Sacramento Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Under California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If your accident involved a government vehicle or a dangerous public sidewalk maintained by the City of Sacramento or Sacramento County, you must file a government tort claim within just six months of the incident. We strongly recommend contacting us as soon as possible so we can preserve evidence and meet every deadline.

Liability depends on the specific facts, but drivers have a legal duty to yield to pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks under California Vehicle Code §21950. If a driver ran a red light at an intersection like Arden Way and Watt Avenue or failed to stop at a crosswalk near the Sacramento Convention Center, they can be held liable for your injuries. We investigate the collision report, traffic camera footage, and witness statements to build a clear picture of fault.

California follows a pure comparative fault rule, meaning you can still recover compensation even if you were partially to blame for the accident. Your total damages are simply reduced by your percentage of fault — so if you were 20% at fault, you recover 80% of your total damages. We work to minimize any fault assigned to you during negotiations with the insurance company or at trial.

You may be entitled to both economic and non-economic damages, including medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases involving particularly reckless conduct, punitive damages may also be available. We conduct a thorough damages analysis — including working with medical and vocational experts — to make sure every dollar of harm is accounted for.

Insurance companies have experienced adjusters and legal teams whose goal is to minimize what they pay you, and pedestrian accident injuries are often severe and complex. Studies consistently show that represented claimants receive significantly higher settlements than unrepresented ones, even after attorney fees. We offer a free consultation with no obligation so you can understand your options before making any decision.

We handle pedestrian accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing upfront and owe us no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Our fee is a percentage of your settlement or verdict, so there is no financial risk in hiring us. All costs of litigation — investigation, expert witnesses, court filing fees — are advanced by our firm and only recovered if we win.

First, call 911 so Sacramento Police Department officers respond and document the accident in an official report — this report is critical evidence. Seek emergency medical care right away, even if you feel your injuries are minor, because symptoms like internal bleeding or traumatic brain injury can worsen over hours. If you are physically able, photograph the scene, the vehicle, the driver’s insurance and license, and collect contact information from any witnesses before leaving.

California requires all drivers to carry liability insurance, but many do not comply. If the at-fault driver is uninsured, we look to your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, which California insurers are required to offer. We also investigate whether any other parties — such as a vehicle owner, employer, or government entity — may share responsibility, giving us additional sources of recovery for your injuries.

Many pedestrian accident claims settle within six to eighteen months through negotiation with the insurance company, especially when liability is clear and injuries are well-documented. Cases that involve disputed fault, catastrophic injuries, or uncooperative insurers may take two to three years if litigation is necessary, including a trial in Sacramento County Superior Court. We keep you informed at every stage and pursue the timeline that maximizes your recovery, not just the fastest settlement.

When a defective sidewalk, broken curb cut, or poorly designed crosswalk contributed to your accident, the City of Sacramento or Caltrans may share liability for your injuries. Government entity claims in California are governed by the Government Claims Act, and you must present a formal claim within six months of the incident — missing this window can bar your entire case. We handle these specialized claims routinely and can identify all potentially liable government entities quickly.

We assess the full scope of your economic losses — medical bills, future treatment costs projected by your treating physicians, lost income, and reduced earning capacity — alongside your non-economic losses like pain, trauma, and impact on daily life. The severity and permanency of your injuries, the strength of liability evidence, and the at-fault driver’s insurance policy limits all affect the final value. We never accept a lowball offer without your informed approval, and we prepare every case as though it will go to trial.

We can help coordinate medical treatment on a lien basis, meaning many providers will treat you now and wait to be paid from your settlement proceeds. Your own health insurance or MedPay coverage can also cover expenses while the case is resolved. We work closely with your medical providers to ensure you receive the care you need without delay, and we negotiate medical liens at the end of the case to maximize what you take home.

We represent pedestrians injured in crosswalk collisions, hit-and-run accidents, parking lot incidents, rideshare vehicle strikes, and crashes involving commercial trucks on high-traffic corridors like Stockton Boulevard, Broadway, and Capital City Freeway. We also handle accidents involving pedestrians who were struck while walking along roads with no sidewalks, or on multi-use paths throughout the Sacramento region. Every case is unique, and we apply the same thorough investigation and legal strategy regardless of the accident circumstances.

During your free, no-obligation consultation we listen to the facts of your accident, answer your questions candidly, and give you an honest assessment of the strength of your claim and what it may be worth. We explain the legal process, next steps, and how contingency fee representation works so you can make an informed decision. There is no pressure and no commitment — our goal is to make sure you have the information you need to protect your rights.

Yes — a hit-and-run does not necessarily end your ability to recover. If the driver is later identified through Sacramento PD’s investigation, traffic cameras, or witnesses, we pursue them directly. Even if the driver is never found, your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage applies to hit-and-run accidents in California, and we guide you through making that claim with your own insurer. We act quickly to gather surveillance footage from nearby businesses and intersections before it is overwritten.