Meta Description: New California pedestrian laws for 2026 are changing the game for injury victims. Discover how AB 382, AB 390, and SB 720 impact your claim. Fairmont Law Firm explains why these safety shifts mean more power for your personal injury case.
You are walking down a sunny street in Los Angeles. You step into a crosswalk, expecting drivers to respect your right of way. Suddenly, a car whips around the corner, barely missing you, or worse, making impact.
In an instant, your life turns upside down. Your health, your job, and your family’s future are all at risk. We see this every single day at Fairmont Law Firm.
California is currently facing a pedestrian safety crisis. Lawmakers are finally noticing. As of May 2026, several brand-new laws have taken effect across the state. These aren't just minor tweaks to the vehicle code. These laws change how we prove a driver was at fault.
If you are looking for a car accident lawyer near me after a pedestrian strike, you need to understand these changes. They could be the difference between a denied claim and a multi-million dollar settlement. We are here to make sure you have the upper hand.
The State of Emergency on California Streets
Pedestrian deaths have reached staggering highs in recent years. Whether you are in San Diego, San Francisco, or the Inland Empire, the danger is real. Distracted driving is rampant. Delivery drivers for Amazon and FedEx are under tight deadlines. Ride-share drivers for Uber and Lyft are constantly looking at their phones instead of the road.
We know how devastating these accidents are. A human body is no match for a two-ton SUV. When we take on your case, we aren't just filing paperwork. We are fighting for your life. We are holding negligent drivers accountable for the chaos they cause.
These new laws are designed to protect you. But the insurance companies will still try to blame you. They will say you were distracted. They will say you stepped out too fast. We don't let them get away with that.
AB 382: The 20 MPH Revolution in School Zones
One of the biggest changes involves our most vulnerable citizens: children. AB 382 allows local cities across California to lower school zone speed limits from 25 mph to 20 mph.
This might seem like a small change, but the physics tell a different story. If a car hits a pedestrian at 25 mph, the chance of survival is significantly lower than at 20 mph. By lowering the limit, the state is making a clear statement: speed kills.
How AB 382 Affects Your Injury Case
When we represent you as your personal injury lawyer in California, we look for "Negligence Per Se." This is a legal term that basically means the driver broke a safety law, so they are automatically considered negligent.
If a driver hits you or your child in a school zone while going 24 mph, they used to be "legal." Now, they are breaking the law. We use this to shut down the insurance company's excuses immediately.
Step 1: Document the location. We confirm the accident happened within the designated school zone.
Step 2: Obtain telematics data. We fight to get the speed data from the driver’s vehicle or phone.
Step 3: Apply AB 382. we show the jury that the driver ignored the new safety standards meant to protect pedestrians.
AB 390: The Expanded "Move Over" Law
You’ve probably heard of the "Move Over" law for police cars and tow trucks. As of 2026, AB 390 has expanded this protection significantly. Drivers must now slow down or change lanes for any stationary vehicle displaying hazard lights.
Think about how many times you’ve seen a car pulled over on the side of the 405 or the 101. Maybe someone was changing a tire or waiting for a ride. Under the old law, drivers didn't have a specific legal duty to move over for regular citizens. Now, they do.
This law is a game-changer for "roadside" pedestrian accidents. If you were standing near your vehicle with your hazards on and got hit, the driver is in serious legal trouble.
Why This Matters for Delivery Truck Accidents
We see many accidents involving Amazon, UPS, and FedEx trucks. These drivers often stop in precarious spots. If you were a pedestrian near one of these trucks and a passing motorist hit you because they failed to "move over," we now have a powerful new weapon in court.
We hold the passing driver accountable for the violation. We also look at whether the delivery company created a hazard. We leave no stone unturned. We cover all 58 counties in California, and we know exactly how to apply AB 390 to your specific location.
SB 720: The Eye in the Sky
Intersections are the most dangerous places for pedestrians. Drivers trying to "beat the yellow" often fly through red lights, striking people in the crosswalk. SB 720 has paved the way for expanded automated red-light enforcement programs.
These aren't the "revenue traps" of the past. These programs are specifically oriented around street safety. For your injury case, this is a goldmine of evidence.
Turning Video into Compensation
In the past, pedestrian cases were often "he said, she said." The driver would claim the light was green. You would know it was red. Without witnesses, it was a tough fight.
With SB 720, we can often secure high-definition footage of the violation.
- We see the driver's speed.
- We see the exact timing of the light change.
- We see the moment of impact.
This objective evidence makes it nearly impossible for the insurance company to deny your claim. When we present this footage, they usually stop fighting and start talking about a settlement.
The E-Bike Wild West: New Age Restrictions
You can’t walk down a California sidewalk without seeing an e-bike. They are fast, quiet, and often operated by people who don't know the rules of the road.
New regulations in 2026 have introduced age restrictions for e-bikes in several California counties. For example, some pilot programs now prohibit anyone under 16 from riding Class 2 e-bikes.
If an underage rider hits you on a sidewalk or in a crosswalk, the parents or the rental company may be liable. We investigate these cases deeply. We look at who provided the bike and whether they followed the new age-restriction laws.
How Fairmont Law Firm Wins Pedestrian Cases
Knowing the law is one thing. Winning with it is another. Josh Yaghoubzadeh and the entire team at Fairmont Law Firm are built for this fight. We don't take "no" for an answer from insurance adjusters.
We understand that you are dealing with more than just medical bills. You are dealing with trauma. You might be facing a long road of physical therapy or even permanent disability.
Our "Total Recovery" Strategy
When you hire us, we pursue every possible avenue for compensation:
- Medical Expenses: Past, present, and future surgeries or care.
- Lost Wages: Not just the time you missed, but the career you can no longer pursue.
- Pain and Suffering: The physical and emotional toll of the accident.
- Punitive Damages: In cases of extreme recklessness, we go for the driver's throat to make sure it never happens again.
We have obtained hundreds of millions for our clients. We have over 500 reviews from people just like you who were once lost and hurting. We turned their situations around, and we will do the same for you.
Your Action Checklist After a Pedestrian Accident
If you or a loved one has been hit, you need to act fast. The insurance company is already working against you. Use this checklist to protect your rights:
☑ Call 911 immediately. You need a police report to document the violation of these new laws.
☑ Take photos of everything. The car, your injuries, the crosswalk, and any hazard lights or signs.
☑ Get witness contact info. Don't rely on the police to do this. People leave the scene quickly.
☑ Seek medical attention. Even if you feel "okay," internal injuries are common in pedestrian strikes.
☑ Do not speak to the driver’s insurance. They will record you and use your words to kill your case.
☑ Call Fairmont Law Firm. We handle the talk so you can focus on the walk back to health.
Frequently Asked Questions
"What if I was jaywalking? Can I still win?"
Yes. California is a "comparative negligence" state. Even if you weren't in a crosswalk, the driver still has a duty to avoid hitting you. With the new 20 mph school zones and Move Over laws, the driver’s negligence often outweighs any mistake you made.
"How much does a car accident lawyer near me cost?"
At Fairmont Law Firm, it costs you zero dollars out of pocket. We work on a contingency fee basis. This means we only get paid if we win your case. If we don't recover money for you, you owe us nothing.
"How long do I have to file a claim?"
Generally, you have two years from the date of the accident in California. However, if a government entity is involved (like a city bus or a poorly designed road), that timeline is much shorter: often only six months. Don't wait.
"Can you help me if the driver fled the scene?"
Absolutely. Hit-and-run accidents are common. We work with private investigators to find the driver. If they can't be found, we help you navigate your own "Uninsured Motorist" coverage to ensure you still get paid.
We Are Your Protectors
The road to recovery is hard, but you don't have to walk it alone. The new California pedestrian laws of 2026 are on your side, and so are we. We see the person behind the case number. We see the family that is counting on this recovery.
Whether you were hit by a distracted teenager in a school zone or an Amazon van that failed to move over, we are ready to fight. We are available 24/7. We offer a Free Case Evaluation to anyone in California.
Don't let an insurance company dictate what your life is worth. Let us show them the power of the law and the strength of Fairmont Law Firm.
Contact Fairmont Law Firm today. Zero Fee Until We Win. We are ready to secure the justice you deserve.
About the Author:
Ben Marmont is a lead legal writer at Fairmont Law Firm. With years of experience distilling complex California statutes into actionable advice, Ben helps injury victims understand their rights and the path to recovery. Under the leadership of CEO Josh Yaghoubzadeh, Ben ensures that every Californian has access to the legal knowledge they need to fight back against big insurance.