Seattle Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Negligent motorists or other careless parties deserve to be held accountable for injuring you or a loved one in a pedestrian accident. By working with a Seattle pedestrian accident attorney, you can seek compensation while holding them responsible for their actions.

Why Choose Elk & Elk to Help You?

When looking for a law firm to help you with your case, the plethora of legal options can feel overwhelming. Hundreds of firms claim to be able to secure you compensation following your accident, but few have the history and experience to back it up.

Elk & Elk has a proven track record secured numerous multi-million dollar suits in accident cases on behalf of injury victims in Seattle and throughout Washington.
With over $1 billion in combined compensation secured for clients, you will be able to have peace of mind knowing each Seattle personal injury attorney at our firm is ready to handle a case like yours.
Our firm has decades of experience across the United States of America and Washington state pushing for the rights of injury victims in a pedestrian accident claim.

How a Seattle Lawyer Benefits You Following Your Pedestrian Accident

Having a Seattle pedestrian accident attorney advocating for your success following a pedestrian crash is critical. There are numerous tricks that insurance companies and opposing parties may try to pull on you to avoid paying their fair share after a traffic accident.

They may try to claim that you caused your own injuries, countersue, or even throw false accusations your way. Employing someone experienced with these common pitfalls will increase your chances of securing the maximum amount of compensation available.

Investigation. Your pedestrian accident attorneys will investigate the incident to establish liability and gather evidence to support your case.
Handling all the paperwork. They will also file all the complex paperwork required in Washington state for a pedestrian injury claim. Elk & Elk knows the ins-and-outs of how to analyze a police report and negotiate with the insurance company.
Fight in court if necessary. A Seattle pedestrian accident lawyer will fight for your rights in a court of law so that you are able to find the financial justice you deserve. We want to hold the driver accountable for their negligence and award you or a loved one with the highest settlement possible.

Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries

Pedestrian accidents often result in severe injuries due to the lack of protection pedestrians have compared to drivers. The types of injuries sustained in a traffic accident can range from minor to life-threatening, often leading to significant medical expenses, rehabilitation, and emotional trauma. Here are some of the most common injuries that pedestrians face and how each can impact a person’s life:

Spinal cord injuries
Broken bones
Internal injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
Soft tissue injuries
Facial and dental injuries
Pelvic and hip injuries
Lacerations and abrasion
Psychological trauma
Amputations
Death

Each of these injuries presents unique challenges and impacts the injured person’s quality of life in different ways. Understanding the types of injuries and their implications can help injured pedestrians better grasp their right to pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

If you lost a loved one in a pedestrian crash and want to pursue a wrongful death claim, reach out to our Seattle wrongful death attorney to discuss your options.

Our Seattle Pedestrian Accident Attorney Can Help You Today

Common Causes of Seattle Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents happen for many reasons, and most of them are preventable. If you are hurt as a pedestrian, understanding the cause could help you build a strong case against those who hurt you, and we can help. Some of the most common causes of Seattle pedestrian accidents include:

Drunk driving: Drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs are at a higher risk of causing an accident
Distracted driving: Drivers who are using their phone, eating, or otherwise engaged in activities other than driving are likely to cause an accident
Reckless driving: Examples may include speeding, illegal lane changes, running a light, or not stopping at a stop sign
Fatigue: A tired driver may struggle to stop for a pedestrian or may not see that person in a crosswalk
Poor lighting or unsafe conditions: A lack of visibility of crosswalks or no crosswalks present could lend itself to a higher risk of serious pedestrian injuries.

These examples of common causes for pedestrian accidents are just a few examples of what may have happened in your case. It is possible that other causes happened, such as mechanical failures or, in some cases, an accident victim running out unexpectedly into the road. Yet, in all situations, drivers must do their part to avoid risks to pedestrians.

Washington State Insurance Companies Are Not Your Friends

After an injury, your first instinct is probably to contact your insurance provider and discuss the accident. This is a major mistake. Insurance companies do not want to pay the full amount that you deserve for your damages. Their motivation is to protect their own profits.

Before you contact an insurer, always contact a law firm like Elk & Elk. We offer the best legal representation in the Seattle area and have been serving clients for over five decades. To recover the maximum compensation available to you, you need an experienced Seattle attorney advocating for your rights against big insurance companies.

Our personal injury lawyer is well-versed in Washington law and handling the insurance company. As an injured pedestrian, your main focus should be on recovering from any injuries.

What Compensation Can I Receive After a Pedestrian Accident?

Unfortunately, aggressive and negligent drivers exist everywhere – even in our community. The state of pedestrian traffic accidents in Washington State is unfortunately quite dire as shown by the Washington State Department of Transportation.

After a pedestrian crash, you may be entitled to pursue compensation that addresses both the financial and personal impact of the incident. Damages are typically categorized into two main types: economic damages and non-economic damages.

Each category reflects different aspects of your losses and is designed to help you recover financially, physically, and emotionally.

Economic Damages

Economic damages cover the tangible, out-of-pocket costs directly related to the accident. Examples include hospital stays, ongoing medical treatment, and lost wages due to time away from work. These expenses are often documented with bills, receipts, and employment records, making them relatively straightforward to calculate.

In cases of severe injury, economic damages may also account for reduced earning capacity if your ability to work has been permanently affected. Essentially, these damages aim to restore your financial stability by covering all measurable losses.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are intended to address the more personal and intangible effects of the accident, often called “pain and suffering.” This category includes physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, and the reduced quality of life resulting from injuries.

Since these damages are not tied to direct financial costs, they are more subjective and vary based on factors like the severity of your injuries, your recovery outlook, and the impact on your daily life. For example, pain and suffering falls into this category and compensates for both the physical and emotional toll of the accident.

By working with an pedestrian accident attorney in Seattle, you can better assess the full scope of both economic and non-economic damages, which will ultimately influence the total value of your case. This approach ensures that all aspects of your recovery are taken into account, helping you move forward after a life-changing accident.

Washington Pedestrian Laws and How They Can Impact Your Pedestrian Accident Case

Pedestrian laws in Washington define the rights and obligations of both parties, the driver who struck the pedestrian and the pedestrian. Understanding these laws could help accident victims better know their rights.

Sidewalk Use: Under the law, pedestrians in a crosswalk or on a sidewalk have the right of way, meaning the driver of a vehicle must stop and allow the pedestrian passage. Infractions of this rule near a school or playground could lead to additional criminal charges and fines.
Crosswalk Laws: Under the law, the operator of a vehicle must stop and remain stopped to allow pedestrians to pass, with a marked or unmarked vehicle. Note that the pedestrian cannot suddenly leave the curb or other place of safety and then walk or run into the path of a vehicle, making it impossible for the driver to stop.
Follow Traffic Signals: Drivers and pedestrians must obey traffic signals, including any type of traffic control device. This means that drivers and pedestrians should not cross the intersection when a traffic control device warns them not to.
Right of Way: The right of way applies at the crossings in areas without crosswalks. Under this law, a pedestrian crossing at any location outside of a crosswalk must yield the right-of-way to the vehicle. That means the car on the roadway has the right of way if you enter the street at a point other than the crosswalk.

The details of such cases can be critically important. As a result, it is beneficial to seek legal guidance from local pedestrian accident lawyers who can guide you in a fair recovery.

Turn to Elk + Elk for clarification on the rights you have under these laws and the steps you can take to recover damages owed to you.

Contact Our Seattle Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today

Don’t settle for less than you deserve if you or a loved one was injured in an accident. Contact a Seattle pedestrian accident attorney at Elk & Elk so we can discuss your case in a free consultation.

To schedule your free initial consultation, call us at 1-844-ELK-WEST (1-844-355-9378) or fill out our online form.