If You Were Walking and a Car Hit and Hurt You, Our Attorneys Can Help
When you cross the road, you expect to be able to get to the other side safely. Unfortunately, many people suffer serious and sometimes fatal injuries each year in pedestrian accidents. In many of these cases, the driver of the vehicle is at fault for the accident.
If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation for the damages you have incurred. To secure compensation, it is important to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer.
The law firm of Fuller & Fuller has been serving clients in Olympia and communities throughout Washington for over 45 years. We are a family of attorneys with extensive experience in car accident claims involving pedestrians.
See what clients of Fuller & Fuller have to say about their experience.
Please call (800) 570-4878 today for an initial review of your pedestrian accident case. Our family of attorneys is ready to serve you.
Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Most people recognize the dangers of walking when cars are nearby. As a pedestrian, you know to look both ways, wait for the walk signal, and take other precautions before you step out into the road.
However, most pedestrian accidents don’t happen because the person on foot is careless. In many instances, pedestrians are struck by a vehicle because of the negligence of the motorist.
As in any car accident case, carelessness behind the wheel can take many different forms:
- Failure to check intersections for pedestrians when traveling straight
- Failure to watch for pedestrians when executing a turn
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Drunk driving
- Driving too close to the curb or drifting onto the shoulder of the road
- Disregarding stop signs, yield signs, and red lights
Drivers have a responsibility to operate their vehicles safely. When they fail to do so and a pedestrian or another motorist is injured, the at-fault driver is liable for damages.
Pedestrian Injuries & Fatalities on the Rise in Washington
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) releases annual reports on serious injuries and deaths in traffic accidents. According to the latest WSDOT data, fatal pedestrian accidents and accidents involving serious injury to pedestrians grew over a five-year period.
Pedestrian serious injury accidents grew by 30%, while pedestrian fatalities jumped 42%.
Where Do Pedestrian Accidents Occur?
The majority of pedestrian accidents happen at intersections. Other common locations of vehicle-pedestrian accidents include:
- The side of the road
- Along curbs, particularly in situations with street parking where drivers and occupants exit the car into traffic
- Parking lots
Considering the slow speeds involved, the potential for serious injury in parking lot accidents may seem minimal compared to accidents that occur at intersections and in crosswalks. However, vehicles pulling out of a parking space can knock pedestrians to the ground and drive over the top of them, causing significant trauma.
Common Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents
The difference in size between a motor vehicle and a pedestrian makes the probability of injury very high in the event of a collision. This is not a fair fight!
Pedestrian accidents can result in a number of serious injuries, with some of the most common including:
- Broken bones
- Brain injuries
- Trauma to the neck and back
- Soft tissue damage
- Spinal cord injury
- Cuts, lacerations, and road rash
- Internal bleeding
- Damage to internal organs
Many of these injuries require emergency treatment, surgery, and rehabilitation. Some may result in lifelong disability or impairment. And, depending on the nature of the injuries and how severe they are, the trauma in a pedestrian accident may be fatal.
Compensation in Pedestrian Accident Claims
Due to the severity of injuries often seen in pedestrian accidents, the costs associated with these collisions are often quite high. If a careless driver or another negligent party is at fault for the accident, you are entitled to compensation for all of your economic and noneconomic losses.
The amount of compensation you are owed will depend on the losses you sustain. No two cases are exactly alike, which is why it is so important to contact a pedestrian accident attorney for a review of your claim. Generally, recoverable damages in these cases include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income, including compensation for sick days and vacation time you used to recover from the accident
- Out-of-pocket costs for medications, travel to and from doctor appointments, crutches, canes, wheelchairs, and more
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Emotional distress
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
During the course of preparing your claim, the pedestrian accident lawyers at Fuller & Fuller will evaluate the total costs you and your family have incurred. We will pursue this amount on your behalf.
Pedestrian Accidents and Wrongful Death
In cases where the victim dies from injuries sustained in a pedestrian accident, our attorneys can file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of you and your family. The death of a loved one is a traumatic experience, and our family of lawyers is here to support you.
In wrongful death claims arising from fatal car accidents, compensation may be recovered for damages such as:
- Lost income and benefits
- Funeral costs
- Medical bills for treatment and palliative care before your loved one passed
- Loss of society, companionship, and consortium
- Destruction of the relationship between parent and child
- Your loved one’s pain and suffering
How Fuller & Fuller Can Help with Your Pedestrian Accident Case
As a family of lawyers dedicated to helping your family, Fuller & Fuller provides guidance through every step of your case. We make it our priority to earn your trust and provide you with the full support you need.
Some of the ways our firm will assist you include:
Prompt Investigation of the Accident
Time is of the essence in any vehicle accident case. Delays can mean the loss of crucial evidence and witness testimony. Furthermore, the at-fault driver’s insurance company will immediately start documenting the crash site in anticipation of an injury claim.
When you hire Fuller & Fuller, our attorneys go to work on your behalf right away. Our team will perform a thorough investigation that can include:
- Assessing the scene of the accident, including factors such as visibility, traffic patterns, weather conditions, and more
- Taking photos of the scene, including the layout of the road or intersection, skidmarks, and debris
- Obtaining and reviewing a copy of the police report; the report includes key details about the accident and information on the parties involved, as well as witness statements, the officer’s opinions on who was at fault, and more
- Interviewing witnesses to the crash; eyewitnesses may be identified through the police report or uncovered through other means
- Reviewing your medical records and other records that show damages from the accident
Part of preparing your case will likely include finding experts who can assist with accident reconstruction and other aspects of the investigation. Fuller & Fuller has the resources to enlist appropriate experts on your behalf.
Getting Bills Paid
We know that the bills after any serious injury can seem relentless. Our staff includes a team member who helps you manage your bills, with the goal that each one gets paid on time.
Calculating Damages
Accident victims who try to resolve the case on their own may discover that the settlement offered by the insurance company is often lower than their current monetary damages, to say nothing of anticipated future expenses and noneconomic losses. Even if a proposed settlement seems satisfactory, it likely doesn’t take into account the full measure of compensation you are owed.
Partnering with an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer ensures that all of your damages are accounted for when you file a claim. Our attorneys draw on decades of experience in personal injury and wrongful death claims to ensure that your demand encompasses all of the costs supported by the evidence in your case.
Representing You
It will come as no surprise that the insurance company for the negligent driver may attempt to place some or all of the blame on you for the accident. After all, if they are successful, the company has to pay out less or even nothing at all.
Our pedestrian accident lawyers anticipate this strategy and take every step to preserve your right to compensation. We advocate for your best interest in communications and negotiations with the insurance company. Our goal is to secure a settlement agreement that meets your needs.
Contact a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Olympia Today
For more than 45 years, our law firm has been advocating on behalf of people who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents. Our family of attorneys builds connections with clients to ensure that their legal needs are met and they have the support they need.
If you or a loved one has been injured or you lost a family member in a pedestrian accident, please call Fuller & Fuller at (800) 570-4878 today. Our pedestrian accident lawyers serve clients in Olympia, Tacoma, and other areas of Washington.