Puyallup pedestrian accident lawyer
A fatal accident occurred on Sunday the 10th of September, 2023. Shortly before midnight, two people tried to cross I-90 illegally. In the westbound lanes of traffic at milepost 70 (which is near Easton and about 13 miles west of Cle Elum), an accident happened a little before nine in the evening. The two people that were crossing Interstate 90 were struck by four cars.
One of the vehicles that struck the pedestrians was a Washington State Patrol car, a 2020 Dodge Charger being driven by a trooper. The Washington State Patrol did not disclose what jurisdiction their trooper was in. The other vehicles involved in the collision included a 2011 Ford Explorer that was hauling a boat behind it, a 2008 Kia Optima, and a 2017 Toyota Tundra.
While Washington State Patrol was investigating the crash and cleaning up took place, the westbound lane of I-90 was closed. Traffic was rerouted through exit 70 and then back onto I-90. Drivers were warned about the accident so that they could plan to take an alternate route if necessary. By 2:30 in the morning of Monday the 11th, all of the westbound lanes were reopened, according to a statement from the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The two pedestrians who were hit in the accident were pronounced dead at the scene by officials. Their ages, names, genders, and identities have not yet been released to the public. In accidents where people die, authorities want to notify the relatives of the deceased first. It would be terrible for loved ones of the victims to learn of their death from seeing it on the news. None of the drivers or passengers of the four vehicles involved were injured. There were eleven people in total in the vehicles, ranging from ages 2 to 47.
Safety awareness for pedestrians
Although there were no obvious injuries, it’s possible that one of them could realize later that they were injured. Oftentimes when people are involved in an accident, their adrenaline levels are high and they may be shock. This can mask pain, making it seem like they weren’t injured in the accident when they actually were. Whiplash injuries are an example of an injury that often goes unnoticed until a few weeks or even months after the accident. It’s also likely that the people involved in this accident will experience some sort of trauma. Being in any sort of car accident can be traumatizing, but especially if it involves death. The passengers and drivers in this pedestrian accident may need intense therapy to help them overcome the psychological effects of this tragic incident.
Sadly, pedestrian accidents are more common in Washington state than one would think. The country as a whole is seeing a rise in injuries and deaths from pedestrian accidents. Most accidents where people are hit happen in urban areas where there is a lot of foot traffic and vehicles in a tight space. When it comes to rural accidents, there are different dangers that can cause pedestrian accidents. In less-populated areas, it’s common for there to not be established sidewalks, paths, or shoulders for pedestrians to use as a guide. This can increase the chances that a collision could happen.
Pedestrian accidents are more likely to happen on weekends, such as the case discussed in this article. Almost 50 percent of pedestrian accidents happen on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Fatalities from pedestrian collisions are more frequent during the months September through January, because there are icy and rainy weather conditions, as well as less hours of daylight. Pedestrian accidents involving children occur most frequently in the late spring and early summer. This is due to the fact that during this time, children are on summer vacation and more of them are playing outside. It’s important for you to be aware of what causes pedestrian accidents so that you know what to look out for when you’re out walking. This can keep you and your loved ones safe.
Seek legal assistance from Sears Injury Law
Pedestrian accidents account for about 13 percent of all fatal auto accidents. In Washington, around 60 percent of pedestrian accidents happen on city streets, which makes sense because that’s where there’s a higher volume of people traveling on foot. Most Washington fatal pedestrian accidents happen in December and January. The Washington State Deaprtment of Transportation reports that nearly a third of fatal collisions happen on state roads dedicated mostly to vehicular traffic. These roads are not designed with pedestrians in mind.
43 percent of the pedestrian collisions in King County happened on Highway 99. 16 percent of the pedestrian accidents for the whole state happened on that same highway. About 21 percent of all traffic-related fatalities in King County are from pedestrian accidents. Although pedestrian fatalities have been on the decline since 1975, they still account for almost a quarter of all Washington state fatal accidents.
At Sears Injury Law, we believe that knowledge is power. When people have a good understanding of what causes pedestrian accidents, they are more prepared to keep themselves safe from getting injured. There are lots of factors that can increase the odds of pedestrian collisions, but the best thing that you can do to stay safe is be cautious when you are walking near a street. On the other side of things, when you are driving you should always look out for pedestrians.
If you or someone you care about was injured in a pedestrian accident, it’s a good idea to contact a skilled Puyallup pedestrian accident lawyer to talk about your situation. Our experts will be able to help you get compensation for what happened, so that you will be able to cover your medical bills, therapy expenses, childcare costs, lost wages, and more. Sears Injury Law works on a contingency fee basis. This means that we don’t get paid until after we have helped you through the claims process and secured your compensation. Get in contact with us to get started. Fast action is important so that evidence can be preserved and we can build a strong case.