Pedestrian accidents often result in life-altering injuries. Some pedestrians struck by a motor vehicle do not survive. Others are left with disabilities and the need for long-term medical care.
If you were injured or lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident caused by another party, you deserve to be compensated for your damages. Even in pedestrian accidents, insurance companies will try to deny liability, shift blame to the injury victim, and work hard to settle your claim for as little as possible.
You need an experienced Seattle pedestrian accident lawyer with a proven record of recovering maximum client compensation to help protect your rights and get you the total available damages you deserve.
At our law firm Law, our Seattle personal injury attorneys have protected the rights of injury victims for over twenty years, and our results speak for themselves. We have recovered over $300 million for our clients, including a recent $10 million settlement for a pedestrian accident. We want to help you get the justice and full compensation you are entitled to.
Call (800) 928-5486 or complete the short form on our contact page to schedule a free consultation about your Seattle pedestrian accident.
The Advantages of Working With Seattle Injury Law
When you choose Seattle Injury Law, you’re not just getting a lawyer, you’re gaining a team with a long-standing track record of results, compassion, and commitment. Here’s what sets our firm apart when it comes to pedestrian accident representation:
- We have protected the rights of injury victims for over twenty years, recovering maximum client compensation.
- We have recovered over $300 million for our clients, including multi-million dollar pedestrian accident settlements.
- You will pay nothing until our Seattle pedestrian accident lawyers recover your compensation.
- Our attorneys genuinely care about your well-being and help you move forward with your life after an accident by securing the financial recovery needed to ensure your future needs are met.
Why Are There So Many Pedestrian Accidents in Seattle?
Most pedestrian accidents are caused by motor vehicle driver error. Some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents our Seattle accident lawyers typically see include:
- Distracted driving– Accidents can quickly happen when drivers are texting, talking, or reading on their phones or are otherwise distracted. Taking their eyes off the road for just a moment can risk the lives of pedestrians and everyone else on the road. If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident caused by a distracted driver, our Seattle distracted driving accident attorneys can guide you through the legal process.
- Speeding– When drivers exceed the speed limit, they have less time to stop or avoid hitting a pedestrian, increasing the chance of an accident.
- Impaired driving– When drivers are under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, their reaction times are much slower, and they have a significantly higher chance of causing an accident, such as striking a pedestrian.
- Aggressive driving– Motorists who run red lights and stop signs or otherwise drive aggressively are more likely to cause an accident.
- Drowsy driving– Driving without adequate sleep or rest has a similar impact on reaction times as does driving under the influence of alcohol and increases the risk of striking a pedestrian.
- Failure to yield at crosswalks– Accidents are nearly inevitable when drivers do not respect pedestrians’ rights or fail to yield at pedestrian crosswalks.
- Motor vehicle equipment failure– The sudden failure of equipment, such as brakes that don’t hold, can be disastrous.
- Poor road conditions– When roads are defectively designed or negligently maintained, they increase the risk of a driver losing control and striking a pedestrian.
- Poor lighting– When lighting is inadequate in crosswalk areas, motorists have more difficulty seeing pedestrians before it is too late.
- Lack of sufficient infrastructure– Pedestrians are at greater risk when there is a lack of sidewalks and crosswalks.
What Are the Most Common Injuries Caused By Seattle Pedestrian Accidents?
When a heavy vehicle strikes a pedestrian, the pedestrian is likely to suffer catastrophic injuries and sometimes even fatal ones. Some of the most common injuries resulting from Seattle pedestrian accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis injuries
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Facial and dental damage
- Cuts, strains, and sprains
- Neck and back injuries
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Burns
- Road rash
When these injuries are not fatal, pedestrians are likely to have lasting damage that leads to disabilities and chronic pain. If you have lost a loved one in a pedestrian crash, contact our Seattle wrongful death attorneys to learn about your options for pursuing compensation and seeking justice.
Before accepting a fast settlement, pedestrian injury victims must ensure all current and future damages are considered and accurately valued. At Seattle Injury Law, we often work with medical and economic experts to establish all injuries and their current and future values to help recover maximum compensation.
Pedestrian Laws in Washington State
All motorists and pedestrians must follow the rules of the road, which provide substantial protection for pedestrians. Some of the Washington pedestrian laws that may apply to your claim include:
Revised Code of Washington §46.61.050(1) states:
“Obedience to and required traffic control devices.
- The driver of any vehicle, a person operating a bicycle, and every pedestrian shall obey, and the operation of every personal delivery device shall follow, the instructions of any official traffic control device applicable thereto, as specified in this chapter, placed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, unless otherwise directed by a traffic or police officer, subject to the exception granted the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle in this chapter.”
Revised Code of Washington §46.61.261(1) provides:
“Sidewalks, crosswalks -Pedestrians, bicycles, personal delivery devices.
- The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian, bicycle, or personal delivery device on a sidewalk. The rider of a bicycle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian on a sidewalk or crosswalk. A personal delivery device must yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian or a bicycle on a sidewalk or crosswalk.”
Revised Code of Washington §46.61.245(1) reads:
“Drivers to exercise care.
- Notwithstanding the foregoing provision of this chapter, every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian upon any roadway and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary and shall exercise proper precaution upon observing any child or any obviously confused or incapacitated person upon a roadway.”
Revised Code of Washington 46.61.235(1) states:
“Crosswalks.
- The operator of an approaching vehicle shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian, bicycle, or personal delivery device to cross the roadway within an unmarked or marked crosswalk when the pedestrian, bicycle, or personal delivery device is upon or within one lane of the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning. For purposes of this section, “half of the roadway” means all traffic lanes carrying traffic in one direction of travel, and includes the entire width of a one-way roadway.”
Even though Washington laws provide substantial protection for pedestrians, a motorist is not always at fault in a pedestrian accident. Every case is unique, and each party’s role in the accident helps determine liability.
You need an experienced Seattle pedestrian accident attorney to investigate your accident, identify all causes and liable parties, and uncover the evidence to build your strongest case.
Who is Liable When a Motorist Hits a Seattle Pedestrian?
In many cases, a motorist is liable in a pedestrian accident. However, liability depends on the facts of each case. Sometimes the motorist and the pedestrian are both at fault.
Washington follows the comparative fault model, which allows fault to be apportioned to each party involved by percentages that total 100%. This means that even if you were partially at fault in the accident that caused your injuries, you can still recover damages from the other at-fault parties.
However, your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you. For example, if you are determined to be 30% at fault for your accident, and your damages total $100,000, you may still recover $70,000 after deducting your percentage of fault.
Because of the comparative fault system, insurance companies and defense attorneys fight hard to shift some or all blame to the pedestrian in an accident. At Seattle Injury Law, our pedestrian accident attorneys work to uncover the evidence needed to prove that the defendant is entirely at fault and to avoid or minimize any fault assignment to you.
How a Seattle Pedestrian Accident Attorney Can Help Maximize Your Recovery
A Seattle pedestrian accident attorney will investigate your accident to identify all causes and liable parties. They will work to uncover and collect essential evidence to prove that liability is entirely the defendant’s fault.
Your attorney will also help ensure that your damages are all included and accurately valued and will work to reach a fair settlement of your claim as quickly as possible. When a fair settlement is not reached, they can take your case to trial to demand the full recovery you deserve.
When you are represented by an experienced Seattle pedestrian accident attorney, your chances of a successful outcome are greatly increased.
Contact Our Seattle Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Today
If you were injured or lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident, you need the help of a pedestrian accident attorney to protect your rights and help you recover the damages you deserve. You need Seattle Injury Law.
Our attorneys have recovered numerous multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts for our clients, and we want to help you recover every dollar you are entitled to. Call (800) 928-5486 or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation with one of our Seattle pedestrian accident attorneys.