California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, contact the Law Offices of Gary K. Walch, A Law Corporation directly.
Getting hit by a car while you’re walking is terrifying—especially when you were doing everything right, like crossing in a marked crosswalk with the walk signal. One moment you’re just trying to get across the street in Riverside; the next, you’re on the ground, in pain, with a crowd forming around you and a driver who may be apologizing, blaming you, or already gone.
The Law Offices of Gary K. Walch, A Law Corporation is a California personal injury law firm that represents injured pedestrians in Riverside and throughout Southern California. If you were struck while crossing the street, you may be facing medical bills, time off work, and a lot of confusion about your rights. This guide explains the steps to take after a Riverside pedestrian accident, how California law protects you, and how Walch Law can help.
Why Riverside Pedestrian Crosswalk Accidents Are So Serious
Unlike drivers and passengers in vehicles, pedestrians have no seatbelts, no airbags, and no metal frame around them. Even a “low-speed” impact in a crosswalk can cause serious harm.
Common scenarios in Riverside include:
- A driver turning right on red without checking the crosswalk
- A left-turning vehicle cutting across a crosswalk while you’re walking
- Speeding or distracted drivers near schools, shopping centers, or downtown
- Drivers rolling through stop signs in residential neighborhoods
Because cars are so much heavier than people, these crashes often lead to fractures, head injuries, spinal injuries, or internal trauma—even if the vehicle doesn’t look badly damaged.
Step 1: Get Medical Help Immediately
If you’ve been hit by a car in Riverside, your first priority is your health:
- Call 911 or ask someone nearby to call for you.
- Let paramedics examine you at the scene, even if you think you’re “just sore.”
- Follow their recommendation about going to the emergency room or urgent care.
Common pedestrian injuries include:
- Head injuries and concussions
- Neck and back injuries, including herniated discs
- Fractures in legs, arms, ribs, or pelvis
- Internal bleeding or organ damage
- Road rash, lacerations, and serious bruising
- Long-term pain conditions and mobility problems
Some injuries don’t fully show up until hours or days later. If new symptoms appear—like headaches, dizziness, numbness, confusion, or increased pain—return to a doctor right away and explain that you were in a pedestrian accident.
Keep copies of:
- ER or urgent care records
- Test results (X-rays, CT scans, MRIs)
- Doctor’s notes and referrals
- Prescriptions and bills
These records will be important for both your recovery and your injury claim.
Step 2: Report the Accident and Document the Scene
If you’re able to do so safely:
- Call the police.
- In Riverside, the Riverside Police Department or California Highway Patrol may respond, depending on where the crash occurred.
- A police report can help establish what happened and who is likely at fault.
- Get the driver’s information.
- Name, phone number, address
- Driver’s license number
- Insurance company and policy number
- License plate and vehicle description
- Look for witnesses.
- Ask for names and contact information of anyone who saw the crash.
- Ask if anyone has photos, videos, or dash cam footage.
- Take photos and videos.
- The crosswalk, street signs, traffic lights, and any signals
- Skid marks or debris in the road
- The vehicle that hit you
- Your visible injuries
If you were too injured to gather this information at the scene, don’t panic. A lawyer can often help track down reports, witnesses, and potentially nearby surveillance footage after the fact.
Step 3: How California Law Protects Pedestrians in Crosswalks
California has strong protections for pedestrians, especially when they are crossing in a crosswalk.
Key points:
- Drivers must exercise due care and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in marked crosswalks and unmarked crosswalks at intersections, subject to certain rules.
- Drivers must also slow down and take extra care when they see a pedestrian in or near a crosswalk.
- Speeding, distracted driving, failing to yield, and running red lights are all forms of negligence that can make a driver legally responsible for a pedestrian’s injuries.
Insurance companies sometimes try to argue that:
- The pedestrian “came out of nowhere”
- The pedestrian was looking at a phone or not paying attention
- The pedestrian crossed at the wrong time
Even if the insurance company tries to push blame onto you, you may still have a strong case. California follows a comparative negligence system, which means your compensation can sometimes be affected by any percentage of fault assigned to you—but it doesn’t automatically eliminate your rights.
An experienced Riverside pedestrian accident lawyer can investigate what really happened, use witness statements and traffic signal timing, and push back on unfair blame.
Step 4: Understanding Who Pays Your Medical Bills
After a crosswalk accident, it’s normal to worry about how you’ll pay for treatment. Several potential sources of coverage may apply:
- The at-fault driver’s liability insurance
- This is often the primary source of compensation for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
- Your own health insurance
- Health insurance can help cover your care while your legal claim is pending.
- Medical payments (MedPay) coverage
- If you have auto insurance with MedPay, it may help pay medical bills even though you were a pedestrian.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage
- If the driver has no insurance, not enough insurance, or flees the scene, your UM/UIM coverage may help cover your injuries.
Sorting this out can be overwhelming, especially when you’re hurt. A lawyer can review your policies, identify all potential sources of coverage, and help coordinate payment so you’re not left juggling calls and paperwork.
Step 5: Dealing With the Insurance Company
After a Riverside pedestrian accident, you may hear from:
- The at-fault driver’s insurance company
- Your own auto insurance (if you have one)
- Your health insurer
Keep these tips in mind:
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company before talking to an attorney.
- Do not minimize your injuries or say you’re “fine” if you’re not.
- Do not accept a quick settlement before you understand your injuries and future treatment needs.
Insurance adjusters are trained to protect their company’s bottom line. They may:
- Suggest you were partly or mostly at fault
- Tell you your injuries are “minor”
- Offer a low settlement if you sign a release quickly
Once you sign a release, you usually can’t go back for more money—even if you later discover your injuries are worse than you thought.
Step 6: How the Law Offices of Gary K. Walch, A Law Corporation Can Help
After a pedestrian accident, your priority should be healing—not arguing with insurance adjusters or worrying about forms and deadlines.
Walch Law can:
- Investigate how the crash happened
- Obtain police reports, traffic camera footage (if available), and witness statements
- Collect and organize your medical records and bills
- Calculate your past and future damages, including medical treatment, lost wages, and pain and suffering
- Deal directly with the insurance companies on your behalf
- Negotiate for a fair settlement—or file a lawsuit if necessary
The Law Offices of Gary K. Walch, A Law Corporation represents pedestrians in Riverside and across Southern California, including those hit in marked crosswalks, unmarked crosswalks at intersections, and other dangerous spots.
Step 7: Deadlines for Pedestrian Accident Claims in California
California law sets strict time limits for filing personal injury and wrongful death claims. In many cases, you have a limited number of years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit, but there are important exceptions, including:
- Claims involving government vehicles or dangerous road conditions
- These may require a formal claim to be filed within a much shorter time frame.
- Claims involving minors or special circumstances
- Different rules may apply.
Waiting too long can make it harder to gather evidence—and in some cases, it can bar your claim entirely. Talking with a lawyer relatively soon after your Riverside pedestrian accident can help you understand which deadlines apply to you.
You Don’t Have to Go Through This Alone
Being hit by a car while walking is not just physically painful—it’s emotionally overwhelming. You may be worried about how to pay for treatment, how long you’ll be out of work, and whether the driver will ever be held accountable.
You don’t have to figure all of this out by yourself.
If you were hit while crossing the street in Riverside or anywhere in Southern California, the Law Offices of Gary K. Walch, A Law Corporation can review your case, explain your options, and help you decide on next steps. Walch Law offers free consultations and typically works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay attorney’s fees unless there is a financial recovery for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I still have a case if I was hit outside a marked crosswalk?
A: Possibly, yes. California law protects pedestrians in both marked and unmarked crosswalks at intersections, and drivers still have a duty to use reasonable care. Even if the insurance company claims you were “jaywalking,” you may still recover compensation depending on the facts. A lawyer can analyze where and how the crash occurred.
Q: What if I was looking at my phone when I was hit?
A: Using your phone doesn’t automatically kill your claim. It might become part of the insurance company’s argument, but California’s comparative negligence system may still allow you to recover compensation, even if you’re found partially at fault. The key is to understand how the law applies to your specific situation.
Q: How long should I wait before calling a lawyer after a pedestrian accident?
A: It’s usually best to call once your immediate medical emergency is under control. The sooner a lawyer gets involved, the easier it is to preserve evidence, meet deadlines, and deal with insurance companies. Waiting too long can make things more complicated.
Q: Will I have to go to court if I hire a lawyer?
A: Not necessarily. Many pedestrian accident cases settle without a trial. However, if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, filing a lawsuit may be the best way to protect your rights. The Law Offices of Gary K. Walch, A Law Corporation can advise you on whether settlement or litigation makes sense in your case.
Q: How much does it cost to hire the Law Offices of Gary K. Walch, A Law Corporation?
A: Walch Law typically works on a contingency fee basis for pedestrian accident cases. That means you do not pay attorney’s fees up front, and you only owe attorney’s fees if the firm recovers money for you through a settlement or verdict.