Right of Way in Hollywood Crosswalks: When Is the Driver Liable?

By Alina Bagasian

A plain-English guide for Hollywood residents on pedestrian accident claims in California — the deadlines that apply, how fault is decided, and what to do next.

In Hollywood, a driver is liable for a crosswalk collision when they fail to yield to a pedestrian who has entered or is about to enter a marked or unmarked crosswalk, as required by California Vehicle Code § 21950. Liability depends on whether the driver had a reasonable opportunity to stop, whether the pedestrian had the right of way, and whether either party acted carelessly — California's pure comparative negligence rule means fault can be shared, but a driver who fails to yield is typically the at-fault party. If you were hit in a Hollywood crosswalk, you likely have a valid personal injury claim, and you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit (CCP § 335.1) — though if a government entity is involved, you may have only six months to file a claim (Gov. Code § 911.2). Speaking with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible protects your rights and your deadline.

Getting hit by a car in a crosswalk is one of the most jarring, disorienting things that can happen to a person. One moment you're crossing the street in Hollywood — maybe heading to work, running errands, just living your life — and the next you're on the ground, in pain, surrounded by strangers. If that's where you are right now, or if you're recovering and trying to figure out what comes next, you don't have to sort through this alone. California law is actually pretty clear about crosswalk rights: under Vehicle Code § 21950, drivers are required to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks — both marked crosswalks and the unmarked ones that exist at every intersection by law. When a driver doesn't yield and hits someone, they're usually the one who is liable. That's the short answer. The longer answer depends on the specific facts of what happened, and that's what we'll walk you through here.

When Is a Driver Legally Liable for a Hollywood Crosswalk Accident?

California Vehicle Code § 21950 is the core law here. It says that the driver of a vehicle must yield the right of way to any pedestrian who is crossing in a crosswalk. This applies to every intersection in Hollywood — not just the ones with painted stripes. Under California law, any place where two roads meet creates an "unmarked crosswalk," and pedestrians have the same legal right of way there as they do in a clearly marked crossing.

So when is the driver liable? Generally speaking, a driver is liable when they had a reasonable chance to see you, slow down, and stop — and they didn't. Courts and insurance adjusters look at a few key factors.

Did the pedestrian have the right of way?

If you stepped into a crosswalk while a "Walk" signal was displayed, or while the intersection was clear enough that a reasonable driver should have been able to stop, you had the right of way. A driver who hits you under those circumstances carries the fault. The law doesn't require you to wait until there is literally zero traffic — it requires drivers to stop when a pedestrian is in or is entering the crosswalk.

Was the driver paying attention?

Distracted driving — looking at a phone, adjusting the radio, glancing at a passenger — removes the driver's ability to meet their legal duty of care. If a driver wasn't watching the road and struck you in a crosswalk, that's negligence. California's general duty of care under Civil Code § 1714 holds everyone responsible for injuries caused by their own carelessness, and that includes drivers.

What about turning vehicles?

Some of the most common crosswalk collisions in Hollywood happen when a driver makes a right or left turn and doesn't check for pedestrians who are crossing with the light. Even when a driver has a green light, they are still required to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk before completing a turn. A green light does not override the pedestrian right-of-way rule.

Can the pedestrian share fault?

Yes — and this is important to understand. California uses a system called pure comparative negligence. That means that even if you were partly at fault — say, you crossed against a "Don't Walk" signal, or you stepped off the curb suddenly — you can still recover compensation. Your recovery is simply reduced by your percentage of fault. So if a jury decided you were 20% at fault and the driver was 80% at fault, you'd recover 80% of your total damages. A driver's insurance company may try to use this rule to argue that you were reckless, which is exactly why having an attorney on your side matters.

What Compensation Can You Recover — and What Are the Deadlines?

California law allows injured pedestrians to recover for both economic and non-economic losses. You don't need to wait until you're fully healed to start the process — in fact, waiting too long can actually hurt your case.

Categories of compensation

Economic damages cover the measurable financial costs of your injury: medical bills (past and future), lost wages if you missed work, reduced earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work long-term, and expenses like physical therapy or in-home care. Non-economic damages cover the human costs: physical pain, emotional suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and the impact the injury has had on your relationships and daily routine.

Deadlines you can't miss

In California, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit (CCP § 335.1). If you wait longer than that, you lose the right to sue — with very few exceptions. But if the crosswalk where you were hit was maintained by a city, county, or other public agency, or if a government vehicle was involved, the deadline is much shorter. You must file a formal government claim within six months of the accident (Gov. Code § 911.2). Missing that six-month window can permanently bar your claim against that entity, even if the two-year deadline hasn't passed yet.

These deadlines have exceptions in some circumstances, and the rules that apply to your situation depend on your specific facts. Confirm your deadline with an attorney — don't rely on general information alone.

What about minors who are hurt?

If the injured pedestrian is a child, the two-year deadline is generally paused while they're a minor (CCP § 352). But that pause does not apply to claims against public entities — the six-month government claims deadline still runs even for children (CCP § 352(b)). This is a critical distinction that many families don't know about until it's too late.

Common mistakes that hurt pedestrian claims

Not getting medical care right away is one of the most damaging things an injured pedestrian can do. Insurance companies treat gaps in treatment as evidence that your injuries weren't serious. Even if you feel okay in the moment — adrenaline does that — get evaluated at a hospital or urgent care facility the same day.

Another common mistake is talking to the driver's insurance company without legal representation. Adjusters are trained to ask questions that minimize your claim. Anything you say can be used to reduce what they offer you. You're not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer, and you should speak with an attorney before you do.

Finally, don't wait to consult an attorney. Evidence disappears fast — surveillance footage gets overwritten, witnesses become hard to find, and skid marks fade. The sooner an attorney can investigate what happened, the stronger your case will be.

Where Pedestrian Accidents Happen Most in Hollywood

Editor note: Verified intersection crash data for Hollywood has not been added to this draft yet. Add the intersection rows via CSV import or the intersection editor before publishing.

What to Do Next if You've Been Injured in Hollywood

  1. Get medical care immediately. Your health comes first, and your medical records are also the foundation of your legal case. Go to the emergency room, an urgent care clinic, or your doctor the same day — even if you think your injuries are minor.
  2. Call 911 and get a police report. A police report documents that the collision happened, where it happened, and what the officers observed. You can request a copy of the report later — California drivers involved in a reportable crash may also need to file a DMV SR-1 form within 10 days.
  3. Gather information at the scene if you're able. Get the driver's name, license plate number, insurance information, and contact details. Ask any witnesses for their names and phone numbers. Take photos of the scene, the vehicle, your injuries, and any crosswalk signals or markings.
  4. Do not give a recorded statement to the driver's insurance company. Politely decline until you've spoken with an attorney. You are not legally required to give one, and it can be used against you.
  5. Watch your deadlines. You have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit in California (CCP § 335.1), but if a city or government agency is involved, you have only six months to present a government claim (Gov. Code § 911.2). Don't wait to find out which applies to your case.
  6. Document everything. Keep a journal of your pain levels, your limitations, missed work, medical appointments, and how your injuries are affecting your daily life. Save every bill, receipt, and piece of correspondence related to the accident.
  7. Contact a pedestrian accident attorney in Hollywood. Call Casa Legal Los Angeles at 888-585-2529 for a free consultation.The consultation is free, and our written fee agreement explains all fees and costs before you decide anything.

Frequently Asked Questions About Crosswalk Accidents in Hollywood

Does a driver always have to yield to pedestrians in a Hollywood crosswalk?

Yes — California Vehicle Code § 21950 requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in both marked and unmarked crosswalks. An unmarked crosswalk exists at every intersection by law, even if there are no painted lines. A driver who fails to yield and strikes a pedestrian is generally liable for the resulting injuries.

What if I was crossing against the "Don't Walk" signal — can I still recover?

You can still recover under California's pure comparative negligence rule, even if you share some fault. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, but it is not eliminated. A driver still has a duty to avoid hitting a pedestrian if they had a reasonable opportunity to do so — crossing against a signal doesn't give a driver the right to run you over.

What if the driver who hit me drove away — does that affect my claim?

A hit-and-run complicates the process, but you may still have options. Your own auto insurance policy (if you have one) may include uninsured motorist coverage that applies to pedestrian hit-and-run accidents. California also has programs for uninsured victims in some circumstances. An attorney can help you identify every potential source of recovery in your specific situation.

How long does a pedestrian accident claim take to resolve in California?

It depends on the complexity of your injuries and the dispute over fault. Some claims resolve through insurance negotiation within several months of reaching maximum medical improvement. Others require filing a lawsuit and may take a year or more. You generally shouldn't settle until you have a clear picture of the full extent of your injuries and future medical needs, because once you settle, you can't reopen the claim.

What if a city or county failed to maintain the crosswalk where I was hit?

If a dangerous condition of public property — like a broken signal, a faded crosswalk, or a blocked sightline — contributed to your accident, you may have a claim against the responsible government agency under Government Code § 835. These claims require proving that the agency knew or should have known about the dangerous condition. Critically, you must present your government claim within six months of the accident (Gov. Code § 911.2), regardless of the two-year personal injury deadline under CCP § 335.1.

Can I sue if my family member was killed in a Hollywood crosswalk?

Yes. California's wrongful death law (CCP § 377.60) allows certain surviving family members — including spouses, children, and in some cases parents or dependents — to file a lawsuit for losses like lost financial support, lost companionship, and funeral expenses. The deadline to file a wrongful death lawsuit is two years from the date of death (CCP § 335.1). If a public entity is involved, the six-month government claims deadline (Gov. Code § 911.2) applies and must not be missed.

Do I really need an attorney, or can I just deal with the insurance company myself?

You can negotiate directly with an insurance company, but studies consistently show that injured people represented by attorneys receive significantly more than those who handle claims on their own. Insurance adjusters work full-time to minimize payouts — they're experienced at it. An attorney knows what your claim is worth, knows how to gather evidence, and knows when a settlement offer is too low.The consultation is free, and our written fee agreement explains all fees and costs before you decide anything.

If you're trying to figure out your next step after a crosswalk accident in Hollywood, just give us a call. You don't have to have everything figured out before you reach out — that's what the conversation is for. Call 888-585-2529 for a free consultation.The consultation is free, and our written fee agreement explains all fees and costs before you decide anything. We'll listen to what happened, tell you honestly what your options are, and help you decide how to move forward.

This article is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Deadlines and legal rules vary depending on the specific facts of your case. Please consult with a licensed California attorney to get advice about your individual situation.

Where can you read more about Hollywood injury claims?

These pages cover the same ground for Hollywood and the neighborhoods around it.

This is general information, not legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.