Pedestrian Accidents matters in San Rafael
Where Pedestrians Get Hurt in San Rafael
San Rafael is one of Marin's most walkable cities, which also means foot traffic and vehicles mix constantly. Fourth Street through downtown is the busiest pedestrian corridor in the city, lined with shops and restaurants, and it is where turning drivers and distracted motorists strike people in marked crosswalks. The Canal district has dense residential streets, heavy pedestrian activity, and limited crossing infrastructure, putting walkers — including many families and transit users — at real risk.
Crossings near the San Rafael Transit Center and along the corridors feeding US-101 see people on foot navigating wide, fast streets. Where Sir Francis Drake Boulevard carries quick traffic toward Ross and San Anselmo, pedestrians crossing to reach businesses or bus stops face drivers who are not expecting them. Near the I-580 and Bellam Boulevard approach to the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge, high vehicle speeds make any pedestrian impact especially dangerous. Under California law, drivers owe a high duty of care to people in crosswalks, but that duty is too often ignored.
Insurers Blame the Pedestrian — We Push Back
After a pedestrian crash, the driver's insurer frequently argues that the victim darted out, crossed against a signal, or wore dark clothing. California's pure comparative negligence rule allows recovery even if the pedestrian was partly at fault, with the award reduced by their share — but insurers exploit it to slash payouts. The reality is that drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and exercise care near schools, transit stops, and downtown blocks where people are expected.
Solid evidence beats these arguments. We obtain the police report, locate witnesses, examine signal timing and sight lines, and look for nearby business or traffic camera footage. Prompt, thorough treatment at MarinHealth Medical Center in Greenbrae both protects your health and creates the medical record that links your injuries — fractures, head trauma, internal injuries — to the collision.
California Deadlines and the Marin County Court
Most California pedestrian injury claims must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. If a dangerous public road condition, a poorly designed crossing, or a government vehicle contributed, you may have only six months to file a government claim under Government Code section 911.2. Because crossing design and signal evidence can change, early investigation matters. Marin County lawsuits are filed at the Marin County Superior Court at the Civic Center on North San Pedro Road. MMG Law Firm builds each pedestrian case carefully and is prepared to take it before a Marin jury when an insurer refuses to be fair.
Our attorney
How Mihran M. Ghazaryan helps with pedestrian accidents
Pedestrian injuries are usually severe, and the right-of-way analysis is everything. Mihran M. Ghazaryan investigates the crosswalk, signal timing, and roadway conditions, and where a city vehicle or dangerous public road is involved he protects the short six-month government-claim deadline that can otherwise end a case before it starts. He coordinates your care and documents the full extent of your losses.
Types of pedestrian accidents we handle
Crosswalk strikes
Marked or unmarked, California pedestrians retain right-of-way. We identify the sight-line failures and signal timing that tell the real story.
Parking-lot and back-over collisions
Often involve fleet vehicles, rideshare drivers, or delivery contractors. Surveillance footage matters and disappears fast.
Hit-and-run pedestrian claims
Your own UM/UIM policy may reach. Even when the driver is unidentified, recovery is often possible.
Damages
What compensation can cover
Every pedestrian accident claim is different, but California law allows injured plaintiffs to seek several categories of damages. We build each one with documentation — medical records, wage statements, expert opinions — so nothing is left on the table.
Medical expenses
Emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and the future treatment your providers say you'll need.
Lost wages
Income you lost while recovering — and, where the injury affects your ability to work, diminished future earning capacity.
Pain and suffering
Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and the ways the injury has changed how you live day to day.
Property damage
Repair or replacement of your vehicle and other property damaged in the incident.
Out-of-pocket costs
Transportation to appointments, medical equipment, household help, and the other expenses an injury forces on you.
How we work
- 1
Free, no-pressure consultation
We listen first. We answer your questions. There is no fee for the initial conversation — and you decide whether to engage us at the end of it.
- 2
Investigation and evidence preservation
Police reports, scene photos, witness statements, vehicle data, surveillance video, medical records. The earlier we collect, the harder it is for the other side to reshape the story later.
- 3
Treatment, demand, and negotiation
We coordinate with your providers, document the full extent of damages — medical, lost income, pain — and present a demand backed by evidence. We push back firmly when an insurer lowballs.
- 4
Litigation when necessary
Most matters settle. When an insurer refuses to be reasonable, we file. Preparing every case as if it will be tried is what makes the settlement number move.
What to do right away
- Accept emergency medical evaluation on scene, even if you can walk.
- Take photos of the location — crosswalk, signs, signals — and the vehicle's resting position.
- Get witness names; pedestrian witnesses are common but rarely contacted by police.
- Save the clothing you were wearing — it may be evidence.
- Call us before giving any statement.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
Deadlines that matter
Most California personal-injury claims must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). Miss the window and the court will almost always dismiss the case, no matter how strong it is.
Claims against government entities are much shorter — generally a written claim within six months (Government Code §911.2). Crashes involving city vehicles, public buses, or dangerous public-road conditions can fall under this rule.
Exceptions exist in both directions — discovery rules, minors, continuing violations, out-of-state defendants — so don't assume your deadline has passed or that you have time to spare. Call (818) 539-7969 and we'll tell you exactly where you stand.