Reviewed by Adrianos Facchetti, Esq. California State Bar No. 243213 This page was reviewed for California personal injury accuracy, legal clarity, and general informational value for injured pedestrians in Long Beach and surrounding Los Angeles County areas. Attorney license status can be verified through the California State Bar attorney search. Last reviewed: 2026
Being struck by a vehicle while walking changes everything quickly. Medical bills start accumulating before anyone has answered the most basic questions: who was at fault, which insurance policy applies, and whether you have a claim worth pursuing. For pedestrians in Long Beach, those questions can be complicated by a busy port-adjacent road network, a high volume of commercial traffic, and in some cases a government entity that may have contributed to what happened.
The Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti represents injured pedestrians throughout Los Angeles County, including Long Beach. The firm handles the insurance disputes, evidence investigation, and legal filings so clients can focus on recovery. If you or a family member was hit by a vehicle while walking in Long Beach, a consultation is available to review the facts and explain your options.
For broader injury claims in the area, the Long Beach personal injury lawyer page explains how the firm approaches different case types.
Call any time. Free consultation. No fee unless compensation is recovered.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Long Beach
The actions taken in the hours immediately after a collision can significantly affect the outcome of a claim. Here is a practical sequence to follow when it is safe to do so.
- Move out of traffic if you can. Only attempt this if movement will not worsen an injury.
- Call 911 immediately. Request both police and medical assistance.
- Get a Long Beach Police Department report. Ask the responding officers for a report number. The Long Beach Police Department handles traffic collision reports for incidents within city limits. A copy can be obtained later through the LBPD Records Division.
- Accept medical evaluation at the scene. Do not assume an absence of visible injury means no injury occurred.
- Photograph everything you can. Vehicle positions, license plates, crosswalk markings, traffic signals, skid marks, road conditions, and your immediate surroundings.
- Document the signal or crosswalk condition. Note whether the pedestrian signal was functioning, whether crosswalk lines were visible, and what the traffic signal showed at the time of the collision.
- Collect witness information. Names, phone numbers, and if possible, brief written or recorded observations from anyone who saw what happened.
- Look for surveillance cameras. Businesses, parking structures, transit facilities, and traffic cameras may have captured the collision. Note their locations.
- Preserve clothing and personal items. Do not wash clothing worn at the time of the crash. Physical items can be relevant evidence.
- Seek follow-up medical care within 24 hours. Some injuries do not produce full symptoms immediately. A physician evaluation creates a contemporaneous record.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. You are not legally required to do so before consulting an attorney. Early statements can be used to reduce a claim’s value.
- Notify your own insurer if required by your policy. Most policies require prompt notice of a collision even if another party was at fault.
- Contact a lawyer if a government vehicle, city bus, or road defect may have contributed. Government claims have shorter deadlines that begin running from the date of the collision.
Where Pedestrian Collisions Happen in Long Beach
Long Beach is a dense, diverse city with a road network that serves commuters, port workers, transit riders, tourists, and residents of dozens of distinct neighborhoods. Pedestrian collisions are not randomly distributed across the city. They tend to cluster in areas where vehicle speed, pedestrian volume, and traffic complexity intersect.
Downtown Long Beach and the Waterfront Corridor: The streets around Pine Avenue, Ocean Boulevard, and the Pike shopping area carry a mix of local traffic, event visitors, and transit passengers. Turning conflicts at signalized intersections, rideshare pickups, and delivery vehicles parking near crosswalks can create pedestrian hazards. The proximity to the Long Beach Convention Center and the waterfront increases foot traffic significantly during events.
Pacific Coast Highway: PCH runs along the coast and through multiple commercial zones in Long Beach. The road carries high vehicle speeds and involves significant turning traffic at commercial driveways and cross-streets. Crossings in the Belmont Shore and Bluff Park areas, where pedestrian activity from residents and beachgoers is high, deserve careful attention when investigating a collision.
Long Beach Boulevard: Long Beach Boulevard runs north to south through much of the city and passes through commercial corridors, residential zones, and areas near transit stations. Metro A Line light rail stations along this corridor generate consistent pedestrian activity at bus stops and transit access points, where pedestrians cross surface streets after alighting.
Atlantic Avenue and Anaheim Street: Atlantic Avenue and Anaheim Street are busy east-west and north-south arterials that serve large portions of the city. Commercial driveways, freight activity in surrounding industrial areas, and bus routes create multiple points where pedestrian and vehicle paths intersect.
Areas Near California State University, Long Beach: The area around CSULB, particularly near Bellflower Boulevard and the surrounding neighborhoods, carries significant pedestrian activity from students traveling to and from campus. Cyclists, rideshare drivers, and student foot traffic create a complex road environment.
Port-Adjacent Corridors: Commercial truck traffic serving the Port of Long Beach uses surface streets, including the 710 corridor, Terminal Island Freeway, and surrounding industrial roads. These routes are not typically high-pedestrian areas, but workers on foot near port facilities and the surrounding streets face exposure to large commercial vehicles that have significant stopping distances and blind zones.
School Zones and Residential Crossings: Long Beach Unified School District operates numerous schools throughout the city. Crossings near school zones during arrival and dismissal carry elevated pedestrian exposure, particularly for younger students.
The Long Beach Department of Public Works and the City of Long Beach have ongoing pedestrian safety programs under Vision Zero and Safe Streets initiatives. Information about Long Beach’s traffic safety efforts is available at longbeach.gov.
Long Beach Pedestrian Safety: What the Data Shows
Pedestrian safety in Long Beach, as throughout California, involves a challenging pattern of serious injuries and fatalities that state and local agencies have been working to address through Vision Zero planning and infrastructure investment.
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) publishes annual city-level traffic safety data through its Rankings Report. Long Beach has historically ranked among California cities with elevated pedestrian collision rates relative to its population, though rankings shift year to year. The most current city-specific data is available through the California Office of Traffic Safety at ots.ca.gov.
The California Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), maintained by the California Highway Patrol, is the primary source of collision data by geography, road type, and injury severity in California. SWITRS data for Long Beach can be examined through the CHP SWITRS portal.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) publishes pedestrian fatality data by state annually. California consistently ranks among the states with the highest number of pedestrian fatalities nationally, a pattern that has persisted despite safety investments. More information is available at nhtsa.gov.
Note on statistics: This page does not include specific fatality or injury counts for Long Beach because pedestrian collision statistics change year to year, and presenting outdated numbers without clear sourcing can mislead readers. The sources above are the appropriate places to find current, verified figures.
California Pedestrian Right-of-Way Laws Explained
California law creates specific obligations for both drivers and pedestrians at crosswalks and intersections. Understanding these obligations matters when a collision occurs, because both parties may share some responsibility.
California Vehicle Code § 21950 is the primary right-of-way statute for pedestrians at crosswalks. It requires drivers approaching a crosswalk, whether marked or unmarked, to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian who is in the crosswalk or close enough to be in danger. Importantly, the same statute requires pedestrians not to suddenly move into the path of a vehicle that is so close that the driver cannot safely stop. The law also specifically requires drivers who have passed another stopped vehicle at a crosswalk to stop before proceeding to account for pedestrians who may be crossing and were not visible from a distance.
This means drivers do not simply yield at marked crosswalks and ignore pedestrians elsewhere. The duty to exercise due care for pedestrian safety exists throughout the road, not only at painted crossing zones.
Unmarked crosswalks exist by operation of California law at most intersections of public streets, even without painted lines. A driver who claims they did not need to yield because there was no marked crosswalk may be legally incorrect if the collision occurred at an intersection.
Turning vehicles carry a specific obligation under California law. A driver turning right or left through a crosswalk is required to yield to pedestrians lawfully in the crosswalk, even when the driver has a green light. A significant number of pedestrian collisions in Long Beach, as elsewhere in California, involve vehicles turning at signalized intersections.
The full text of California Vehicle Code § 21950 is available through the California Legislature at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
Can You Still Recover Compensation If You Were Outside a Crosswalk?
Many pedestrians who were hit outside a marked crosswalk assume they have no claim. That is not accurate under California law, though it does affect how the claim is evaluated.
California’s jaywalking enforcement rules changed in 2023. Assembly Bill 2147, the Freedom to Walk Act, amended California Vehicle Code § 21955 to prohibit police from citing a pedestrian for crossing outside a crosswalk unless the crossing creates an immediate danger of collision with a moving vehicle. This change reflects that pedestrians crossing mid-block without creating immediate danger are not engaged in conduct that justifies a citation.
California Vehicle Code § 21954 still requires pedestrians crossing outside a crosswalk to yield to vehicles in the roadway, and it preserves the driver’s duty to exercise due care for pedestrian safety even in those circumstances.
California follows pure comparative negligence. Under this system, a pedestrian who was partially at fault for a collision can still recover compensation. The recovery is reduced by the pedestrian’s percentage of fault. A pedestrian found to be 30% responsible for a collision may still recover 70% of their total damages from the driver or other responsible parties.
California Civil Jury Instructions (CACI) No. 405 describes how comparative fault is evaluated in California personal injury cases. The analysis focuses on what a reasonably careful person would have done in the same situation, applied separately to each party.
Whether a pedestrian’s location outside a crosswalk meaningfully affects fault depends on the specific facts: how much warning the driver had, the driver’s speed, the road visibility, and what the pedestrian actually did. An insurance company that tells you crossing outside a crosswalk ends your claim is not accurately describing California law. That determination requires analysis of the full evidentiary record.
Who May Be Responsible for Your Injuries?
In many pedestrian accidents, the legal responsibility is not limited to the driver who struck you. California allows fault to be allocated among multiple parties, each of whom may carry insurance coverage that contributes to your recovery.
The driver of the vehicle is typically the primary defendant. Driver negligence may include failing to yield, speeding, distracted driving, driving under the influence, running a red light, or making an unsafe turn.
The vehicle’s owner, if different from the driver, may share liability in some circumstances under California’s vehicle-owner liability rules.
An employer, if the driver was performing a work-related task at the time of the collision. An employee driving for a delivery, a work errand, or a commercial route during business hours typically creates employer liability under the respondeat superior doctrine.
Rideshare companies. An Uber or Lyft driver who struck a pedestrian while the app was active may trigger the company’s commercial insurance policy, which may carry higher limits than a personal auto policy.
Commercial trucking companies. Drivers serving the Port of Long Beach or traveling surface streets in commercial vehicles may operate under contracts with separate fleet operators. Trucking companies may face independent liability for driver training, vehicle maintenance, or hours of service.
The City of Long Beach or Caltrans, in cases where a traffic signal malfunction, missing or damaged signage, dangerous road design, or inadequate lighting contributed to the collision. Government entity claims require different procedures and shorter deadlines.
Long Beach Transit or other bus operators, if a public bus was involved. Transit agency claims also involve government claim procedures.
A vehicle manufacturer, in limited cases where a defective vehicle system contributed to the driver’s failure to stop or control the vehicle.
Identifying all potentially responsible parties is one of the first tasks in a pedestrian injury case, because each party may have separate insurance coverage and separate liability exposure.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Long Beach
Pedestrian accidents in Long Beach reflect patterns seen throughout Southern California, shaped by the city’s specific road environment.
Failure to yield at crosswalks. Drivers who do not look before entering a crosswalk, or who yield to one vehicle lane but not another, are a leading cause of pedestrian strikes. Intersections with dual-turn lanes create particular risk because a driver in the inner turn lane may not see a pedestrian already in the crosswalk from the outer lane.
Turning vehicle conflicts. Right and left turns at signalized intersections account for a significant share of pedestrian collisions. Drivers focus on gap acceptance in traffic rather than on pedestrians beginning to cross with the signal.
Speeding. Vehicle speed determines how much stopping distance a driver has after perceiving a pedestrian. At 40 miles per hour, stopping distance is substantially longer than at 25 miles per hour, and the severity of injuries increases dramatically with impact speed.
Distracted driving. Drivers using phones, navigation systems, or other in-vehicle devices have reduced reaction time. Near pedestrian-dense areas like the Long Beach Transit terminal, Downtown Long Beach, and CSULB, distraction is a frequent contributing factor.
Impaired driving. Alcohol and drug impairment remain persistent factors in pedestrian fatalities nationally and in California. Nighttime collisions in entertainment areas near Pine Avenue or the East Village Arts District may involve impaired drivers.
Rideshare pickup and drop-off conflicts. Rideshare vehicles stopping in travel lanes, crosswalks, or bus zones to pick up and drop off passengers create unexpected stopping behavior that can force pedestrians into traffic.
Port and commercial truck activity. Commercial vehicles near the Port of Long Beach and surrounding industrial areas have large blind zones and long stopping distances. Collisions involving commercial vehicles tend to produce more severe pedestrian injuries.
Backing vehicles. Vehicles reversing from driveways, parking spaces, or loading areas present a hazard for pedestrians passing behind them, particularly in commercial areas with frequent parking lot activity.
Traffic signal and road condition failures. A malfunctioning pedestrian signal, a missing crosswalk sign, or a poorly lit crossing can create dangerous conditions independent of driver or pedestrian behavior.
Evidence That Can Support a Pedestrian Injury Claim
Evidence in pedestrian accident cases deteriorates quickly. Surveillance systems overwrite footage. Witnesses become harder to locate. Road conditions get repaired. Taking steps to preserve evidence in the hours and days after a collision significantly strengthens a claim.
Long Beach Police Department collision report. The LBPD traffic collision report documents the responding officer’s observations, the parties’ preliminary statements, witness information, and sometimes a diagram of the scene. This report is foundational to the claim. It can be requested through the Long Beach Police Department Records Division.
Surveillance footage. Businesses along Long Beach’s commercial corridors, parking structures, transit facilities, ATMs, and residential security systems all capture video that may include the collision or the moments before it. Most systems overwrite within 24 to 72 hours. A formal preservation letter should be sent to potentially relevant businesses as soon as possible.
Traffic camera footage. The City of Long Beach and Caltrans operate traffic management cameras at various intersections. This footage may be retained for limited periods. Requesting it quickly through the appropriate agency matters.
Dashcam footage. Other vehicles near the scene may have dashcam footage of the collision or the approach. Witness drivers should be asked if they have recording devices.
Cell phone records. If distracted driving is suspected, records of phone usage at the time of the collision may be obtainable through the litigation process.
Vehicle event data recorders. Modern vehicles store pre-crash speed, braking, and steering data. This information may require a formal legal process to preserve and obtain.
Medical records from initial treatment. Emergency room and urgent care records create a contemporaneous record of injuries. These are essential for connecting the collision to the harm suffered.
Photographs of the scene. Photos taken at the scene of the road, the crosswalk, visible injuries, and vehicle damage help reconstruct what the conditions were at the time of the collision.
Expert analysis. In complex cases, accident reconstruction experts and traffic engineering professionals may be retained to analyze collision dynamics, driver sight distance, and road design.
Injuries Commonly Seen After Pedestrian Collisions
A pedestrian struck by a vehicle has no structural protection. Even relatively low-speed impacts can produce injuries that require extended treatment and have lasting effects.
Fractures. Leg, pelvis, hip, arm, and wrist fractures are common. Hip fractures in older pedestrians can have serious long-term consequences for mobility and independence.
Head and brain injuries. Traumatic brain injuries can result from direct impact with the vehicle, the road surface, or both. Symptoms may not be fully apparent in the immediate aftermath. A same-day neurological evaluation is advisable when a head impact occurs.
Spinal injuries. Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine injuries can produce immediate symptoms or develop over the days following the collision. Disc injuries, nerve compression, and in severe cases, spinal cord damage may require surgery and long-term management.
Internal injuries. Blunt force to the torso can cause internal bleeding, organ injury, and soft-tissue damage that is not visible externally but can be life-threatening.
Road rash and skin injuries. Sliding contact with pavement produces abrasion injuries that may involve infection risk and scarring.
Psychological effects. Post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression are recognized consequences of serious pedestrian accidents. These effects can impair daily functioning and may require professional treatment.
Fatal injuries. When a pedestrian collision is fatal, surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim under California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60. This is a separate legal action with its own elements and parties, and it is briefly discussed in the FAQs below.
Some symptoms do not appear immediately after the collision. This is one reason why a medical evaluation within 24 hours is advisable even when the injury initially seems manageable.
Compensation That May Be Available
California law allows injured pedestrians to seek compensation for losses caused by another party’s negligence. The specific damages available depend on the facts of the collision and the severity of the injury.
Economic damages cover quantifiable financial losses, including emergency room treatment, hospitalization, surgery, imaging and diagnostics, specialist care, physical therapy, prescription medication, future medical treatment, lost wages during recovery, and reduced earning capacity if the injury affects the ability to work long-term.
Non-economic damages cover losses that do not have a fixed dollar value, including physical pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of activities, disfigurement, and the ongoing impact of a permanent injury on daily life.
Property damage covering personal items damaged or destroyed in the collision, such as a phone, bicycle, or mobility device.
Wrongful death damages where a pedestrian collision was fatal. Surviving spouses, children, and in some cases other family members may pursue compensation for economic support loss, loss of companionship, and related harms.
The value of a pedestrian injury claim is determined by the specific injuries, the available evidence, the responsible parties’ insurance coverage, and the comparative fault allocation. This page does not suggest specific settlement amounts because no two cases are alike and no outcome is guaranteed.
Who Pays Medical Bills Before the Case Resolves?
A pedestrian injury case typically takes months and sometimes longer to resolve. Medical bills arrive on a much faster schedule. Understanding the options for covering treatment costs during this period can reduce financial pressure on the injured person.
Health insurance. If you have health insurance, it typically covers treatment costs subject to your deductible and copay obligations. The insurer may assert a lien, meaning they expect to be repaid from any settlement or judgment.
Medical payments coverage (Med-Pay). Some auto insurance policies include MedPay coverage that reimburses medical costs for an insured person who was injured in a vehicle collision regardless of fault. As a pedestrian, your own auto insurance Med-Pay may apply if you have this coverage.
Uninsured motorist coverage. If the driver who hit you had no insurance or fled the scene, your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage may provide compensation. California requires insurers to offer UM coverage, though policyholders may waive it in writing. Whether this coverage applies depends on your specific policy.
Medical lien arrangements. Some medical providers in California treat injury patients on a lien basis, meaning they provide treatment and defer payment until the case is resolved. These arrangements may allow necessary treatment to proceed when other coverage is unavailable.
Responsible-party reimbursement. If the at-fault driver’s liability insurance accepts the claim, it may ultimately reimburse medical costs as part of the settlement.
Coverage depends entirely on the policy terms and the specific facts. A lawyer reviewing your case can identify which sources of coverage may apply.
Claims Involving the City of Long Beach, Public Transit, or Dangerous Road Conditions
Some pedestrian accidents involve a government entity as a potentially responsible party. These cases follow different legal procedures and carry shorter deadlines that can extinguish a claim entirely if missed.
Government tort claims in California are governed by the California Government Claims Act. Before filing a lawsuit against a public entity, a claimant must generally present a formal tort claim to the responsible agency. For personal injury claims, this claim must typically be filed within six months of the date of the injury. This deadline applies to claims against the City of Long Beach, Long Beach Transit, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Caltrans, and other public agencies. Missing this window ordinarily bars any subsequent lawsuit, regardless of how strong the underlying facts are.
For context, the general personal injury statute of limitations for claims against private defendants is two years under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. The government claim deadline is substantially shorter and runs from the injury date, not from the date the injured person learns of potential government liability.
Claims against the City of Long Beach may arise when a traffic signal malfunction, a damaged or missing crosswalk sign, a dangerous road design, inadequate lighting at a pedestrian crossing, or the condition of city-owned property contributed to the collision. A city vehicle or public employee driver may also be involved.
Long Beach Transit operates bus service throughout the city. A pedestrian struck by a Long Beach Transit bus, or injured because a bus created a hazardous situation, may have a claim against Long Beach Transit as a public agency.
A government entity is not automatically responsible because an accident occurred on a public street. The claim requires showing that the public property was in a dangerous condition, that the condition created a foreseeable risk of the type of harm that occurred, and that the agency had actual or constructive notice of the condition in time to take corrective action.
If you believe a government entity may share responsibility, contact a lawyer before the six-month deadline passes. The investigation required to identify and document government liability takes time that may not be available if contact is delayed.
How Long Do You Have to File a Pedestrian Injury Claim?
Two years is the general personal injury statute of limitations in California under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. This means a lawsuit against a private defendant must be filed within two years of the date of the collision.
Six months is the applicable deadline to present a government tort claim if a public entity is involved. This is not the deadline to file a lawsuit. It is the deadline to present a preliminary claim to the government agency. Presenting this claim is a legal prerequisite to filing a lawsuit. Missing it typically bars the lawsuit entirely.
Exceptions exist in limited circumstances. The statute of limitations may be tolled, meaning paused, for minors until they reach age 18, and under certain other conditions. These exceptions are fact-specific and not universally available.
Why waiting until close to a deadline creates problems: Evidence degrades over time. Witnesses become unavailable. Surveillance footage is gone. Insurance companies become less cooperative. A claim filed close to the deadline provides far less time for investigation, expert analysis, and negotiation before trial becomes the only option.
Verified citations to the relevant California statutes:
- California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
- California Government Code § 911.2 (six-month government claim deadline): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
How the Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti Handles These Cases
The Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti represents injured people throughout Los Angeles County on a contingency fee basis, meaning the firm collects a legal fee only if compensation is recovered. There is no upfront cost to begin the case.
After an initial consultation, the firm typically undertakes the following:
Evidence investigation. This includes requesting the police report, identifying and contacting witnesses, sending preservation letters to businesses and agencies that may have surveillance footage, and documenting the physical accident scene while conditions remain relevant.
Insurance policy investigation. The firm identifies all potentially applicable insurance policies, including the at-fault driver’s liability coverage, the client’s uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, any Med-Pay coverage, and any applicable commercial or employer policies.
Medical record review. Understanding the full scope of the injury requires review of emergency records, treating physician notes, specialist evaluations, and any imaging studies. For serious injuries, a life care planner or economist may be consulted to project future costs.
Identifying all responsible parties. A single collision may involve multiple defendants: a driver, an employer, a rideshare company, a government agency, or a vehicle manufacturer. Identifying each party and their applicable insurance is essential to maximizing the recovery available.
Demand preparation and negotiation. After the client has reached a point of medical stability or a reasonable treatment plateau, the firm prepares a detailed demand to the responsible insurers and negotiates toward resolution.
Litigation when appropriate. When a fair resolution is not achievable through negotiation, the firm files suit in the Los Angeles County Superior Court and prepares the case for trial.
The firm serves Long Beach clients without maintaining a Long Beach office. Consultations can be arranged by phone, by video, or at the firm’s Burbank location.
Why Long Beach Location Knowledge Matters in These Claims
Pedestrian accident claims are not purely legal exercises. They depend on local evidence, local agencies, and local understanding.
Police reports come from LBPD. The Long Beach Police Department handles collision reports within the city. Knowing the correct division to contact, the process for obtaining reports, and the typical response time matters for efficient case management.
Surveillance footage sources vary by neighborhood. A collision near the Pike waterfront entertainment area involves different likely camera sources than one on a residential cross-street near the 405 freeway. Knowing which businesses, transit facilities, and city cameras cover specific corridors helps identify evidence before it disappears.
Government claim recipients differ by road type. A collision on Pacific Coast Highway may involve Caltrans if the road is state-maintained. A collision on city streets involves the City of Long Beach. Some streets near the port involve other jurisdictions. Sending a government claim to the wrong entity within the six-month window can be as damaging as missing the deadline entirely.
The court venue is the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Specifically, Long Beach pedestrian accident lawsuits would typically be filed in the Long Beach courthouse, which is a branch of the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Understanding the local court’s filing requirements and procedures matters for litigation preparation.
Medical facility documentation sources. Long Beach has significant medical infrastructure, including Long Beach Medical Center and PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital in the surrounding area. Knowing how to obtain records efficiently from local treating facilities is a practical advantage.
The firm’s experience handling pedestrian and personal injury cases throughout Los Angeles County means the necessary agency contacts, filing procedures, and local knowledge are in place. This is not unique to Long Beach. It applies to the full LA County service area.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I recover compensation if I was crossing outside a marked crosswalk?
Possibly, depending on the facts. California follows pure comparative negligence under California Civil Jury Instructions (CACI) No. 405. Being outside a crosswalk may reduce your recovery if it contributed to the collision, but it does not automatically eliminate it. California Vehicle Code § 21954 still requires drivers to exercise due care for pedestrians even outside crosswalks. Whether and to what degree crossing location affects the claim depends on the specific circumstances.
2. What happens if the driver left the scene?
A hit-and-run collision creates several immediate priorities. Call 911 and obtain a police report, which documents the incident formally. Note everything you observed about the departing vehicle including color, make, direction of travel, and any partial plate. Identify any witnesses or nearby businesses with cameras. If the driver is not located, your own uninsured motorist coverage, if you have it, may provide compensation. Promptly notify your own insurer of the hit-and-run per your policy requirements.
3. Can a pedestrian be partly responsible for their own accident?
Yes. California’s comparative negligence system allows fault to be shared. A pedestrian who darted into traffic with no opportunity for the driver to react may bear significant responsibility. A pedestrian who crossed carefully at an intersection but was struck by a speeding driver may bear little or none. The actual facts of how and where the collision occurred determine the allocation.
4. Who pays my medical bills before the case settles?
Depending on your coverage, your health insurance, Med-Pay on your auto policy, or a medical lien arrangement with a provider may cover treatment costs during the case. The responsible driver’s liability insurance does not typically pay bills as they accrue during the case. It is addressed when the claim resolves. A lawyer can help identify available coverage at the start of the case.
5. An uninsured driver hit me. What are my options?
Your own uninsured motorist coverage, if you have it, may provide compensation. California requires insurers to offer UM coverage when issuing auto policies, but policyholders can waive it in writing. If you have UM coverage, you can make a claim through your own insurer for the other driver’s fault. Whether coverage applies, and what the limits are, requires reviewing your policy.
6. A Long Beach Transit bus or city vehicle hit me. What is different?
Claims against public entities require a government tort claim presentation within six months of the injury date under California Government Code § 911.2. This is a prerequisite to filing a lawsuit. Missing this deadline typically ends the claim against the public entity. Act promptly if a government vehicle may have been involved.
7. How quickly should I request surveillance footage?
Immediately. Most commercial surveillance systems overwrite footage within 24 to 72 hours. Some retain footage for up to 30 days, but there is no standard retention period. A lawyer can send a formal preservation letter requiring a business or agency to retain footage. If you cannot immediately contact a lawyer, go to the business directly and ask them to preserve and not overwrite footage from the time of the collision.
8. How long does a pedestrian accident claim typically take to resolve?
There is no fixed timeline. Cases with clear liability, defined injuries, and cooperative insurers may resolve in several months. Cases involving disputed liability, government entities, serious injuries requiring extended treatment, or litigation may take substantially longer. A key factor is waiting until the injured person reaches medical stability or a reasonable treatment endpoint before finalizing a demand, which ensures the full scope of the harm is accounted for.
9. Where is a Long Beach pedestrian accident lawsuit filed?
In the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Long Beach Courthouse, located at 415 West Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach, California. The Los Angeles County Superior Court website at lacourt.org provides case filing information.
10. How much is a Long Beach pedestrian accident claim worth?
There is no reliable general answer. Claim value depends on the severity and permanence of the injury, the available insurance coverage, the allocation of comparative fault, the quality of available evidence, and the specific facts of each case. A lawyer can evaluate these factors after reviewing the records. Any website that claims to give a case value estimate without reviewing the facts is not providing useful information.
Speak With a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Serving Long Beach
If you were struck by a vehicle while walking in Long Beach, a consultation with the Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti can help you understand which insurance policies may apply, what evidence needs to be preserved, and whether a government claim deadline is approaching.
The firm handles pedestrian accident cases throughout Los Angeles County, including Long Beach, on a contingency fee basis. There is no attorney fee unless compensation is recovered.
Call us to speak with someone about your situation. Consultations are available by phone, video, or at the Burbank office. Se habla español. Falamos português.
You can also reach the firm through the contact page.
This page provides general legal information and is not legal advice. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. California law can change. Consult a licensed California attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
