When a person on foot is struck, the first account of the collision may be written while the injured person is receiving treatment. Preserving independent evidence can be essential. The crossing location, signal phase, vehicle turn, lighting, parked vehicles, and sight lines deserve careful attention.
The pages below explain location-specific evidence and records questions alongside the legal-service information. Wingman Law is based in San Francisco and serves clients throughout the Bay Area. Contact us if your city is not listed.
San Francisco
At a San Francisco crossing, preserve the pedestrian's direction and the vehicle's turn, not just the crosswalk paint. Loading, parked vehicles, construction, and transit stops can affect sight lines. If the injured person was taken away for treatment, identify someone who can promptly document the location without entering traffic.
Evidence, local records, and case review →South Bay
For a San Jose pedestrian incident near a bus stop, light-rail stop, or large parking entrance, map the walking route and the driver's turn. A person may have crossed more than one traffic movement on the way to the stop or building. The exact impact point and signal direction help separate those movements.
Evidence, local records, and case review →East Bay
An Oakland pedestrian injury near a BART entrance or bus stop requires the precise crossing and impact location. Distinguish an event on transit property from one on the street outside it. The report, vehicle footage, station records, and nearby storefront recordings may have different custodians and should be identified separately.
Evidence, local records, and case review →Peninsula
Near a San Mateo rail stop or downtown destination, identify each crossing between the pedestrian's starting point and the impact. A vehicle leaving a garage or turning into a driveway may cross that route before the marked intersection. Preserve the route and sight lines so the investigation can address the particular movement rather than a general station-area location.
Evidence, local records, and case review →East Bay
A Berkeley pedestrian injury near a campus entrance, commercial block, or station may involve a turning vehicle and several possible camera angles. Preserve the side of the street and the person's direction of travel. If a parked vehicle or construction barrier affected visibility, document its position rather than relying on a later photograph after it is gone.
Evidence, local records, and case review →East Bay
For a Walnut Creek pedestrian collision near downtown shopping or a station, preserve whether the person was crossing a street or a vehicle access point. A driver emerging from a garage or turning across a walkway may have a different view from a driver approaching a signal. Photographs should capture both perspectives.
Evidence, local records, and case review →North Bay
After a San Rafael pedestrian collision near a transit connection or downtown intersection, record the walking route and the vehicle's direction. Several operators or adjacent businesses may have different views of the area. Identify the actual crossing and time before requesting video so the request can focus on the relevant approach.
Evidence, local records, and case review →