Hit by a Car in Thousand Oaks: What Are Your Rights?

Curt Brown, Esq. — Founding Partner

Local Thousand Oaks Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Curt Brown is a founding partner at L&F Brown. He grew up in Thousand Oaks, attended Thousand Oaks High School, graduated from UCLA Law School, and has spent his career representing injured residents across the Conejo Valley.

Being struck by a car in Thousand Oaks is a traumatic event that can change your life in an instant. California law gives pedestrians significant rights, and the driver who hit you is very likely legally responsible for your injuries. Here is what you need to know about your rights and what to do in the hours, days, and weeks after the accident.

Your Right to Compensation

Under California law, you have the right to seek full compensation from the driver who hit you, including: all medical expenses past and future, including emergency care at Los Robles Regional Medical Center, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, and ongoing specialist care. Lost wages for the time you missed work. Lost future earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to earn. Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Property damage to any personal items, including a bicycle or stroller, damaged in the accident.

California does not cap compensatory damages in pedestrian accident cases. You are entitled to full recovery for all economic and non-economic losses caused by the driver's negligence.

Your Right to Police Response

You have the right to have law enforcement respond and document the accident. If you were struck in Thousand Oaks, the Thousand Oaks Police Department will respond to city street accidents. On US-101, the California Highway Patrol investigates. In unincorporated Ventura County areas, the Ventura County Sheriff responds. Always call 911 and ensure a police report is filed. Do not let the driver convince you to handle the matter informally without a police report. That report is critical evidence.

Your Right to Medical Care

You have the right to emergency medical care, and if an ambulance is offered, you should take it. Emergency care at Los Robles Regional Medical Center at 215 W Janss Rd in Thousand Oaks provides immediate trauma response for pedestrian accident victims. Follow all medical recommendations from emergency and treating physicians. Your medical records establish the connection between the accident and your injuries and are foundational to your compensation claim.

Your Right to Legal Representation

You have the right to consult and retain a personal injury attorney, and you should exercise this right as soon as possible after your accident. Insurance companies representing the driver who hit you will contact you quickly and attempt to resolve your claim for as little money as possible. Their adjusters are experienced at minimizing settlements. Your right to legal representation ensures you have an advocate with equal or greater expertise in your corner.

When you retain a Thousand Oaks pedestrian accident attorney, all insurance communications go through your lawyer. You stop the flow of statements that could be used against you, and your attorney begins building the strongest possible case on your behalf.

Your Right to Refuse Early Settlement Offers

You have the right to decline any settlement offer, no matter how much pressure the insurance company applies. Early offers are almost always inadequate for serious pedestrian accident injuries. You should never sign a release until you have finished medical treatment, understand your long-term prognosis, and have consulted a personal injury attorney about the full value of your claim.

The Two-Year Deadline in California

Your right to sue expires two years from the date of the accident under California's statute of limitations. If a government entity is involved, the deadline to file a government claim is only six months. Missing either deadline permanently eliminates your right to pursue compensation. Act promptly to protect your rights.

Pedestrian accident lawsuits from Thousand Oaks are filed in Ventura County Superior Court, not LA County. The local rules, jury pool, and court culture in Ventura County differ from LA, and an attorney with Ventura County experience will navigate your case effectively.

L&F Brown fights for pedestrian accident victims throughout Thousand Oaks and Ventura County. Contact us for a free consultation, or visit our Thousand Oaks personal injury page to learn more about how we protect the rights of pedestrians hit by cars in Ventura County.