Pedestrian Injury

child with backpack in the crosswalk and traffic

Pedestrian Injury

When a vehicle and a pedestrian meet, the pedestrian never wins. These injuries tend to be extremely severe and one-sided. In too many cases this type of accident leads to a life cut abruptly short and a grieving family seeking answers. In other instances, the recovery is long, painful, and expensive. Children are especially at risk and their lower stature makes a childless visible. Children are also less likely to accurately judge the speed and distances of oncoming vehicles. The highest percentage of fatalities (42%) for child pedestrians aged 14 or younger occurs between 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. This is generally the time children are returning from school, or walking to lessons or sports practice. From 2003-2007, nearly 350 pedestrians of all ages died in Washington state from traffic-related injuries and there were another 2,000 hospitalizations. Children 15 and younger accounted for 7 percent of these pedestrian fatalities and 15 percent of the hospitalizations.

Causes of Pedestrian Injuries

Pedestrians can follow every rule of the road – staying on the sidewalk, crossing in the crosswalk, crossing when they have the right of way – and still be injured by vehicles and cyclists. The most common cause of pedestrian injury is distracted driving, but there are a number of other causes we see regularly, including:

  • Drivers speeding through a red light
  • Drivers texting or on their phone
  • Intoxicated drivers or drivers under the influence
  • Poor lighting or other defects with the road or crosswalk design
  • Illegally parked vehicles blocking pedestrian visibility

Your Rights as an Injured Pedestrian

If you were injured by a vehicle and the driver is at fault, then you have a right to be compensated for your physical, financial and emotional injuries. In all likelihood, your injuries will be extensive, requiring a high level of medical treatment.

Common pedestrian injuries include:

  • Broken bones
  • Concussion and other brain injuries
  • Injuries to the neck and spinal cord
  • Amputations

At Friedman | Rubin, we will fight for you. If the driver who injured you was insured, we can go after the insurance company on your behalf to make sure all of your medical bills are taken care of. You may also receive additional compensation if you are disabled and unable to work. Please contact us or call Friedman | Rubin today at (206) 501-4446 for a free consultation.

We Get You to the Next Chapter

No one can go back and time and prevent your accident from happening, but we can fight to make sure you have the compensation you need to cover your medical expenses, so you can move on with the next chapter of your life. The attorneys at Friedman | Rubin are experienced in investigating and presenting pedestrian cases in court.

Verdicts & Settlements

$3.55 Million Settlement in Vehicle vs. Pedestrians in a Crosswalk Collision

$5.6 Million Settlement Reached During Trial on Behalf of Pedestrians Injured in Kitsap County Crosswalk