Glendale Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Injured as a pedestrian in Glendale? Court House Lawyers helps you recover compensation for your injuries and long-term care. We deal with the insurance company so you can focus on healing.
- ✓ No Fee Unless We Win
- ✓ Direct Attorney Access
- ✓ Free Same-Day Case Review
You Were Doing Everything Right. Now You're the One Paying.
A pedestrian accident isn’t a fender bender. It’s an ambulance ride, an ICU bill, weeks or months out of work, plastic surgery consultations, physical therapy, and a kind of pain that doesn’t show up on an X-ray. While you’re trying to heal, the driver’s insurance company is already moving against you, looking for any reason to argue you stepped off the curb too fast, were on your phone, weren’t in a marked crosswalk, or are somehow partly to blame for the car that hit you.
Glendale has a documented pedestrian safety problem. The California Office of Traffic Safety ranks Glendale near the top ten in the state for pedestrian accident risks, with close to 100 pedestrians injured or killed in vehicle collisions in the area each year. According to the City of Glendale, pedestrian deaths account for more than 24 percent of all traffic-related fatalities in California, a rate that consistently outpaces the national average. And as one of only six California cities authorized under AB 645 for automated speed enforcement cameras, the city has formally acknowledged that vehicle speed near pedestrians is a serious and measurable local problem.
California protects pedestrians. Under California Vehicle Code §21950, drivers shall yield the right of way to pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks at intersections, but pedestrians also must use reasonable care. Under AB 2147, the Freedom to Walk Act of 2023, officers generally cannot stop a pedestrian for certain crossing violations unless a reasonably careful person would recognize an immediate danger of collision. That means an insurer cannot fairly assume you are automatically at fault simply because you were outside a marked crosswalk. Also under California’s pure comparative fault rule, you can still recover compensation even if you were partly at fault, even if you are mostly at fault. The percentage just reduces your award.
You may have only two years from the date you were hit to file a claim. If a city, county, or state vehicle, employee, or roadway is involved, that deadline can drop to six months under California’s Government Tort Claims Act. Every day matters. Every day the insurance company gets to talk to you without your attorney costs you leverage, and not filing a claim within statute can cost you the case
You May Have a Pedestrian Accident Case If:
- A driver hit you in or near a crosswalk
- You were hit while crossing outside a crosswalk but traffic conditions made crossing reasonably safe
- A dangerous roadway, broken signal, or poor lighting contributed to the crash
- The driver did not have insurance
- A turning vehicle failed to yield
- The driver was speeding, distracted, drunk, or ran a red light
- The driver failed to stop or fled the scene
- A public entity (city bus, county road, broken signal) contributed to the accident
Common Causes of Glendale Pedestrian Accidents
Understanding what caused your accident matters. It determines who is liable, whether multiple parties share responsibility, and how strong your claim is. In our experience handling pedestrian cases across Glendale and Los Angeles County, the most common causes include:
📱 Distracted Driving
Drivers texting, using navigation apps, eating, or adjusting controls are among the leading causes of pedestrian strikes. Distraction removes reaction time entirely.
🚗 Speeding
A vehicle traveling at 35 mph is dramatically more likely to kill a pedestrian than one traveling at 20 mph. Speed also reduces the driver's stopping distance and field of awareness.
🚦 Failure to Yield
Drivers who roll through crosswalks or make turns without checking for pedestrians are violating Vehicle Code §21950, regardless of whether they had a green light.
🔴 Running Red Lights
Intersection violations are a leading cause of pedestrian fatalities in urban areas like Glendale.
🍺 Drunk / Impaired Driving
DUI crashes involving pedestrians frequently result in punitive damages on top of full compensation, because the conduct goes beyond negligence.
🏗️ Poor Road Conditions
Faded crosswalk markings, broken signals, inadequate lighting, and missing curb cuts can make a public entity (the City of Glendale or Caltrans) a liable party in your case.
⚙️ Vehicle Defects
When a mechanical failure, such as defective brakes, faulty steering, or lighting failure, contributed to the driver's inability to stop, they can still be held liable as the one operating a defective vehicle.
🏃 Hit-and-Run
Glendale and greater Los Angeles have among the highest hit-and-run rates in California. These cases are still recoverable through your own uninsured motorist coverage and through investigation. Having an attorney by your side matters because even your own insurance may not want to pay.
Why Choose Court House Lawyers After a Glendale Pedestrian Accident
We handle every part of your claim: investigating, identifying every liable party, preserving evidence, dealing with insurance, and taking the case to court if needed.
You focus on healing. We do the rest.
Direct Attorney Access
Fast, clear communication. You speak with the attorney handling your case not just a paralegal or legal assistant at every stage.
Free Same-Day Case Review
Free, no-obligation evaluation usually within hours. We tell you clearly our assessment of your case and what it may be worth.
No Fee Unless We Win
If we don't recover for you, you owe us nothing. Zero out-of-pocket cost to start. Our goals are completely aligned with yours.
What We Recover for Glendale Pedestrian Accident Victims
California recognizes both economic and non-economic damages. We pursue every category that applies to your case.
Economic Damages
(Bills & Lost Income)
- Emergency room, surgery, and hospital costs
- Chiropractic care, physical therapy, pain management, and rehabilitation
- Plastic surgery, scar revision, and reconstructive procedures
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Property damage (clothing, phone, glasses, mobility aids)
- Out-of-pocket costs (rideshares, prescriptions, home modifications)
Non-Economic Damages
(What It Really Cost You)
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent scarring, disfigurement, and disability
- Emotional distress, anxiety, and PTSD
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium for spouses
- Long-term future medical care, physical therapy, and rehabilitation
- The need for future plastic surgery, scar revision, and reconstructive procedures
- Future medical treatment for ongoing or permanent conditions
- Future lost wages and lost earning capacity
Wrongful Death: When a pedestrian accident results in a fatality, surviving family members may bring a wrongful death claim under California CCP §377.60. In some cases, a separate survival action may also be available. The deadline can be two years from the date of death, or six months if a public entity is involved.
Court House Lawyers vs. A Typical PI Firm
| Court House Lawyers | Typical PI Firm | |
|---|---|---|
|
Case Review |
Same day, often within hours |
2–3 business days |
|
Attorney Access |
You speak directly with the attorney on your case |
Routed through a legal assistant or paralegal |
|
Evidence Preservation |
Same-day requests for traffic camera, business surveillance, rideshare dashcam footage |
Often delayed, and footage is gone or overwritten by then |
|
Insurance Strategy |
We treat the adjuster as the opposing party from day one |
Many firms accept early offers to close files faster |
|
Government Claims |
We file Government tort claims within the 6-month window |
Many firms miss the short deadline entirely |
|
Trial Readiness |
Every case prepared for trial; and the insurers know it |
Settlement-only firms get lower offers |
|
Fees |
No win, no fees. Period. |
Can say the same, but watch for hidden costs at settlement |
George Mkrtchyan
Managing Attorney
- 🏆 Insider Weekly 2025: Awarded Best Personal Injury Lawyer in Los Angeles
- ⭐ 5.0 Average · 45+ Google Reviews
- 💼 10+ Years in California Courts
- ⚖️ State Bar of California #339099
Aggressive Negotiation.
Willingness to Go to Trial.
Every Client Speaks Directly With Him.
George Mkrtchyan is the Managing Attorney of Court House Lawyers, a Glendale-based personal injury firm. Over the past decade, George has recovered millions for clients in personal injury and consumer protection cases; including pedestrian accidents, vehicle collisions, premises liability, and dog bite claims.
He is known for an aggressive negotiation style, a willingness to take cases to trial when insurers underpay, and a client-first approach.
“Insurance companies bank on fear and fatigue. They count on you accepting a fast, low offer because you’re tired and hurting. Our job is to make sure you don’t have to fight that fight alone.”
— George Mkrtchyan, Managing Attorney
$500 → $50,000
A 50-year-old woman in Glendale came to us after being injured in a school bus collision while waiting to pick up her grandchildren. The insurance company had offered $500 to close the file. We rebuilt the case from the medical records up. Final recovery: $50,000. This is the difference experienced representation makes.
Real Results for California Personal Injury Clients
Personal Injury · Car Accident
85% Fault Reversed to 0%
Client was initially assigned 85% fault in a left-turn collision. After George and case manager Grant Abdazhyan took over, the fault assignment was reversed to zero and the client recovered full compensation.
Personal Injury · Car Accident
Largest Share in 3-Party Collision
Three people were injured in the same accident. One represented by Court House Lawyers. One by a big Personal Injury Firm in LA; and one without an attorney. Our client received the largest individual recovery of the three — the result of aggressive early documentation and a client-first strategy.
Personal Injury · Rideshare
$0 → $35,000 in 30 Days
Client injured in an Uber accident initially received nothing from the insurer. Court House Lawyers secured a $35,000 settlement within 30 days of filing a lawsuit.
Personal Injury · UIM Arbitration
Full Policy Limits Won
Out-of-state underinsured motorist policy. The insurer refused to pay fairly. Court House Lawyers demanded arbitration and secured the full policy limits for the client.
Personal Injury · Car Accident
$500 Offer → $50,000 Recovery
Client was offered $500 after a school bus accident. Court House Lawyers filed suit and recovered $50,000 — 100x the original offer.
Every case is different. These are examples of what resolution has looked like for our clients. Past results are specific to the facts of each case and do not guarantee future outcomes. Every personal injury matter is evaluated on its own merits.
What Our Clients Say
Don't hesitate to reach out to George. He's a true lifesaver.
What Working With Us Looks Like
A free, same-day case review
Tell us what happened and we'll give you our honest assessment. You'll hear what the case might be worth and what to do next, even if you don't hire us.
Direct attorney representation
You won’t be passed off to a junior associate or a legal assistant. The attorney handles your case.
Aggressive insurance negotiation.
We treat the driver’s insurance carrier as the opposing party from day one, because they are.
Evidence preserved before it disappears
Traffic camera footage, business surveillance, rideshare dashcams, and 911 audio are often deleted in days. We send preservation requests immediately.
Vetted medical referrals.
If you don’t have a doctor or you can’t afford specialist care, we connect you with experienced providers in Glendale or near you who treat injury victims on a lien basis, with no upfront cost.
Documentation we handle for you.
Police reports, Glendale PD records, hospital records, witness statements, expert reports, lost-wage verification, we gather and organize everything.
Government claims filed on time.
If a city, county, or state vehicle or roadway is involved, we file the required tort claim within California’s 6-month window.
Trial preparation as the default.
Insurance carriers offer more when they know we’ll go to court. Most cases still settle early, but at higher numbers because of it.
No money out of your pocket
No upfront costs. No hourly bills. No win, no fee.
How a Glendale Pedestrian Accident Case Works
1. Free Case Review
We talk through what happened. Where the injury occurred, who hit you, what injuries you've suffered, what treatment you've had. You walk away knowing our evaluation of the case and what it can be worth.
2. Investigation & Evidence Preservation
We send same-day preservation letters for traffic cameras, business surveillance, rideshare dashcam footage, and 911 audio. We pull the police report, identify witnesses, and map every party who may be liable: driver, employer, vehicle owner, property owner, and any public entity responsible for the roadway.
3. Damages Documentation
We document your injuries, treatment, lost wages, pain and suffering, and projected future medical needs — including plastic surgery, ongoing physical therapy, and trauma therapy. We work with treating physicians and expert witnesses where needed.
4. Demand & Negotiation
We send a complete demand package to the responsible insurance carrier with a clear picture of what happened and what your case is worth. Insurance companies almost always start low. We push back with documentation, comparable verdicts, and a clear willingness to file suit. At the end, most cases resolve for policy limits.
5. Litigation, If Needed
If the carrier refuses to pay what your case is worth, we file. We've prepared every case from day one as if it's going to court. That preparation is exactly why most cases never have to go — but when they do, we're ready.
Don't Have Health Insurance? Your Own Auto Policy May Pay Your Pedestrian Medical Bills.
- Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay) pays your medical bills regardless of fault, often up to $5,000–$25,000 depending on your policy.
- Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM) pays your damages when the driver who hit you has no insurance, not enough insurance, or fled the scene.
- In California, using your UIM coverage should not be used to raise your rates or make you uninsurable.
- We pull your policy as part of every case to ensure no available coverage is left on the table.
Common Questions About California Pedestrian Accident Claims
What if the driver had the green light?
You may still have a case. Drivers in California have a continuing duty under Vehicle Code §21950(c) to use reasonable care to avoid hitting a pedestrian. A green light is not a license to hit someone. Speed, distraction, visibility, and signal timing often shift fault.
The driver fled. Now what?
Hit-and-runs are still recoverable. We pursue every available source: traffic camera ID, business surveillance, license plate witnesses, and your own UM coverage if the driver is never identified. Don’t assume a hit-and-run means no recovery.
The insurance company called with an offer. Should I take it?
Use caution. The first offer is almost always well below what the case is worth — they’re trying to close the file before you understand the long-term cost of your injuries. Talk to us first. Free. No obligation.
How long do I have to file?
Generally 2 years from the date of the collision for most claims; and generally 6 months if a city, county, or state vehicle is involved. You can have until age 20 if the injured pedestrian was a minor. The earlier we get involved, the more leverage we have.
I wasn't in a crosswalk. Can I still recover?
Yes. Under AB 2147 (Freedom to Walk Act, 2022), crossing outside a marked crosswalk is no longer automatically illegal if it was reasonably safe. California’s pure comparative fault rule also means you can recover even if you were partly at fault — your award is simply reduced by your percentage.
The car was a city bus or county vehicle. Does that change anything?
Yes — the deadlines get much shorter. When a public entity is involved, you may only have six months under California’s Government Tort Claims Act to file a formal claim. Miss this deadline and the case may be over. We file these quickly and correctly.
I don't have health insurance. How do I get treatment?
We work with Glendale-area providers who treat pedestrian accident victims on a lien basis — no upfront cost. They get paid out of your settlement at the end. Your own auto policy may also include MedPay coverage.
What does this cost me?
Nothing upfront. We work on contingency — if we don’t recover for you, you don’t pay. If we do, our fee comes out of the settlement, not your treatment funds. No hourly bills. No out-of-pocket costs to start.
What to Do Right After a Glendale Pedestrian Accident
Call 911
Get medical attention immediately, even if you feel "OK." Internal injuries and concussions often present hours later.
Get Driver Info
Name, license, plate number, insurance info, and contact for any passengers. Photograph everything you can.
Document the Scene
Photograph your injuries, the vehicle, the road conditions, traffic signals, and any skid marks or debris.
Get Witness Info
Names and phone numbers of every witness. Their statements can be critical to proving fault.
File a Police Report
Report to Glendale Police Department, or LAPD/CHP if outside city limits. Get the report number.
Don't Give Statements
Do not give any statement to the driver's insurance company. Anything you say can be used to reduce your claim.
Don't Sign Anything
Don't sign any release or settlement until you've spoken with an attorney. Initial offers are almost always far too low.
Call Us First
Call (818) 293-8293 before doing anything else. Free, same-day review. We tell you exactly where you stand.
10
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS
Trusted Glendale pedestrian accident attorney known for winning tough cases and securing top results for clients.
Hit in Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena,
or Anywhere in California?
You didn’t ask for this. You shouldn’t be paying for it. From our Glendale
office, we represent pedestrian accident victims across California —
including Burbank, Pasadena, La Cañada, La Crescenta, Eagle Rock, Tujunga,
Atwater Village, and the greater Los Angeles area.