If a vehicle hit you while you crossed the road or walked down the sidewalk, you may be facing significant physical, financial, and emotional difficulties as a result. Pedestrian accident injuries can leave you with life-altering injuries and disabilities, and you deserve experienced legal representation to fight for the compensation you need and deserve. Contact Russell & Hill, PLLC at 425-212-9165 today for a free initial case review with an Everett pedestrian accident lawyer to discuss your options.
Most Washington auto insurance policies include personal injury protection (PIP) to cover injured pedestrians and bicyclists. We can effectively guide you through PIP claims, including bifurcated claims.
Our attorneys will sort out all of the insurance questions and pursue recovery through the at-fault driver’s auto insurance or any other insurance coverage that may be available.
We can also represent you in any insurance claim disputes that may arise, including bad-faith insurance claim denials.
At Russell & Hill, PLLC, our experienced personal injury attorneys are committed to helping you recover and obtain maximum compensation for all your hospital bills, future medical needs, lost wages, pain, suffering, and other losses, as well as any additional appropriate damages related to your pedestrian accident.
If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, you are probably confused about your legal options. What if the driver’s insurance refuses to cover all of your expenses and losses? Are there other sources of compensation?
Pedestrians are defenseless in accidents involving motor vehicles. Pedestrians have absolutely no protection and are at the mercy of the vehicle operator. As a result, a pedestrian accident can involve severe injuries and massive medical expenses.
Our attorneys will assist you in obtaining appropriate health care, perform a full investigation of the cause of your pedestrian accident, and with your doctor and any other necessary medical experts to demonstrate the extent of your injuries and losses.
Choosing the right pedestrian accident law firm for your pedestrian accident claim is one of the most consequential decisions you’ll make in the wake of the accident. Injured accident victims in Everett place their trust in the attorneys at Russell & Hill, PLLC, because of our unmatched experience handling the most challenging injury cases, including many claims that other attorneys turn down. We provide everything you need for your recovery, including dedicated advocacy, medical evaluation, and moral support. Our attorneys work hard to recover the money you deserve for your ongoing and future losses.
Many pedestrian accidents in Everett occur due to drivers’ failure to responsibly share the road with pedestrians. A driver’s moment of carelessness or disregard for others’ safety can quickly lead to a devastating collision. Common causes of pedestrian accidents include:
Various environmental factors can increase the risks of a pedestrian accident, especially when negligent drivers fail to adjust their driving behavior for poor lighting, visibility, or road conditions. At Russell & Hill, PLLC, our experienced Everett pedestrian accident lawyers know how to adjust case strategies based on the cause of the collision.
Because pedestrians are so exposed in a collision with a motor vehicle, they frequently suffer catastrophic, life-threatening injuries. Furthermore, the increasing popularity of vehicles like SUVs and light trucks means pedestrian accidents more frequently involve heavier, taller vehicles that present a greater risk of severely injuring a pedestrian.
Examples of injuries that pedestrians can suffer in collisions with motor vehicles include:
The injuries you suffer in a pedestrian accident can affect the types and amount of compensation you might recover. At Russell & Hill, PLLC, we account for every type of harm you’ve endured when developing legal strategies for your case.
According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, 148 pedestrian fatalities occurred in traffic accidents in Washington State in one recent year. Of these, 8 percent involved an intoxicated driver, 15 percent involved a distracted driver, and 5 percent involved a speeding motorist. Five of Washington’s 148 fatal pedestrian accidents occurred in Everett, all of which occurred at dusk or nighttime. Three of these personal injury accidents involved an SUV, while another involved a passenger car.
In most cases, liability for a pedestrian accident will fall entirely on the driver who hit the pedestrian. However, other parties may also bear or share liability for an injured pedestrian’s losses, depending on the accident’s circumstances. For example, when a driver hits a pedestrian while driving for work – such as a trucker or delivery driver – the driver’s employer will also bear liability, as employers can be held responsible for negligent acts their employees commit during their jobs.
The owner of the vehicle that hit the pedestrian may also bear liability if they negligently entrusted their vehicle to the at-fault driver. A person may negligently entrust their vehicle by lending it to someone who poses a significant risk of causing an accident, such as a visibly intoxicated person.
Finally, Washington’s dram shop laws may hold a bar or restaurant liable for a pedestrian accident if the establishment served alcohol to an underage or intoxicated person who subsequently hit a pedestrian after leaving the establishment.
In some cases, a motorist may deny liability for a pedestrian accident, requiring an injured pedestrian to build a solid case to prove the driver’s fault for the collision. At Russell & Hill, PLLC, our experienced legal team will thoroughly investigate to recover all available evidence to strengthen your case. Our personal injury lawyers rely on pieces of evidence such as:
Washington state has various statutes governing pedestrians’ use of the road. These pedestrian laws include:
Pedestrians may bear some responsibility for causing an accident when they violate pedestrian rules under state law. Washington follows the comparative negligence rule for accident cases. Under this rule, any partial fault attributable to an injured accident victim will not bar them from pursuing legal claims against other at-fault or liable parties. However, any fault an accident victim bears for their injuries can reduce their financial recovery in proportion to their share of fault. An Everett pedestrian accident attorney from Russell & Hill, PLLC, will fight for the compensation you need and deserve when drivers and insurance companies try to shift blame for the accident.
After getting hit by a car, you may not know what steps to take to pursue financial compensation from the driver. Taking the following prompt actions can put you in the best position to secure the financial relief you need to recover from your injuries:
Finally, contact a pedestrian accident attorney in Everett from Russell & Hill, PLLC, to discuss the next steps to take in your case. We’ll help you make informed decisions at each stage of the personal injury claim process.
Under Washington state’s statute of limitations on personal injury claims, you typically have three years to file a lawsuit against the driver who hit you and other liable parties. Although three years may sound like plenty of time to file your pedestrian accident lawsuit, various procedures may apply to filing your claim. For example, if you get hit by a state or local government vehicle, the law requires you to file a claim form with the appropriate government agency or department. You must wait at least 60 days after filing your claim form before filing a lawsuit against the government.
You can best protect your rights to seek financial recovery by contacting a personal injury attorney in Everett from Russell & Hill, PLLC, as soon as possible after a collision. Otherwise, you may lose the opportunity to obtain compensation if you file a lawsuit after the applicable deadlines expire.
In a pedestrian accident case, you may have the right to seek financial recovery for economic and emotional losses you suffer due to your injuries. Working with an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer in Everett from Russell & Hill, PLLC, can help you maximize the compensation you obtain. Let us fight to recover the money you need and deserve for:
Seeking compensation after a pedestrian accident can quickly become a complex and stressful process. Insurance companies will fight hard to avoid financial liability for your injuries and losses. A pedestrian accident attorney in Everett from Russell & Hill, PLLC, can help you recover from a life-altering accident by managing all the details of your legal claim so you can focus on your treatment and rehabilitation. Let us fight for the resources you need to put your life back together and hold the driver who hit you accountable for their negligent or reckless behavior by:
At Russell & Hill, PLLC, we fight tooth and nail to pursue the financial recovery and justice you deserve while you focus on physical and emotional healing.
If you have been in a pedestrian accident in Everett, contact one of our pedestrian accident lawyers by filling out our free consultation form or call our toll-free number at 425-212-9165 to schedule a free initial consultation.
