Pedestrian Hit on Van Nuys Blvd in Pacoima: Your Rights
If you were hit by a car while crossing or walking along Van Nuys Blvd in Pacoima, you are dealing with one of the most physically and emotionally devastating things a person can go through. The pain, the fear, the uncertainty about what happens next. This article is written for you. It explains what California law says about your rights, what you should do in the hours and days after the crash, and how the specifics of Van Nuys Blvd affect your case.
Why Van Nuys Blvd Is Dangerous for Pedestrians
Van Nuys Blvd is the main north-south artery through Pacoima. It carries heavy traffic throughout the day, with cars, buses, delivery trucks, and commercial vehicles moving at speeds that leave very little margin for error when a pedestrian is in the road. The corridor is lined with businesses, restaurants, shops, and bus stops that generate constant foot traffic. People cross Van Nuys Blvd to reach stores, to transfer between bus lines, to walk to and from Ritchie Valens Park, and to go about daily life in a neighborhood where not everyone has a car.
The problem is that Van Nuys Blvd was designed to move cars, not to protect people on foot. The road is wide, drivers move fast, and the marked crosswalks at intersections, while legally protected, require pedestrians to trust that drivers will yield. That trust is broken regularly.
Intersections at Osborne St, Arleta Ave, Van Nuys Blvd and the 118 on-ramp area, and the stretch between Foothill Blvd and Glenoaks Blvd are particularly high-risk for pedestrians. These locations combine high vehicle speed, heavy turning movements, and significant pedestrian volume. The crashes that happen here tend to produce serious injuries.
Your Rights Under California Crosswalk Law
California Vehicle Code Section 21950 is clear: drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians crossing in marked crosswalks and at unmarked crosswalks at intersections. If you were in a crosswalk on Van Nuys Blvd when a driver hit you, that driver violated the law. That violation is powerful evidence in your civil case.
The law does not require you to wait until the road is completely empty before stepping into a crosswalk. It requires the driver to stop when a pedestrian is in their half of the roadway or close enough to be in danger. A driver who blows through a crosswalk while you are crossing has failed their legal duty.
Even outside a crosswalk, you have rights. Under California Vehicle Code Section 21954, drivers must exercise due care to avoid striking any pedestrian on any roadway. A driver who sees or should have seen a pedestrian and fails to brake, swerve, or honk is negligent, regardless of where the pedestrian was walking.
California's pure comparative fault system protects you further. Even if you share some responsibility for the crash, maybe you were crossing against a signal or crossing mid-block, you can still recover damages. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, but it is not eliminated. If a jury finds you 20 percent at fault and your damages are $500,000, you recover $400,000.
What to Do Right Now
Get medical attention immediately. If paramedics responded to the scene, let them transport you. If not, go directly to Olive View-UCLA Medical Center at 14445 Olive View Dr in Sylmar. It is the closest major hospital to Van Nuys Blvd in Pacoima. Pedestrian crash injuries, including broken bones, head injuries, internal bleeding, and spinal damage, often feel less severe than they are in the first minutes due to adrenaline and shock. A full medical evaluation on the same day of the crash creates a medical record that directly connects your injuries to the collision.
Report the crash to LAPD Foothill Division. If police responded to the scene, get the officer's name, badge number, and the report number. If police were not called, file a report with LAPD Foothill Division as soon as you are physically able. The traffic collision report documents the location, time, driver information, and often an initial fault assessment.
Document the scene. If you can, photograph the crosswalk, the intersection, the vehicle that hit you, any skid marks, your injuries, and the street conditions. If you cannot take photos yourself, ask a witness or a family member to go to the location as soon as possible. Van Nuys Blvd is heavily commercialized in this area, and many businesses have exterior surveillance cameras that may have captured the crash. Note the names and addresses of nearby businesses so your attorney can send preservation letters before footage is overwritten.
Collect witness information. Anyone who saw the crash, whether another pedestrian, a person standing near a storefront, or a driver who stopped, is a potential witness. Get their name and phone number. Witnesses on Van Nuys Blvd can corroborate that you were in the crosswalk, that the driver was speeding, or that the driver ran a red light. Their testimony can be the difference between a disputed claim and a clear one.
Do not speak to the driver's insurance company. The driver's insurer will reach out to you quickly. Their adjuster will sound concerned and may even seem helpful. Do not give a recorded statement. Do not discuss your injuries. Do not agree to anything. Tell them your attorney will be in contact.
Surveillance Cameras on Van Nuys Blvd
One advantage of a crash on Van Nuys Blvd is the density of businesses with exterior cameras. Gas stations, restaurants, convenience stores, banks, auto shops, and retail stores throughout this corridor have security cameras that frequently capture the street. This footage can show the traffic signal status, your position in the crosswalk, the speed and behavior of the driver, and whether the driver attempted to stop.
The problem is that most commercial surveillance systems overwrite their footage within 72 hours to two weeks. If you do not take action to preserve that footage immediately, it will be gone. Your attorney sends legal preservation letters to each relevant business the day the case is opened. This is one of the most time-sensitive actions in any Van Nuys Blvd pedestrian case.
What Compensation Is Available?
Pedestrian accident victims on Van Nuys Blvd in Pacoima can recover:
Medical expenses: Emergency care at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, surgeries, hospitalizations, specialist visits, physical therapy, prescriptions, and all future medical costs tied to your injuries.
Lost wages: Income missed during recovery, and reduced earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work long-term.
Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, PTSD, anxiety about crossing streets, and loss of enjoyment of life. California places no cap on pain and suffering in personal injury cases.
Property damage: Personal items damaged in the crash, including phones, glasses, clothing, and bags.
Pedestrian accident cases on major Pacoima corridors like Van Nuys Blvd have produced settlements and verdicts ranging from $200,000 to over $800,000, depending on the severity of injuries, the clarity of liability, and the available insurance coverage.
You Deserve Someone Fighting for You
The driver who hit you has an insurance company working to protect them right now. You need someone working just as hard for you. A Pacoima pedestrian accident lawyer at L&F Brown can begin preserving evidence, documenting your injuries, and building your case immediately.
We handle pedestrian accident cases on contingency, no fees unless we recover for you. Visit our Pacoima personal injury page or call today for a free consultation.
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