The law protects pedestrians. The insurance company does not.
California Vehicle Code section 21950 requires drivers to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, marked or unmarked, and to slow down and take due care at any intersection. Drivers must also use due care for a pedestrian anywhere on the road, even outside a crosswalk. Those rules give a pedestrian a strong case. What the insurer does with it is another matter: adjusters routinely argue that the pedestrian darted out, was distracted by a phone, wore dark clothing, or crossed mid-block, because comparative fault is the only lever they have.
A San Dimas pedestrian accident lawyer’s job is to shut those arguments down with evidence, and to find every source of insurance, because a pedestrian’s injuries usually exceed a single driver’s policy.
Where pedestrian injuries happen around San Dimas
- Crosswalks on Bonita Avenue, Arrow Highway, and San Dimas Avenue, especially at dusk and in the early morning.
- Parking lots and driveways at the shopping centers along Foothill Boulevard and near the Metrolink station, where drivers back out without looking.
- Near schools and Bonelli Park, where children and families are on foot.
- Right-turn-on-red collisions, where a driver looks left for cars and never looks right for the person in the crosswalk.
Hit-and-run: you may still be covered
Pedestrian hit-and-runs are common, and victims often assume there is no one to pay. There usually is. If you or a relative you live with owns a car with uninsured motorist coverage, that coverage typically applies to you as a pedestrian struck by an unidentified driver. California requires the crash to be reported to police within 24 hours and the insurer to be notified within 30 days for a hit-and-run UM claim, so time matters. We also work to identify the driver through nearby cameras, paint transfer, and witness descriptions.
What a pedestrian injury claim includes
Pedestrian injuries are severe: fractures, head injuries, internal injuries, and long recoveries. Your claim includes every medical bill and future need, lost income and earning capacity, and pain and suffering, which is uncapped in California. If the crash involved a public vehicle, a dangerous intersection design, or a broken signal, a government claim must be filed within six months under Government Code section 911.2. Otherwise the two-year deadline in Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 applies.
In our practice, the pedestrian cases that get undervalued are the ones where the victim assumed they had no claim because the driver said sorry and drove off, or because the police did not cite anyone. Neither ends your claim. If you were hit while walking, in or out of a crosswalk, call us before you decide you have no case.
Pedestrian accidents in San Dimas
Downtown San Dimas along Bonita Avenue is walkable by design, and the crossings there, the crossings near the Metrolink station, and the wide fast arterials like Arrow Highway are where we see pedestrians hurt. Many of those locations have business or city cameras. We request that footage in the first week, because it is the evidence that ends the argument about who had the light.
What to do after being hit by a car
- Call 911 and get a police report, even if the driver is apologetic. Report a hit-and-run immediately.
- Get medical care the same day. Pedestrian injuries are frequently worse than they feel.
- Photograph the scene, the crosswalk, the signals, the car, and your injuries.
- Get the names of witnesses and note which nearby businesses may have cameras.
- Do not give a statement to the driver’s insurer. Call Morales Law Firm.
If the driver was an Uber or Lyft driver, additional coverage may apply. See our rideshare accident page.
Frequently asked questions
I was hit outside a crosswalk. Do I still have a case?
Usually yes. Drivers owe pedestrians due care everywhere on the road, not only in crosswalks. Crossing mid-block may reduce your recovery under comparative negligence, but it does not eliminate it, and the driver’s speed, attention, and lighting all matter.
The driver left the scene. Who pays?
If you or a household relative has a car policy with uninsured motorist coverage, it generally covers you as a pedestrian struck by an unidentified driver. You must report the crash to police within 24 hours and notify the insurer within 30 days. We also work to identify the driver.
Can I sue the city for a dangerous intersection?
Sometimes. If a signal was malfunctioning, a crosswalk was unsafely designed, or sight lines were obstructed by city-maintained landscaping, the public entity may be liable. A government claim must be filed within six months, so call quickly.
How much is a pedestrian accident case worth?
Pedestrian cases are often high-value because the injuries are serious and fault is usually clear. The number depends on the medical treatment, lost income, permanent effects, and available insurance, including your own UM coverage. We give you a real range after reviewing the records.
What if the driver says I was looking at my phone?
Insurers say this in almost every pedestrian case. Phone use is only relevant if it actually caused the crash, and the driver still had a duty to see and yield to you. Video and witnesses usually settle it.
Does my child have a claim if hit near school?
Yes, and children’s claims are handled with extra protection. Any settlement for a minor must be approved by the court, and the deadline to file does not begin running until the child turns 18, although evidence should be gathered right away.
