Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Los Angeles City Ordinances

Local codes add further rules. For example, Los Angeles Municipal Code § 80.37 requires pedestrians to cross at designated crosswalks or corners. The city also tracks high-risk intersections through its Vision Zero program, which reports that roughly half of traffic deaths in LA involve someone walking or biking.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Los Angeles

Despite safety campaigns and new technology, pedestrian accidents remain alarmingly common across Los Angeles. Heavy traffic, distracted driving, and gaps in infrastructure create conditions where serious injuries are almost inevitable. Some of the most frequent causes include:

• Distracted driving: Motorists using phones, navigation apps, or in-car entertainment often fail to see pedestrians until it’s too late.
• Speeding and reckless driving: Wide boulevards like Sepulveda and Ventura encourage higher speeds, reducing reaction time at crosswalks.
• Rideshare pressures: Uber and Lyft drivers rushing to pick up or drop off passengers frequently make unsafe turns or sudden stops, leading to pedestrian crashes.
• Self-driving technology failures: Autonomous vehicles, including Waymo test cars, may misinterpret road conditions or fail to detect people in crosswalks, creating the risk of a self-driving pedestrian accident.
• Impaired driving: Alcohol and drug use remain a factor in many of Los Angeles’ most devastating pedestrian fatalities.
• Aggressive or fatigued driving: Tired rideshare drivers or motorists weaving through traffic often strike people who had the legal right of way.

Not all accidents stem from driver behavior. A tourist pedestrian accident can occur when visitors unfamiliar with local traffic patterns step into busy intersections, or when poor road design forces people into unsafe areas. Still, drivers carry the responsibility to operate safely and avoid collisions whenever possible.

When a pedestrian is struck, determining the precise cause matters. The attorneys at MKP Law Group, LLP investigate every detail – from driver phone records to roadway design – to establish who should be held legally accountable.

Waymo and Self-Driving Car Pedestrian Accidents

Los Angeles is a testing ground for self-driving technology, with companies like Waymo expanding pilot programs across Southern California. These vehicles promise to reduce human error, but they also introduce new risks. A self-driving vehicle accident can happen in seconds, and the injuries are no less catastrophic than those caused by traditional vehicles.

Why Self-Driving Cars Create Pedestrian Risks

Even with advanced sensors and artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles struggle to recognize unpredictable human behavior. Children darting into the street, tourists crossing outside a crosswalk, or pedestrians stepping off curbs at night can confuse software systems. Unlike human drivers, AI cannot always anticipate or react to subtle cues in time.

Other risks include:

• Software errors: Flawed programming may misclassify objects or fail to detect pedestrians.
• Hardware failures: Malfunctioning cameras, LiDAR, or braking systems can prevent a vehicle from stopping in time.
• Operator inattention: Many self-driving cars still require human supervision. If an operator is distracted, they may not intervene quickly enough to avoid a crash.
• Unclear traffic scenarios: Construction zones, flashing signals, or temporary crosswalks can confuse automated systems.

Who Is Liable in a Self-Driving Vehicle and Pedestrian Accident?

Determining responsibility in these cases is far more complex than in a standard car crash. Liability may fall on:

• The vehicle manufacturer for defective components.
• The software developer, if programming errors led to the collision.
• The operator, if the person supervising the car failed to take control when necessary.
• The rideshare or delivery company deploying the fleet, if corporate negligence contributed to unsafe operations.

Pedestrian victims may face aggressive defense strategies from corporations with vast legal resources. That is why having representation from MKP Law Group, LLP is so important. Our attorneys stay on top of evolving laws governing autonomous vehicles and know how to hold manufacturers and operators accountable in court.

Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries

What happens when you get hit by a car is rarely minor. Unlike drivers, pedestrians have no protective barrier, which means even low-speed collisions can cause devastating harm. Many victims face months of recovery, permanent disability, or even life-threatening conditions.

Some of the most common injuries in Los Angeles pedestrian accident cases include:

• Traumatic brain injuries. Ranging from mild to severe, these brain injuries may have lifelong side effects including memory loss, headaches, blurred vision, and mental health challenges.
• Spinal cord injuries. These injuries may affect the neck, upper or lower back, pelvis area, and tailbone. Possible outcomes include paralysis and limited sensory functions or range of motion. You may require rehabilitation and possibly lifetime care costs.
• Broken and crushed bones. Fractures may present as clean breaks or compound fractures. There is a possibility of complications that include infections, nerve damage, and permanent limb stiffness. If the bones are crushed, there is an added risk of amputation due to tissue death.
• Road rash. Severity ranges from surface scrapes to possible nerve damage and muscle exposure. Chronic pain is a common side effect of nerve exposure.
• Serious disfigurement. Burns, amputations, or severe scarring can have long-lasting emotional, professional, and physical impacts on pedestrians.
• Soft tissue injuries. Another outcome of a pedestrian accident is the potential for whiplash, deep bruising, sprains, and tears. It is important to note that the delayed onset of pain may hide symptoms for several days.

Possible compensation for these injuries include ongoing medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term pain and suffering.

These injuries carry not only medical costs but also long-term consequences: lost income, reduced quality of life, and emotional suffering. Pursuing a pedestrian accident compensation claim ensures victims and their families are not left to shoulder these burdens alone.

At MKP Law Group, LLP, we understand the physical and emotional toll of pedestrian crashes. Our attorneys work with medical experts to fully document the scope of your injuries and fight for the resources you need to recover.

What to Do If You Get Hit by a Car in Los Angeles

If you are struck by a vehicle, what you do in the moments after can make a difference.. Always prioritize getting medical care, especially in a serious accident. Other than that: 

• Call 911 to get medical care at the scene. Request police presence as well.
• Move out of the way of danger, if you can.
• Take photos of the surrounding area, including all damage to the vehicle, structures nearby, and your property. 
• Take photos of your injuries.
• Get the name and contact information of all parties involved.
• Alert the insurance company. If you have a Lyft or Uber pedestrian injury, the rideshare company typically wants you to report this to them through the app. Only report the incident; do not attempt to file a claim yet.
• Get medical care immediately. We do not recommend waiting. Instead, get to the hospital for a full examination even if you feel okay.

After taking these steps, follow all the medical advice of your doctor. Do not go back to work until they tell you to do so. At this point, it is time to contact our Los Angeles traffic injury attorneys. The sooner you include our legal team, the faster we can begin to build a claim for you that is actually comprehensive and fair.

Who Can Be Liable in a Pedestrian Accident Case?

One of the most important parts of any pedestrian injury claim is determining who should be held responsible. In Los Angeles, liability is not always limited to the driver of the car. Multiple parties may share fault, depending on the circumstances.

Potentially liable parties include:

• The driver: The most direct party, responsible when speeding, distracted, or impaired driving causes a collision.
  An employer: If the driver was on the job, their company may also be held accountable.
• Rideshare companies: Uber or Lyft can face liability if their driver was transporting passengers or logged into the app at the time of the crash.
• Waymo or other self-driving operators: In a self-driving pedestrian accident, responsibility may rest with the manufacturer, software developer, or operator.
• Auto manufacturers or mechanics: Defective parts or negligent repairs can contribute to pedestrian crashes.
• City or state agencies: Poorly maintained roads, broken crosswalk signals, or unsafe traffic patterns may give rise to a claim against a government entity.

Establishing liability requires detailed investigation, from reviewing traffic camera footage to examining vehicle data. Insurance companies often dispute responsibility in pedestrian accident cases to reduce payouts. That is why working with a Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney near you can help.

At MKP Law Group, LLP, we pursue every possible source of recovery, ensuring that no negligent party escapes accountability for the harm they caused.