A few months after a tragic accident involving a drunk driver which killed two pedestrians and critically injured a woman and her infant baby, the Seattle Department of Transportation announced various options to improve safety along the busy street where the happened.
The tragic car-pedestrian accident occurred in March when an intoxicated driver with a history of DWI hit a 33-year-old woman, her 10-day-old infant son, her father-in-law and her mother-in-law as the family was crossing the street. The woman and her baby were critically injured but sadly her in-laws were killed in the incident. According to authorities, the driver of the vehicle registered a blood alcohol content of three times the legal limit.
As a result of the accident, SDOT has proposed changes such as painting more lanes to improve safety at the accident site. However, few meetings to get the input of the community are scheduled, and changes are not likely to be implemented for a few months.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration notes that nearly 78,000 pedestrians suffer injuries every year while nearly 5,000 are killed in crashes. The driver of vehicles must exercise caution, be attentive and obey all traffic laws while on the roads and watch out for pedestrians. Similarly, pedestrians have a duty to be aware of their surroundings and cross at designated crosswalks. However, despite all the precautions one might take, accidents still happen.
The loss of a loved one under such tragic circumstances is difficult to imagine. In this case, the infant will never get to know his grandparents, and the 33-year-old woman likely has a long recovery ahead of her. Those injured by a negligent driver, and the families of those who are killed, have the right to bring a civil lawsuit and recover damages. A personal injury lawyer can evaluate the specifics of one’s case.
Source: Komo News, “Seattle unveils options to improve safety near fatal crash site,” Luke Duecy, July 17, 2013