Why Are So Many Pedestrians Getting Hit in Glendora?

By Alina Bagasian

A plain-English answer for Glendora residents — California pedestrian accidents law, your deadlines, and the steps to take after an injury.

If you or someone you love was just hit by a car in Glendora, the last thing you need right now is a wall of legal jargon. You're probably in pain, confused, and wondering how something this serious could happen just going about your day — crossing a street, walking to your car, heading home from school. That feeling of "why did this happen?" is completely valid. And the honest answer is that pedestrian accidents in Glendora, like in much of Los Angeles County, happen for a combination of reasons: drivers who are distracted, roads that weren't designed with walkers in mind, intersections without adequate signals or crosswalk markings, and speed limits that leave almost no margin for error when a person is on foot. You were the most vulnerable person in that situation, and that matters enormously when it comes to your legal rights.

Why Pedestrian Accidents Keep Happening — and Why That Matters for Your Case

Glendora sits in the San Gabriel Valley, a part of Los Angeles County where the street grid was built around cars, not people walking. Wide arterial roads, high-speed through-traffic, and stretches without continuous sidewalks create conditions where pedestrian crashes are almost predictable. That's not an excuse for what happened to you — it's context. And it's the kind of context that can actually help your case.

When a pedestrian is hit by a car in California, the driver isn't automatically the only party responsible. Depending on what happened, liability can fall on:

The driver — for speeding, distracted driving, running a red light, failing to yield, or driving under the influence
A government agency — if a poorly designed road, missing crosswalk, broken signal, or overgrown landscaping blocking a sign contributed to the crash
A business or property owner — if the crash happened in a parking lot or near a property with known hazards
A vehicle manufacturer — in rare cases involving brake failure or other defects

Identifying every responsible party is one of the most important things a pedestrian accident attorney does. It directly affects how much compensation you can ultimately recover.

What California Law Says About Your Rights as an Injured Pedestrian

California's Comparative Fault Rule

One thing insurance companies do almost immediately after a pedestrian crash is look for a reason to blame you. Were you jaywalking? Wearing dark clothing at night? Looking at your phone? California uses a rule called pure comparative negligence, which means even if you were partially at fault, you can still recover compensation — just reduced by your percentage of fault. So if a jury found you 20% responsible and the driver 80% responsible, you'd recover 80% of your damages. Don't let an insurance adjuster tell you that you can't make a claim because of something you did. That's rarely the full story.

How Long You Have to File

In California, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit (CCP §335.1). That sounds like a long time, but it goes faster than you think — especially when you're recovering from serious injuries. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Security camera footage gets overwritten within days.

If the responsible party is a government agency — like a city or county — the deadline is much shorter. You must file a formal government claim within six months of the accident (Government Code §911.2). Missing that window can permanently bar you from recovering anything from that agency. This is one of the most common and costly mistakes injured pedestrians make.

What Compensation You May Be Entitled To

As a pedestrian who was hit by a car, you may be able to recover compensation in several categories:

Medical expenses — emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, and future treatment related to your injuries
Lost wages — income you've already lost while recovering, and future earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work
Pain and suffering — the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the accident and your recovery
Loss of enjoyment of life — if your injuries have kept you from activities, hobbies, or relationships that mattered to you
Property damage — personal belongings damaged in the crash
Wrongful death damages — if you lost a family member, you may have a separate claim with its own two-year deadline running from the date of death (CCP §335.1)

No attorney can honestly tell you an exact dollar figure before reviewing the full picture of your case. Anyone who does is guessing. What we can tell you is that pedestrian injuries tend to be severe — and severe injuries typically lead to significant claims.

Common Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Case

Giving a recorded statement to the insurance company. You're not required to do this. The adjuster's job is to minimize what they pay you. Anything you say can be used to reduce your claim.

Waiting too long to see a doctor. If you delay medical treatment, the insurance company will argue your injuries weren't serious — or weren't caused by the accident at all. Get checked out right away, even if you feel okay. Symptoms from traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries, and spinal damage often show up days later.

Accepting a quick settlement. Early settlement offers almost never reflect the true value of your claim. Once you accept and sign a release, you can't go back for more — even if your medical bills end up being much higher than expected.

Not documenting the scene. If you're physically able, take photos of everything: the road, the crosswalk, the vehicle, your injuries, your clothing. This evidence is critical and it disappears fast.

Where Pedestrian Accidents Happen Most in Glendora

Editor note: Verified intersection crash data for Glendora 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 Glendora

Get medical care immediately. Your health comes first. Even if you walked away from the scene, see a doctor as soon as possible. Some injuries don't show symptoms right away, and your medical records will be the foundation of your claim.
Call the police if you haven't already. A police report creates an official record of what happened. Request a copy of that report as soon as it's available. If CHP responded to the scene, you can request the crash report using Form CHP 555.
Gather and preserve evidence. Photos, witness names and phone numbers, the driver's insurance information, and any nearby business surveillance camera footage — collect everything you can while it's still available.
Don't talk to the other driver's insurance company alone. Be polite, but tell them you'll be in touch through your attorney. You are not required to give a recorded statement.
Write down everything you remember. Your account of what happened, what you were doing, what the driver did, road conditions, lighting, weather — put it all in writing while it's fresh.
Check whether a government entity may be involved. If a broken signal, missing crosswalk, or dangerous road condition played a role, you may have a claim against a public agency. Remember: that six-month government claim deadline starts immediately.
Talk to a pedestrian accident attorney. Most personal injury attorneys, including our team, offer free consultations. You don't pay unless you win. Call us at 888-585-2529 and tell us what happened — we'll be honest with you about your options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian Accidents in Glendora

What if I was jaywalking when I got hit — can I still make a claim?

Yes. California's pure comparative negligence rule means you can still recover compensation even if you share some of the blame. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, but it's not eliminated. Jaywalking doesn't automatically make an accident your fault, especially if the driver was speeding or distracted.

The driver who hit me was uninsured. What are my options in Glendora?

If the driver had no insurance, you may still have options. Your own auto insurance policy may include uninsured motorist (UM) coverage — even if you weren't in a car at the time. California law requires insurers to offer this coverage. If a road defect also played a role, a government claim may be another avenue. An attorney can help you explore all of these.

How long will my pedestrian accident case take to resolve?

It depends on how complex your case is and how severe your injuries are. Some cases settle in a few months. Others — particularly those involving serious injuries, disputes about fault, or government agencies — can take a year or more. Rushing to settle early usually means leaving significant compensation on the table.

What if the driver says I came out of nowhere?

This is one of the most common things drivers say after hitting a pedestrian — and it's rarely the full story. Physical evidence from the scene, witness accounts, traffic camera footage, and accident reconstruction can all help establish what really happened. An attorney who handles pedestrian accident cases knows how to investigate and counter these claims.

Can I make a claim if the city of Glendora or Los Angeles County is responsible for a dangerous road condition?

Yes, but you must act quickly. You have only six months from the date of the accident to file a formal government claim against a public agency (Government Code §911.2). If that deadline passes, you may lose your right to pursue that part of your case entirely. This is one of the most urgent reasons to speak with an attorney right away.

What if I can't afford a doctor right now?

Many medical providers will treat personal injury patients on a "lien basis," meaning they agree to be paid from your eventual settlement rather than upfront. An attorney can often help connect you with medical providers who work this way. Not having insurance or cash on hand right now should not stop you from getting the care you need.

Do I really need an attorney, or can I handle this myself?

You can technically try to negotiate directly with the insurance company — but studies consistently show that people represented by attorneys receive significantly higher settlements, even after attorney fees. Insurance adjusters are trained negotiators who handle these claims every day. You shouldn't have to go into that alone, and with a free consultation and no upfront cost, there's very little risk in at least getting a professional opinion.

You've been through something serious, and you deserve real answers — not runaround from an insurance company. If you're not sure where to start, just call us at 888-585-2529. We'll listen to what happened, answer your questions honestly, and tell you whether we think we can help. That conversation costs you nothing, and there's no pressure. You don't have to figure this out alone.