Seattle is one of Washington State’s most popular cities for on-foot travelers. With the public transit and layout of the city, many Seattle residents choose not to own cars and instead do most of their commuting using public transportation and their own two legs.

However, there is some risk included when traveling the city by foot. Anytime pedestrians share the street with cyclists, cars, buses, and motorbikes, there’s the chance that someone might not be paying attention to the road — resulting in a collision and injuries to the pedestrian.

If you have been injured as a pedestrian, it is very important to seek medical and legal help immediately. Taking quick and effective action is the best way to ensure that you get justice legally and recover to full health physically.

Here at Brain Injury Law Of Seattle, our team of personal injury attorneys has had over 25 years of experience defending clients who have sustained an injury through someone else’s negligence.

Why Do I Need a Specialized Brain Injury Attorney?

Brain injuries are different from other accident-related injuries. A broken arm or whiplash, while painful, usually has a straightforward diagnosis and recovery path—these injuries are visible and obvious.

Brain injuries, however, can be complex, invisible, and highly unpredictable. Symptoms can linger for months or even years, and in some cases, additional complications appear long after the accident.

Insurance companies often downplay concussions or TBIs, labeling them “minor” injuries or questioning the extent they affect your daily life. Without legal representation, you may find your claim undervalued or outright denied.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Seattle

In many cases, distracted drivers end up causing pedestrian accidents. In other situations, drivers cause this kind of accident by:

  • Traveling at an unsafe speed
  • Refusing to stop at a red light or stop sign
  • Failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk
  • Driving while under the influence of alcohol

While some pedestrian accidents occur due to pedestrian error, drivers are often at fault. The cause of your accident is a crucial factor in your case. Feel free to contact us to have a pedestrian accident lawyer review the details of your accident and help you decide on the best way to handle your claim.

Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries

Pedestrian accidents often result in severe injuries as, unlike in vehicle collisions where the car’s frame offers protection, pedestrians are completely unprotected. Our pedestrian accident attorneys often assist individuals who sustain:

  • Broken bones, including bones in the arms or legs
  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
  • Concussions and injuries to the back or neck, such as whiplash
  • Cuts, bruises, scrapes, and other soft tissue injuries
  • Hemorrhages and hematomas
  • Torn and sprained ligaments

Our team can help ensure you have proper documentation to support your claim and will work hard to secure compensation to cover your medical expenses.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian Accidents in Seattle

If you’ve suffered a pedestrian accident, our law firm is there for you. Here are some answers to questions you likely have:

How Common Are Pedestrian Accidents In Seattle?

In 2010, 6 percent of Seattle residents walked to their jobs. That figure jumped to an astonishing 13 percent in 2017 and the numbers have only continued to climb.

Following the rise in walkers, pedestrian awareness measures have also increased. But unfortunately, so has the number of cars and congestion in the city.

Instead of becoming safer for pedestrians, Seattle has become increasingly dangerous since 2010. In fact, the pedestrian death toll in the city doubled between 2016 and 2017, going from 5 fatalities to 11.
Seattle’s most dangerous road, Highway 99 (Aurora Avenue North), has accounted for 43 percent of all the pedestrian accidents in King County over the last five years, and 16 percent of pedestrian accidents for the entire state.

While it has become increasingly easy to walk to work in the downtown, being a pedestrian in Seattle still has a good deal of risk involved.

How Dangerous Are Pedestrian Accidents?
How Can I Avoid Pedestrian Accidents?

Naturally, no one wants to be in a pedestrian accident. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to stay safe when out and about here in Seattle:

  • Following all the rules of the road
  • Walk on the sidewalk when possible
  • Walk against traffic if you cannot access a sidewalk
  • Stay alert and avoid distractions caused by cellphones and other devices
  • Always cross the street at intersections or crosswalks
  • Wear bright colors when walking or carrying a flashlight at night
  • Pay attention at driveways

In addition, just like you should never drink and drive, avoid drinking alcohol or using drugs before going for a walk. These substances can cause impairment, slowing your reaction time and making it harder to avoid a collision. If you were hit by a car, you can get help from our pedestrian accident lawyers.

Why are Seattle pedestrian accidents so dangerous?

Pedestrian accidents are especially dangerous because pedestrians have no protection. The average passenger vehicle weighs over 4,000 pounds. Even if the impact is indirect and at a low rate of speed, serious injuries are likely.

Is it Worth Getting an Accident Lawyer?

A pedestrian injury lawyer can handle all aspects of your legal case. Your attorney can stand up for you, handling communication with the driver who caused the accident and their insurance agent.

What Happens if a Pedestrian Causes an Accident?

If a pedestrian caused the collision, they may face legal repercussions if they broke any traffic laws or otherwise behaved in a dangerous way. In this situation, if you were the driver, you may not have to cover the pedestrian’s medical expenses or lost wages during their recovery.

What do Pedestrian Accident Statistics Reveal?

Statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal the true danger of pedestrian accidents. A fatality occurs as a result of a pedestrian accident every hour and a half in the United States, with over 100,000 people seeking emergency treatment for pedestrian accident-related injuries every year.

What kinds of damages are associated with Seattle pedestrian accidents?

Depending on the specifics of your case, you may be able to pursue compensation for your medical expenses, time off at work, pain, suffering, and mental anguish. That’s in addition to any loss of physical property, such as a bike, cell phone, or other items that may have been damaged in the collision. Working with a pedestrian accident law firm is the best way to evaluate your potential settlement.

Was the accident the motorist’s fault?

The motorist involved in a pedestrian accident may claim they didn’t cause the accident. A pedestrian accident lawyer can step in to review the facts about the accident, reviewing evidence to discover who was at fault.

What Forms of Driver Negligence Commonly Cause Seattle Pedestrian Accidents?

Many accidents in Seattle occur at crosswalks or at intersections, often due to distracted drivers, those who run red lights or fail to exercise caution when entering the roadway. Any action was taken by a driver that demonstrates a lack of due care could be considered negligence.

What kinds of Injuries are Common in Seattle Pedestrian Accidents?

Most pedestrian accidents result in broken bones, cuts, scrapes, bruises, and head injuries. In some cases, pedestrian accidents lead to internal injuries or fatalities.

How Do I Protect my Pedestrian Accident Claim?

You can protect your claim by working with an experienced pedestrian accident attorney. Our team at Brain Injury Law of Seattle can step in to offer you guidance through the complex process of negotiating with insurance agents and seeking compensation for your damages.

Secure Your Future

We would highly encourage you, if you have been involved in an accident, to seek out legal help immediately. Don’t wait and allow yourself to suffer longer, instead seek out legal assistance and compensation for the wrong that was done to you.

If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident as a pedestrian, contact Brain Injury Law Of Seattle today. We would be more than happy to answer your questions or give you a free consultation so that you know what to expect from the legal journey ahead.

What To Do After A Pedestrian Accident in Seattle

  • Following a collision, seek medical attention right away. Many of the injuries sustained in this kind of crash are time sensitive, so don’t attempt to “walk it off.”
  • While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, make sure someone is documenting evidence and witnesses.
  • Unless your injuries are life-threatening, make sure the police hear your version of the events before you head to the hospital. If the police just hear the driver’s story, it will be easy for the insurance company to pin the collision on you.
  • Start an information file. Stash all relevant documents in here, including your police reports, photographs of the scene, x-rays, insurance documents, etc.
  • Contact a pedestrian injury attorney to advise you.

Your Rights As An Injured Pedestrian

  1. You have the right to speak to an attorney before talking with an insurance company.
  2. You have the right to have any settlement offers reviewed by your attorney.

Following your collision, you may be contacted by the driver’s insurance company in an attempt to get you to settle your pedestrian injury claim outside of court.

We strongly advise you not to consider any settlement offers until you have spoken with a pedestrian injury attorney.

Don’t just settle for a bit of money to cover your present damages. First, you need to determine if you have sustained lasting injuries.

A pedestrian injury attorney will help protect you against the threat of future lost wages due to your injuries, and will secure compensation for your short and long-term medical expenses. A pedestrian accident lawyer will also be vital to your case if you have been involved in a hit-and-run. Hit-and-runs involve extensive detective work between multiple departments, so an expert legal team will help you communicate between all the different branches involved in your case.