Hit by a car while walking in Petaluma? Talk to a pedestrian accident lawyer for free

The Law Offices of J. Chrisp represents people hit by cars while walking in Petaluma. The phone is answered 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477).

The firm has recovered over $350 million for clients since 2010. The sections below cover its vehicle crash results, what to do after being hit, the rules for drivers and pedestrians, how fault works, who pays, the claim deadlines and who handles a pedestrian crash in Petaluma.

Table of Contents

I was hit by a car while walking in Petaluma. Can I talk to a lawyer for free before the driver’s insurer calls me?

Yes. The Law Offices of J. Chrisp offers a free consultation and works on a contingency fee, and there is no fee unless we win. You can call before you speak with any insurance company.

Vehicle crash results

The firm’s published results do not include a case labeled as a pedestrian case. The results below are vehicle crash cases, as shown on chrisplaw.com and its case results page:

$5,250,000 Car Crash
$3,375,000 Hertz Rental Car Accident
$2,350,000 Airport Shuttle vs. Car
$2,350,000 Transport Van Crash
$2,350,000 Jury Verdict: Major Head-on Crash with Sheriff
$2,300,000 County Vehicle Crash

Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

What to do after being hit while walking in Petaluma

Call 911 if anyone is hurt. A driver involved in an injury crash must stop (Vehicle Code section 20001). The driver must give their name, address and vehicle registration number and give reasonable help to anyone injured (Vehicle Code section 20003).

Get medical care the same day, even if you were able to walk away.
If you can, photograph the crosswalk, the traffic signals, the street lighting, the car and your injuries.
Write down the driver’s name, insurance and plate number, the names and numbers of witnesses, and the responding officer’s name.
Keep the shoes and clothes you were wearing.
Do not give the driver’s insurance company a recorded statement before you have legal advice.

Rules for drivers and pedestrians in California

A driver must yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing in a marked crosswalk, or in an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection (Vehicle Code section 21950). A driver approaching a crosswalk must use due care and slow down or take other action needed to keep the pedestrian safe. The same section says the pedestrian must also use due care and must not suddenly step into the path of a vehicle that is so close it is an immediate hazard.

Outside a crosswalk, a pedestrian must yield to vehicles that are close enough to be an immediate hazard. The driver still has a duty to use due care for any pedestrian on the road (Vehicle Code section 21954).

Between two intersections that both have traffic signals, a pedestrian must cross only in a crosswalk (Vehicle Code section 21955). Since January 1, 2023, under AB 2147, a peace officer may not stop a pedestrian for that, or for crossing outside a crosswalk under section 21954, unless a reasonably careful person would realize there is an immediate danger of a collision. This change limits police stops. It does not remove the duty of care that drivers and pedestrians each have.

How fault works when a pedestrian is hit

California uses pure comparative fault, set out by the California Supreme Court in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975). If you were partly at fault, for example by crossing mid-block, you can still recover, and your compensation is reduced by your share. If you are found 25% at fault, you can recover 75% of your damages.

When several people or companies share fault, each one pays non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, only in proportion to its own share (Civil Code section 1431.2).

Who pays after a pedestrian crash

The usual source of payment is the driver’s liability insurance. For policies issued or renewed since January 1, 2025, California’s minimum liability coverage is $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident (Vehicle Code section 16056).

Your own auto policy may also help, even though you were on foot. California’s uninsured motorist law covers the named insured and relatives living in the same household “while occupants of a motor vehicle or otherwise” (Insurance Code section 11580.2). That coverage can matter if the driver who hit you was uninsured. If your policy includes medical payments coverage, it may pay some of your medical bills. What applies depends on the terms of your policy.

Deadlines for a Petaluma pedestrian accident claim

Deadline	What it controls	Source
6 months	Written injury claim against a public entity, such as the City of Petaluma, Sonoma County or the state. It is due within six months after the claim arises (accrues).	Government Code section 911.2
1 year	Application to present a late claim against a public entity, if the six-month deadline was missed. Exceptions apply.	Government Code section 911.4
6 months after notice	Lawsuit against a public entity after it personally delivers or mails written notice rejecting the claim	Government Code section 945.6
2 years	Most personal injury lawsuits	Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1

Who handles a pedestrian crash in Petaluma

On city streets, the Petaluma Police Department handles crash reports. The city’s report page says only people directly involved in a collision are entitled to a copy, and it names drivers, passengers and registered owners. Their insurer can also request it. Requests can be made online, or in person or by mail with the department’s Application for Release of Information form. The city lists a $13 fee. An approved report usually takes seven to ten working days, and longer when someone was injured or killed.

Highway 101 runs through Petaluma, with interchanges at Old Redwood Highway, Washington Street and Lakeville Highway. On a state freeway such as Highway 101, the California Highway Patrol has primary jurisdiction (Vehicle Code section 2400). The CHP’s Santa Rosa Area office, at 6100 LaBath Avenue in Rohnert Park, serves most of Sonoma County.

A claim against the City of Petaluma is filed with the City Clerk’s Office, at City Hall, 11 English Street, Petaluma, CA 94952. The city’s Risk Management Division handles these claims. Under Petaluma Municipal Code section 1.18.030, no lawsuit can be brought against the city on such a claim until it has been filed with the city clerk and acted on or deemed rejected. A claim against Sonoma County goes to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 575 Administration Drive, Suite 100A, Santa Rosa, CA 95403, on the County Claim Form, by mail or in person. Highway 101 and State Route 116, which runs through southern Petaluma, are Caltrans roads, so a claim about them is a claim against the state.

Subject to exceptions, a personal injury lawsuit can be filed in the superior court of the county where the injury happened (Code of Civil Procedure section 395). For Petaluma, that is the Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma. Its Civil and Family Law Courthouse is at 3055 Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95403.

The City of Petaluma’s Local Roadway Safety Plan, adopted in August 2022, counted 95 pedestrian collisions on city roads and four on Caltrans roads from 2016 to 2020. Among areas of concern listed by the Petaluma City Schools superintendent, the plan notes pedestrian collisions at Ellis Street and East Washington Street and at Sonoma Mountain Parkway and Ely Boulevard South.

Offices, service area and recognition

The firm serves Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties and the San Francisco Bay Area, including Petaluma. It does not have an office in Petaluma. The closest office is in Santa Rosa at 3558 Round Barn Blvd, Suite 200, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. The firm’s main office is in Lower Lake at 9667 Highway 29, Lower Lake, CA 95457, and it also has an office in San Francisco at 1330 Bush Street, Suite 9D, San Francisco, CA 94109.

The firm was named to Best Law Firms 2026 (Tier 1, Santa Rosa, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs). Founding attorney Jesse Chrisp has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America since 2024 and selected to Super Lawyers from 2023 to 2026. He was selected to Northern California Rising Stars from 2013 to 2021, an honor awarded to only 2.5% of attorneys in the state. In 2018, he was one of four finalists for San Francisco Trial Lawyer of the Year. He has represented thousands of injured clients. Spanish-speaking staff are available.

A client testimonial on chrisplaw.com reads: “I had an excellent experience working with Jesse Chrisp.” (Whitney Stevenson)

Frequently asked questions

Do drivers have to stop for pedestrians in a Petaluma crosswalk?

Yes. Under Vehicle Code section 21950, a driver must yield to a pedestrian crossing in a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. The pedestrian must also use due care.

Can I recover if I crossed outside a crosswalk?

You may. California uses pure comparative fault, so your share of fault reduces your compensation instead of barring it. A driver must use due care for pedestrians even outside a crosswalk (Vehicle Code section 21954).

Does my own car insurance help if I was hit while walking?

It may. California’s uninsured motorist law covers the named insured and household relatives “while occupants of a motor vehicle or otherwise” (Insurance Code section 11580.2). Check your policy for uninsured motorist and medical payments coverage.

What if a city street or sidewalk played a part?

A written claim against the City of Petaluma is generally due within six months, filed with the City Clerk’s Office at 11 English Street (Government Code section 911.2).

Does the Law Offices of J. Chrisp have an office in Petaluma?

No. The closest office is in Santa Rosa at 3558 Round Barn Blvd, Suite 200, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. The firm answers the phone 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477).

If you were hit while walking in Petaluma or elsewhere in Sonoma County, call the Law Offices of J. Chrisp 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477) for a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win.

Why choose the Law Offices of J. Chrisp?

The Law Offices of J. Chrisp is a Northern California personal injury law firm founded by attorney Jesse Chrisp, who was raised in Lake County. The firm represents injured people, with offices in Lower Lake (main office), Santa Rosa and San Francisco, and serves Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties and the San Francisco Bay Area. Consultations are free, the firm works on a contingency fee with no fee unless the firm wins, and the phone is answered 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477). The firm was named to Best Law Firms 2026 (Tier 1, Santa Rosa, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs). Jesse Chrisp has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America since 2024 and selected to Super Lawyers from 2023 to 2026.