Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents are among the most devastating traffic incidents. Without any protective barrier between them and a vehicle, pedestrians who are struck often suffer catastrophic, life-altering injuries. San Francisco, with its dense urban environment, heavy foot traffic, and complex intersections, sees a disproportionately high number of pedestrian accidents each year.

The causes of pedestrian accidents in San Francisco range from distracted driving and failure to yield at crosswalks to dangerous intersection designs, inadequate pedestrian signal timing, and poorly maintained sidewalks. In many cases, the city, county, or state government bears some responsibility for maintaining unsafe conditions that contribute to pedestrian injuries.

The Brandi Law Firm has extensive experience representing pedestrians injured on San Francisco streets. Our founder's background as a former Caltrans attorney gives us unique insight into how government agencies design and maintain roads and pedestrian infrastructure -- and where they fall short. We use this knowledge to identify government liability that other firms might miss.

If you or a loved one has been struck by a vehicle while walking, jogging, or crossing the street in San Francisco or the Bay Area, we can help. Our attorneys will investigate the accident, identify all responsible parties, and fight for the compensation you need to recover.

California Vehicle Code section 21950 requires drivers to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in both marked and unmarked crosswalks. Drivers approaching pedestrians in crosswalks must exercise all due care and reduce speed or take any other action necessary for the safety of the pedestrian.

Government entities such as the City and County of San Francisco, Caltrans, and SFMTA may be liable for pedestrian injuries caused by dangerous conditions including inadequate crosswalk signal timing, missing crosswalks at dangerous intersections, poor street lighting, and defective sidewalks. Claims against government entities require filing an administrative claim, typically within six months.

California's comparative negligence system applies to pedestrian accidents. Even if a pedestrian was partially at fault (for example, jaywalking), they may still recover compensation, though the award may be reduced proportionally. Our attorneys work to minimize any fault attributed to the injured pedestrian.