Concord Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
Pedestrians injured by negligent drivers may seek compensation for medical bills, lost income, and other losses under California law. Drivers must use reasonable care, even when pedestrians cross outside marked crosswalks.
Concord’s roads connect homes, shopping areas, and transit stops, where pedestrians often cross paths with turning vehicles. Accidents near intersections, commercial driveways, and freeway ramps may raise questions about driver visibility and right-of-way.
Arash Law handles pedestrian accident claims throughout Concord. Our attorneys review local crash reports, traffic signals, camera footage, and insurance coverage to identify responsible parties and support injury claims.
Reviewed by: Arash Khorsandi, Esq., California State Bar #249405, admitted 2007, last reviewed October 2026
We’ll review what happened and tell you what options may be available.
Or, get LIVE help now — call our free 24-hour accident hotline at (888) 488-1391
Recovered
Fees unless we win
Free case hotline
Statewide practice
Who Can File a Pedestrian Accident Claim in Concord?
Injured pedestrians may file a claim when another party caused the crash through negligence. Some family members may also have a claim, based on their legal rights.
Eligible claimants may include:
A spouse or registered domestic partner may claim loss of consortium. This covers harm to their relationship after a serious injury.
The type of claim affects who can file and which deadlines apply. A survival action and a wrongful death claim cover different losses.
Factors Affecting Pedestrian Accident Cases in Concord
Concord has busy roads linking homes, shops, schools, and transit stops. Each crash location has its own traffic patterns and possible sources of evidence.
The city has also studied where severe traffic injuries occur. Those reports may help explain road conditions, but they do not prove fault in a single crash.
Concord Pedestrian Accident Statistics
Concord adopted its Comprehensive Safety Action Plan on May 12, 2026. It covers collisions from 2021 through 2025 and names roads for possible safety work.
The city’s safety plan reports:
- 190 pedestrian-involved collisions, including 46 resulting in death or severe injury.
- 164 severe or fatal collisions involving all types of road users.
- Monument Boulevard, Clayton Road, Willow Pass Road, Concord Boulevard, and Treat Boulevard are among the priority corridors for safety improvements.
The 2025 data is still provisional.
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) also recorded 43 pedestrians killed or injured in Concord in 2023. Three were under age 15, and 11 were age 65 or older.
These statistics identify recorded injuries and broader safety concerns. They do not establish fault in a particular collision.
Roads and Intersections That May Affect a Claim
The road where a person was hit can shape an investigation. A lawyer may need traffic signal records, video from nearby stores, or photos of the crossing.
Monument Boulevard
Monument Boulevard runs past homes, stores, and many business driveways. Drivers may turn across sidewalks or crosswalks when entering shops or side streets.
Concord finished repaving parts of Monument Boulevard and Galindo Street in December 2025. The work included road markings and crosswalk changes near Laguna Street.
A crash in this area may call for photos of the crossing, signal records, and nearby video.
Clayton Road
Clayton Road connects central Concord with shops and homes farther east. Drivers and pedestrians meet at traffic lights, parking lot entrances, and crossings.
The city’s safety plan lists Clayton Road between SR-242 and Washington Boulevard as a priority area. A crash near Clayton Road and Galindo Street may involve signal timing or a driver’s view.
Willow Pass Road
Willow Pass Road links local streets with Interstate 680 (I-680) and other routes. Drivers entering or leaving freeway ramps may cross a pedestrian’s path.
The safety plan identifies Willow Pass Road between I-680 and Avila Road as a potential upgrade. Ideas include better lighting and safer crossings.
Concord Boulevard and Treat Boulevard
Both roads run near homes, businesses, and local travel routes. Concord’s safety plan lists parts of these roads for review.
Witness accounts, road markings, and traffic lights may help explain a collision at these locations.
What Crosswalk Laws Apply in Concord?
California law sets rules for drivers and people crossing streets. These rules can help show whether someone failed to use care.
Under California Vehicle Code (CVC) § 21950, drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks. The rule also covers unmarked crosswalks at eligible intersections.
Under CVC § 21954, pedestrians crossing outside a crosswalk generally must yield to vehicles. Drivers still must use reasonable care to avoid a collision.
Concord Municipal Code § 10.50.020 also requires people to use crosswalks when crossing roads in business districts.
A pedestrian who breaks a crossing rule may still recover damages. California law allows fault to be shared.
Who Investigates Pedestrian Accidents in Concord?
The Concord Police Department usually handles crashes on city streets. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) handles crashes on freeways and state routes within its area. Its Contra Costa Area office covers I-680, Highway 4, and State Route 242 (SR-242). Its office is at 5001 Blum Road in Martinez.
A police report may include driver details, witness names, diagrams, and officer findings. The agency that handles the crash keeps the report.
Where Can Injured Pedestrians Receive Medical Treatment in Concord?
John Muir Health’s Concord Medical Center provides emergency care at 2540 East Street. Patients with severe injuries may receive trauma care at John Muir Health’s Walnut Creek Medical Center, located at 1601 Ygnacio Valley Road.
The Walnut Creek facility is a Level II trauma center. Ambulance crews choose a hospital based on the patient’s needs and local transport rules.
Emergency notes, scans, surgery records, and discharge papers show the care a patient received. These records may also support an injury claim.
Where Are Concord Pedestrian Accident Lawsuits Filed?
If a pedestrian accident claim in Concord does not settle, the injured person may file a lawsuit in Contra Costa County Superior Court. The court handles personal injury cases at:
Wakefield Taylor Courthouse
725 Court Street
Martinez, CA 94553
The courthouse handles both limited and unlimited civil cases. Filing a lawsuit does not always lead to a trial, as the parties may still settle.
Injuries Concord Pedestrians Commonly Suffer
Pedestrian accidents can cause several injuries because people on foot have little protection from a vehicle impact. Some injuries require surgery, rehabilitation, or continued medical care.
Common injuries include:
Questions After A Pedestrian Accident?
Speak with our team about your situation.
What Damages Can You Recover from a Pedestrian Accident in Concord?
California law allows injured victims to seek payment for losses caused by another party. The amount depends on the injuries, proof of fault, and facts of the claim.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the quantifiable financial losses caused by the crash. These may include:
- Medical bills. Emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, medicine, and therapy.
- Future care. Needed treatment, medical equipment, and care at home.
- Lost wages. The income the injured victim has lost while unable to work.
- Lost earning ability. Future income the victim has lost due to an injury that limits work.
- Damaged property. Costs to repair or replace glasses, phones, clothes, or mobility aids.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages cover harm that has no fixed price. These may include:
- Pain and suffering. Pain caused by the injury and its treatment.
- Emotional distress. Anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other related symptoms.
- Loss of enjoyment of life. Limits on hobbies, family activities, and daily life.
- Scars or lasting changes. Changes to the person's body after the injury.
- Loss of consortium. Harm to a spouse's or registered partner's relationship with the injured person.
Wrongful Death and Survival Damages
Eligible family members may seek wrongful death damages after a fatal crash. These may cover:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Lost financial support
- Loss of companionship
A survival action covers certain losses incurred before death. It may include medical bills and lost income.
Under CCP § 377.34, cases filed in 2026 generally cannot seek the person’s pre-death pain and suffering. Certain cases filed earlier may still qualify under a past exception.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages punish conduct that meets a higher legal standard. Under Civil Code § 3294, a claim must involve malice, oppression, or fraud.
The person seeking these damages must provide clear and convincing proof. A simple mistake or failure to yield does not usually qualify.
How Insurance Covers a Concord Pedestrian Accident Claim
The responsible driver’s liability insurance is usually the first source of compensation after a pedestrian accident. Other policies may apply depending on the driver, vehicle, and collision.
Since January 1, 2025, California’s standard minimum auto liability coverage has been $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 for property damage.
Possible coverage includes:
- Driver’s Liability Insurance. The responsible driver’s policy may pay for injuries and related losses up to its coverage limits.
- Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage. An injured pedestrian may qualify for benefits under an applicable auto policy when the driver lacks insurance. UM coverage may also apply when a hit-and-run driver cannot be identified, subject to specific requirements.
- Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage. UIM benefits may apply when an injured pedestrian has coverage limits higher than the responsible driver’s liability limits. Payment generally requires exhaustion of applicable liability limits, and amounts paid by the responsible driver’s insurer reduce the available UIM benefits.
- Commercial Auto Insurance. A delivery driver or truck operator may have commercial coverage.
- Rideshare Insurance. Uber or Lyft coverage depends on the driver’s activity at the time of the collision.
Hit-and-run claims involving an unidentified driver generally require physical contact with the vehicle, a police report within 24 hours, and a sworn statement to the insurer within 30 days. These requirements differ from claims involving an identified driver who lacks insurance. Insurance Code § 11580.2.
Uninsured motorist claims have a separate two-year deadline. Under Insurance Code § 11580.2(i), the insured generally must file a lawsuit against the uninsured driver, reach an agreement with the insurer, or formally start arbitration within two years of the crash. Starting arbitration requires a written notice sent by certified mail, return receipt requested. Simply opening an insurance claim does not satisfy this rule. The deadline also applies to minors.
UM and UIM coverage are not included in every policy. The terms of each policy control which benefits are available.
What Happens During a Concord Pedestrian Accident Claim?
A Concord pedestrian accident claim usually involves investigating the collision, reviewing medical records, and negotiating with the insurance company. Some claims settle without a lawsuit, while others require court proceedings.
The process generally includes these stages:
- Initial Case Review: The attorney checks the crash details, injuries, possible claims, and key deadlines.
- Investigation and Liability Assessment: The legal team reviews police reports, video footage, witness statements, and road conditions. Records may come from Concord police, the CHP, or the city.
- Medical and Financial Review: Medical bills, work records, and care plans help show the costs of the injury. Long-term injuries may need further review.
- Insurance Negotiations: The attorney sends the claim to the insurer with supporting proof. The parties may discuss fault, policy limits, and settlement amounts.
- Lawsuit and Litigation: The attorney may file a case in Contra Costa County Superior Court. Both sides may exchange records, take sworn testimony, or try mediation before trial.
A case may settle in months or take longer. The timeline depends on medical care, disputed facts, and the number of parties involved.
How Fault Is Established in a Concord Pedestrian Accident Claim
A pedestrian must usually show that someone failed to use reasonable care and caused an injury. California Civil Code § 1714 sets the general duty to use care.
A negligence claim often involves proving the four elements of negligence:
- Duty: The driver owes a duty of reasonable care to persons on foot.
- Breach: The driver failed to meet that duty.
- Causation: The driver’s breach directly caused the collision and the pedestrian’s injuries.
- Damages: The pedestrian suffered quantifiable losses, including medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other compensable harm.
Driver negligence may involve:
- Failing to yield at a Monument Boulevard crosswalk.
- Making an unsafe turn near Clayton Road and Galindo Street.
- Speeding or driving too fast for conditions on Willow Pass Road.
- Using a phone while approaching a pedestrian crossing.
- Entering a driveway without checking for people on the sidewalk.
Evidence may include police reports, traffic footage, witness statements, vehicle damage, and road markings. The driver is not automatically responsible simply because a collision occurred. Investigators must consider the actions of everyone involved.
California’s Pure Comparative Fault Rule
California uses pure comparative fault under Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804. Each party’s share of fault affects the amount paid.
For example, a person crosses Monument Boulevard outside a crosswalk. A driver looking at a phone hits the person.
Suppose the court finds $200,000 in damages and assigns 25% of the fault to the pedestrian. The award drops to $150,000, before any other legal changes.
The court considers all the evidence when determining each party’s share.
Who Else May Be Liable for a Concord Pedestrian Accident?
The driver may not be the only person or group at fault. Other parties can share legal responsibility when their actions helped cause the injury.
These may include:
- Drivers. A driver may be responsible for speeding, distraction, unsafe turns, or failure to yield.
- Vehicle owners. CVC § 17150 may make an owner liable when someone drives their vehicle with permission. Legal limits apply.
- Employers. A business may be liable when an employee causes a crash while on the job.
- Rideshare drivers. A driver’s actions may give rise to a claim. The app status can affect insurance coverage.
- Public agencies. Concord, Contra Costa County, or the state may face a claim for a dangerous public road condition.
Government Code § 835 sets rules for unsafe public property claims. The claimant must prove that the condition helped cause the injury and that other legal tests are met.
For example, a broken walk signal may have contributed to a crash. Repair records and past complaints may show what the agency knew and when.
Filing Deadlines for Concord Pedestrian Accident Claims
California sets different time limits for injury claims, property damage claims, and claims against public agencies. A missed deadline may end the right to bring that claim.
- Two Years for Personal Injury: CCP § 335.1 generally gives an injured pedestrian two years from the injury date to file a lawsuit. Wrongful death lawsuits also generally have a two-year deadline, counted from the date of death. CCP § 352 generally pauses the ordinary personal injury lawsuit deadline while the injured person is under 18. However, minors remain subject to government-mandated claim presentation deadlines, which may require action within 6 months.
- Three Years for Property Damage: CCP § 338 generally gives a person three years to sue for damage to personal property. This may include damaged clothes, phones, glasses, or a mobility aid. The time limit is separate from the injury deadline.
Six Months for Government Injury Claims: Government Code § 911.2 generally requires a written injury claim to be filed within six months when a public agency may be liable.
The correct office depends on who controls the road or property:
- City of Concord. For claims involving city streets or signals, the City Attorney’s Office provides claim forms and filing guidance. City traffic staff may hold relevant road records.
- Contra Costa County. A claim about a county road may go through the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. County offices may hold repair records.
- State of California. For Caltrans-related injury claims of $12,500 or less, claimants may file directly with the appropriate Caltrans district. Claims exceeding $12,500 go through the Department of General Services Government Claims Program.
Before suing a public agency, you generally must file a government claim. Under Government Code § 945.6, a written rejection usually gives you six months to sue. If no notice is sent, you have 2 years from the date of the injury.
Missed the six-month claim deadline? Government Code § 911.4 allows a late-claim request, generally within one year of the injury. A police report does not count as a claim, and missed deadlines may bar your case.
Act early to protect evidence. Road conditions change, and surveillance video is often erased quickly. Our Concord personal injury lawyers can confirm your deadlines and preserve key evidence.
What Arash Law Has Recovered for Pedestrian and Traffic Accident Clients
Arash Law has obtained settlements and other recoveries for pedestrians injured in California traffic accidents. The following case results show different injuries and legal issues. They are not listed as Concord cases.
A 74-year-old client suffered serious injuries after a vehicle struck her while crossing the street. The case resolved for $12 million just before jury selection began.
These results are from California cases and are not identified as Concord-specific. Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome. Each case depends on its facts, evidence, and applicable law.
Why Concord Pedestrian Accident Victims Choose Arash Law
Arash Law has recovered over $1 billion for injured clients across California. Our attorneys also handle pedestrian claims involving disputed fault, work-vehicle claims, and claims arising from unsafe public roads.
For a Concord case, our team can:
Discuss Your Concord Pedestrian Accident Claim With Arash Law
If a vehicle struck you while walking in Concord, Arash Law can review the circumstances and explain your legal options. Our attorneys handle claims involving crosswalk collisions, parking lot accidents, commercial vehicles, and unsafe road conditions.
Call (888) 488-1391 for a free case evaluation. Our phone line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian Accidents in Concord
Can I Still Recover Compensation If I Was Crossing Outside a Marked Crosswalk?
Yes. You may recover compensation if the driver’s negligence contributed to your injuries. CVC § 21954 generally requires pedestrians crossing outside crosswalks to yield to vehicles. However, drivers must still use reasonable care to avoid collisions. Concord also requires pedestrians to use crosswalks in business districts under Municipal Code § 10.50.020. A pedestrian’s share of fault may reduce compensation, but it does not automatically prevent recovery.
What if the Driver Says They Did Not See Me?
A driver’s failure to see a pedestrian does not automatically excuse the collision. Drivers must watch the road, obey traffic signals, and use reasonable care near pedestrians. For example, a driver turning into a Clayton Road business may need to check the sidewalk before crossing it. Traffic footage, lighting conditions, vehicle speed, and witness statements may help establish whether the driver acted negligently.
The Driver Says I Stepped Out in Front of Their Vehicle. Does That End My Claim?
No. A driver’s allegation does not automatically establish that the pedestrian caused the accident. Evidence may show whether the driver was speeding, distracted, or had enough time to avoid the collision. Traffic footage, witness statements, and vehicle damage can help establish what happened. A lawyer can investigate these details before the insurer’s version of events determines settlement negotiations.
Can I Recover Compensation If I Was Hit in a Parking Lot?
Yes. A pedestrian may file a claim when a negligent driver causes an injury in a private parking lot. Drivers must use reasonable care when entering, leaving, or moving through parking areas. A property owner may also share responsibility if a dangerous property condition contributed to the collision. For example, a claim involving the Sunvalley Shopping Center parking lot may require a review of lighting, sightlines, and vehicle movement.
Do I Have to Pay Arash Law if I Do Not Win?
Generally, no. Under a contingency fee agreement, attorney fees depend on whether the case brings a recovery. Case costs are separate and follow the written agreement. California Business and Professions Code § 6147 requires the agreement to state the fee terms.
Contact Arash Law for Your Free Concord Pedestrian Accident Case Review
If a vehicle struck you on Monument Boulevard, Clayton Road, Willow Pass Road, or another Concord street, Arash Law can review your claim. Our attorneys handle cases involving crosswalk collisions, unsafe turns, commercial vehicles, and dangerous road conditions.
We can investigate the accident, identify who may be liable, and review available insurance coverage. Our team also gathers medical records, documents your losses, and handles negotiations with insurers. If your claim involves a public agency, we can assess the applicable filing rules and deadlines.
Call (888) 488-1391 for a free case evaluation. Our line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you generally pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
