Dedicated Washington Pedestrian Accident Attorneys
Throughout our 40+ years of experience, our Washington pedestrian accident attorneys have worked with many people who have been struck by a vehicle while walking. Pedestrian accidents often result in critical injuries including head and brain injuries, back and spine injuries, and fractures. Pedestrian accidents are frequently fatal.
With our extensive experience working with clients injured in pedestrian accidents, we offer a huge advantage. We know what our clients will be facing as they move towards recovery, we know how to build complete and compelling claims, and our Washington personal injury lawyers know how the insurance companies will respond.
Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Pedestrians are vulnerable to accidents when walking, exercising, or even sitting in public places. Common pedestrian accident injuries include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur when a sudden blow or impact causes damage to the brain. Traumatic brain injuries range in severity. However, all TBIs require medical treatment. Concussions may heal over time, but more severe TBIs can have lifelong consequences.
- Spinal cord injuries. When a vehicle strikes a pedestrian, this blow can damage the spine by causing a fracture or dislocation of the vertebrae. This damage can then injure the spinal cord. The force of an impact can also directly injure the spinal cord. Spinal cord injuries are very serious because the spinal cord is responsible for communicating messages between the brain and the body. As a result, some spinal cord injuries may result in permanent aftereffects, including paralysis.
- Bone fractures and breaks. The sudden impact of a vehicle can fracture or break bones. While treatable, some fractures and breaks can take months to heal, with many victims still experiencing permanent pain or limited mobility despite the bone healing.
- Soft tissue injuries. Soft tissue injuries include bruises, cuts, tears, dislocations, and sprains. Many soft tissue injuries cause significant pain for injured victims. Although most heal on their own, they often interrupt a victim’s life.
- Amputations. Some pedestrian accidents may require medical professionals to amputate a limb or extremity. These permanent changes to a person’s body create physical and emotional challenges.
- Emotional trauma. Involvement in a pedestrian accident has long-lasting psychological effects. Many pedestrians may find it difficult to cope with the emotional trauma resulting from an accident.
- Death. The sheer size of vehicles puts all pedestrians at an extreme disadvantage when a pedestrian accident occurs. Unfortunately, many of these accidents result in a fatality.
You may find recovery from the trauma of a pedestrian accident extremely difficult. Many injured victims have to adapt to an entirely new way of life due to the catastrophic nature of their injuries. However, it’s important to remember that you do have rights. A pedestrian accident lawyer works tirelessly to protect your rights and help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents can be caused by negligent drivers failing to take the required safety precautions to prevent these accidents. Even when pedestrians obey traffic laws and cross the street in marked crosswalks, pedestrians may still be struck by negligent drivers. Common causes of pedestrian accidents include:
- Distracted driving. It’s dangerous to look away from the road to check your phone, adjust your stereo, or type a location into your GPS. Taking your eyes off the road for even a few seconds increases the chances of a pedestrian accident.
- Speeding. Drivers who speed increase their risk of accidents. When speeding, a driver cannot stop quickly or take evasive actions in response to sudden changes in traffic conditions, including pedestrians entering the roadway.
- Failing to yield. Drivers who fail to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians are responsible for about 20% of collisions resulting in an injury or fatality in California.
- Road design. Some road designs create a higher likelihood of accidents. For example, left-turn yield intersections may create hazards for pedestrians as drivers may not see them when completing a turn.
- Disobeying traffic signals or lights. A driver who fails to stop at an intersection may also fail to see a pedestrian crossing the roadway.
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Those who drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol significantly degrade their ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.
- Quiet cars. Many new cars operate very quietly, making it difficult for pedestrians to hear a vehicle coming up behind or beside them. Drivers of these cars need to drive carefully and ensure that pedestrians are aware of their presence.
Pedestrians must also walk, jog, or run cautiously and not place themselves in serious danger of an accident. For example, jaywalking and walking while not paying attention to your surroundings increases your chances of getting hit by a vehicle.
Who Are the Liable Parties in a Pedestrian Accident?
Establishing a driver’s liability in a pedestrian accident requires proof of their negligence. An injured victim must prove the necessary elements of negligence to recover damages. These elements are:
- Duty of care—a duty of care exists for every driver to act with due and cautious regard for pedestrians and to follow all traffic laws;
- Breach—the driver must have breached this duty of care;
- Causation—the breach directly caused your injuries; and
- Damages—the breach also caused you to suffer damages.
Whether a driver acted with reasonable care depends on various factors, including whether they followed traffic signals, did not drive recklessly, were not distracted, and adhered to traffic rules and laws.
It’s also possible to demonstrate negligence through negligence per se. To prove negligence per se, you must show the following:
- The driver violated a statute, regulation, or ordinance;
- The violation caused your injuries; and
- The violation caused the kind of harm or injury the statute was enacted to prevent.
A lawyer for pedestrian accidents can help you establish liability by investigating your accident and gathering evidence to help make your claim stronger.
What Does a Successful Pedestrian Accident Claim Look Like?
When a client is suffering from injuries caused by an at-fault driver, we take special steps to identify the extent of their injuries and damages and to determine how the collision affects our client’s life, now and in the future. Many injuries require long-term, costly medical care, and we ensure that this cost is fully factored into the insurance-claim process. A successful claim is one in which our client receives a settlement or verdict that enables them to fully recover financially, and compensates them for their current and future losses.
What Damages for Injuries Can I Recover?
After your accident, your pedestrian accident attorney reviews the facts of your case to determine what damages you may potentially recover. California permits the recovery of compensatory damages in the form of economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages represent monetary losses directly related to your injuries and can include the following:
- Past and future medical expenses,
- Lost earnings,
- Loss of future earnings, and
- Property damage.
Tangible evidence can support your demand for economic damages. Retain all receipts, bills, invoices, pay stubs, and other documentation proving your losses.
Noneconomic damages represent non-monetary losses related to the psychological and emotional effects of your injuries. These damages include the following:
- Emotional distress,
- Pain and suffering,
- Loss of enjoyment of life,
- Loss of consortium, and
- Permanent injury or disfigurement.
Due to their subjective nature, noneconomic damages are difficult to calculate and prove without the help of a pedestrian accident lawyer.
Contact our Washington Pedestrian Accident Attorneys
As personal injury lawyers, we have achieved exceptional results for our clients after a pedestrian collision, including:
- $346,000 for client who suffered a badly broken leg in a pedestrian-car accident
- Pedestrian’s multiple fractures lead to nearly $450,000 settlement
- Marathoner suffering fractured leg after collision with car leads to $490,000 settlement
- $1 Million – Wrongful Death of Teenage Pedestrian hit by Tow Truck
Contact us today. We are ready to work with you!
