Prioritize your safety and call 911. Pedestrian injuries are often severe, even at low speeds. If you're able, move to safety and document the scene: photos of the vehicle, license plate, your injuries, the location, and any crosswalk markings or traffic signals. Get the driver's name, phone number, and insurance information. Collect witness contact info. If the accident caused injury, death, or over $1,000 in property damage, it must be reported to the Washington State Patrol within 4 days if police didn't file a report at the scene. See a doctor immediately, even if you think your injuries are minor. Internal bleeding, concussions, and spinal injuries may not show symptoms right away. Then contact a pedestrian accident lawyer before speaking to the driver's insurance company.

Not always, but in most situations, yes. Under RCW 46.61.235, drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks and at unmarked crosswalks at intersections. Drivers must also exercise due care to avoid hitting pedestrians on any roadway, and must give warning by honking when necessary (RCW 46.61.245). However, pedestrians also have responsibilities: you cannot suddenly leave a curb or place of safety and walk into the path of a vehicle that is so close it's an immediate hazard (RCW 46.61.235(2)). Even if you were partially at fault (e.g., jaywalking), Washington's pure comparative negligence system (RCW 4.22.005) means you can still recover compensation, just reduced by your percentage of fault with no bar threshold.

Child pedestrian cases are among the most serious we handle. Children are smaller, less visible, and less predictable to drivers, and Washington law holds drivers to a higher standard of care around children. If your child was injured, seek emergency medical care immediately and document everything. The statute of limitations for a minor's claim is tolled until they turn 18 (RCW 4.16.190), but the parent's claim for medical expenses and loss of services still has the standard three-year deadline. Don't wait. Evidence disappears, and early legal involvement ensures proper evidence preservation and access to pediatric medical experts who can document the full impact of your child's injuries.

Yes. Washington follows pure comparative negligence (RCW 4.22.005), which means you can recover damages even if you were partially at fault. Not being in a crosswalk may reduce your recovery percentage, but it does not eliminate your claim. Drivers still owe pedestrians a duty of care on all roadways (RCW 46.61.245). If the driver was speeding, distracted, failed to keep a proper lookout, or violated any traffic law, they bear significant liability regardless of where you were walking. An experienced attorney can counter the "jaywalking" defense and fight for your compensation.

You may be eligible for compensation covering medical expenses (emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, future treatment), lost wages and lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, scarring and disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. Pedestrian injuries tend to be more severe than car-on-car accidents since pedestrians have no protection from impact. Washington has no cap on noneconomic damages (Sofie v. Fibreboard Corp., 1989). The value depends on injury severity, recovery timeline, liability evidence, and available insurance. If you have PIP on your own auto policy, it may also cover your pedestrian injuries regardless of fault (RCW 48.22.095).

Multiple sources may apply. The at-fault driver's liability insurance is the primary source (Washington requires 25/50/10 minimums). If you have your own auto insurance policy with PIP, it may cover your pedestrian injuries regardless of who was at fault. PIP covers up to $10,000 in medical expenses for up to three years. Your own UM/UIM coverage may apply if the driver was uninsured or underinsured. If the driver was on the job (delivery driver, commercial vehicle), their employer's commercial insurance may provide additional coverage. An attorney identifies every available policy.

Three years from the date of the accident (RCW 4.16.080). If a government vehicle or entity was involved, you must file a tort claim first and wait 60 days before suing (RCW 4.96.020). For minors, the statute of limitations is tolled until they turn 18. Don't wait. Evidence like traffic camera footage, witness memories, and road conditions deteriorate quickly.

Our pedestrian accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront and owe no fees unless we win your case. Our fee is a percentage of the settlement or verdict awarded, typically ranging from 33% to 40%. No hourly charges, retainers, or hidden costs.

Yes. Senft Legal helps injured pedestrians throughout Washington state, including Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, Everett, Bellevue, Vancouver, and communities across the state. Whether you were hit in a crosswalk, a parking lot, a residential neighborhood, or on a highway shoulder, our team can review your claim and help you pursue maximum compensation.