The choices you make early often determine what your case can prove later. If you can, focus on these priorities:
- Get medical care right away (even if symptoms seem mild). California cases often turn on documented injuries and timing.
- Report the crash and ask for the incident details (police report number, responding agency).
- Capture the scene while you still can: nearby crosswalk markings, traffic signals, lighting conditions, curb cuts/driveways, and any vehicles involved.
- Write down what you remember: where you were walking, what direction you were facing, what the driver did before impact, and any witnesses.
- Be careful with statements to insurance. In California, adjusters may use your words to argue you were partly at fault or that injuries are unrelated.
If the driver fled, act fast—hit-and-run cases depend heavily on timely evidence preservation and investigation.


