Crosswalk Collisions Are More Common Than You Think

Being hit while walking in a crosswalk is a terrifying experience. One moment you’re simply crossing the street, and the next, your life has been disrupted by a careless driver. In a state like California, where pedestrian rights are protected under the law, the injustice of being injured while doing everything right is not just frustrating—it’s infuriating.

At AK Injury Law Firm, we understand that a crosswalk collision is more than just a case. It’s about your pain, your disruption, and your right to justice. Founded by Dr. Azadeh Keshavarz, a former chiropractor turned personal injury attorney, we don’t just fight—we outthink, outfight, and outwin. With strategic insight and legal precision, we hold insurance companies accountable.

But before we take on your case, there are crucial steps you need to take after being hit in a crosswalk to protect your rights and maximize your claim.

Step 1: Stay Calm and Call 911

After impact, the shock can cloud your judgment. But if you’re conscious and able to move:

• Call 911 immediately.
• Ask for both police and medical assistance.
• Do not leave the scene unless you’re taken for emergency care.

A police report will serve as a key piece of evidence in your case. It documents the facts while they’re fresh, notes the driver’s identity and insurance, and may include witness statements.

Even if you feel “okay,” injuries such as internal bleeding, concussions, or soft tissue trauma might not show symptoms right away.

Step 2: Collect Key Evidence

If you’re able—or someone you trust can do it for you—gather evidence on the scene:

• Photographs of your injuries, the vehicle, the crosswalk, street signs, and traffic signals.
• Driver’s information: Name, license, insurance.
• Witness contact information: Name, phone number, what they saw.
• Surrounding cameras: Note businesses or intersections that may have captured the incident.

Even in crosswalk cases, insurance companies often try to blame the pedestrian. They may say you were jaywalking or not visible enough. Collecting clear visual and factual evidence can stop that argument before it starts.

Step 3: Get Medical Attention Immediately

After the initial emergency response, follow up with a full medical evaluation.

Why?

• Some injuries like whiplash, concussions, herniated discs, and nerve damage may not show symptoms for days.
• Gaps in treatment can be used by insurance adjusters to downplay or deny your claim.
• Accurate, consistent medical documentation supports the full value of your case.

As a former chiropractor, Dr. Azadeh Keshavarz deeply understands the long-term impacts of accident injuries—and how to connect those medical realities to legal strategy.

Step 4: Do Not Talk to the Insurance Company Alone

One of the biggest mistakes pedestrians make is answering a phone call from the driver’s insurance company and thinking they’re just “gathering information.”

Here’s the truth:
Their goal is to protect their bottom line—not your health, not your rights.

They may:

• Ask misleading questions to trap you into admitting fault.
• Offer a quick settlement that undervalues your injuries.
• Try to use your words against you in court.

Let your attorney handle all communication. At AK Injury Law Firm, we understand the subtle traps insurers set—and we dismantle them with precision.

Step 5: Keep a Pain and Impact Journal

From day one, begin documenting how your injuries affect your daily life:

• Pain levels (1–10)
• Activities you can’t do
• Missed work
• Emotional distress
• Sleep disturbances
• Relationship or caregiving changes

This journal is invaluable in calculating non-economic damages like pain and suffering or emotional trauma.

Step 6: Watch What You Post Online

In the age of social media, it’s common for insurance companies to monitor your online activity. A seemingly harmless photo at a family event—or even a comment—can be twisted to claim you’re exaggerating your injuries.

Avoid:

• Posting pictures after your accident
• Discussing the accident online
• Allowing new people to follow you on private accounts

Your digital footprint can impact your case more than you think.

Step 7: Understand California’s Pedestrian Laws

In California:

• Pedestrians have the right of way in marked and unmarked crosswalks (CVC §21950).
• Drivers are required to yield and use due care to avoid collisions.
• A pedestrian has a duty of care, but stepping into the crosswalk lawfully gives them legal protection.

Despite this, insurance companies often try to invoke comparative negligence, suggesting that the pedestrian was partially at fault. Even a 10% fault assignment can reduce your compensation by thousands.

We anticipate these arguments and prepare to dismantle them before they’re even made.

Step 8: File Your Claim Within the Deadline

In California, you typically have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. However:

• If a government vehicle or city entity is involved (like a public bus), you may have only six months to file a claim.

Don’t wait. The earlier you act, the better your chances of building a powerful case.

Step 9: Work With a Strategic Legal Team

What makes AK Injury Law different?

Most firms say they fight. We do too—but not blindly.

Dr. Azadeh Keshavarz saw how insurance companies took advantage of accident victims when she was a chiropractor. Patients would get low-balled, denied care, or drowned in red tape. That’s why she became an attorney—to outthink the system that failed her patients.

Today, she leads one of the most respected female-owned injury law firms in San Diego. Our entire legal approach is tactical, strategic, and precisely executed to beat the insurance company at their own game.

Step 10: Know the Types of Damages You May Be Entitled To

If you’ve been hit in a crosswalk, you may be eligible for:

• Medical expenses (past, present, future)
• Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Punitive damages (in cases of reckless behavior)
• Loss of enjoyment of life

These aren’t just line items—they represent the real toll the accident has taken on your life. We fight to ensure every dollar is accounted for.

How We Can Help

At AK Injury Law Firm, we don’t just take pedestrian accident cases—we own them.

Every crosswalk case is a battlefield. But we don’t walk into that battle unprepared. We use smart legal strategy, detailed investigations, and medical insight to build cases that win big. With Dr. Azadeh Keshavarz’s unique medical-legal background and our firm’s dedication to outthinking insurance companies, we turn uphill battles into powerful victories.

You deserve more than a generic settlement. You deserve a legal team that:

• Understands your injuries
• Anticipates every insurance tactic
• Strategically maximizes your compensation

If you’ve been hit while walking in a crosswalk in San Diego or anywhere in California, don’t settle for less. Outthink. Outfight. Outwin. Contact AK Injury Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.