Hit by a Car on Ventura Blvd in Studio City: What Are Your Rights?

Brian Liu, Esq. — Founding Partner

Local Studio City Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Brian Liu is a founding partner at L&F Brown. He previously lived in Studio City and knows the Ventura Boulevard corridor and surrounding neighborhoods firsthand. He graduated from UCLA Law School and has spent his career representing injured clients across Los Angeles.

Ventura Blvd is one of the most pedestrian-active streets in Studio City. Diners, shoppers, tourists, and residents cross at marked and unmarked intersections daily along the restaurant and retail corridor, from Tujunga Village through the heart of the neighborhood. When a driver strikes a pedestrian on Ventura Blvd, the consequences are almost always serious, and the injured person has significant legal rights under California law.

Your Right to Full Compensation

California law requires drivers to exercise reasonable care to avoid injuring pedestrians. At marked crosswalks, drivers must yield to pedestrians crossing lawfully. Even outside crosswalks, drivers have a duty to keep a lookout and avoid hitting people on the road. When a driver fails that duty and strikes you on Ventura Blvd, you have a legal right to recover compensation for all resulting losses.

That includes all medical expenses from emergency treatment at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys through your complete recovery, including future care if your injuries are long-term. It includes lost wages during recovery and any reduction in future earning capacity. And it includes non-economic damages for your physical pain, emotional suffering, and any permanent impact on your quality of life.

What to Do Immediately After Being Hit on Ventura Blvd

Call 911. LAPD North Hollywood Division officers respond to pedestrian crashes on Studio City streets. Getting a police report is critical because it documents the scene, records the driver's information, and creates an official record of what happened. Accept any medical assistance offered at the scene and go to Valley Presbyterian Hospital or another emergency facility as soon as possible.

If you can, take photographs of the scene: the crosswalk or location where you were hit, the vehicle that struck you, any skid marks, and your injuries. Get the driver's name, license plate, and insurance information. Ask nearby pedestrians and bystanders whether they witnessed the crash and get their contact information.

Ventura Blvd Has Multiple Evidence Sources

The Ventura Blvd restaurant and retail corridor has excellent surveillance coverage. Businesses including restaurants, pharmacies, banks, and shops along the strip frequently have exterior cameras that capture street activity. Traffic signals at major intersections also have cameras. This footage can capture the crash, the driver's approach, the pedestrian signal status, and the driver's speed, all of which are critical to establishing liability.

Business camera footage is typically overwritten within 24 to 72 hours. A Studio City pedestrian accident lawyer will send preservation letters to businesses along your specific crash corridor on the day you retain them.

Handling the Driver's Insurance Company

After a pedestrian accident on Ventura Blvd, the at-fault driver's insurer may contact you quickly. Do not give a recorded statement, sign any documents, or discuss settlement without an attorney present. Early offers are almost always inadequate relative to the full cost of a pedestrian injury, particularly one requiring surgery, rehabilitation, or long-term care.

An attorney manages all insurance communications, calculates your complete damages, and negotiates a settlement that reflects the actual severity of your injuries and their impact on your life.

Contact L&F Brown's Studio City team immediately after any pedestrian crash on Ventura Blvd. The consultation is free and our fees are contingency-based.