Seattle Motor Vehicle Accident Law Blog

While it may not always be apparent, most drivers in Seattle and elsewhere are also pedestrians at some point. Once parked, a motorist will need to walk from their vehicle to get to their destination. This subjects the pedestrian to new and different dangers, which are related to traveling by foot where automobiles are also traveling.

How common are pedestrian accidents? Based on current statistics, there were a total of 5,977 fatal pedestrian accidents in 2017 in the U.S. While this is a 1.7% decrease from the 6,080 recorded in 2016, this is still a concerning rate. This amounts to roughly one pedestrian fatality every 88 minutes. It should be noted that this does not account for pedestrian kills on private property, such as parking lots and driveways. It also does not include those struck by a vehicle while using skates, a skateboard, baby stroller, a motorized device, a wheelchair or other similar devices.

In September 2015, my two clients from Wisconsin arrived in Seattle expecting to have a fun vacation with their friends. Instead, they experienced terror and tragedy when the Ride the Ducks vehicle they had boarded lost control on the Aurora Bridge and crashed into a charter bus.

When the weather is nice, you can expect to see more people doing things outside. Motorists also enjoy the warm and pleasant weather by rolling down their windows, opening their sunroofs, putting the top down on their convertibles or riding a motorcycle. While it is common to see motorcyclists on the roads during the spring and summer months, motorists may not always be aware of their presence. Because of their small size, it is easy for motorcycles to hide in blind spots. Thus, motorists should check these areas before making any maneuvers. The failure to do so could result in a serious motorcycle crash.

A motorcycle accident can have some of the worst injuries. Because a motorcyclist does not have the same safety features enjoyed by motorists, there is nothing to absorb the force of the collision or keep the rider on their bike. Thus, many crashes result in a motorcyclist being thrown from their bike. This could cause injuries such as road rash, lacerations, trauma to the head, neck or back, broken bones and internal injuries.

Occasionally I am called upon to meet an injured person in his hospital bed. These people are usually pretty banged up. They may have recently undergone surgery and they are probably on heavy doses of narcotics. Hopefully they are surrounded by family and friends who can provide necessary support following a catastrophic injury.