Crosswalk Accidents

Between 2013 and 2017, pedestrians and bicyclists accounted for 18.6 percent of traffic fatalities and 22.5 percent of serious injuries in Washington State. The number of pedestrians killed in Washington State has more than doubled since 2013, which makes liability of increasing concern. Of perhaps even greater concern are crosswalk accidents.

Who’s To Blame In a Crosswalk Accident?

If a driver hits a pedestrian in an area other than a crosswalk, then liability is almost always assigned to either the driver or pedestrian. For instance, if a pedestrian is walking in the middle of a roadway and they are hit by a driver who was going the speed limit and obeying all other traffic laws, then the pedestrian may actually be considered liable for the accident. If the driver leaves their assigned space and enters a pedestrian area, then the driver will most likely be held liable. In either case, there are only two parties that can potentially be held liable. 

 While crosswalks are intended to provide a safe passage lane for pedestrians to cross busy roadways, in truth, they are often fraught with hazards that make them not nearly as safe as they should be. They are also required to be adequately maintained and adhere to certain codes and standards, generally by a city or government entity. If they are not, then the entity responsible for maintaining the crosswalk can also be a potentially liable party. The more potentially liable parties that are involved in an accident, the more complicated any kind of compensation gets. 

 For example, suppose a motorist is making a right-hand turn while a pedestrian, who has the right-of-way, is crossing the street at night. If the street is not adequately lit, even if the driver stops before turning, they may not see the pedestrian crossing the street and may go ahead and turn and hit the pedestrian. In that case, liability for crosswalk accidents gets complicated. Is the driver liable, or is the city government liable for not providing or maintaining adequate lighting? 

 Contacting An Attorney

There is a number of complications that can lead to crosswalk accidents in Vancouver. That is why it is critically important for anyone involved in crosswalk accidents to call an attorney immediately. Insurance companies are infamous for trying to shift blame, and therefore liability, so you need someone in your corner who can take on not only the big insurance companies but potentially even the city.

If you’ve been injured in a crosswalk accident within Washington our experienced Vancouver, WA auto accident attorneys are here to help.  We have helped individuals who have been injured on Interstate 5, highway 14, surface streets and even parking lots within Clark County, Cowlitz County, Skamania County,  Pacific County, and other areas of Washington and Oregon. If you need the help of an experienced accident injury attorney, please contact our firm today for a FREE case review.

Pedestrian Accidents

National Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), it is estimated that 7,668 pedestrians died in traffic or non-traffic incidents in 2019. Non-traffic incidents are those which occur in non-traffic areas such as driveways, parking lots, or other private property. one out of every five pedestrians killed in 2019 (20%) were struck in crashes that involved hit-and-run drivers. In addition, according to the the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were an estimated 76,000 injuries due to pedestrian accidents that did not result in a fatality. 

 In fact, according to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA), the U.S. pedestrian fatality rate per billion vehicle miles traveled (VMT) jumped an unprecedented 21% in 2020, increasing from 1.9 in 2019 to 2.3 in 2020, in spite of having fewer drivers on the road due to the pandemic. What is perhaps even more alarming is that there has been a 46% increase in pedestrian fatalities between 2010 and 2019, while there has only been a 5% increase in all other types of traffic fatalities combined. 

 Washington State Pedestrian Accident Statistics

It is clear that pedestrian accidents and fatalities are on the rise, even in Washington State. In 2019, 44 people died in Washington alone due to pedestrian accidents, rising to 47 in 2020, which represents a 7% increase in fatalities. This may not seem alarming except when combined with the national data that show a significant increase across the country. In fact, pedestrian fatalities in Washington State in 2019 represented nearly 20% of all traffic fatalities combined.

Causes Of Pedestrian Accidents

 While the majority of pedestrian accidents in Vancouver involved a pedestrian and a vehicle, other types of pedestrian accidents can include maintenance issues with sidewalks, walkways, and roadways. For instance, if you are walking across a parking lot and fall and break your ankle due to stepping in a large pothole, that is also considered a pedestrian accident. 

If you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident within Washington our experienced Vancouver, WA auto accident attorneys are here to help.  We have helped individuals who have been injured on Interstate 5, highway 14, surface streets and even parking lots within Clark County, Cowlitz County, Skamania County,  Pacific County, and other areas of Washington and Oregon. If you need the help of an experienced accident injury attorney, please contact our firm today for a FREE case review.