Legally Reviewed by Phillip Younglove, Esq. on August 5, 2026
Newport Beach Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Pedestrian accident claims stand apart from most personal injury cases because they almost always involve severe injuries. Unlike an occupant protected by a vehicle’s frame, seatbelt, and airbags, a pedestrian struck by a car has nothing standing between them and the full force of the impact. Many pedestrians endure two separate impacts, the initial collision with the vehicle and a second impact when they strike the pavement, and both contribute to the severity of the resulting injuries.
At Younglove Law Group, our Newport Beach personal injury attorneys have recovered over $60 million for injured clients throughout California, bringing more than 20 years of combined legal experience to pedestrian accident claims. We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.
⚠ Time-Sensitive — California Law Limits Your Window to File
California’s statute of limitations for pedestrian accident claims is generally two years from the date of the accident. If a government entity is involved, you may have only six months to file a tort claim.
Younglove Law Group has recovered over $60 million for injured Californians over more than 20 years of combined legal experience. We handle pedestrian accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.
Call (949) 691-3660 for a Free Consultation
Common Locations for Pedestrian Accidents in Newport Beach
Newport Beach’s mix of dense pedestrian tourism and coastal roadways creates several recurring hotspots for pedestrian accidents. The Balboa Peninsula’s narrow streets see heavy foot traffic from beachgoers moving between parking, the sand, and the peninsula’s shops and restaurants, often with limited marked crosswalks. Fashion Island’s expansive parking structures and shopping walkways create constant vehicle and pedestrian crossings during peak retail hours. Pacific Coast Highway crossings near Crystal Cove and Corona del Mar carry fast-moving traffic through areas with significant pedestrian activity. The area surrounding the Newport Pier sees a steady mix of tourists, joggers, and cyclists crossing roadways to reach the beach.
California’s Crosswalk Law and Your Rights as a Pedestrian
Many people assume a crosswalk must be painted on the road to legally exist, but that is not the case. Under California Vehicle Code Section 21950, a crosswalk is legally defined as the portion of a roadway within the extension of sidewalk boundary lines at an intersection where roads meet at approximately right angles, whether or not it is marked, in addition to any portion of a roadway distinctly marked for pedestrian crossing. A crosswalk does not exist, however, where local authorities have posted signage prohibiting crossing.
In practical terms, this means you may have the right of way at an intersection even without painted lines on the pavement. Drivers are required to yield to pedestrians in these legally recognized crosswalks, and a driver’s failure to do so is strong evidence of negligence in a pedestrian accident claim.
Limited Insurance Coverage and Your Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Claim
Because pedestrian injuries tend to be severe, pedestrian accident claims often carry significant value, but the at-fault driver’s insurance rarely matches that value. California requires drivers to carry $30,000 in bodily injury coverage per person as of a 2025 increase in the state minimum, an amount that can still be exhausted quickly in a serious pedestrian injury case. Some drivers carry only this legal minimum, and others ignore the law entirely and carry no insurance at all.
If you are struck by a driver with no insurance, your own uninsured motorist coverage can step into the at-fault driver’s place and compensate you, even though you were on foot and not in a vehicle at the time. Most uninsured motorist policies only require that a vehicle was involved in the incident, not that you were driving one. Similarly, if the at-fault driver carries insurance but not enough to fully compensate you, your underinsured motorist coverage can cover the remaining balance owed. These claims are made against your own insurer rather than the at-fault party, and insurers handling underinsured and uninsured motorist claims can impose requirements that a standard third-party claim would not. Our attorneys know how to protect you from overreach by your own insurance company during this process.
Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accidents
Because pedestrians have limited ability to identify a fleeing vehicle, hit-and-run accidents are unfortunately common in pedestrian cases. When a hit-and-run driver cannot be located, your uninsured motorist coverage often becomes your only path to compensation, provided the vehicle made contact with you. This is one of the most important reasons every driver, and every pedestrian relying on their own auto policy, should carry uninsured motorist coverage.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Newport Beach Pedestrian Accident
In most cases, the driver who struck you bears primary liability for negligence such as speeding, distraction, failure to yield, or impairment. If a road design defect, obscured crosswalk, or malfunctioning traffic signal contributed to the accident, the City of Newport Beach or Caltrans may bear liability, which requires a government tort claim filed within six months. If the driver was working at the time, such as a delivery or rideshare driver, their employer’s commercial insurance may also be a source of recovery.
Injuries Commonly Suffered in Newport Beach Pedestrian Accidents
Because a pedestrian absorbs the full force of a collision without the protection of a vehicle, injuries are frequently severe. Our attorneys regularly handle cases involving traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, complex fractures, internal organ damage, severe road rash and lacerations, and lasting psychological trauma. In the most serious cases, a pedestrian accident results in a fatality, allowing surviving family members to pursue a wrongful death claim.
What Compensation Is Available After a Pedestrian Accident
California law allows injured pedestrians to pursue both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, ongoing rehabilitation, future medical care, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity. Non-economic damages compensate for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and the lasting impact of your injuries on your daily life. In cases involving particularly reckless conduct, such as a hit-and-run or an impaired driver, punitive damages may also be available.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Newport Beach
- Seek medical attention immediately. Visit Hoag Hospital Newport Beach or the nearest emergency facility even if you feel you were not seriously hurt. Same-day documentation strengthens your claim significantly.
- Call the police. An official accident report is critical evidence, particularly if the driver flees the scene or disputes what happened.
- Photograph the scene if you are able. Document the crosswalk or roadway conditions, the vehicle involved, your injuries, and any relevant signage.
- Collect witness information. Tourist-heavy areas like the Balboa Peninsula and Fashion Island often have independent witnesses nearby.
- Do not admit fault or discuss the accident with the driver’s insurer. Avoid statements that could be used to argue you were jaywalking before speaking with an attorney.
- Contact Younglove Law Group promptly. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses is often the strongest evidence in a pedestrian case and is frequently overwritten within days.
Statute of Limitations for Newport Beach Pedestrian Accident Claims
Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, most pedestrian accident personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the date of the accident. If a government entity bears responsibility for a road or crosswalk defect, a government tort claim must be filed within six months of the accident date.
Missing either deadline typically bars your claim permanently. Contact Younglove Law Group as soon as possible after your accident to protect your rights.
Frequently Asked Questions About Newport Beach Pedestrian Accidents
Do I still have the right of way if the crosswalk wasn’t painted?
Yes, in many cases. California Vehicle Code Section 21950 defines a crosswalk as existing at most intersections where roads meet at right angles, whether or not it is marked with paint or signage. A driver’s failure to yield to you in a legally recognized but unmarked crosswalk can still support a negligence claim.
The driver who hit me only had the state minimum insurance. What are my options?
California’s minimum required insurance is $30,000 per person as of a 2025 increase, which can still be far less than the actual value of a serious pedestrian injury claim. Your own underinsured motorist coverage can make up the difference between what the at-fault driver’s policy pays and the full value of your claim. Our attorneys review your policy to identify every available source of compensation.
What if the driver who hit me fled the scene?
If a hit-and-run driver cannot be identified, your own uninsured motorist coverage can provide compensation as if the driver carried no insurance, provided the vehicle made contact with you. Our attorneys also work with law enforcement and pull available surveillance footage that may help identify the driver.
What if the police report says I was partly at fault?
A police report is not the final word on liability. California’s pure comparative fault system allows you to recover compensation even if you share some responsibility for the accident, with your award reduced by your percentage of fault rather than eliminated. Our attorneys conduct an independent investigation and are prepared to challenge an inaccurate fault determination.
How long do I have to file a pedestrian accident claim in California?
Most pedestrian accident claims must be filed within two years of the date of the accident under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. If a government entity is involved, a tort claim must be filed within six months. Missing either deadline typically bars your claim permanently.
How much does it cost to hire a Newport Beach pedestrian accident lawyer?
Younglove Law Group handles all pedestrian accident cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you, and we advance all costs of investigating and litigating your claim. If your case does not resolve in your favor, you owe us nothing.
Call (949) 691-3660 for a Free Consultation
We are available 24/7. We care about your situation and want you to understand your legal options.
Younglove Law Group also handles Newport Beach car accident claims, motorcycle accident claims, bicycle accident claims, and wrongful death claims throughout the city.
- Client satisfaction is our top priority.
- We pride ourselves on responsiveness and always get back to you the same day you contact us.
- We are a real law firm, not a referral service.
- Your case will be handled by experienced legal professionals.
- Your case will not be passed around with repeated changes to your primary contact.
Contact Younglove Law Group’s Newport Beach Pedestrian Accident Attorneys
Attorney Phillip Younglove earned his J.D. from USC Gould School of Law and his B.A. from UCLA. Before founding Younglove Law Group, he spent years as an insurance defense attorney representing carriers, giving our clients firsthand insight into how insurers evaluate and attempt to minimize pedestrian accident claims. That background, combined with over $60 million recovered for injured clients and recognition from Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, means your case is handled by attorneys who understand exactly how the other side builds its defense.
If you or a family member was injured as a pedestrian anywhere in Newport Beach, contact Younglove Law Group for a free consultation. Our attorneys will evaluate your case, explain your options, and begin building the strongest possible claim on your behalf.
