You get hurt in a pedestrian accident, and you’re unsure about what to do next. As you recover from the incident, talk with a Seattle pedestrian accident lawyer. This is an opportunity to review your options with a legal professional and, if warranted, pursue a personal injury claim or lawsuit against a vehicle driver or other at-fault parties.
Injured in a pedestrian accident? Call Dan Next! The team at NextLaw has 100 years of combined experience. Our Seattle pedestrian accident attorneys are committed to helping people piece their lives back together after car accidents, motorcycle crashes, and other types of accidents.
Let our Seattle personal injury lawyers help you with your pedestrian accident claim or lawsuit. To get started, schedule a free case consultation.
Why Hire Our Lawyers for Your Seattle Pedestrian Accident Case?
Our Seattle pedestrian accident lawyers will step in when you’re stuck between doctor visits, missed paychecks, and insurance company communications. Initially, we will learn about you and your accident, and we can explain Washington law and how it may apply to your case.
From here, we may help you with your case in several ways, such as:
- Interviewing witnesses, reviewing police reports, and taking other measures to understand liability for your accident and find out if a driver or other parties may be at fault
- Gathering medical records, police reports, crash scene photos, traffic camera or surveillance video footage, data from event data recorders (EDRs), reports from accident reconstructionists, witness statements, and other evidence to support your case
- Assessing your tangible and intangible losses to estimate your case’s value
- Handling communications with insurance companies and insurance adjusters and negotiating the terms of a settlement
- Bringing your case in front of a judge or jury if no insurance company settlement is reached
- Providing you with FAQs and other legal resources to help you make informed case decisions
If you’re wondering about the things to do after a pedestrian accident, speak with the NextLaw team. We can provide injured victims and their families with information about what it takes to proceed with a claim or lawsuit. If you choose us as your legal representation, we will listen to you and make sure that your voice is heard at each stage of your case. Contact us today.
For a free legal consultation with a pedestrian accident lawyer serving Seattle, call (253) 238-2558
Types of Economic and Non-Economic Damages Available in Your Case
Pedestrian accident lawyers serving Seattle can teach you about the economic and non-economic damages that you could recover.
Below are some of the types of compensatory damages that you could receive if you file a pedestrian crash claim or lawsuit:
- Medical treatment bills: You could be compensated for the medical expenses associated with your road rash, broken bones, or other accident injuries. The compensation that you receive for your medical treatment costs may be based on injury severity and other factors.
- Lost wages: If a concussion, spinal cord injury (SCI), or other catastrophic pedestrian injuries from your accident prevent you from working, your personal injury attorneys may advise you to ask for damages for your loss of income.
- Diminished earning capacity: If your injuries keep you from going back to the job that you held before your accident, you may receive damages to cover your diminished future earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering: You may get compensation for your emotional distress, physical discomfort, and other pain and suffering that you experience due to your injuries.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: Tell your lawyers how your injuries are impacting your ability to enjoy your life to the fullest extent. At this point, your attorneys may build a case to show that you should get damages for your loss of enjoyment of life.
- Burial and funeral expenses: If you’ve lost a family member in a fatal accident and are eligible to file a claim or lawsuit on their behalf, you may seek damages for their burial and funeral expenses as part of a wrongful death case.
As you search for legal help, consider Seattle, WA pedestrian accident lawyers who have achieved outstanding case results for clients in situations similar to yours. These attorneys will explore many legal avenues to position you to obtain maximum compensation for your losses from your accident.
Seattle Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Near Me
Call: (253) 238-2558How Much Time Do You Have to File a Seattle Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit?
In Washington, you generally have three years to file a lawsuit if you are injured due to someone else’s actions. Depending on the situation, if you’ve lost a family member in a fatal accident, you may be able to sue any responsible parties for damages. Per Washington State law, you typically have three years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Meanwhile, if your case involves a government agency, the deadline for filing a lawsuit could be even shorter. That’s why it’s often a good idea to meet with pedestrian accident attorneys serving Seattle right away.
Your attorneys can explain when it may be too late to go to a doctor after an accident and other topics relating to your case. Before filing your lawsuit, your lawyers may help you obtain compensation for your losses through an insurance claim.
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What to Expect if You File a Seattle Pedestrian Accident Claim
Seattle, WA pedestrian accident lawyers may encourage you to file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. This will start the claims process.
Your attorneys want you to continue to care for your accident injuries as they guide you through this process. They will keep you updated about settlement negotiations with insurance companies.
Your lawyers will give you insights into the average pedestrian accident settlement amount. They want you to receive compensation that you can use for your medical bills and other accident losses. At the same time, they want you to approve an insurance settlement offer only if you feel it will provide you with compensation.
Personal injury attorneys can review settlement proposals with you and help you weigh their pros and cons. If you don’t get a settlement offer that matches your expectations, your lawyer is prepared to argue your case to a judge or jury.
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Who Is Responsible for Your Accident?
The vehicle driver is almost always involved, but responsibility may not stop there. Sometimes, another party contributed to the conditions that led to the crash.
Pedestrian accident lawyers serving Seattle, Washington will analyze your case in depth. They may find that any of these parties is responsible for your accident:
- Negligent or distracted vehicle drivers
- Rideshare companies and delivery services
- City or county agencies that designed unsafe roads
- Construction crews that failed to post warnings
- Property owners who created blind spots near crosswalks
There are instances when two or more parties share the blame for accidents involving pedestrians. Your attorneys will allocate time and resources to your case to identify any at-fault parties and build your case against them accordingly.
How to Prove Liability for Your Accident
Pedestrian accident attorneys serving Seattle, Washington will focus their argument on negligence. If your lawyers take your case to trial, they can highlight how the following elements of negligence were present at the time of your accident:
Duty of Care
This is a legal obligation that someone has to ensure the safety and well-being of others. For instance, a driver is responsible for complying with the posted speed limit and following other road rules. Otherwise, if this driver acts carelessly or recklessly, they could cause a car accident involving pedestrians or other parties.
Breach of Duty of Care
If a party fails to act with reasonable care and caution toward others, they have violated their duty of care to these individuals. Because of this, the party’s actions could put others in danger and lead to accidents.
Causation
In your case, your attorneys can detail to a judge or jury how a violation of a duty of care contributed to your accident. They want the court to see that there’s a direct correlation between this breach of duty and you getting hurt in an accident involving a motorist or other parties.
Damages
These are the quantifiable and subjective losses that you incur due to your accident. Your lawyers may use your pay stubs, medical expenses, and other forms of evidence to show a judge or jury how the defendant’s actions may have caused your accident and losses.
In Washington State, you are subject to pure comparative negligence if you sue someone for a pedestrian accident. With this, if you are found to be partially responsible for your accident, the court will reduce your damages by your percentage of fault.
Why Do Pedestrian Accidents Happen in Washington State?
Every pedestrian crash is different, and many factors could play a role in your accident. Seattle, Washington pedestrian accident lawyers will give your case the attention it deserves. As such, they will investigate your case to understand why your accident occurred.
Common reasons why pedestrian crashes are reported in Seattle and other Washington communities include:
- Distracted driving: A driver who is texting, eating, adjusting their navigation system, or doing things other than focusing on safe travel may fail to notice a pedestrian in a crosswalk. In this situation, an accident can happen, and the distracted motorist could be held liable.
- Failure to yield: A driver doesn’t yield the right of way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk or ignores stop signs and red lights. This driver’s decision to fail to yield can contribute to an accident.
- Speeding: If a driver is speeding, they may not be able to bring their vehicle to a stop in time to prevent an accident.
- Driving under the influence (DUI): It is illegal to drive while under the influence, and this can severely hamper a motorist’s judgment and concentration. A drunk driver who gets into an accident with a pedestrian could face civil and criminal penalties.
- Left-hand turns: Sometimes, a motorist who is making a left turn may focus on traffic and overlook a pedestrian in a crosswalk. This can result in an accident.
- Poor visibility: A poorly lit intersection and bad weather can make it tough for a motorist to see a pedestrian, which can lead to an accident.
- Poor road design: A lack of traffic signals or sidewalks, faded crosswalks, and other road design issues can contribute to pedestrian collisions.
Outside of these things, pedestrians who are walking while distracted or jaywalking may violate crosswalk laws and be susceptible to accidents. In these situations and others, a pedestrian could be held partially or fully responsible for their actions.
Common Injuries Reported in Pedestrian Collisions
Seattle, Washington pedestrian accident attorneys want you to care for your injuries and to continue to do so for as long as your doctor recommends.
They may account for the costs of treating various types of pedestrian collision injuries as they evaluate your accident losses. Some of the injuries that are commonly reported in pedestrian crashes include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Skull fractures
- Facial trauma
- Leg and knee fractures
- Pelvic and hip fractures
- Upper limb damage
- Sprains and strains
- Crush injuries
Your personal injury lawyers want you to be compensated for physical therapy, surgeries, and ongoing medical care for these and other injuries from your accident. They may use your medical records and other evidence to support your case for these compensatory damages.
Put Our Personal Injury Lawyers in Your Corner
Consider your response to your pedestrian accident carefully. Have Seattle pedestrian crash attorneys help you deal with the ramifications of an accident that may have been caused by a motor vehicle driver or other parties. Your lawyers want you to prioritize self-care as they fight for economic and non-economic damages.
At NextLaw, our team empathizes with those who’ve been injured in pedestrian crashes and their families. Our clients are at the heart of everything we do. In your case, we are dedicated to providing you with a client experience unmatched by anyone else.
Trust our personal injury lawyers to help you achieve the optimal results in your pedestrian crash case. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t have to pay us unless we recover compensation for you.
For more information, Call Dan Next for a free consultation!
Call or text (253) 238-2558 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form