What should you know about pedestrian accidents in California?
Dense pedestrian areas in Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego bring people on foot close to heavy traffic, and wide suburban boulevards can be dangerous to cross. California updated its jaywalking rules in recent years, which can affect how fault is argued in a pedestrian case.
California tip: Nearby business, Muni or Metro cameras may have footage — request it as soon as possible.
Who may be responsible for a pedestrian accident in California?
The driver is usually the main responsible party, but property owners and agencies can share responsibility. In California, that can include the driver, the driver's employer, a property owner — depending on who caused the crash.
Under California's pure comparative fault rule, a share of blame for the pedestrian accident lowers what you can recover but never bars the claim outright. Read California car accident laws for the full rule.
How long do you have to file a pedestrian accident claim in California?
Generally two years for a lawsuit, counted from the date of the pedestrian accident. Claims involving California cities, counties or transit agencies can require written notice much sooner.