Everett is a pedestrian-friendly city with walkable communities like Bayside, Riverside, and Port Gardner, but even in quiet communities, pedestrians are vulnerable to serious injuries in traffic accidents. When a large metal vehicle and an unprotected pedestrian collide, the pedestrian faces a grave risk of serious or even catastrophic injuries.
If you or your loved one suffered serious harm in a pedestrian accident caused by a negligent or reckless driver, you deserve skilled legal representation to hold the driver financially accountable for your damages. Call the Everett personal injury attorneys at Wells Trumbull today for the legal representation that gets results. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Why Choose Us for Your Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Everett?
Founding attorneys Joshua Trumbull and Ben Wells are renowned Washington personal injury attorneys with long histories of success in advocating for financial accountability against liable parties who cause injuries to others. Our legal team has decades of experience in all traffic-related accident cases, with a track record of multi-million dollar settlements and court awards for injured clients. We offer the following advantages to your case:
- We will assist you in all aspects of your legal claim, from the initial investigation to achieving a settlement or jury award for damages
- You’ll have the personalized attention of an attorney who gets to know you and your family to witness the impacts of your injury on your life to better convey those consequences to an insurance adjuster or jury
- We have access to on-call experts and resources like accident reconstruction specialists and medical experts to help build a compelling case
- We have a policy of open communication and availability so you’re always informed on every step of the process of recovering your compensation
We offer injury victims free consultations and only charge a fee after we secure their compensation so you’ll pay nothing upfront in your pedestrian accident case.
Common Causes of Washington Pedestrian Accidents
Some pedestrian accidents occur due to inclement weather, sliding vehicles, and poor visibility, but driver error or recklessness is by far the most common cause of pedestrian injuries. The following driver actions commonly cause serious pedestrian accidents:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Failing to yield the right of way in a marked or unmarked crosswalk
- Intoxicated driving
In less common liability cases, road-planning agencies may be responsible due to poor road designs, or the manufacturer of a defective car part, like a brake system, could be at fault for a pedestrian accident. If you were injured due to the negligence of a driver, make sure to speak with an experienced Everett car accident attorney for legal guidance and support.
Proving Liability in a Pedestrian Accident Claim
The injury victim becomes the plaintiff in a personal injury lawsuit, including in pedestrian accident cases. The plaintiff has the burden of proving liability through a preponderance of the evidence—or showing that it’s more likely than not that the at-fault party caused the victim’s damages. Proving this requires demonstrating the following legal tenets of liability:
- That the at-fault party had a duty of care to take all reasonable measures to avoid causing harm to a pedestrian or others on the road
- They breached this duty through an act of negligence or recklessness
- The breach of duty directly caused the accident and injury
- The injury victim suffered significant economic and non-economic damages from the injury
Your Everett pedestrian accident attorney from Wells Trumbull will diligently investigate, document concise evidence of liability, and carefully calculate your damages to send a compelling demand letter to the insurance company of the at-fault driver.
Common Injuries in Pedestrian Accident Claims
In car vs. pedestrian accidents, unprotected pedestrians face the risk of catastrophic injuries from blunt-force trauma. They may also suffer crush injuries. Common injuries in Everett pedestrian accident claims include the following:
- Fractures, including of the limbs, hips, pelvis, and ribs
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Knee injuries
- Thoracic injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Crush injuries
- Road rash (severe abrasions)
- Lacerations and bruises
- Facial injuries
- Traumatic amputation
Serious injuries quickly become expensive with medical bills coming in at the same time the injury victim may be unable to return to work in the previous capacity or at all. When another party caused the injury, they are accountable for the costs. Compensation for damages comes from the driver’s auto insurance policy. If the accident resulted from a defective car part, the manufacturer holds strict liability for the injury victim’s damages.
What Compensation Can I Recover for Pedestrian Accident Injuries?
When someone else’s actions cause harm, the injury victim shouldn’t be left responsible for the expenses. A successful compensation claim could bring compensation for some or all of the following damages:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Past and future income loss
- Diminished future earning capacity due to disability
- Pain and suffering
- Other applicable non-economic damages like compensation for limb loss, loss of one of the senses, or loss of enjoyment of life
- PTSD, anxiety, depression
Pedestrian accidents are among the most serious traffic accidents. If you lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident, an Everett wrongful death attorney from Wells Trumbull can help your family recover additional compensation.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Everett
If you or a loved one suffers serious injuries in a pedestrian accident, someone at the scene can help preserve important evidence by taking photos of the accident scene, any damage to the vehicle, and any visible injuries. Taking down the names of eyewitnesses to the accident is critical in places where there are no traffic cameras or nearby surveillance cameras.
Always go directly to the hospital after a pedestrian accident, even if you feel you only have mild injuries. Undergo a full medical evaluation to detect any injuries with delayed symptom onset. Ask for a detailed medical report with your doctor’s recommendations for treating the injuries. Then, obtain a copy of the police report and set up a consultation with a pedestrian accident lawyer in Everett from Wells Trumbull before accepting any offers from the at-fault party’s insurance company.
In the weeks after a pedestrian accident, it’s time to focus on getting through medical procedures and maximizing your physical recovery. You can trust your pedestrian accident attorney in Everett from Wells Trumbull to maximize your financial recovery through a compelling claim for compensation. Call our Everett law office today for a free evaluation of your case so we can take prompt action.