At one point or another, everyone is a pedestrian. As the expense of driving and insuring a vehicle rise, more and more people choose to walk to their destinations. As the number of pedestrians increases, so do the number of pedestrian accidents. 

Despite safety improvements, pedestrian accidents are common across the Pacific Northwest

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2012 nationally:

• 69% of pedestrians killed in 2012 were males;
• 73% pedestrian fatalities occur in urban areas;
• 32% of all pedestrian fatalities occurred between 8:00 p.m. and 11:59 p.m.;
• 34% of pedestrians killed had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 g/dL or higher.

Pedestrian Laws in Washington State

Both motorists and pedestrians can engage in behaviors that cause collisions. According to state pedestrian law as described by the State of Washington Department of Motor Vehicles -

Drivers must:

• exercise due care to avoid a collision with a pedestrian at all times.
• yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
• stop or slow down before passing another vehicle stopped in a travel lane until the driver has determined whether that vehicle has stopped for a pedestrian.
• in the presence of a school crossing guard, wait for all persons including the guard to completely clear the road before proceeding.

Pedestrians must:

• use the sidewalk and the nearest crosswalk, pedestrian bridge or tunnel when possible.
• obey official traffic control devices.
• walk on the left side of the street facing traffic if no sidewalk is available.
• not cross an intersection diagonally unless the intersection is specifically designed for this.

Get information on pedestrian collisions from the region's police departments

The various local police departments offer information on accidents that occur in their city limits, including:

Everett Police Department;

Marysville Police Department;

Mount Vernon Police Department;

Bellingham Police Department.

These departments are a good resource to get information after a pedestrian accident.

Common causes of the region's pedestrian accidents include:

• a failure by drivers to check for pedestrians in crosswalks;
• drivers failing to stop at stop signs or lights;
• texting and other driver distractions;
• drivers choosing to make turns without paying attention to their surroundings;
• speeding;
• driving under the influence.

When someone is injured in a pedestrian accident in the Everett - Bellingham region, what needs to happen next?

When a pedestrian is injured, it is crucial to get appropriate medical treatment, regardless of the financial cost. The major hospital in the area include Everett's Providence Regional Medical Center and Bellingham's St. Joseph Medical Center.

As soon as possible, an injured person should contact their insurance company to find out how medical treatment is covered under their insurance policy. Since insurance policies often have unique provisions to deal with pedestrian-accident injuries, it is important to review the policy and speak with the insurance adjuster to get clarification on coverage.

When an accident results in a serious injury or a fatality, it is important to find an experienced Everett - Bellingham pedestrian accident attorney

When an injury is serious or a death occurs, the next step is to find an experienced Everett - Bellingham pedestrian accident attorney to start the financial recovery process by launching an insurance claim. Major injury or wrongful death claims are complicated and can be hard to manage without legal help. Since personal injury lawyers offer a free initial consultation and work on a contingency basis, meaning that there are no up-front costs and all fees are paid when the claim is settled, there is no downside to speaking with an Everett - Bellingham personal injury attorney right away, to get help for an injured pedestrian.