Pedestrian Hit on Burbank Blvd in Valley Village: Your Rights
If a car hit you while you were crossing Burbank Blvd in Valley Village, you are dealing with one of the most physically devastating situations a person can face. The pain, the confusion, the questions about what comes next, all of it is overwhelming. This article is written for you. It explains what California law says about your rights as a pedestrian, what you should do in the hours and days ahead, and what determines whether you can hold the driver fully responsible.
Burbank Blvd is a major east-west arterial that runs through the heart of Valley Village. It carries steady traffic between Laurel Canyon Blvd and the commercial areas to the east and west. Despite the foot traffic from residents walking to neighborhood restaurants, bus stops, and local businesses, the road prioritizes vehicle speed over pedestrian safety. The crosswalks along Burbank Blvd sit in the middle of that tension, and drivers regularly fail to yield to pedestrians using them.
Why Burbank Blvd in Valley Village Is Dangerous for Pedestrians
Burbank Blvd through Valley Village is not designed with pedestrians as a priority. The road is wide, traffic moves at 35 to 40 miles per hour or faster, and crosswalks are spaced far apart. Residents who need to cross Burbank Blvd to reach bus stops, shops, or homes on the other side often face long waits at signals or cross at locations without marked crosswalks.
The intersections where Burbank Blvd meets Laurel Canyon Blvd and where it crosses Magnolia Blvd see particularly high pedestrian traffic. Drivers making turns at these intersections frequently fail to check for pedestrians in the crosswalk. Vehicles traveling eastbound or westbound on Burbank Blvd at full speed have limited stopping distance when a pedestrian enters the roadway.
LAPD North Hollywood Division handles pedestrian accident investigations on city streets in Valley Village. When officers respond to a pedestrian crash on Burbank Blvd, they document the scene, measure distances, photograph the vehicles and the crosswalk, and interview witnesses. That report is the starting point for your civil case.
What to Do After Being Hit on Burbank Blvd
The steps you take in the first 24 to 72 hours can significantly affect your ability to recover full compensation.
Get medical attention immediately. Even if you feel like you can walk, adrenaline masks pain. Internal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and soft tissue damage may not be apparent right away. Go directly to Valley Presbyterian Hospital at 15107 Vanowen St or have paramedics transport you. Do not refuse medical care at the scene.
Call LAPD North Hollywood Division. If police did not respond to the scene, file a report as soon as you are physically able. Request the report number and follow up to obtain a copy. The police report documents the location, time, driver information, and the officer's initial assessment of fault.
Document everything you can. Photographs of the crosswalk, the vehicle, skid marks or the lack of them, your injuries, and any signage are valuable evidence. If you cannot take photos yourself, ask someone at the scene to help. Surveillance cameras are common at businesses along Burbank Blvd, and your attorney can send preservation letters to prevent footage from being deleted.
Get witness information. Anyone who saw the crash is valuable to your case. Other pedestrians, nearby shoppers, drivers who stopped, collect their names and phone numbers. These witnesses may not be easy to find later.
Do not speak to the driver's insurance company. The insurer will contact you quickly. Their job is to minimize the payout. You are not required to give a recorded statement. Refer all contact to your attorney.
Contact a pedestrian accident attorney. Our Valley Village pedestrian accident lawyers can begin preserving evidence and building your case immediately. California's statute of limitations is two years from the date of injury, but evidence disappears much faster than that.
California Crosswalk Law and Your Rights
Under California Vehicle Code Section 21950, drivers must yield the right of way to any pedestrian crossing in a marked crosswalk or in an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. The law does not require you to wait until traffic is completely clear. It requires drivers to stop when a pedestrian is in their half of the roadway or close enough to be in danger.
If you were crossing Burbank Blvd in a marked crosswalk when you were struck, the driver likely violated CVC 21950. That violation is powerful evidence in your civil case. It establishes that the driver had a legal duty to yield and failed to do so.
California uses a pure comparative fault system. Even if you were found to bear some fault, perhaps you stepped off the curb a moment early or were looking at your phone, you can still recover damages. Your total recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. If a jury finds you 15 percent at fault and your damages total $500,000, you recover $425,000.
The crosswalk versus mid-block distinction matters. If you were crossing in a marked crosswalk with painted lines and pedestrian signal heads, your legal position is strong. If you were crossing mid-block, the analysis is more nuanced, but California law still requires drivers to exercise due care to avoid striking pedestrians regardless of where they are crossing.
Government Liability for Dangerous Crosswalks
If the crosswalk where you were hit on Burbank Blvd had faded markings, a broken pedestrian signal, inadequate lighting, or a design that puts pedestrians at risk, the City of Los Angeles may share liability for your injuries. The city has a duty to maintain safe roadway infrastructure.
Government liability claims under the California Government Code require filing a tort claim within six months of the incident. This is a hard deadline. If you miss it, your claim against the city is barred regardless of how clearly the road design contributed to your accident. Your attorney will evaluate government liability and file the necessary claim within the deadline.
What Compensation Can You Recover
Pedestrian accident injuries are among the most severe in personal injury law. The human body has no protection against a vehicle traveling at speed. In California, pedestrian accident victims can recover:
Medical expenses: Emergency room care at Valley Presbyterian Hospital, surgeries, hospitalizations, specialist follow-up, physical therapy, prescription medications, and all future treatment related to your injuries.
Lost wages and earning capacity: Income lost during recovery and, if your injuries are permanent, reduced future earning capacity for the remainder of your working life.
Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and loss of enjoyment of life. California does not cap these damages.
Property damage: Personal items damaged in the crash, including phones, glasses, clothing, and bags.
Pedestrian accident cases on Burbank Blvd and throughout Valley Village have resulted in settlements ranging from $250,000 to $900,000 and beyond depending on injury severity, the clarity of liability, and the driver's insurance coverage. Cases are filed at the Van Nuys Courthouse West.
Do Not Wait to Get Help
The driver who hit you has an insurance company working for them right now. That insurer's objective is to pay you as little as possible. You deserve someone working equally hard on your behalf.
L&F Brown represents pedestrian accident victims throughout Valley Village. We know Burbank Blvd, we know LAPD North Hollywood, and we know how to build cases that produce results. No fees unless we win.
Learn more about how we help Valley Village injury victims at our Valley Village personal injury page, or call us today for a free consultation.
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