Seattle pedestrians are at risk of a serious or deadly collision with a vehicle, and sometimes the vehicle takes off, leaving the injured pedestrian behind.
This happened in a recent case involving an 80-year old woman who was killed after being struck by a hit-and-run driver. The accident occurred in the late afternoon, prompting several witnesses to call 911 and perform CPR on the woman to try to save her life.
According to the witnesses, the woman was walking in a crosswalk when she was hit by a black van whose driver turned into the crosswalk. The driver of the van then drove away. It was later determined the elderly woman died of blunt force injuries from the collision.
What makes pedestrian accidents so dangerous
Pedestrians accidents are often fatal or cause serious injuries, due to the size difference between a pedestrian and a large vehicle.
There are many things you can do as a pedestrian to reduce your risk of an accident. Follow traffic laws, such as using crosswalks and not jaywalking.
You should always keep an eye out for vehicles on the road, since just because you are following the laws does not mean other drivers are, as illustrated in the story above. The elderly woman was properly using a crosswalk and was nonetheless fatally struck by a careless driver.
Your options after a pedestrian accident
Injuries from a pedestrian accident are usually severe, and can even be permanent. Compensation for injuries can possibly be recovered through a personal injury action, which requires proving negligence.
This means showing that a driver failed in their duty to drive safely and caused an accident resulting in damages. If the accident is a hit-and-run and the driver cannot be found, you might still receive compensation if you have personal injury protection coverage through your insurance.
Whatever type of claim you pursue, an attorney experienced with representing victims of motor vehicle accidents can help you through the process and fight for your compensation.