Pedestrian Deaths Surge in Los Angeles

Call 911 immediately and provide as much identifying detail as possible — vehicle color, make, model, partial license plate, and direction of travel. Even in a hit-and-run, you are not without legal recourse. California requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, which can compensate you for injuries caused by a fleeing driver through your own auto insurance policy. An attorney can also investigate the driver’s identity through traffic cameras, nearby business surveillance, and witness accounts. Do not assume a hit-and-run means you have no path to compensation.

Yes. California follows a pure comparative fault rule under Civil Code § 1431.2, which reduces — but never eliminates — your recovery based on your percentage of fault. If a jury finds you were 30% at fault for crossing mid-block, you still recover 70% of your total damages. Insurance companies aggressively inflate the pedestrian’s share of fault to minimize payouts. An experienced attorney will counter with evidence of the driver’s speed, distraction level, reaction time, and any traffic violations — factors that typically far outweigh a pedestrian’s contribution to the crash.

Timeline varies significantly depending on injury severity, the number of defendants, and whether the case settles or proceeds to trial. Cases involving moderate injuries and a single at-fault driver often resolve through negotiated settlement within 12 to 18 months. Cases involving catastrophic injuries — traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, amputation, or wrongful death — typically require longer investigation, expert engagement, and litigation, potentially extending two to three years or more. Cases against government entities involve additional procedural requirements. Your attorney will provide a realistic timeline based on the specific facts of your case.

Several mechanisms exist. If you carry health insurance, your insurer typically pays upfront subject to a reimbursement lien on your eventual settlement. MedPay or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage on your own auto policy — if you have one — can also apply to pedestrian injuries regardless of fault. Many treating physicians and medical facilities will also provide care on a medical lien basis, deferring payment until your case resolves. Compass Law Group coordinates with lien-based providers to ensure you receive necessary treatment without being required to pay out of pocket while your case is ongoing.

Settlement value depends primarily on injury severity, available insurance coverage, strength of liability evidence, and the full scope of economic and non-economic losses. Minor injuries with complete recovery may settle in the range of $30,000 to $100,000. Cases involving surgery, extended rehabilitation, or permanent impairment commonly settle between $250,000 and $1,000,000. Catastrophic injuries or wrongful death claims frequently result in multi-million-dollar recoveries. These are general benchmarks only — every case is unique, and the specific facts of your situation, including the number of liable parties and their available coverage, determine the actual value of your claim.