The Impact Of California’s “Daylighting” Law On Crosswalk Safety

If you were injured while crossing a street in California, you may already know how quickly a normal day can turn traumatic. Pedestrian collisions often happen because a driver could not see the person stepping into a crosswalk. California’s recently enacted “daylighting” law was created to reduce these types of accidents by improving visibility at intersections. Understanding how this law works can help you make sense of your accident and determine whether someone else may be legally responsible for your injuries.

Understanding California’s Daylighting Law

California’s daylighting law is found in Assembly Bill 413 (AB 413). This law changes how close vehicles may park to crosswalks. Beginning January 1, 2025, vehicles are prohibited from stopping, parking, or standing within 20 feet of the vehicle-approach side of a marked or unmarked crosswalk. If a curb extension or “bulb-out” is present, the restricted distance is 15 feet. The purpose of these distances is simple: to remove vehicles from areas that block the line of sight between pedestrians and drivers.

AB 413 applies whether or not a curb is painted red. That means a driver cannot defend an unsafe parking choice by pointing out that there was no “No Parking” marking. The law sets a statewide standard so pedestrians can rely on consistent visibility protections at intersections throughout California. If your collision involved a vehicle parked too close to a crosswalk, the daylighting law may be highly relevant.

Why Visibility Matters After a Crosswalk Injury

Most pedestrian collisions happen within a few seconds. When a driver or pedestrian cannot see around a parked vehicle positioned too close to a crosswalk, the chances of a crash increase. Blocking the view can prevent a driver from seeing a pedestrian until it is too late to brake. The daylighting law aims to reduce this risk by making sure nothing obstructs the space near crosswalks.

If you were injured while crossing and a car was parked too close to the intersection, AB 413 may help clarify whether the condition of the area violated California’s safety standards. This can be important when determining fault and whether someone’s negligent behavior contributed to your injury.

How AB 413 May Impact Your Personal Injury Claim

If your crosswalk injury happened after January 1, 2025, investigators and lawyers will likely consider whether a vehicle violated the daylighting distance at the time of the collision. This may include:

• The location of any parked vehicle. If a driver left a car within the 20-foot or 15-foot zone, that vehicle may have created a dangerous condition. Evidence of illegally parked vehicles can help show negligent conduct.
• Whether the obstruction contributed to the crash. Even if the driver who struck you was moving, a parked vehicle too close to the crosswalk could have played a significant role by blocking visibility.
• Whether the local city had implemented the law properly. Cities are responsible for enforcement and for adjusting their curb paint and signage over time. If your accident occurred shortly after the law took effect, implementation may have still been in progress.
• Whether the collision involved other unsafe behaviors. Speeding, distracted driving, and failure to yield can still cause serious harm, even when crosswalk visibility is improved. The daylighting law does not cover every aspect of driver conduct. Instead, it provides one more important factor to evaluate along with the rest of the evidence.

What to Look for at the Scene of Your Injury

If you are physically able or have someone who can assist you, gathering information after a crosswalk accident can make a real difference in your case. Here are key details to note:

• The distance between any parked vehicle and the crosswalk. Knowing whether a car was within 20 feet without a curb extension, or within 15 feet with one, helps determine if AB 413 was violated.
• Photographs of anything that obstructed your line of sight. Pictures of the scene taken shortly after your injury may capture the exact placement of the parked vehicle.
• The design of the intersection. Some crosswalks are marked; others are not. California law protects pedestrians in both types, but the layout can affect how the daylighting rules apply.
• The timing of the accident. If your injury occurred after the law took effect on January 1, 2025, the daylighting provisions apply.

Why This Law Signals a Shift in Crosswalk Safety

For years, pedestrian safety advocates pushed for statewide consistency because local parking rules varied widely from city to city. By creating one clear standard, California now prioritizes safety over parking convenience. Drivers and local governments must treat visibility as a core element of intersection safety.

For people injured in crosswalk accidents, this change may influence how liability is viewed. A clear violation of the daylighting law can be a strong indicator that someone created an unsafe condition. Even when the main cause of the crash was a negligent driver, the presence of a visibility obstruction may have increased the danger.

Orange County Crosswalk Accident Lawyer

If you were hurt in a crosswalk accident anywhere in Orange County or elsewhere in California, you do not have to figure out these issues on your own. To learn how the daylighting law may affect your rights, you can contactpersonal injury lawyers at Law Offices of Samer Habbas & Associates by calling (888) 848-5084 or contacting us online for a free consultation. Our team can review the circumstances of your accident, explain your legal options in plain language, and help you move forward with confidence.