Wrongful Death in TAComa WA

On Saturday, December 7th of 2024, a tragic accident involving a vehicle and a pedestrian happened in Puyallup. A 26-year-old Tacoma woman was traveling with her two small children (aged four and six) in the car. She stopped in a parking lot because her vehicle broke down. She then stood on the side of the road to try and flag down other motorists for help. She was at the 2400 block on South Meridian, which is between 27th Avenue Southeast and 23rd Avenue Southeast. A 31-year-old man from Puyallup was going northbound on South Meridian and struck the woman. At the time, she was standing in one of the lanes on the road. Thankfully, the man immediately stopped and called 911. Hit-and-runs occur all the time and are difficult to investigate, but thankfully this case was not one. 

Puyallup police officers and crews from the Central Pierce Fire and Rescue answered the call at around 11 that evening. They found the injured woman lying in the street. She was taken to a hospital in Tacoma, and while she was being transported she was conscious and still breathing. Unfortunately, within four hours at around 2:39 in the morning of Sunday the 8th, police were informed by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office that the woman had died. Her blunt force trauma injuries from the accident were severe, and her death has been ruled an accident. She has been identified as Angelica Gordillo Colmenarez.

Police checked the driver that hit Colmenarez at the scene of the accident. They found that he was not driving while impaired, and no alcohol or drugs were found in his system. He was driving in the correct lane, and it is believed that the accident happened because there was poor visibility. The accident happened at night, and Colmenarez was wearing dark clothing, so he probably didn’t see her until it was too late. Although he was not driving under the influence, the man was found to have no insurance as well as a suspended license. He was ticketed for this, but not charged with any crime. An investigation into the full details of the case is still underway, and more information is expected to be released soon. 

Pedestrian accidents are some of the most dangerous types of accidents that can happen. Many victims end up getting injured, disabled, or even die. Pedestrian accidents are where a vehicle such as a car, truck, or motorcycle hits a person on foot. The reason that this type of accident is so deadly is because pedestrians don’t have any protection if they are hit. When a car hits another car, the people involved have the protection of the outer shell of their vehicles. However, a pedestrian is exposed to the full force of the impact.

Local personal injury lawyer Washington

There are a variety of types of injuries that a person can suffer if they are struck by a vehicle, and many of them are severe. Some common injuries suffered by pedestrian accident victims include broken bones, spinal injuries (including paralysis), loss of limbs, traumatic brain injuries, lacerations, internal injuries and organ damage, and more. The worst outcome of a pedestrian accident is death. If a victim survives a pedestrian accident, they are likely to suffer psychological trauma from what happened. Survivors may suffer from depression, anxiety, paranoia, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Even after physical injuries have healed, emotional scars can last for a long time afterward and severely impact a person’s life. 

There are many reasons why a pedestrian accident could happen. Some of the most common reasons behind pedestrian accidents include speeding, lack of sidewalks, weather conditions, driving under the influence, reckless driving, distracted driving, not stopping at intersections, poor road design or visibility, not being careful in school zones, and jaywalking. The party that is to blame for the accident depends on the circumstances of the case. It could be the driver, the government for poor road design, or even the car manufacturer if the accident happened because of a malfunction. At Sears Injury Law, we can determine who is at fault for the accident, and recover damages from their insurance. 

It’s important that victims of pedestrian accidents file a personal injury claim so that they can recover compensation for what they went through. When a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle, they often end up suffering serious injuries. This means that they are likely to rack up large medical bills from the extensive treatment they require. Sears Injury Law fights to recover money for medical expenses that victims have been saddled with in the past, present, and further on in the future. We want to make sure that accident victims are taken care of and don’t have to be burdened by medical bills from injuries that someone else caused. 

We also help injury victims recover compensation for lost wages. When a person can’t work because of their injury, they miss out on earning money. An injury could be disabling and lower a person’s future earning capacity as well. Another type of damages that our personal injury lawyers can recover is for pain and suffering. These are damages that are not monetary, and are not as easy to calculate. They can include emotional trauma, mental anguish, and the physical pain endured. Injuries can reduce a person’s quality of life. 

 Another type of claim that can be filed for a pedestrian accident is a wrongful death claim. The force of getting hit by a vehicle can kill someone. The loved ones of the deceased may struggle afterward from grief, lost wages, medical bills, loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and more. Wrongful death claims are a way for the family of the victim to cope with the situation as best as possible. Sears Injury Law can help your family get justice for your loved one.

If you or someone close to you was injured in a pedestrian accident, it’s important to reach out to Sears Injury Law as soon as possible so that we can start working on the personal injury case. We can take care of it from start to finish, and will keep you updated throughout the process.

It’s important that you have an expert by your side so that the insurance company can’t take advantage of you. Our team is prepared to fight for you and help you any way we can.