Bianca Babaians
In California, drivers must yield to pedestrians at every intersection marked or unmarked and can still be held liable even if you were crossing mid-block or against the signal, since comparative fault reduces your recovery but doesn’t eliminate it. If a driver struck you in Los Angeles, Babaians Law Firm builds your claim around these vehicle code violations and preserves the surveillance footage before it’s gone.
Los Angeles has one of the highest pedestrian fatality rates of any major city in the United States. When a driver fails to yield at a crosswalk or strikes a pedestrian at an intersection, California law provides clear protections. A los angeles pedestrian accident lawyer at Babaians Law Firm preserves the surveillance footage, establishes the vehicle code violations, and pursues every dollar of compensation available under California law.
Los Angeles is working to reduce pedestrian injuries through infrastructure investment, but the collision data remains serious. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, Los Angeles County leads the state in pedestrian fatalities year after year. The combination of high vehicle speeds, a car-first street design legacy, distracted driving, and the sheer density of pedestrian activity in neighborhoods from Koreatown to Downtown to the Westside creates a pedestrian safety environment that produces serious injuries daily.
Babaians Law Firm represents injured walkers throughout the county. This page explains what California law requires of drivers, where most crashes happen in Los Angeles, and why acting within the first 48 hours is essential to protecting your claim. For our full pedestrian accident practice, see the Pedestrian Accident Practice Page.
California Vehicle Code Section 21950. Drivers must yield to pedestrians crossing in any marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. Every Los Angeles intersection has unmarked crosswalks at each corner whether or not paint exists on the pavement.
California Vehicle Code Section 21950(c). Even outside crosswalks, drivers must exercise due care to avoid striking pedestrians.
California Vehicle Code Section 21951. A driver approaching from behind a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian must also stop.
California Vehicle Code Section 21952. Drivers must yield to pedestrians on sidewalks.
Violations of any of these sections establish negligence per se in a civil claim. Babaians Law Firm maps every applicable section to the facts of your crash and uses the violations to anchor the liability case.
Downtown LA and the Financial District. High foot traffic, dense intersections, and aggressive driver behavior through the corridor from Grand Avenue to Flower Street produce pedestrian crashes daily.
Hollywood and the Walk of Fame Corridor. Tourist density, distracted walking and driving, and complex intersection geometry on Hollywood Boulevard and adjacent streets.
Koreatown and Mid-Wilshire. High-density residential and commercial neighborhood with significant pedestrian volume and a history of crosswalk-related crashes.
South Los Angeles. Wide arterial roads, long crossing distances, limited protected signal phases, and high-speed traffic create elevated pedestrian risk.
Near Metro Rail and Bus Stops. Crashes near transit infrastructure are common when commuters cross outside marked crossings or when drivers fail to watch for pedestrians near stops.
School Zones. Children crossing near schools are protected by California Vehicle Code Section 21368, which requires drivers to yield to crossing guards and pedestrians in school crossings.
Evidence Preservation (Day 1 to 2). Traffic cameras, business surveillance, and intersection cameras overwrite in 24 to 72 hours for most private systems. Babaians Law Firm sends preservation demands to the city, businesses, and any known private camera operator within the first 24 to 48 hours.
Driver Investigation. Phone records are subpoenaed to establish distracted driving, driving history and prior citations are pulled, and if DUI is involved, law enforcement toxicology records are coordinated.
Medical Coordination. Pedestrian injuries frequently involve TBI, spinal damage, and complex fractures. Babaians Law Firm coordinates referrals to neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, and life care planners to document the full scope of injuries before any settlement is discussed.
Insurance Investigation. Every available policy is identified: the driver’s liability policy, umbrella coverage, and uninsured motorist coverage if the driver is uninsured or fled.
For evidence strategy, see Proving Negligence in California Accident Cases.
When the at-fault driver was under the influence, punitive damages become available under California Civil Code Section 3294 in addition to compensatory damages.
When the driver was on their phone at the time of impact, California Vehicle Code Section 23123 violations are established through carrier records subpoenaed by your attorney.
California’s pure comparative fault rule under Civil Code Section 1714 means that even a pedestrian who shares some fault (crossing mid-block, walking against a signal) can still recover. The award is reduced by the pedestrian’s percentage of fault but not eliminated. Insurance companies routinely inflate pedestrian fault to reduce their payout. Babaians Law Firm challenges those fault assessments at every stage.
When the at-fault vehicle was operated by a City of Los Angeles employee, an LADOT or Metro transit driver, or any other public entity, a government tort claim under California Government Code Section 911.2 must be filed within six months of the incident. Missing this deadline permanently bars the claim against the public entity. Babaians Law Firm identifies whether a public entity was involved and files the required claim immediately.
Two years under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1 for private vehicle defendants. Six months for government entity defendants. See California Personal Injury Statute of Limitations Guide.
Private surveillance overwrites in 24 to 72 hours, traffic cameras have finite retention cycles, witnesses scatter, and the driver’s insurer is already investigating. Babaians Law Firm sends preservation demands the same day you call.
Our Los Angeles personal injury lawyer at Babaians Law Firm will preserve every piece of available evidence, establish every vehicle code violation, and pursue the maximum compensation California law allows. No upfront cost. No fee unless we win. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
You can still recover. California Vehicle Code Section 21950(c) requires drivers to exercise due care toward pedestrians even outside crosswalks. Pure comparative fault means partial fault reduces but does not eliminate your recovery.
Yes. Under California law, every intersection has an unmarked crosswalk at each corner whether or not paint is present. Drivers must yield to pedestrians in all of them.
A government tort claim must be filed within six months under Government Code Section 911.2. Babaians Law Firm files the required claim immediately.
Your own uninsured motorist coverage under California Insurance Code Section 11580.2 applies. See Uninsured Motorist Coverage.
Yes. No upfront cost. You pay nothing unless we obtain a recovery.
We take on fewer cases to give every client the focus they deserve. Unlike high-volume firms where cases get lost in the shuffle, we prioritize quality over quantity, delivering the attention and results your case deserves. Experience the difference with our dedicated team.
Great female led personal injury firm with good results and settlements. I highly recommend this law firm for personal injury related matters in Los Angeles and California in general.
