East Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Pedestrian accident lawyers who pursue full recovery for injured clients and their families.

If you were struck by a vehicle while walking in East Los Angeles, your injuries may be serious. Pedestrians have no protection in a collision with a car, truck, or SUV, and the resulting fractures, head trauma, and internal injuries often require surgery, extended hospitalization, and months of rehabilitation.

Our founding attorney has represented injury victims since 1991, including pedestrians struck by negligent drivers across Los Angeles County. If you need an East Los Angeles, CA pedestrian accident lawyer, Cohen Injury Law Group handles these cases on contingency with no upfront fees. Contact us to discuss what happened.

Pedestrian Accident Lawyer East Los Angeles, CA

A pedestrian accident lawyer represents people who are injured when a motor vehicle strikes them while they are walking, jogging, or crossing the street. These cases require proving that the driver’s negligence caused the collision, documenting the full extent of the victim’s injuries, and pursuing compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurer.

East Los Angeles has some of the highest pedestrian traffic volumes in Los Angeles County. Busy corridors like Atlantic Boulevard, Whittier Boulevard, and Cesar Chavez Avenue see constant foot traffic alongside fast-moving vehicles. A pedestrian accident attorney in East Los Angeles understands which intersections and stretches of road produce the most collisions, what evidence local authorities collect, and how to hold negligent drivers accountable under California law.

Types of Pedestrian Accident Cases We Handle in East Los Angeles

Pedestrian crashes follow recognizable patterns. In almost every case, the driver had an opportunity to stop, slow down, or yield and failed to take it. We handle pedestrian accident cases throughout East Los Angeles involving all of the following.

• Crosswalk accidents. Drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks cause a large share of pedestrian injuries in East Los Angeles. California law gives pedestrians the right of way in crosswalks, and a driver who strikes someone in one is almost always at fault.
• Intersection collisions. Drivers turning left or right at intersections frequently fail to check for pedestrians before completing the turn. These crashes tend to happen when the driver is focused on oncoming traffic and does not look toward the crosswalk.
• Parking lot accidents. Distracted drivers backing out of spaces or cutting through rows without watching for foot traffic regularly strike pedestrians in commercial parking lots. Poor lighting and absent signage make these locations especially hazardous after dark.
• Hit-and-run crashes. A driver strikes a pedestrian and leaves the scene. Even when the driver is never identified, the victim may still recover compensation through uninsured motorist coverage or other available sources.
• Distracted driving accidents. Texting, phone use, and GPS distraction account for a growing share of pedestrian crashes. Cell phone records and other digital evidence can help prove the driver was not paying attention at the moment of impact.
• DUI-related pedestrian crashes. Impaired drivers have slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and reduced awareness of their surroundings. Pedestrian crashes caused by drunk or drugged drivers frequently support claims for heightened damages beyond standard compensation.
• Truck accidents. Pedestrians hit by delivery vans, box trucks, or tractor-trailers suffer catastrophic injuries due to the size of the vehicle. These truck accident claims often involve the driver, the trucking company, and the company’s commercial insurer.
• Rideshare accidents. Uber and Lyft drivers stopping abruptly, pulling to curbs without checking, or making illegal maneuvers to reach pickup locations put pedestrians at risk. Rideshare crashes add insurance complications that standard claims do not involve.

Why Choose Cohen Injury Law Group as My Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in East Los Angeles, CA?

Attorneys Who Prepare Every Case for Trial

Managing Partner Nicholas E. Cohen graduated from USC and Loyola Law School and brings an operations-focused approach to managing the firm’s caseload. He works closely with founding partner Wayne R. Cohen, who has practiced personal injury law since 1991. Wayne earned his degree from the University of Michigan and his J.D. cum laude from Miami Law School. He lectures at GW Law School and has been quoted in the LA Times, CNBC, Fortune, USA Today, and the ABA Journal on topics related to injury law and driver accountability.

Wayne Cohen has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients, including pedestrians struck by negligent and reckless drivers. As your personal injury lawyer in East Los Angeles, CA, Cohen Injury Law Group takes pedestrian accident cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

What Is Important to Understand About a Pedestrian Accident Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Pedestrian Accident Cases

Pedestrians struck by vehicles tend to suffer injuries that are far more severe than what the driver sustains. The damages in these cases reflect that reality.

Economic damages include emergency transport, hospital stays, surgeries, follow-up appointments, physical therapy, prescription medications, assistive devices, and any future medical care the injury requires. Lost wages for time away from work and reduced earning capacity are also recoverable. Out-of-pocket costs tied to the crash, from medical copays to transportation for appointments, count as well.

Non-economic damages compensate for pain and suffering, emotional distress, anxiety, scarring, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent disability. Pedestrians who sustain brain injuries from striking pavement often face cognitive deficits and lifetime care needs that dramatically increase the value of the claim. When a pedestrian is killed, the family may file a wrongful death lawsuit for lost income, funeral costs, and loss of companionship.

Liability requires proving the driver was negligent under California’s comparative fault standard, established by Civil Code Section 1714. If the pedestrian is assigned a share of responsibility, the recovery is reduced proportionally but not eliminated entirely.

What Are Important Aspects of a Pedestrian Accident Case?

Pedestrian claims raise issues that set them apart from other motor vehicle cases. Understanding them early helps avoid problems that can weaken a claim.

• Comparative fault arguments. Adjusters routinely argue the pedestrian was jaywalking, wearing dark clothing, looking at a phone, or otherwise contributing to the crash. California’s pedestrian accident laws still allow recovery even when fault is shared, but the percentage assigned to the pedestrian reduces the payout.
• Surveillance and traffic camera footage. Intersections and commercial properties in East Los Angeles often have cameras that capture the moments before and during a collision. This footage is among the strongest evidence available, but it can be overwritten within days if it is not preserved quickly.
• Uninsured and underinsured drivers. Not every driver carries adequate insurance. When the at-fault driver’s policy limits are too low to cover your losses, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may fill the gap.
• Multiple liable parties. Some pedestrian crashes involve more than one defendant. A driver and a property owner whose overgrown landscaping blocked the sightline at an intersection may both be liable. A rideshare company and its driver may share responsibility for a crash near a pickup zone.
• Delayed symptoms. Adrenaline masks pain at the scene. Internal injuries and concussion symptoms often do not become apparent until hours or days later. Seeking medical attention immediately, even when you feel fine, protects both your health and your claim.

What Is the Pedestrian Accident Case Timeline?

Each pedestrian accident case follows its own path, but most move through a general sequence. How long the process takes depends on the severity of injuries, the number of parties involved, and whether the case resolves through settlement or trial.

• Medical treatment. Your health comes first. Reach maximum medical improvement before settling so the full scope of your injuries is reflected in the claim.
• Investigation. Your attorney obtains the police report, gathers surveillance footage, interviews witnesses, and documents the scene. In East Los Angeles, physical evidence at busy intersections can disappear within days.
• Demand. Once treatment is complete and damages are calculated, a formal demand is sent to the at-fault driver’s insurer.
• Negotiation. The insurer responds, and settlement discussions follow. Many East Los Angeles pedestrian accident cases resolve during this phase without the need for litigation.
• Trial. If the insurer refuses to pay what the case is worth, a lawsuit is filed. Discovery, depositions, and pretrial preparation follow. Trial in Los Angeles County may take 12 to 18 months or more after filing.

What Should You Bring to Your Pedestrian Accident Consultation?

Gather as much of the following as you can before the first meeting:

• The police report or case number from the responding agency
• Photos of the accident scene, your injuries, and the vehicle involved
• Medical records and bills from all treatment tied to the crash
• Contact information for any witnesses
• Your own insurance policy, including health coverage and any auto policy with uninsured motorist protection

If you are missing some of these items, that is not a reason to delay. We routinely help clients obtain police reports, medical records, and insurance documentation after the initial meeting. What matters most at this stage is getting the facts in front of an attorney who can tell you whether you have a case worth pursuing.

What Are Important California Legal Resources for Pedestrian Accident Cases?

California law provides protections for pedestrians and establishes the framework for recovering compensation after a crash. The following resources offer a starting point.

• California’s negligence standard under Civil Code Section 1714 establishes the duty of care that every driver owes to pedestrians sharing the road.
• If you do not file your lawsuit within two years of the accident, you lose the right to pursue compensation entirely. Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1 controls that deadline.
• Damages in California personal injury cases are governed by Civil Code Section 3333, which provides that an injured person may recover for all harm proximately caused by the wrongful conduct.
• The California Courts website is a useful starting point for understanding how civil cases move through the Los Angeles County Superior Court system.
• NHTSA pedestrian safety data tracks pedestrian fatalities and injuries at the national level.

For guidance that applies to your specific East LA pedestrian accident case, consulting with an attorney is the most effective way to understand your options.

Reach Out to Cohen Injury Law Group to Schedule a Consultation

If a negligent driver struck you while you were walking in East Los Angeles, CA, you have the right to pursue full compensation for your injuries. Cohen Injury Law Group handles these claims on contingency with no upfront cost. Contact us to schedule a meeting with our attorneys.