What Pedestrians Should Document After Being Hit by a Vehicle in California

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Getting hit by a vehicle while walking can leave you hurt, scared, and unsure what to do next. The details you save in the first hours and weeks often shape how an insurance company judges your claim. Memories fade, witnesses move on, and many security cameras record over old footage within days. People who find a pedestrian accident lawyer in California often learn that insurers look hard at where the walker stood and what the driver could see, so clear proof of those facts carries real weight.

Collect the Driver's Information at the Scene

If you can move safely, gather the driver's details before anyone leaves. Under Vehicle Code § 20003, a driver involved in a crash that injures someone must give the person struck their name, home address, vehicle registration number, and the owner's name and address. The same law requires the driver to show a license if you ask, so use your phone to capture what you see before the driver pulls away.

• License plate – a clear photo of the front or back plate
• Insurance card – both sides, showing the company and policy number
• Driver's license – a photo of the name, address, and license number
• Vehicle damage – dents, cracked glass, or broken lights from the impact

Capture the Scene Before It Changes

Where you stood when the car hit you matters a great deal. Under Vehicle Code § 21950, drivers must yield to people walking in marked crosswalks and unmarked crosswalks at intersections, and they must slow down as needed to keep walkers safe. The same law also asks pedestrians to use care, so the driver's insurer may argue that you stepped out too suddenly.

Photos can answer that argument. Take pictures of crosswalk lines, traffic signals, stop signs, skid marks, and anything that blocked the view, such as parked trucks, tall bushes, or a burned-out streetlight. California's jury instruction on shared fault cuts your payment by whatever percentage of blame lands on you, so clear scene photos help keep that number low.

Find Witnesses and Video Early

People who saw the crash can confirm facts you may not recall later. Ask for names and phone numbers before they walk away, and jot down a short note about what each person saw and heard. Then look around for cameras on nearby stores, homes, buses, and traffic poles.

• Store cameras – ask managers to save the footage right away
• Doorbell cameras – neighbors often share clips when asked politely
• Dashcam video – other drivers stopped at the light may have recorded
• Police report number – lets you request the officer's full report later

Keep a Record of Your Injuries and Costs

Your medical records tell the story of how badly you got hurt. See a doctor the same day or as soon as you can, even if you feel fine, because injuries such as concussions or back strains may not show signs right away. Keep every discharge paper, prescription receipt, and follow-up note together in one folder.

A simple daily journal adds details that medical charts miss. Write down your pain level, the tasks you can't do, and the work days you lose each week, along with every trip you make to physical therapy. Save your pay stubs and ask your employer for a short letter, since lost wages count as part of what the driver may owe you.

Know the Deadlines That Affect Your Proof

Your evidence helps only if you use it in time. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file an injury lawsuit against the driver. If a city or county vehicle hit you, or a badly designed crosswalk played a role, Government Code § 911.2 requires a written claim to that agency within six months.

Hit-and-run crashes come with an even shorter clock. Your own auto policy's uninsured motorist coverage may pay for your injuries even though you were on foot. Still, Insurance Code § 11580.2 requires physical contact with the fleeing car, a police report within 24 hours, and a claim with your insurer within 30 days. That early police report becomes one of the strongest pieces of proof you will have.

Small Notes Today Make Your Story Easier to Tell Later

Few people think clearly after a car knocks them down, and no one expects you to gather everything at the scene. Friends and family can take photos, call witnesses back, and visit nearby shops for video while you rest and heal. What matters most is that the facts get saved while they still exist, since those details may later become important in personal injury claims. If questions come up about fault, deadlines, or the claims process, an injury attorney can look over what you have and point out what might be missing.