Who Is Liable for a Pedestrian Accident in Northridge?

Arya Firoozmand, Esq.

Local Northridge Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Arya Firoozmand is the founding partner at L&F Brown. A Woodland Hills native who attended nearby El Camino Real High School, he graduated from UCLA Law School and has represented injured Northridge residents throughout his career.

When a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle in Northridge, determining who is legally responsible shapes the entire course of the case. Liability can fall on the driver, a government entity responsible for road design, a property owner, or even multiple parties. California law gives pedestrians significant protections, but the insurance company defending the driver will work hard to shift blame onto you. Here is how liability actually works in Northridge pedestrian accident cases.

Driver Negligence: The Most Common Basis for Liability

In most Northridge pedestrian crashes, the driver bears primary liability because they violated one or more traffic laws or failed to exercise reasonable care. Common forms of driver negligence that cause pedestrian crashes in Northridge include failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, running a red light or stop sign, making a right turn on red without checking for pedestrians, distracted driving including phone use, speeding in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic, and driving under the influence.

California Vehicle Code Section 21950 requires drivers to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks. This statute places the burden on the driver to watch for pedestrians and stop or slow as necessary. When a driver violates this code section and strikes a pedestrian, that violation is strong evidence of negligence.

On Reseda Blvd and Tampa Ave, two of Northridge's busiest corridors, pedestrian traffic is constant. Shoppers walking to and from Northridge Fashion Center, students crossing near CSUN, and residents navigating neighborhood intersections create a pedestrian-heavy environment. Drivers on these roads have a heightened duty of care because pedestrian presence is predictable and frequent.

City of Los Angeles Liability for Dangerous Conditions

Sometimes the crash is not entirely the driver's fault or the pedestrian's fault. Sometimes the road itself is the problem. The City of Los Angeles is responsible for maintaining safe pedestrian infrastructure on Northridge streets, including crosswalk markings, pedestrian signals, curb ramps, street lighting, and sight lines at intersections.

When the city fails to maintain this infrastructure, and that failure contributes to a pedestrian crash, the city can be held liable. Examples include faded or missing crosswalk markings that make it unclear where pedestrians should cross and where drivers should expect them. Malfunctioning pedestrian signals that display a walk signal when cross-traffic has a green light. Overgrown vegetation or illegally parked vehicles that obstruct a driver's view of pedestrians at an intersection. Inadequate street lighting at pedestrian crossings, particularly along stretches of Reseda Blvd and Tampa Ave where commercial areas transition to residential neighborhoods.

Government liability claims have a strict procedural requirement: you must file a government tort claim within six months of the date of injury. Miss this deadline and your claim against the city is barred regardless of how strong the evidence is. If you believe a dangerous road condition contributed to your pedestrian crash, contact an attorney immediately.

Property Owner Liability

In some Northridge pedestrian accidents, a property owner shares liability. This typically arises when a commercial property's design or maintenance creates a hazard for pedestrians. A parking lot exit on Tampa Ave with inadequate sight lines, a driveway at Northridge Fashion Center where landscaping blocks the view of approaching pedestrians, or a sidewalk obstruction that forces pedestrians into the street can all create liability for the property owner.

Property owners have a duty to maintain their premises in a condition that is reasonably safe for foreseeable users, including pedestrians on adjacent sidewalks and crosswalks. When they fail to do so, and that failure contributes to a crash, they are a potentially liable party in your case.

Rideshare and Commercial Vehicle Liability

Northridge sees significant rideshare and commercial vehicle traffic, particularly around CSUN, Northridge Fashion Center, and the 118 Freeway interchange areas. When an Uber, Lyft, or commercial delivery vehicle strikes a pedestrian, liability extends beyond the driver to the company. Rideshare companies carry $1 million liability policies when their drivers are engaged in a ride or en route to a pickup. Commercial trucking companies are liable for their drivers' negligence under respondeat superior.

These cases involve larger insurance policies but also more aggressive defense teams. The company's insurer will investigate the crash thoroughly and look for every possible way to reduce or deny the claim. Legal representation is particularly important in these cases.

California Comparative Fault in Pedestrian Cases

California's pure comparative fault system applies to pedestrian cases. If the pedestrian is found partially at fault, their recovery is reduced by their percentage of fault but not eliminated. Insurance companies use this aggressively in pedestrian claims, arguing the pedestrian was jaywalking, wearing dark clothing at night, looking at their phone, or crossing against the signal.

It is important to understand that even if you were partially at fault, you still have a claim. A pedestrian found 20% at fault for crossing mid-block rather than at a crosswalk, with $400,000 in damages, still recovers $320,000. The key is having evidence to counter the insurer's inflated fault arguments.

Drivers have a duty of care toward pedestrians regardless of where the pedestrian is crossing. California Vehicle Code Section 21954 requires pedestrians outside crosswalks to yield to vehicles, but it also requires drivers to exercise due care for the safety of any pedestrian on the roadway. A driver who sees or should have seen a pedestrian and fails to take reasonable action to avoid a collision does not escape liability simply because the pedestrian was not in a crosswalk.

Evidence That Establishes Liability

Building a strong liability case after a Northridge pedestrian accident requires evidence gathered quickly. The most valuable evidence includes the LAPD traffic collision report, which documents the officer's observations and preliminary fault determination. Surveillance camera footage from businesses along Reseda Blvd, Tampa Ave, and around Northridge Fashion Center, which must be requested before it is recorded over, typically within 30 to 72 hours. Witness statements from other pedestrians, drivers, and bystanders. Traffic signal timing data from the City of Los Angeles, which can confirm whether you had the walk signal. Medical records from Northridge Hospital Medical Center and subsequent treatment providers, which document the severity and causation of your injuries.

Your attorney can also retain accident reconstruction experts to analyze the physical evidence, vehicle damage patterns, and pedestrian trajectory to establish exactly how the crash occurred and who was at fault.

What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Northridge

Call 911 immediately. LAPD will respond to pedestrian crashes on Northridge streets, and a police report is essential for your claim. Get to Northridge Hospital Medical Center at 18300 Roscoe Blvd for emergency evaluation. Do not minimize your symptoms to the paramedics or emergency room staff. Everything you report becomes part of your medical record, which becomes evidence in your case.

Do not give statements to the driver's insurance company. Do not accept any settlement offers before consulting with an attorney. Do not post about the crash on social media. All of these actions can be used against you to reduce your recovery.

To understand who is liable in your specific pedestrian accident case, speak with a Northridge pedestrian accident lawyer who handles these claims regularly.

Our Northridge personal injury team offers free consultations and works on a contingency basis. Call us to discuss your case and get clear answers about your legal options.