Personal Injury Law

Woman Fatally Injured in Seattle Area Pedestrian Accident

By Kirk Bernard, Esq.

A woman was killed in a Washington pedestrian accident after she was struck by a car while crossing a street in Lynnwood, Washington. According to a news report in the Herald Net, the woman was attempting to cross the 5300 block of 168th Street SW, when a car struck her. The injured victim was transported to a Seattle hospital where she died. Officials say the woman was not in a marked crosswalk. They also say that speed doesn't seem to have been a factor. The car's driver has not been cited or arrested pending an investigation.

Washington State law requires motorists to yield right-of-way to pedestrians walking in marked or unmarked crosswalks. According to the Revised Code of Washington Section 46.61.235 (1): "The operator of an approaching vehicle shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian or bicycle to cross the roadway within an unmarked or marked crosswalk when the pedestrian or bicycle is upon or within one lane of the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning. For purposes of this section "half of the roadway" means all traffic lanes carrying traffic in one direction of travel, and includes the entire width of a one-way roadway."

However, when a pedestrian is not in a marked crosswalk or crosses the roadway illegally, then it is very likely the pedestrian's fault. However, in any Seattle pedestrian accident case, it is extremely important for all aspects of the incident to be analyzed thoroughly so the facts can be determined. It is possible that an unsafe and pre-existing condition here, contributed to the accident. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington pedestrian accident, please contact a Seattle personal injury lawyer to find out more information about your legal rights and options.

Full post as published by Seattle Injury Blog on April 09, 2010 (boomark / email).