Many Seattle residents like to walk to their destinations for some fresh air and exercise. However, pedestrians generally do not have anything to protect them if they get struck by a vehicle. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), over 7,300 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents in 2021 and thousands more suffered serious injuries.
Many pedestrian accidents are caused by the negligent actions of the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident. Common forms of negligence that result in pedestrian accidents include:
- Failing to pay attention.
- Failing to keep a proper lookout.
- Failing to stop at a stop sign or red light.
- Failing to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
- Driving at an excessive rate of speed.
While motorists are often responsible for pedestrian accidents, pedestrians themselves can also be at least partially responsible for the accident and their own injuries by acting negligently. Common forms of pedestrian negligence include:
- Failing to walk in a crosswalk/jaywalking.
- Suddenly running into the road.
- Walking in areas off-limits to pedestrians (e.g., highways).
- Ignoring traffic and pedestrian signals.
- Failing to pay attention.
If you were injured in an auto/pedestrian accident, you may recover damages from the motorist who caused your accident and other negligent parties. If you were partially at-fault for your own accident, you may still recover damages in Washington and other pure comparative negligence states. However, any damages you receive will be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to you.
A personal injury attorney in the Seattle area can help you file a claim for compensation after an accident.