Pedestrian Accidents and Crosswalks
Car accidents are a leading cause of injury in the United States. In most cases, car accidents involve one or more vehicles. But sometimes, automobile accidents involve pedestrians. Pedestrian accidents can be especially damaging, or even deadly, because pedestrians have nothing to protect them from the impact of the vehicle.
Sadly, pedestrian accidents frequently occur in crosswalks, which are meant to be a safe place for individuals to cross the road. Victims of pedestrian accidents in crosswalks from the Kirkland, WA area can work with the experienced attorneys at Quick Law Group, PLLC to fight for financial compensation for the full extent of their accident damages.
Causes of Crosswalk Accidents
Crosswalks are clearly marked paths that should provide a safe place for pedestrians to cross traffic. Not only are crosswalks designed to be visible to drivers, but they are also often controlled by a traffic light or stop sign.
Despite these precautions, pedestrian accidents routinely take place in designated crosswalks. In almost all of these cases, distracted or reckless driving is to blame.
Some of the most common causes of crosswalk accidents include:
- Talking or texting on a cell phone
- Driving while under the influence
- Speeding
- Failure to adhere to posted traffic signals
Pedestrian Accident Damages
Pedestrians are especially vulnerable in crosswalk accidents. Vehicles weigh significantly more than pedestrians, and, depending on the speed the car is traveling at the time of the accident, they can create a severe impact.
It is not unusual for pedestrian accident victims to suffer catastrophic injuries such as:
- Broken bones
- Head or brain injuries
- Neck, back, or spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
In the most serious accidents, pedestrian injuries can be fatal.
Seeking Compensation
When a pedestrian is crossing the street with a lit “walk” signal, the pedestrian has the right of way. Even if a driver is not obviously driving recklessly, he or she is ultimately responsible for looking out for pedestrian traffic.
Drivers can be held accountable for damages if they play a role in causing an accident. Injury victims may be able to obtain financial compensation for the emotional and physical pain and suffering they have endured.
In addition, liable drivers can be ordered to pay restitution for financial losses stemming from:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and therapy costs
- The cost of any necessary medical equipment (such as a wheelchair)
- Lost wages
- The loss of wage-earning potential
In the event that a pedestrian is killed in a crosswalk accident, surviving family members should consider filing a wrongful death suit.
Eligible family members can seek compensation for losses such as funeral expenses, any medical expenses that accrued before the death, and loss of consortium.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, the attorneys at Quick Law Group, PLLC would like to help you collect the financial compensation you are due for damages. Contact us at your earliest convenience by calling (425) 576-8150. Our attorneys can listen to the details of your case and advise you of your best course of legal action.
