What If I Was Hit by a Car While Crossing at a Crosswalk in California?

If a car hit you while you were lawfully crossing in a crosswalk in California, you have strong legal rights to compensation. California Vehicle Code Section 21950 requires all drivers to yield the right of way to pedestrians in both marked and unmarked crosswalks. A driver who strikes a pedestrian in a crosswalk is presumptively at fault. The pedestrian may recover damages for medical treatment, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. Attorney Damoun Yazdi at The Accident Network Law Group represents crosswalk accident victims throughout Southern California.

Key Takeaways

• California Vehicle Code Section 21950 requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in all crosswalks, marked and unmarked
• Being struck in a crosswalk creates a strong presumption of driver fault under California law
• Even a pedestrian who crosses on a walk signal may bear some fault if they stepped off the curb late or without looking
• California’s pure comparative negligence system allows recovery even if you share partial fault
• Pedestrian accident injuries are often severe because pedestrians have no protective barrier

California’s Crosswalk Right-of-Way Law

California Vehicle Code Section 21950 establishes that drivers must yield to pedestrians in both marked crosswalks (painted on the roadway) and unmarked crosswalks (any intersection where two roads meet, even without paint markings). This law applies at every intersection in California, not just those with traffic signals.

CVC Section 21950 also requires drivers approaching a crosswalk to stop and remain stopped when there is a pedestrian in the crosswalk on the driver’s half of the roadway or when the pedestrian is approaching closely enough that there is danger if the vehicle moves forward.

Additionally, CVC Section 21951 prohibits a vehicle approaching from the rear of a car that has stopped at a crosswalk to yield to a pedestrian from passing that stopped vehicle until the pedestrian is safely out of the driver’s path.

Types of Crosswalk Accidents

Midblock crosswalks at designated pedestrian crossing points are fully protected by CVC Section 21950. Drivers who fail to yield at these marked crosswalks bear clear fault.

Intersection crosswalks at signalized intersections present additional complexity. When a pedestrian has a walk signal, drivers making turns (both left and right) must yield to the crossing pedestrian. Right-turning drivers who focus on oncoming traffic often miss pedestrians crossing in front of them. Left-turning drivers cutting across the intersection may misjudge the pedestrian’s pace or fail to see them at all.

School crosswalks designated with crosswalk guards, flashing signals, or school zone markings carry additional legal protections. Violations of school zone pedestrian safety laws are treated more seriously than standard crosswalk violations.

What You Should Do After a Crosswalk Accident

Call 911 immediately. Document the scene if physically able: photograph the crosswalk markings, the driver’s vehicle and license plate, and any signal displays. Collect witness information. Seek emergency medical care even if you feel you can walk.

Do not accept any settlement offers from the driver or their insurer without consulting an attorney. Initial offers from insurance companies often significantly undervalue pedestrian accident claims. Pedestrian injuries are frequently severe because there is no structural protection between the pedestrian and the vehicle.

Compensation Available for Crosswalk Accident Victims

Economic damages include emergency medical treatment, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, rehabilitation, medications, assistive devices, lost wages, future lost earning capacity, and other out-of-pocket costs. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement. California does not cap non-economic damages in standard personal injury cases.

California Laws Relevant to Crosswalk Accident Claims

California Vehicle Code Section 21950 establishes driver crosswalk duties. California Civil Code Section 1714 establishes the general duty of care. California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1 sets the two-year statute of limitations. Government Code Section 911.2 requires a six-month tort claim for government entity cases. California follows pure comparative negligence (Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 1975). California Vehicle Code Section 16056 (amended by SB 1107, effective January 1, 2025) sets minimum auto insurance at $30,000/$60,000/$15,000.

Contact The Accident Network Law Group About Your Crosswalk Accident Claim

Crosswalk cases turn on details: signal timing, sightlines, and exactly where the driver was looking when they should have yielded. Attorney Damoun Yazdi, who brings 12+ years of experience and a background as a former law clerk at the LA County District Attorney’s Office, investigates those details quickly, before surveillance footage is overwritten and memories fade, and pursues full compensation for your medical care, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Consultations are free and we work on a contingency basis. Our team serves Costa Mesa, Riverside, Rancho Cucamonga, Apple Valley, Victorville, and Bakersfield, and throughout Southern California. Se habla espanol.

Legal Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The outcome of any case depends on its specific facts and circumstances. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Contact The Accident Network Law Group for advice about your individual situation.