings are available in the full report.

Expert Takeaway

Steven M. Sweat commented on the study:

Who Is Liable When a Pedestrian Is Killed or Injured in a California Crosswalk?

California Vehicle Code § 21950 requires drivers to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing within any marked crosswalk — or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. We break down exactly how these rules operate in our explainer on California’s pedestrian right-of-way laws.

Liability is not always all-or-nothing. California follows a pure comparative fault system, established in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804, meaning an injured pedestrian can recover damages even if they were partially at fault — their recovery is simply reduced by their percentage of responsibility. And where a dangerous intersection design, missing signal, or poor lighting contributed to a crash, a city, county, or Caltrans may share liability for a dangerous condition of public property — claims that carry a much shorter six-month government claim deadline.

Our firm has represented pedestrians struck in California crosswalks for over 30 years. Learn more about these cases on our pedestrian accident lawyer page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadliest crosswalk in California?

Two Los Angeles intersections tie for the deadliest crosswalks in California: S La Cienega Boulevard & Obama Boulevard in Baldwin Hills and S Central Avenue & E 89th Street, each recording 3 pedestrian fatalities directly on the crosswalk from 2019 through 2024, according to a 2026 analysis of FARS data.

Which California county has the most crosswalk pedestrian deaths?

Los Angeles County, with 356 crosswalk pedestrian deaths between 2019 and 2024 — four times more than second-ranked Orange County (89). San Diego (86), Santa Clara (53), and Alameda (51) counties round out the top five.

What percentage of California pedestrian deaths happen in crosswalks?

15.6%. Of the 6,656 pedestrians killed in California between 2019 and 2024, 1,036 were killed while in a crosswalk — more than one in seven.

Who is at fault if a pedestrian is hit in a crosswalk in California?

Under California Vehicle Code § 21950, drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks and in unmarked crosswalks at intersections, so the driver is usually liable. However, California’s pure comparative fault rule (Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804) means fault can be apportioned, and a government entity can share liability if a dangerous roadway condition contributed to the crash.

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

Generally two years from the date of injury for claims against private drivers. If a government entity may be liable — for example, for a dangerously designed intersection — a formal government claim must usually be filed within six months.

Injured in a Crosswalk? We Can Help.

Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC has represented pedestrians and their families across Southern California for over 30 years. If you or a loved one was struck by a vehicle in a crosswalk — including at any of the intersections named in this study — call us 24/7 at 866-966-5240 for a free consultation. We serve clients in English and Spanish, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.

If using this data, please credit: https://www.victimslawyer.com/

Reading this post does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Laws and regulations may change. For advice specific to your situation, please consult a licensed attorney.

Los Angeles streets kill more people than its criminals do. For three consecutive years, traffic fatalities in the city of Los Angeles have outnumbered homicides — a public health crisis that hides in plain sight behind the city’s headline crime statistics. Pedestrians bear the sharpest edge of that crisis, accounting for more than half of all traffic deaths in the city in recent years.

This report compiles the most current available data on Los Angeles pedestrian fatalities, identifies the corridors and communities where the risk is highest, examines why the city’s landmark Vision Zero program has failed to reverse the trend, and explains what legal protections exist for pedestrians and their families when a negligent driver or a dangerous road condition is responsible.

Steven M. Sweat has represented pedestrian accident victims in Los Angeles for over 30 years. This report is published annually using the most recently available LAPD and CHP data and will be updated each June.

1. Los Angeles Pedestrian Fatalities: The Numbers

City of Los Angeles — Annual Fatality Trend (LAPD Data)

Sources: LAPD Traffic Collision Records; CHP SWITRS; LAist review of LAPD data (February 2026); Crosstown LA; Streets Are For Everyone annual reports.

Los Angeles County — 2025 Data (CHP/SWITRS)

Source: California Highway Patrol SWITRS 2025. LA County accounts for approximately 26% of all California crashes statewide.

2. Ten Years of Vision Zero: What the Data Actually Shows

In 2015, then-Mayor Eric Garcetti adopted Vision Zero — a public safety framework originating in Sweden — with a stated goal of eliminating all traffic deaths in Los Angeles by 2025. The city has invested nearly $350 million in the program over the past decade. The result has been the opposite of the goal.

Why Vision Zero Failed: The April 2025 Audit Findings

An independent audit released in April 2025 identified the core reasons the program missed its targets:

• Lack of cohesion across departments. Vision Zero spans LADOT, LAPD, public works, and public health — but these agencies operated with insufficient coordination. Enforcement, engineering, and education initiatives were not synchronized.
• Insufficient political will. Despite $350 million in nominal investment, the program has been consistently underfunded relative to its scope and deprioritized when competing with other city initiatives.
• Imbalanced approach. From approximately 2019 onward, the city shifted emphasis heavily toward engineering (road redesign) and away from enforcement. Traffic enforcement declined sharply during and after the pandemic, and fatalities rose in parallel.
• Scale problem. LADOT’s 7,000+ safety treatments work on the specific streets where they are deployed. But Los Angeles has 6,500 miles of streets. Treating 6% of them effectively cannot eliminate deaths on the other 94%.
• Post-pandemic behavioral shift. Traffic speeds increased dramatically when roads emptied during the pandemic. Those habits persisted. LA’s wide lanes and infrequent signals reward high-speed driving while punishing the pedestrians who must cross it.

3. The High Injury Network: Where Pedestrian Deaths Concentrate

Los Angeles pedestrian deaths are not randomly distributed across the city’s 6,500 miles of streets. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation’s own data establishes that just 6% of LA street miles account for 65% of all pedestrian and cyclist deaths and serious injuries — a concentrated danger zone the city calls its High Injury Network (HIN).

High Injury Network Street Characteristics

The streets that make up the HIN share a consistent set of features that traffic engineers call ‘stroads’ — hybrids of residential streets and high-speed arterials that combine pedestrian activity with multi-lane vehicle speeds:

• Wide multi-lane design. Streets like Sepulveda Boulevard, Vermont Avenue, Western Avenue, Figueroa Street, and Avalon Boulevard carry high-speed through traffic through areas where people live, shop, and walk. Wide lanes signal to drivers that high speed is acceptable.
• Long crossing distances and signal spacing. Pedestrians on many LA arterials must cross five to seven lanes of traffic with limited refuge islands and long signal wait times that incentivize risky mid-block crossings.
• Poor lighting. Approximately 75% of pedestrian fatalities in California occur at night or in low-light conditions (NHTSA). Many high-risk HIN corridors have inadequate street lighting.
• Freeway adjacency. Streets near freeway on/off ramps consistently appear in the highest-crash data. Drivers decelerating from freeway speeds or accelerating toward on-ramps pose acute danger to pedestrians crossing nearby intersections.
• SUV and large vehicle prevalence. SUVs and large pickups strike pedestrians in the chest and head rather than the legs, dramatically increasing the probability of fatal injury. A pedestrian struck at 40 mph by an SUV faces approximately a 90% chance of death or catastrophic injury. The share of SUVs and pickups in LA’s vehicle fleet grows each year.

Geographic Concentration: South Los Angeles

Traffic violence in Los Angeles is not only geographically concentrated — it is inequitably distributed. The communities bearing the highest burden are predominantly low-income, Black, and Latino neighborhoods in South Los Angeles, which have historically received less investment in pedestrian infrastructure:

• The LAPD’s 77th Street and Southeast divisions in South LA each recorded 31 traffic deaths in 2024 — among the highest of any LAPD division citywide.
• The concentration of the city’s most dangerous intersections — San Pedro/Washington, Florence/Vermont, Avalon/Manchester — in South LA reflects decades of underinvestment in crosswalk signals, sidewalk maintenance, and lighting on streets that carry both heavy truck traffic and high pedestrian volumes.
• Residents of South LA are more likely to walk and use transit than residents of wealthier neighborhoods, increasing their exposure to streets designed primarily for vehicles, not people.

For the specific intersection data showing which locations recorded the highest crash concentrations over the past four years, see our companion analysis: The 25 Most Dangerous Intersections in Los Angeles Based on Crash Data.

4. What Is Killing Pedestrians: Causes and Contributing Factors

Sources: NHTSA FARS; LAPD Traffic Collision Records; CHP SWITRS; LADOT Vision Zero data; Streets Are For Everyone annual reports.

The Hit-and-Run Epidemic

Los Angeles has a particularly severe hit-and-run problem relative to other major U.S. cities. A disproportionate share of pedestrian fatalities involve drivers who flee — often because they are impaired, uninsured, or both. California Vehicle Code §20001 makes leaving the scene of an injury accident a felony, but prosecution rates remain low when the driver is not identified at the scene.

For California-wide traffic fatality data and context, see our California Car Accident Statistics 2026 Report.

5. Los Angeles vs. Other Major U.S. Cities

Comparing pedestrian fatality rates per capita provides the most meaningful context for evaluating LA’s performance against peer cities.

Sources: NHTSA FARS 2024 preliminary; GHSA Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State 2024; respective city traffic safety reports. Rates per 100,000 residents.

Los Angeles’s pedestrian fatality rate of approximately 4.36 per 100,000 residents is roughly three times New York City’s and nearly twice Chicago’s — cities with comparable or greater density. New York has invested heavily in pedestrian plazas, signal retiming, daylighting at crosswalks, and speed limit enforcement. Los Angeles, despite its $350 million Vision Zero commitment, has implemented fewer of these interventions at meaningful scale.

6. California Statewide Context

• California averages approximately 3 pedestrian deaths per day statewide (NHTSA/OTS).
• California ranks 8th in the nation for pedestrian fatality rate per 100,000 residents.
• Pedestrian fatalities in California have risen more than 25% over the past decade.
• Urban areas — Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco — account for more than 70% of all California pedestrian deaths.
• Approximately 75% of California pedestrian fatalities occur at night or in low-light conditions.
• Non-intersection locations account for roughly 72–80% of fatal pedestrian crashes in California.

7. What Needs to Change: Evidence-Based Recommendations

Engineering Interventions

• Daylighting at crosswalks. Removing parked vehicles from the final 20 feet before crosswalks improves driver sight lines and reduces pedestrian strikes. New York implemented this at scale; LA has done so on a limited basis.
• Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs). Giving pedestrians a 3–7 second head start before vehicles receive a green light reduces conflict and improves visibility. LADOT has installed LPIs at hundreds of intersections; broader deployment is needed.
• Raised crosswalks and speed tables. Physical infrastructure that forces vehicles to slow before intersections reduces both speed and pedestrian deaths. Effective but expensive at scale.
• Lighting upgrades on HIN corridors. The correlation between darkness and pedestrian fatality is the strongest in the data. LED upgrades on the 20 highest-fatality corridors would have an immediate measurable effect.

Enforcement Interventions

• Speed cameras (SB 645). Now deploying in LA. Cities operating speed cameras for 3+ years typically see 20–30% reductions in speeding on monitored corridors — the highest-impact single enforcement tool available.
• Targeted DUI enforcement on pedestrian-heavy corridors. Approximately 30% of pedestrian deaths involve driver impairment. Targeting DUI enforcement on HIN corridors during peak fatality hours (6 PM–midnight) would reduce deaths.

Policy Interventions

• Equity-centered infrastructure investment. South LA communities bear disproportionate fatality rates despite having less political capital to demand infrastructure improvements. Fatality data — not council district political weight — should drive spending.
• Speed limit reductions on HIN corridors. Reducing posted speeds from 35–40 mph to 25–30 mph on the highest-risk corridors, backed by enforcement, would materially reduce fatality severity.

8. Your Legal Rights as a Pedestrian Injury Victim in California

Driver Liability

California Vehicle Code §21950 requires all drivers to yield the right of way to pedestrians at both marked and unmarked crosswalks. Vehicle Code §22350 requires drivers to travel at a speed that is safe for conditions — not merely at or below the posted limit. A driver who strikes a pedestrian in a crosswalk, at a crossing, or at any location where a pedestrian is foreseeably present faces significant liability under California negligence law.

Government Entity Liability

When a dangerous road design — inadequate lighting, a missing crosswalk signal, a defective curb cut, a malfunctioning traffic signal — contributes to a pedestrian fatality or injury, the City of Los Angeles, Caltrans, or another government entity may bear liability under the Government Claims Act. Claims against government entities require filing a government tort claim within six months of the date of injury — far shorter than the standard two-year personal injury statute of limitations. Missing this deadline is typically fatal to the claim.

Comparative Fault and Pedestrian Claims

California follows pure comparative negligence — a pedestrian who was crossing mid-block, against a signal, or otherwise contributing to the accident can still recover compensation, with damages reduced by their percentage of fault. Insurance companies routinely inflate pedestrian fault to minimize payouts. See: California Comparative Fault Law: Pure Comparative Negligence Explained (2026 Guide).

For a complete guide to your legal rights after a pedestrian accident — including what to do at the scene, how liability is established, and when a government entity may share responsibility — see: Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Los Angeles: Rights After Injury.

For settlement values specific to pedestrian accident cases: Average Pedestrian Accident Settlement Values in California.

9. Frequently Asked Questions

Injured in a Pedestrian Accident in Los Angeles? Call Steven M. Sweat.

If you or a family member has been struck by a vehicle anywhere in Los Angeles or Southern California, you have legal rights — and the clock starts immediately. Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC has represented pedestrian accident victims for over 30 years, recovering compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and in wrongful death cases, for the full scope of a family’s loss.

We handle pedestrian accident cases on a strict contingency fee basis — no fee unless we recover compensation for you. For an overview of your rights and the legal process, see our Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Lawyers practice page.

Data Sources and Methodology

All statistics are attributed to their original source. This report is updated annually each June using the most recently available full-year LAPD and CHP/SWITRS data.

• Los Angeles Police Department Traffic Collision Records (via LAist review of LAPD data, February 2026; Crosstown LA analysis)
• California Highway Patrol Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 2025
• Los Angeles Department of Transportation Vision Zero Program data and High Injury Network analysis; LADOT Safety Study 2024-2025
• City of Los Angeles Office of the City Administrative Officer Vision Zero investment data
• Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE) annual traffic fatality reports (2021-2024)
• NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)
• Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: 2024 Preliminary Data
• California Office of Traffic Safety (CA OTS) pedestrian safety program data
• U.S. Department of Transportation / Federal Highway Administration LA High Injury Network documentation

Author: Steven M. Sweat, California State Bar #181867 | First published: May 2026 | Annual update: each June | Informational purposes only; does not constitute legal advice.

Los Angeles has some of the most dangerous streets in the United States for pedestrians. With nearly 4 million residents in the city proper — and more than 10 million across Los Angeles County — plus a massive tourist population and a traffic culture built around cars, collisions between vehicles and people on foot happen every single day across the county. From Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood to Hollywood Boulevard in the heart of the city, from the Crenshaw District to downtown’s Broadway, pedestrians are struck by drivers who are speeding, distracted, running red lights, or simply not paying attention.

If you or a loved one has just been hit by a car while walking in Los Angeles, you may be feeling shocked, in pain, or overwhelmed by what just happened. This guide is designed to cut through that confusion and give you a clear, step-by-step roadmap for protecting your health, your rights, and your financial recovery.

As a Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Lawyer, Steven Sweat has spent over 30 years fighting for pedestrian accident victims throughout Los Angeles and Southern California. The information below reflects what we tell our own clients on the day they call us.

Why Los Angeles Is So Dangerous for Pedestrians

Understanding why these accidents happen so frequently in LA is more than academic — it helps you understand who is typically at fault and why the law is generally on your side.

Los Angeles consistently ranks among the most dangerous cities in the United States for people walking. The reasons are structural and cultural:

• Wide, multi-lane arterials like Wilshire, Sunset, Vermont, and Western were designed for vehicle throughput, not pedestrian safety.
• High-speed turning movements at signalized intersections where drivers routinely fail to yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks, in violation of California Vehicle Code §21950.
• Distracted driving has reached epidemic levels in LA. California Vehicle Code §23123.5 prohibits handheld device use while driving, but enforcement is inconsistent.
• Rideshare and delivery driver density has increased dramatically in Los Angeles, adding a category of driver under economic pressure to move quickly.
• Impaired driving remains a serious contributor.
• Inadequate infrastructure including missing crosswalks, poorly timed pedestrian signals, and insufficient lighting at high-risk intersections.

The legal significance: when a driver strikes a pedestrian, California law presumes the driver had a duty of care to the pedestrian. In crosswalk collisions, the presumption of fault against the driver is strong. Even outside marked crosswalks, drivers are required to exercise reasonable care to avoid hitting people on foot. For a comprehensive overview of the California vehicle laws that apply, see our pedestrian accident practice area page.

Immediate Steps to Take After Being Hit by a Car in LA

The hours immediately following a pedestrian accident are the most legally and medically significant period of your entire case. Evidence disappears. Injuries can worsen without treatment. Statements made at the scene become permanent. Follow these steps as closely as your condition allows.

Step 1: Call 911 and Stay at the Scene

If you are physically able to, call 911 immediately. Even if the driver stops and tells you that a police report is unnecessary, insist on one. A Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) or California Highway Patrol (CHP) report is critical evidence in your personal injury claim. It documents the time, location, driver identification, witness names, and the officer’s preliminary assessment of what happened.

Do not let the driver persuade you to handle this “privately.” Do not leave the scene before police arrive unless you are transported by ambulance. If you have to be transported for emergency care, ask someone to ensure the police report is filed.

One more thing worth knowing before police arrive: under California Vehicle Code §20001, a driver who strikes a pedestrian causing injury is legally required to stop immediately, provide their name, address, and insurance information, and render reasonable aid — including calling for emergency help if needed. Leaving the scene after injuring a pedestrian is a felony in California. You have every right to insist the driver remain until law enforcement arrives. If they flee, note the vehicle’s color, make, model, license plate, and direction of travel, and relay that information to the 911 operator immediately.

Step 2: Seek Emergency Medical Attention — Even If You Feel “Okay”

This is the single most important thing you can do for both your health and your legal case. Pedestrian accident injuries are frequently delayed in onset. Traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, herniated discs, and soft tissue damage often do not produce obvious symptoms in the immediate aftermath of a collision — some injuries take hours or days to manifest. Refusing or delaying medical treatment is the most common and most damaging mistake pedestrian accident victims make. Insurance companies will use any gap in treatment to argue that you weren’t seriously injured. For a detailed explanation, see our guide: What Happens If You Don’t Go to the Doctor Right After a Car Accident?

Keep a Daily Symptom Log Starting Day One

Once you are home, start a written symptom log the same day and update it daily. Insurance adjusters will argue your injuries were minor or unrelated to the crash — a dated, specific record of how your injuries progressed is concrete evidence that directly counters that argument.

Record every symptom, every limitation, and every ordinary activity you were unable to perform because of your injuries. Your attorney will use this log to document the real-world impact of your injuries on your daily life.

Step 3: Document Everything You Can

If your injuries allow, use your smartphone to document the scene before anything changes. Gather the following:

• Photographs of the vehicle that struck you, including license plate, make/model, and damage
• Photographs of your visible injuries, clothing, and footwear
• Wide-angle photographs of the intersection or crosswalk, including signal lights, signage, and road markings
• Photographs of skid marks, debris, and the final resting position of the vehicle
• Screenshots of the time and location (your phone’s GPS data can be valuable)
• Names and phone numbers of every witness at the scene

If you are unable to document the scene due to your injuries, ask a bystander, family member, or anyone present to take these photos on your behalf. Evidence at pedestrian accident scenes disappears quickly — within hours, the vehicle has moved, skid marks have faded, and witnesses have left.

Equally important: identify any surveillance cameras in the area. Los Angeles has an extensive network of traffic cameras, ATM cameras, business security systems, and residential Ring/Nest cameras. Your attorney can issue preservation letters to prevent this footage from being deleted — but only if they know it exists and act quickly.

If the driver appeared to be on their phone at the time of the collision, tell your attorney immediately. Distracted driving cases can be significantly strengthened by subpoenaing the driver’s cell phone records to prove device use at the moment of impact — but this requires prompt legal action before records are purged.

Collect Witness Information Before Anyone Leaves

Before any witness leaves the scene, get their information using this template:

• Full name: _______________________________
• Phone number: _______________________________
• What they saw (brief description): _______________________________
• Where they were standing when the collision occurred: _______________________________

Do not rely on the responding officer to collect witness contact information. In a busy Los Angeles intersection, officers may not speak with every bystander present. Witnesses who leave without providing their information are often impossible to locate later.

Step 4: Exchange Information with the Driver

Obtain and write down:

• Driver’s full name, address, and phone number
• Driver’s license number
• Vehicle registration and license plate
• Insurance company name and policy number
• Name and contact of any passengers in the vehicle

Be polite and businesslike. Do not apologize or make any statements about fault. Do not say “I’m fine” — even casually. These statements can be used against you later. If the driver is aggressive or the situation feels unsafe, move to a safe location and focus on getting the police report number.

Step 5: Do Not Give a Recorded Statement to the Insurance Company

Within hours or days of your accident, you may receive a call from the driver’s insurance company asking you to provide a recorded statement. Decline politely. You are not legally required to provide a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurer, and doing so before you have legal representation is almost always harmful to your claim.

Insurance adjusters are trained to ask questions in ways that elicit responses that minimize the value of your claim. A single offhand remark about feeling okay, or about what you saw right before the accident, can be used to reduce or deny your compensation.

Step 6: Contact an Experienced Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Before speaking to any insurance adjuster — including your own — consult with a qualified pedestrian accident attorney. An attorney can immediately preserve evidence, identify all liable parties, handle all insurance communications, and advise you on the true value of your claim before you make any decisions.

Your Legal Rights as a Pedestrian Hit by a Car in California

California Pedestrian Right-of-Way Laws

California Vehicle Code §21950 requires drivers to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing the road in any marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. Even if a pedestrian was crossing at a location without a marked crosswalk, drivers are still required to exercise reasonable care to avoid striking them.

Additional CVC provisions that frequently apply in LA pedestrian accident cases:

• CVC §21453 — Drivers must come to a complete stop before making a right turn on red and yield to pedestrians before proceeding
• CVC §21950(b) — Pedestrians must not unexpectedly enter the roadway, but this does not eliminate driver liability when a driver fails to exercise due care
• CVC §21954 — Pedestrians outside of crosswalks must yield to vehicles, but this is subject to comparative fault analysis
• CVC §22350 — The Basic Speed Law requires drivers to drive at a speed safe for current conditions, regardless of posted speed limits

Comparative Fault: What It Means If You Were Partly at Fault

California follows the doctrine of “pure comparative negligence,” which means you can recover compensation even if you were partially responsible for the accident. Your recovery is simply reduced by your percentage of fault.

For example: if a jury determines your total damages are $500,000 and assigns you 20% fault for crossing mid-block, you would still recover $400,000. Insurance companies frequently attempt to inflate a pedestrian’s assigned fault percentage precisely because it reduces their payout. Having an experienced attorney to fight this assignment of fault is critical to maximizing your recovery.

For a full explanation of the four legal elements required to establish a personal injury claim in California, see our pillar guide: Do I Have a Personal Injury Case? A California Lawyer’s Guide.

Government Claims: When a City or Agency Is Responsible

In Los Angeles, some pedestrian accidents are caused or contributed to by dangerous road conditions — broken curbs, missing crosswalk markings, malfunctioning pedestrian signals, inadequate lighting, or poorly designed intersections. When a government entity (the City of LA, Caltrans, LADOT) is responsible, you may have a claim against that agency.

Who Can Be Held Liable When a Pedestrian Is Hit by a Car in LA?

Identifying all potentially liable parties is one of the most important things an experienced attorney does on your behalf. In many LA pedestrian accident cases, there is more than one party who bears legal responsibility, and identifying all of them directly increases the insurance coverage available to compensate you.

The At-Fault Driver

The most common defendant. Driver negligence — speeding, distracted driving, running red lights, failing to yield, driving under the influence — is the cause of the vast majority of pedestrian accident cases.

The Driver’s Employer

If the driver was working at the time of the accident — a delivery driver, commercial truck driver, or company employee running errands — the employer may be vicariously liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior. This matters enormously because commercial employers carry substantially higher insurance limits than individual drivers.

Uber, Lyft, or a Rideshare Company

If the driver who struck you was working for a rideshare company, the insurance structure is more complex. Uber and Lyft are required under California AB 2293 to maintain up to $1 million in liability coverage when a driver is actively transporting a passenger or en route to a pickup. Even in Phase 1 (app on, awaiting a ride), up to $100,000 in coverage may apply.

Government Agencies

When defective road infrastructure contributed to the accident, the responsible agency may share liability. These claims have strict procedural requirements and deadlines that must be followed precisely.

Vehicle Manufacturer

In cases where a vehicle defect (brake failure, defective headlights, sudden acceleration) contributed to the collision, the vehicle manufacturer or a parts supplier may bear products liability. These cases require early investigation before the vehicle is repaired or destroyed.

What to Do If the Driver Who Hit You Fled the Scene (Hit and Run)

Hit-and-run pedestrian accidents are unfortunately common in Los Angeles. If the driver flees, take these steps immediately:

1. Note as many details as possible about the vehicle: color, make, model, license plate — even a partial plate — and the direction of travel.
2. Tell the 911 operator everything you observed about the fleeing vehicle.
3. Ask any witnesses if they saw the plate or have dashcam footage.
4. File a police report. California law requires physical contact between the vehicle and the pedestrian for a Uninsured Motorist (UM) hit-and-run claim, and you must have reported the accident to law enforcement.
5. Notify your own auto insurance company promptly. Even though you were on foot, your UM/UIM coverage may apply.

California Insurance Code § 11580.2 requires every California auto policy to include Uninsured Motorist coverage unless the policyholder waives it in writing. If anyone in your household carries auto insurance with UM/UIM coverage, you may be entitled to claim under their policy even if you were on foot.

What If the Driver Who Hit You Has No Insurance?

Many drivers on California roads carry no auto insurance at all. As noted above, California Insurance Code § 11580.2 requires UM/UIM coverage on every California auto policy unless waived in writing.

MedPay Coverage

Medical Payments coverage (MedPay) is an optional add-on that California drivers can carry. Unlike UM/UIM, MedPay pays your medical bills regardless of who was at fault — and it applies to you as a pedestrian if you are covered under or are a household member of someone who carries it. If you or a family member has MedPay on an auto policy, it may provide immediate reimbursement for emergency care, hospital bills, and follow-up treatment while your personal injury claim is still pending. Ask your attorney to identify all potential MedPay coverage available to you.

What Is a Pedestrian Accident Case Worth in Los Angeles?

The value of a pedestrian accident case depends entirely on the specific facts of your situation. That said, pedestrian accidents tend to produce some of the highest personal injury settlements in California because the injuries are frequently severe — pedestrians have no vehicle frame, airbags, or seatbelts protecting them from a multi-ton vehicle.

Categories of Damages You Can Recover

Economic Damages

• All past and future medical expenses (ER, surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, medications, assistive devices)
• Lost wages for time missed from work due to your injuries
• Future lost earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work long-term
• Out-of-pocket expenses including transportation to medical appointments, home modifications, and caregiving costs

Non-Economic Damages

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress, anxiety, and PTSD
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Disfigurement and scarring
• Loss of consortium (impact on your relationship with your spouse)

Punitive Damages

In cases involving drunk driving, extreme recklessness, or intentional conduct, California courts may award punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages. These are designed to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct.

High-Risk Pedestrian Accident Locations in Los Angeles

Certain areas of Los Angeles see disproportionately high numbers of pedestrian accidents, and our firm has represented accident victims throughout these corridors:

• Wilshire Boulevard (from Downtown through Westwood) — one of the most dangerous corridors for pedestrians in Southern California
• Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street (Hollywood) — heavy tourist foot traffic combined with heavy vehicle throughput
• Vermont Avenue (Koreatown through Hollywood) — consistently appears on LAPD high-injury network lists
• Figueroa Street (Downtown and South LA) — wide lanes, high speeds, and significant pedestrian volume
• San Fernando Road (Sun Valley, Sylmar, Pacoima) — major pedestrian accident corridor in the San Fernando Valley
• Crenshaw Boulevard and Florence Avenue (South LA) — historically among the highest pedestrian fatality zones in the county
• Downtown Broadway and Spring Street — high density of rideshare pickups and drop-offs creating dangerous pedestrian/vehicle conflicts
• Near schools and parks throughout the LA Unified School District service area

If your accident occurred in any of these areas, there may be prior incident data, existing litigation against the city regarding dangerous conditions, or known patterns of negligence that can strengthen your claim.

Common Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Pedestrian Accident Claim

The following errors consistently reduce or eliminate compensation for pedestrian accident victims:

• Refusing or delaying medical treatment. Even 48 hours creates a gap that insurers exploit aggressively.
• Giving a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurer. You have no legal obligation to do this before retaining counsel.
• Accepting an early settlement offer. Early offers rarely reflect future medical costs, lost earning capacity, or the full value of pain and suffering. Once you sign a release, it is permanent.
• Posting about the accident on social media. Defense attorneys and insurance adjusters routinely review social media. Any post that suggests you are physically active can be used to minimize your claim.
• Missing the government tort claim deadline. If a city agency bears any responsibility for your accident, you have only six months to file an initial claim.
• Assuming you can’t recover because you were jaywalking or partially at fault. California’s pure comparative fault system allows recovery even when you bear some responsibility.
• Waiting too long to consult an attorney. Surveillance footage is often overwritten within 30 days. Witness memories fade. Physical evidence disappears. Cell phone records can be purged. Time is your enemy.

For a comprehensive look at these and other pitfalls, see: Common Mistakes in Personal Injury Cases.

The Statute of Limitations: How Long Do You Have to File?

In California, the general statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident (California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1). If you do not file a lawsuit within this period, you permanently lose your right to pursue compensation — regardless of how serious your injuries are.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Resources on victimslawyer.com

• Pedestrian Accidents Practice Area Overview
• Do I Have a Personal Injury Case? A California Lawyer’s Guide
• Brain Injury Attorney Los Angeles
• What Happens If You Don’t Go to the Doctor Right After a Car Accident?
• Common Mistakes in Personal Injury Cases

Legal Disclaimer

This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is unique. You should consult with a qualified California personal injury attorney to evaluate the specific facts and circumstances of your situation. Results in prior cases do not guarantee or predict outcomes in future matters.

Pedestrian fatalities have been increasing across the U.S. In 2021 alone, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) reported that an estimated 7.485 pedestrians were killed in the U.S. The GHSA reports that was a 12% increase in the number of pedestrian fatalities over those who were killed in 2020. The GHSA also reports that the number of pedestrian fatalities in 2021 was the largest in four decades.

While the overall pedestrian fatalities in California decreased in 2021 from those killed in 2020, the same is not true for Los Angeles. In LA, 289 people were killed in pedestrian accidents through Dec. 25, 2021. This represented a 21% increase over 2020. A recent report also reveals that Los Angeles has been rated as the second-deadliest city in the U.S. for pedestrians. Here’s what you need to know about this report and what it means for pedestrians in Los Angeles.

Study Shows Los Angeles Dangerous for Pedestrians

A recent report from the Los Angeles Times revealed that Los Angeles is the second-most dangerous city for pedestrians in the U.S. The report looked at data in the 10 years between 2011 and 2020 and found that 1,133 people were killed in LA during that period in pedestrian accidents. During that same period, New York City experienced 1,260 pedestrian fatalities, making it the most dangerous city in the U.S. for pedestrians.

Both Los Angeles and New York had substantially higher percentages of pedestrian deaths than other cities in the U.S. even though both have Vision Zero plans in place that were created to reduce traffic fatalities.

Vision Zero and Los Angeles Pedestrian Deaths

The City of Los Angeles implemented its Vision Zero plan in 2015 to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2025. Even though the plan has been in place for seven years, pedestrian fatalities have increased rather than decreased.

Before the pandemic, South Los Angeles accounted for almost one-half of all of the traffic fatalities and injuries in the city and disproportionately impacted minorities. Some of the reasons for the disparate effect on people of color, older adults, children, and the poor are that people in poorer neighborhoods are less likely to benefit from infrastructure that could help to protect them from pedestrian accidents.

The city has installed new signals, crosswalks, and other safety infrastructure in the past five years to increase traffic safety, but it is obvious that more needs to be done to prevent pedestrian accidents, injuries, and deaths.

The study reported by the Los Angeles Times was conducted by Jerry, an insurance site. The study showed that pedestrian deaths have risen nationwide and were up by 65% as compared to 2011.

Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Los Angeles

There are several reasons why Los Angeles and New York have the highest number of pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. Both are large, densely populated urban centers with a combination of huge numbers of residents and visitors and high traffic volumes. Los Angeles has numerous multi-lane streets that are heavily trafficked and generally unsafe for walkers. While the city has made some infrastructure improvements to decrease pedestrian and bicycle accidents, more infrastructure needs to be added to protect pedestrians and cyclists.

Some of the common causes of pedestrian accidents in Los Angeles include the following:

• Lack of adequate safety infrastructure for pedestrians
• Crossing at uncontrolled intersections with or without crosswalks
• Distracted driving
• Distracted walking
• Attempts to cross at midblock areas
• Speeding motorists
• Inadequate surveillance for pedestrians by drivers
• Walking in poorly lit areas at night
• Impaired driving
• Reduced visibility caused by parked cars in parking lots
• Lack of safe areas to play for children in densely populated poor neighborhoods

While statistics show that Los Angeles is dangerous for pedestrians and that the number of accidents has increased, there are steps people should take to try to prevent pedestrian accidents whether they are driving or walking.

What Los Angeles Drivers Can Do to Prevent Pedestrian Accidents

Drivers in Los Angeles can do several things to try to avoid being involved in collisions with pedestrians. Taking these steps might protect both the drivers and others from injuries. Some of the steps drivers should take to reduce the risk of pedestrian accidents include the following:

• Obeying the posted speed limits – Some pedestrian accidents are caused by speeding drivers who can’t slow down in time to avoid pedestrians who are crossing the roads. This is especially true in residential areas and school crossing zones. Motorists can reduce the risks by making sure to always obey the posted speed limits.
• Not driving while distracted – Drivers who talk on their phones, text while driving, or are distracted by passengers in their vehicles have their attention focused somewhere other than the roads. Distracted driving can lead to pedestrian accidents when the drivers fail to see pedestrians crossing the streets.
• Adequate surveillance – Motorists should always take note of pedestrians walking on sidewalks or on the sides of the roads to see if they show signs they might begin to cross. Some pedestrians fail to cross at intersections and instead try to cross streets in mid-block areas. Watching for pedestrians on the sides of the roads can help to prevent accidents by giving the drivers enough time to slow down if the pedestrians suddenly step into traffic.
• Watching for pedestrians while turning – Drivers who are turning should check for pedestrians who might not be visible because of visual obstructions. Checking for pedestrians while navigating turns slowly can prevent these types of accidents.
• Always driving sober – Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs slows the reaction times of drivers and increases the likelihood they will cause accidents. Motorists should never get behind the wheel when they are impaired by alcohol or drugs to protect both themselves and others on the roads.
• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks – When a pedestrian is crossing the road in a crosswalk, drivers should stop and allow them to cross. They should also stop if a pedestrian is crossing on the other half of the road but is near enough that it would be dangerous for the driver to proceed. Similarly, other motorists should not pass vehicles that are stopped at crosswalks for pedestrians to cross.

Steps Pedestrians Can Take to Reduce Their Risk of Accidents

Pedestrians also must comply with the laws when they cross the streets. Pedestrians should never attempt to cross the street in a mid-block area and should instead walk to the nearest intersection to cross. If the intersection has a pedestrian crossing sign, they should obey it and only begin crossing when signaled to do so. Pedestrians should watch for oncoming vehicles and cars that are turning so that they have time to react if a motorist doesn’t see them.

Like motorists, pedestrians should avoid distractions while walking. They should not cross the roads while texting or listening to music on headphones. Instead, pedestrians should remain alert and watch for traffic at all times and should avoid stepping into a roadway in front of a vehicle that might not have enough time to stop.

Pedestrians who walk at night should wear brightly colored, reflective clothing to make themselves more visible. Using strips of reflective tape and carrying a flashlight can make it easier for motorists to see them. Finally, pedestrians should avoid walking while they are intoxicated and should instead opt for public transportation to get where they need to go if they are under the influence.

What to Do Following a Pedestrian Accident

If you are involved in a pedestrian accident, do the following things to preserve your rights and facilitate your recovery:

• Call 911 to summon the police and emergency responders.
• Check yourself for injuries.
• Get the other driver’s information if you can, including their license plate number, the make, model, and color of their vehicle, their insurance information and driver’s license number, and a physical description in case the motorist leaves before the police arrive.
• Ask witnesses for their names and contact details, and ask them if they can stay and tell the police what they observed.
• Take photos of the accident scene and the damage to the vehicle. If you can’t take pictures, ask someone else to do so for you.
• Go to the hospital or a doctor’s office immediately to get checked for injuries and prompt treatment.
• Document everything you remember in the moments leading up to your accident, during it, and following it.
• Talk to an experienced Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney about your rights.

Talk to an Attorney at the Los Angeles Law Firm of Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC

If you sustained injuries while crossing the street in Los Angeles because of a negligent driver, you should talk to a pedestrian accident lawyer at the law firm of Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC. Call us today for a free case evaluation at 866.966.5240.

Soy abogado de accidente de peatones Los Angeles y otras cuidades de California y he visto la vida de muchas personas quedan devastadas por las graves lesiones y muertes causadas por estos eventos catastróficos. Accidentes de peatones ocurren con mucha más frecuencia en las grandes ciudades como Los Ángeles, San Francisco y San Diego y otras ciudades en California, la población está en los millones de y esto se hincha con la afluencia de turistas también cada año. Debido a que las cosas están tan cerca y el aparcamiento y el tráfico puede ser difícil a veces, muchas personas optan por caminar, skate board, patines, trotar o correr. Desafortunadamente, muchas más personas utilizan automóviles, camiones o vehículos utilitarios deportivos de moverse y cuando los caminantes, corredores, patinadores o personas en patines interactúan con los vehículos de motor, los accidentes pueden suceder. Esto podría ser en una acera, en una intersección, en un paso de peatones o en la calle. Muchas veces esto sucede con los niños alrededor de las escuelas o jugar en o alrededor de los caminos vecinales. Esto sucede en todo el sur de California de las zonas urbanas, como el sur y el centro de Los Ángeles a las comunidades de playa como Santa Mónica, Venecia o Huntington Beach.

¿Cuáles son algunas de las causas más comunes de los automóviles que chocan con los caminantes?

Los conductores terminan golpeando peatones por un número de razones, que incluyen pero no se limitan a:

* Hablando en los teléfonos celulares * Luces rojas * Ejecución de señales de stop * El exceso de velocidad * Fatiga * Conducir Ebrio

¿Qué ley CA decir sobre el derecho de vía para las personas que viajan a pie en los pasos de peatones o intersecciones?

En casi todas las situaciones, los peatones tienen el derecho de vía, de acuerdo con la ley del estado de California. De hecho, California Código de Vehículos 21950 (a) requiere que los coches ceden a las personas que caminan en los pasos de peatones designados y en las calzadas sin marcar en las intersecciones. Ser golpeado por un coche puede provocar lesiones graves tales como fracturas óseas, la discapacidad y la desfiguración. Otras veces, un accidente de peatones pueden ser fatales. Si el conductor que usted o golpear a su ser querido en California estaba sin seguro, usted todavía puede ser elegible para recibir una compensación a través de su propia compañía de seguros.

¿Por qué es importante consultar a un asesor legal con prontitud después de un accidente de peatones?

Hay muchos aspectos de la presentación de una reclamación de accidente de auto de este tipo. Las determinaciones se deben hacer en cuanto a la identidad de los conductores, propietarios registrados, dueños de negocios con los operadores que pueden estar en el curso y alcance de su empleo en el momento del incidente, como conductores de la empresa. Las evaluaciones se deben hacer en cuanto a si hubo negligencia y por parte de quién. Las compañías de seguros deben ser identificados y reclamaciones presentadas rápidamente. Todo esto requiere la habilidad de un abogado de lesiones personales de experiencias que es experto en el manejo de las peticiones de dinero por daños entre las personas sauntering por los pies y carros o otros tipos de vehículos.

Si tiene un accidente de peatone en California, llamanos gratis por 1-866-966-5240, La consulta es gratis y no cobramos honorarios a menos que y hasta que ganemos dinero para usted.