Fatal pedestrian accidents in Washington

Seattle streets are busy places. On any given street, people can find cars, trucks, bicyclists, and other pedestrians. All of these people need to work together in order for everyone to make it to their destinations safely. However, sometimes motor vehicle drivers are negligent. They fail to uphold the standard of care necessary to keep everyone safe. While sometimes these negligent drivers cause accidents between cars or trucks, they can also cause auto-pedestrian accidents. In many of these cases, these accidents are fatal.

Understanding Pedestrian Statistics

According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, there are some factors that make fatal auto-pedestrian accidents more likely. Understanding these factors may help individuals in the Seattle area avoid fatal motor vehicle accidents.

First, people should understand that men are more likely to die in fatal pedestrian accidents. According to data, between 2008 and 2012, more than 66 percent of pedestrian deaths were men. In addition, individuals between the ages of 46 and 55 were most at risk of being a victim of a fatal pedestrian accident.

These accidents were also much more likely in urban areas than in rural areas. According to data, fatal motor vehicle accidents involving a pedestrian were most likely between 3:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Late night — from 9:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. — was the second most common time for a pedestrian accident to occur.

In an overwhelming 58 percent of cases, these accidents occurred somewhere in the road but not in a crosswalk. Only in 15 percent of cases did a fatal auto pedestrian accident occur within a crosswalk. In 11 percent of cases, these fatal auto-pedestrian accidents occurred in an intersection but not within a crosswalk.

This data shows that pedestrian accidents occur for a variety of reasons. When a negligent driver is responsible for a fatal pedestrian accident, legal action may be necessary. The families of fatal auto pedestrian accident victims may have the right to pursue a wrongful death suit. An attorney can help to explain a family’s rights in such situations.

Matthew D. Dubin

Matt Dubin has spent more than 20 years honing his skills as one of the top personal injury lawyers in the State of Washington. In his career, Matt has focused on protecting consumers from dangerous household products, medical mistakes, roadway accidents, and many other causes of injury. Matt has recovered nearly $20 million on behalf of his clients.

Education

• University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, Washington – J.D.
• Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut – B.A.

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