Top 5 Most Dangerous Santa Clarita Crosswalks (And What To Do After a Crash)

Santa Clarita is known for its family-friendly neighborhoods and beautiful paseos, but its rapid growth has also led to bustling streets and dangerous traffic conditions for pedestrians. The city’s network of wide, multi-lane boulevards designed to move commuter traffic to and from the I-5 and 14 freeways creates significant risks for anyone on foot. High speeds, complex intersections, and driver distraction can turn a simple walk into a life-altering event.

At Walch Law, we have represented injured pedestrians across Los Angeles County for over 45 years. We see firsthand how certain intersections, due to their design and traffic patterns, become hotspots for accidents. Get in touch with a winning Santa Clarita Pedestrian accident lawyer at Walch Law NOW.

Disclaimer: This list is not an official ranking but a set of examples based on known crash data, high-injury corridors, and common risk factors. Dangerous conditions can exist at any intersection, and pedestrians should use caution citywide. Always check for current city safety improvement projects.

5 Examples of High-Risk Crosswalks in Santa Clarita

These intersections showcase how a combination of high speeds, heavy traffic, and challenging designs can create a perfect storm for pedestrian injuries.

1. Valencia Boulevard & McBean Parkway

This area, the hub of Valencia’s retail and dining scene near the Westfield Town Center, is a magnet for foot traffic. Unfortunately, it is also a massive, multi-lane intersection where drivers are often distracted, looking for parking, or navigating complex turning movements.

• Key Dangers: Heavy vehicle and pedestrian congestion, especially on weekends and at night. Multiple left-turn lanes create sightline issues, and landscaped medians can obscure pedestrians from the view of turning drivers.

2. Bouquet Canyon Road & Newhall Ranch Road

As one of the SCV’s busiest junctions, this intersection funnels enormous traffic volume through Saugus. The combination of high speeds on Bouquet Canyon and the chaos of nearby retail driveways makes it exceptionally hazardous.

• Key Dangers: Permissive left turns where drivers are focused on finding a gap in traffic, not on pedestrians in the crosswalk. The sheer width of the intersection gives pedestrians a long exposure time, and vehicles entering and exiting shopping centers create unpredictable turning conflicts.

3. Soledad Canyon Road & Sierra Highway

This major crossroads in Canyon Country serves as a critical connection between Soledad Canyon, Sierra Highway, and the nearby 14 freeway. The mix of commuter traffic, bus stops, and Metrolink-adjacent activity creates a complex and dangerous environment.

• Key Dangers: Extremely long crossing distances across multiple lanes of fast-moving traffic. Right-on-red turns are a significant threat, as drivers often look left for cars but fail to check for pedestrians to their right. The proximity of the train tracks and freeway adds layers of complexity.

4. Golden Valley Road & Centre Pointe Parkway

This intersection handles a unique mix of commercial, retail, and industrial traffic. The presence of large trucks with significant blind spots, combined with commuters heading to and from the 14 freeway, creates a hazardous situation.

• Key Dangers: A high volume of truck traffic increases the risk of serious injury. Multiple turning lanes and complex signal phases can confuse drivers. Visibility can be a major problem around dusk when the setting sun creates glare.

5. Whites Canyon Road & Soledad Canyon Road

Located near several schools, this intersection sees a significant amount of adolescent foot traffic. Teenagers, who may be less experienced with judging traffic speed and can be easily distracted, are especially vulnerable here.

• Key Dangers: The “multi-threat” scenario is a major risk, where one car stops but a car in the adjacent lane does not. Inconsistent nighttime lighting and potentially short walk signal intervals can make crossing difficult and dangerous.

Why These Crossings Are So Dangerous: Common Risk Factors

These Santa Clarita intersections share a common set of dangers found throughout suburban Los Angeles:

• Multi-Threat Scenarios: On roads with multiple lanes going in the same direction, a driver in one lane may stop for you, but in doing so, they block you from the view of a driver in the next lane who continues through the crosswalk.
• Permissive Left Turns: When drivers have a solid green light to turn left, they must yield to oncoming traffic. Their focus is on finding a gap, not on the pedestrian who has the “Walk” signal.
• High Speeds: Wide, straight boulevards encourage speeds that are unsafe for areas with pedestrian activity.
• Paseo and Trail Crossings: Santa Clarita’s wonderful paseo network often intersects with high-speed arterial roads, creating conflict points where drivers are not expecting to see pedestrians.
• Distracted Driving: Drivers who are texting, talking on the phone, or adjusting their GPS are a lethal threat to anyone on foot.

What to Do If You Are Hit by a Car: A Step-by-Step Guide

The actions you take in the minutes and hours after an accident are crucial for your health and your potential legal claim.

1. Get Medical Attention: Your first priority is your health. Call 911 and get to a hospital. This ensures your injuries are treated and properly documented.
2. Ensure a Police Report is Filed: Insist that police respond to the scene and create a Traffic Collision Report. Get the incident number before you leave.
3. Document the Scene: If you are physically able, use your phone to take pictures and videos of everything: the car and its license plate, the crosswalk markings, traffic signals, street lighting, and your injuries.
4. Get Witness Information: Ask anyone who saw the crash for their name and phone number. Independent witnesses are incredibly valuable.
5. Preserve the Evidence: Do not throw away your torn clothing or damaged shoes. They are important pieces of evidence.
6. Seek Video Footage: Your attorney can send official preservation letters to nearby businesses and request any available traffic camera footage from the City of Santa Clarita or footage from public buses.
7. Do Not Give a Recorded Statement: The driver’s insurance adjuster will call you. Be polite, but do not agree to give a recorded statement. Tell them your lawyer will be in touch.
8. Contact an Attorney Immediately: Evidence disappears fast. An experienced pedestrian accident lawyer needs to start investigating right away to protect your rights.

Who is Liable for a Pedestrian Accident?

• The Driver: All drivers have a duty to exercise care to avoid hitting pedestrians. Even with California’s recent jaywalking reform (AB 2147), drivers are still responsible for yielding the right-of-way and paying attention.
• A Government Entity: If your injury was caused by a dangerous condition—such as a malfunctioning signal, poor intersection design, or missing signage—you may have a claim against the City or County. You must file a formal Government Claim within six months of the injury. This is a strict and unforgiving deadline.
• Other Parties: If the driver was working for Uber, Lyft, or another company, additional insurance policies may apply. In a hit-and-run, your own Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage is your primary source of recovery.

Damages You Can Recover

A successful claim can provide compensation for all of your losses, including:

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
• Physical pain and emotional suffering
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Wrongful death damages for the family if the accident was fatal.

Your Santa Clarita cross walk accident can be worth a lot of money when you work with the best Santa Clarita pedestrian accident lawyers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What if I crossed mid-block, away from a crosswalk?
You can still have a strong case. California’s comparative negligence rule means you can recover damages even if you were partially at fault. Your total compensation would be reduced by your percentage of fault.

2. Who pays for my medical bills in a hit-and-run?
Your own Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage, which is part of your auto insurance policy, would cover your injuries and damages.

3. Do Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) make crosswalks safer?
They can help by increasing driver awareness, but they do not stop a distracted or speeding driver. Pedestrians should never assume a driver sees them, even at an enhanced crosswalk.

4. How long do I have to file a claim?
Generally, you have two years to file a lawsuit. However, the deadline is only six months if you have a claim against a public entity like the City of Santa Clarita.

5. Will the insurance company try to blame me?
Yes. It is standard practice for insurance adjusters to try to shift as much blame as possible onto the pedestrian to devalue the claim.

6. Do I need a lawyer if the driver’s insurer accepts fault?
Absolutely. Accepting fault is not the same as offering fair compensation. Without a lawyer, the insurer will likely make a lowball offer that does not cover your future medical needs or the full value of your pain and suffering.

Walch Law: Your Santa Clarita Pedestrian Accident Advocates

When you’re injured in Santa Clarita, you need a law firm that understands both the local community and the complexities of Los Angeles County courts. The family team at Walch Law has been fighting for pedestrians for over four decades. We know how to investigate these cases, how to prove fault, and how to maximize your recovery.

Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation. We will listen to your story and explain how we can help. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay absolutely nothing until we win your case. 1-844-999-5342