Injured while walking in Palmdale, CA? Contact a trusted Palmdale pedestrian accident lawyer to seek justice and compensation.
When a car strikes a pedestrian, there is nothing to absorb the impact. Victims often suffer head injuries, broken legs and hips, and internal injuries that lead to long hospital stays and months away from work. Palmdale’s wide, fast roads like Palmdale Boulevard, Rancho Vista Boulevard, and 10th Street West can be dangerous to cross, especially near the Antelope Valley Mall, the Palmdale Transportation Center, and local schools. Drivers who speed, fail to yield, or look down at their phones put people on foot at serious risk. Afterward, insurance companies frequently try to blame the pedestrian for where or how they were crossing.
At Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accidents Lawyers, our injury attorneys have protected injured pedestrians throughout Palmdale and the Antelope Valley since 1971. We know how to push back when insurers try to shift fault onto you, and we gather traffic camera footage, witness statements, and crash scene evidence to show what really happened. Our results include a $1,000,000 settlement for a pedestrian who suffered a traumatic brain injury, even after the insurer claimed only a $50,000 policy was available. We fight for the full compensation you need so you can focus on healing and supporting your family.
Get a complimentary consultation and discover how our Palmdale pedestrian accident attorneys can help you seek the compensation and justice you deserve.
Do You Need a Palmdale Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?
If a vehicle hit you in Palmdale and you needed medical attention, the answer is yes. The driver’s insurance company has already assigned an adjuster whose sole job is to close your claim for as little as possible.
We only represent injury victims, never insurance companies. That distinction changes every conversation we have with an insurer.
You likely need a Palmdale pedestrian accident attorney if:
- The insurer contacted you first: They want a recorded statement before you understand your rights or the full extent of your injuries.
- You required emergency care: Medical costs from pedestrian accidents climb fast, and an emergency room visit rarely captures what long-term recovery will cost.
- The driver fled the scene: Hit-and-run crashes require a recovery strategy most people don’t know is available to them.
- You are being blamed for crossing outside a crosswalk: California still protects you even if you share some of the fault.
“The insurance company has been building a case against the injured party from day one.” – Mark Anderson
What Palmdale Pedestrian Accident Cases Look Like
Palmdale’s roads were built for vehicles, not people on foot. Wide arterials like Avenue S, Sierra Highway, and 10th Street West move cars fast through stretches with sparse crosswalks and poor lighting, conditions that consistently produce serious pedestrian injuries.
The auto crashes we handle most often are caused by:
- Drivers turning right on red without checking for pedestrians in the crosswalk
- Distracted driving through commercial zones near the Antelope Valley Mall
- Speeding along Palmdale Boulevard and Avenue P
- Late-night DUI collisions
- Failure to yield at marked intersections
One pattern we consistently see in Palmdale pedestrian claims is evening crashes on Palmdale Boulevard and Avenue S near bus stops and shopping centers, where people cross mid-block because the nearest signal is far away. Most of these clients are taken to Palmdale Regional Medical Center or the trauma center at Antelope Valley Medical Center with leg, pelvis, or head injuries. The driver’s insurer almost always argues the pedestrian was at fault for crossing outside a crosswalk, so we look at lighting, sight lines, and the driver’s speed before that argument can take hold.
What Your Palmdale Pedestrian Case Could Be Worth
No honest attorney puts a number on your case before your injuries stabilize and liability is proven. Anyone who does is guessing.
What we can tell you is this: insurers make fast, low offers designed to close claims before your injuries are fully understood. In one case we handled, J.L., a 24-year-old Palmdale resident, was struck by a car while crossing the street at night and suffered serious leg injuries. The at-fault driver’s insurer offered its $15,000 policy limit. We took special steps to invalidate the liability limit of the policy, and the case settled at mediation for $225,000.
Three factors determine what your case is ultimately worth:
- Medical severity: The more serious and lasting the injury, the greater the economic damages.
- Lost earning capacity: If your injuries reduce your ability to work long-term, that future loss is recoverable.
- Liability clarity: A clean liability case creates negotiating leverage. When fault is disputed, we build it with evidence.
“Insurance companies want to hold onto their money as long as they can, and as much of it as they can.” – Mark Anderson
What Compensation You Can Recover under California Law
California law allows injured pedestrians to pursue two categories of damages.
Economic damages cover measurable financial losses:
- Emergency treatment, surgery, imaging, and ongoing physical therapy
- Projected future medical costs as your injuries evolve
- Wages lost during recovery, and future earning capacity if the injury is permanent
Non-economic damages cover losses that don’t come with a bill:
- Physical pain and suffering over the course of your recovery
- Emotional distress, anxiety, and loss of enjoyment of daily life
In cases where a driver acted with a conscious disregard for safety, such as driving drunk, California courts may also award punitive damages, additional money imposed to punish conduct that goes beyond ordinary negligence.
How Our Fees Work and Why Net Recovery Matters
We handle every pedestrian case on a contingency fee basis. No upfront costs. No hourly billing. You pay us nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
But the real question isn’t just how much we win. It’s what you keep.
Medical liens are formal claims placed on your settlement by hospitals, insurers, and programs like Medi-Cal. They are legitimate debts, but their initial amounts are routinely inflated. We negotiate every lien before disbursement, show you the math at every step, and protect your take-home amount the same way we protect your case.
Winning matters. But what you keep matters more.
“I couldn’t be more grateful for Kuzyk Law because from the moment I reached out, they treated me with compassion and professionalism, and they truly took the time to understand my situation, which made me feel heard and supported. Not only did they keep me updated throughout the entire process, but they also explained every step in a way that was easy to understand, which gave me so much peace of mind. Thanks to their dedication and hard work, I was able to focus on healing while they fought to get me the compensation I deserved.” – Ken A.
What Happens if You Were Outside a Crosswalk?
California follows a legal standard called pure comparative negligence. Under this rule, you can recover compensation even if you were partly responsible for the accident, including if you were crossing mid-block or against a signal.
Your final award is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found 15% responsible in a $400,000 case, you can still recover $340,000. Insurers use this rule strategically to inflate your share of blame, and we fight back with evidence, witness accounts, and accident reconstruction experts when necessary.
Who Pays When the Driver Is Uninsured or Flees?
This is the first question most Palmdale pedestrians ask after a hit-and-run, and it has a real answer.
Your own auto insurance likely includes Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, which applies to you as a pedestrian struck by a car, not only when you are behind the wheel. When the at-fault driver disappears or carries no insurance, your UM/UIM policy is typically the first source of financial recovery.
Beyond your own policy, we investigate every party who may share liability:
- An employer, if the driver was working at the time of the crash
- A business that sold alcohol to an obviously intoxicated driver under 21
- A government agency, if unsafe road design or a failed signal played a role
What we see across the hit-and-run pedestrian claims we handle in the Antelope Valley is that many people do not know their own auto policy can cover them on foot. Because California requires physical contact and a report to the Sheriff’s Station or CHP within 24 hours for uninsured motorist coverage after a hit-and-run, we confirm that the report was made and help clients file the sworn statement their insurer requires within 30 days.
Steps to Take After a Palmdale Pedestrian Accident
Evidence disappears quickly. Surveillance footage from businesses along Palmdale Boulevard gets overwritten in days. Here is what to do before that happens.
Call 911 and Get a Police Report
Request a written collision report from the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station. It is one of the most important documents we will use to build your case.
Document the Scene Before Leaving
Photograph the vehicle, the license plate, the driver’s insurance card, skid marks, and any crosswalk markings or traffic signals. Get witness names and phone numbers before they leave.
Get Medical Attention That Same Day
Concussions, spinal injuries, and internal bleeding often don’t produce immediate symptoms. Any gap between the accident and your first medical visit will be used by the insurer to argue your injuries weren’t serious.
Do Not Give a Recorded Statement
The driver’s insurer will call you quickly. You are not required to provide a statement, and doing so without an attorney consistently costs injured people money.
Call Us
We send preservation letters to nearby businesses with cameras, pull the police report, retain reconstruction experts when fault is disputed, and start the medical documentation process from day one.
“One of the worst things somebody not represented by an attorney can do is give a statement to the insurance company. They’re professionals at asking questions in order to trap you and make your case look bad.” – Mark Anderson
How Long You Have to File in California
In California, the statute of limitations for a pedestrian injury lawsuit is two years from the date of the accident.
If a government entity is involved, such as the City of Palmdale, Caltrans, or an AVTA bus, that deadline shortens to six months to file a formal government tort claim. Missing that deadline eliminates your right to recovery regardless of how strong your case is. If a public road defect contributed to your crash, do not wait to contact us.
Where Palmdale Pedestrian Cases Are Filed
Pedestrian accident lawsuits involving Palmdale crashes are filed at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, specifically at the Michael D. Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse, 42011 4th Street West in Lancaster. Our office at 1700 W. Avenue K has been minutes from that courthouse since 1971. We know the local judges, the local docket, and the patterns that move pedestrian cases forward, a practical advantage when a case reaches litigation.
For Families Who Lost Someone in a Fatal Pedestrian Crash
When a loved one is killed by a negligent driver, California allows certain family members, such as a spouse, children, or other dependents, to file a wrongful death claim. These cases can recover funeral and burial costs, the financial support your family has lost, and the value of the love and companionship that cannot be replaced.
We handle these matters with precision, tenacity, and the care this kind of loss demands.
Call (661) 945-6969 to speak with a Palmdale wrongful death attorney today.
“Working with Kuzyk Law was a tremendous relief because they immediately stepped in and handled everything with such care and expertise, and I instantly felt like I had a strong team on my side. They were always available to answer my questions, which made the whole process feel much less overwhelming, and they consistently kept me informed so I never felt left in the dark. Their determination to fight for my best interests was evident from start to finish, and I am beyond thankful for the outcome they achieved.” – Kate S.
Get a Free Palmdale Case Review
No charge. No obligation. No pressure. We answer the phone around the clock, serve Spanish-speaking clients, and have worked alongside Palmdale families from our Lancaster office for over 50 years. More than 80% of our clients have historically come from referrals. That trust is earned, not advertised.
Call Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accidents Lawyers at (661) 945-6969. We are available 24 hours a day, and our office is at 1700 W. Avenue K, Lancaster, CA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I Owe Any Fees if Kuzyk Doesn’t Win My Pedestrian Accident Case?
No. Our contingency fee means you owe us nothing (no attorney fees and no case costs) unless we recover compensation for you.
Should I Accept the First Settlement Offer from the Driver’s Insurer?
No. First offers rarely account for the full scope of your injuries, especially before treatment is complete. We review every offer against your documented losses before making any recommendation.
What if the Police Report Lists Me as Partly at Fault?
A police report is not the final word on liability. We investigate independently, pulling surveillance footage, witness statements, and expert analysis, to build our own account of what happened.
What if I Don’t Have Health Insurance to Pay for My Injuries?
Many medical providers in the Antelope Valley treat on a lien basis, providing care now and getting paid from your settlement later. We can connect you with appropriate treatment so an insurance gap doesn’t delay your recovery.
When Is a City, Caltrans, or AVTA Responsible for a Pedestrian Crash?
A government entity may be liable when a defective road design, a broken traffic signal, or an absent crosswalk marking contributed to your accident. These claims require a government tort claim filed within six months, so contact us immediately if a public road or transit vehicle was involved.
How Long Does a Palmdale Pedestrian Accident Case Take to Resolve?
When liability is clear, claims often resolve more quickly. When fault is disputed or injuries are serious and litigation is necessary, cases can take much longer, and we will not pressure you to settle before your recovery is fully documented.