Vehicle-Pedestrian Accidents in Washington State

Vehicle-pedestrian accidents are a growing menace in the U.S., and Washington State is no exception. The urban areas of Washington experience more pedestrian accidents because more pedestrians use the roads, and the traffic is also high. If you or your relative is involved in a pedestrian accident, you should talk to a Washington Vehicle-Pedestrian Accident Attorney to explore your legal options.

Pedestrian Vehicle Accidents in Washington State Statistics

In Washington State, as is with other states, accidents involving pedestrians are more common on the weekends. In fact, nearly half of all pedestrian collisions are reported to occur on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. This is reinstated by data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) collected in 2016 that singled out Saturday as the day with the highest number of fatal car accidents.

That said, the following pedestrian accident statistics for Washington State, which a Washington Pedestrian Accident Attorney backs up, will tell you more about pedestrian collisions and how to avoid them.

• About 60% of pedestrian accidents in Washington State happen on city streets where more people are walking.
• Of the 2,433 pedestrian accidents that happened in 2016 in the Evergreen State, 89 were fatal, 1,874 were suspected injuries, of which 362 were critical.
• Annually, pedestrian fatalities in Washington State represent 12 to 14% of all fatal motor vehicle accidents.
• The Washington State Department of Transportation says that over 30% of fatal collisions happen on state roads. Typically, these state roads are regional and trans-regional facilities designed and dedicated primarily to vehicular traffic.
• Although pedestrian deaths have substantially decreased since 1975, they still account for 15% of the overall crash fatalities.
• From 2008 to 2012, about 16% of all the pedestrian accidents in Washington State happened on Highway 99 (Aurora Avenue North). The same site accounts for 43% of pedestrian crashes in King County.
• For the five years between 2008 and 2012, 582 pedestrians sustained serious injuries while 90 died from pedestrian accidents in King County. This represented 21% of the total traffic deaths in King County.

Tips To Help You Avoid Pedestrian Vehicle Accidents

While a Washington State Pedestrian Accident Attorney will help you seek compensation from your insurance company when you’re involved in a pedestrian-vehicle accident, you would be much better knowing how to avoid these crashes. These pedestrian safety tips will come in handy.

Use the Sidewalks

Luckily, most roads in Washington State have sidewalks you can safely walk on. This reduces the chances of pedestrian accidents by a significant margin. Where there are no sidewalks, walk on the edge of the road facing the traffic flow.

Use Marked Crosswalks and Signaled Intersections When Crossing the Road

Most instances of pedestrian accidents happen when crossing the road. As your Washington State Pedestrian Accident Lawyer will tell you, every intersection is a legal crosswalk according to Washington law except when it’s marked as closed.

Obey Traffic Signals

Sometimes, pedestrian accidents are a result of negligence from the pedestrian, like ignoring traffic signs. Besides watching the traffic lights, ensure that you always stand at the curb, look left, right, and left again before crossing any road.

Don’t Drink and Walk On the Roads

Just like it’s not safe to drink and drive, it’s equally dangerous to walk on the roads while under the influence of alcohol. Your motor skills are impaired when you’re high on alcohol which reduces your road safety.

How a Washington Vehicle-Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Can Help When You’re Involved in a Pedestrian Accident.

Getting compensation for injuries sustained in a pedestrian accident is an uphill battle because of the many bottlenecks sustained by insurance companies. That’s why you need a Washington Pedestrian Accident Lawyer from a reputable firm like Albert Law PLLC to handle your auto accident claim in Washington State, so you get fair compensation and get your life back on track.