Due to the amount of drunk and distracted drivers that plague our streets, it is rather dangerous at times to be a pedestrian. Even when correctly following street signs and the rules of the road, pedestrians can still be hit by a negligent driver, or injured by falling debris. As a Seattle pedestrian accident attorney, I have seen how the busy and sometimes confusing streets of King County have led to a number of devastating pedestrian collisions. Due to the fact that pedestrians have virtually no protection from the force of a car or truck, a sizeable portion of these accidents leads to a fatality. While many of these accidents cannot be prevented by the pedestrian, there are many things people can do to lower their risk of being hit while walking down the street.

One of the most important things someone can do to make themselves safer as a pedestrian is by knowing the statistics of Washington pedestrian accidents. In 2009, in the state of Washington, there were 1,786 pedestrian accidents. Of these collisions, 287, or 1 in every 6, resulted in a serious injury. Even worse, 61 resulted in a pedestrian fatality. There are a number of factors that go into these collisions, including the location of the road, the age of the pedestrian, and the location on the road itself. City streets have a much greater potential to see a pedestrian accident, and the majority of them happen in the intersection. Age is also a very important factor, with 1 in every 3 accidents involving a pedestrian between the ages of 10 and 24.

When walking down a road that sees automobile traffic, it is important to follow these important steps to reduce the likelihood of being in an accident:

  • Obey all traffic signs and signals. Be aware of the rules pertaining to the street you are on.
  • Look both ways when crossing the street. I’m sure your parents told you this a million times, but accidents tend to happen in intersections, which may be avoided by looking both ways.
  • Be aware of your surroundings. Some pedestrian injuries don’t involve a car at all. Sometimes a sidewalk or street can be poorly built and cause a pedestrian to trip and become injured as a result.
  • Don’t assume that drivers are paying attention. There are a lot of distracted and negligent drivers out there, and they may not see you when you cross the street. If there is an oncoming vehicle when you cross the street, make sure you know they see you and are slowing down.
  • Avoid construction site areas. There have been many instances of pedestrians suffering construction site injuries due to falling debris. If there is another way to get to your destination, avoid walking through the construction zone.

While there is a lot that people can due to increase their safety as a pedestrian, there is always some risk of injury. If you happen to be involved in a pedestrian collision, be sure to call an experienced Bellevue pedestrian accident lawyer. With years of experience, a Washington injury attorney can help you file your claim against the responsible party’s insurance company and get the compensation you need for your damages.

This information is provided by Premier Law Group. Premier Law Group is a group of Seattle Personal Injury attorneys who work with Washington car accidents, Washington serious injuries, Washington employee rights. Contact our Seattle law office to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. Or, visit Straight Talk Law where you can order free books on Washington auto accidents, buying Washington auto insurance and other valuable legal information.

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