Need an Injury Attorney for a Pedestrian Accident in Washington?
The statistics regarding pedestrian accidents in Washington State are unsettling. Pedestrian crashes tend to happen many times throughout a year in the state, occurring most frequently in urban areas than any other place. Here are some facts that you should know regarding these accidents:
- Pedestrian fatalities account for up to 14% of all fatal motor vehicle accidents.
- In 2016, 89 out of almost 2,500 accidents ended in a fatality.
- Most fatal accidents involving pedestrians in Washington occur between December and January.
- Pedestrian deaths are actually declining, but the state is doing everything they can to reduce these numbers even further.
Driver distraction in a variety of ways can lead to these terrible accidents that take the lives of many each year throughout the state. What duty of care does a driver owe to you and how can an experienced attorney help you when you are dealing with a pedestrian accident that has caused many types of harm in your life?
Duty of Care to Pedestrians on Our Roadways
Do drivers owe pedestrians a duty of care? They actually owe them one of the highest duties of care, as pedestrians have no protection from the elements like those who drive vehicles. This is why drivers must do everything in their nature to watch out for pedestrians at all costs and abide by the laws of the road. When a driver fails to do so, negligence results, which can lead to injuries and more. A negligent driver can be held liable in an accident. Here are common forms of negligence that you may see in a pedestrian accident case:
- Improper lane use that forces a pedestrian on the roadways or leads to head-on collisions
- Unmarked crosswalks that can cause intersection-related accidents, which are some of the most common accidents occurring with pedestrians
- Left-hand turn accidents that occur when a driver is too busy negotiating an intersection
- Use of electronics by drivers and pedestrians
- Dark clothing that makes it difficult to identify a pedestrian, especially at night when these accidents are most prominent
Who is Liable in My Claim?
When a driver has not abided by the rules of the roadway, this means that they could be liable due to disobeying the duty that they owe to pedestrians. You, as the plaintiff in a pedestrian accident, can show that a law has been violated and that you should be offered protection under the law, which means that you will be able to recover for your injuries. An example of this is showing that a driver was sending texts at the time of the accident, which means that their focus was not on the road. A liable party may attempt to turn a case around on you by claiming that you contributed to your own accident and that they do not have to pay a full amount to you because of this. This is why it is a good idea to have proper documentation that shows that you have not contributed to your accident and that another party caused your injuries in full. You can show this by working with an attorney to make your claim. We can help you in your time of need when you have been injured in Washington.