When accidents affect pedestrians, there is a high likelihood of severe injuries. If another party or parties were at fault, you may be able to claim compensation to help you during your recovery. These injuries can have life-changing consequences, and you may need a settlement to help you adapt to a new way of life. Our personal injury lawyer in Bellingham may be able to assist.
Siegfried & Jensen, a law firm that has recovered over $1.2 billion in compensation for injured people, is willing to evaluate your case for free. Reach out to our pedestrian accident lawyer in Bellingham for a professional opinion on your accident case.
Why Our Clients Choose Representation From Siegfried & Jensen
At Siegfried & Jensen, we see ourselves as a source of help and guidance to people in our community who have been involved in accidents and need professional advice. When you work with our Bellingham pedestrian accident lawyer, they are not seeking fame for themselves, but justice for you.
For over 30 years, our law firm has been working to protect the rights of injured people in our community. We may be able to help in other ways, too. For example, we may assist with cost containment and liens, helping you get the medical help you need while you await the outcome of your injury case.
We may agree to work under a contingency fee agreement. That means you won’t pay for your attorney’s services unless they achieve a settlement for you. We will be transparent about the percentage of a settlement we may claim under this agreement, as well as any fees, like court filing fees, that may fall outside of it.
For a free legal consultation with a pedestrian accident lawyer serving Bellingham, call (801) 266-0999
Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries With Far-Reaching Consequences
Apart from the obvious fact that pedestrians are unprotected by the safety-engineered body of a vehicle, their injuries are often aggravated by the number of impacts they experience. Typically, the first impact, when the vehicle strikes them, is only the first. A second dangerous impact occurs when they strike the ground, and sometimes, there are additional contact points.
Typical injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Amputation
- Brain or spinal injuries
- Internal injuries
Even injuries you may think are less serious can have long-term effects. For example, severe scarring from soft-tissue injuries may alter a person’s appearance, affecting their confidence and how others perceive them. Or, what initially seems like a mild concussion leads to long-term symptoms.
Bellingham Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Near Me (801) 266-0999
Damages You May Claim After a Pedestrian Accident in Bellingham
Whether or not you shared fault for your pedestrian accident, a settlement may be important to your future well-being. With what may be a long road to recovery or permanent impairment to adapt to, comprehensively valuing your damages may be more important than you realize. Damages you may claim include:
- Medical costs, including the cost of future surgeries and treatments
- Lost wages and benefits or earnings that you do not receive due to your injuries
- Reduced earning capacity due to impairment
- Pain and suffering, including trauma, emotional distress, and loss of the ability to enjoy life.
Determining the value of a claim may involve far more than simply totaling invoices and lost workweeks. Any settlement you receive should take future costs, losses, and personal suffering into account. You will require strong evidence to justify these claims, and your pedestrian accident attorney in Bellingham may help you by preparing a case for compensation.
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What Happens If You Were Partly to Blame For Your Pedestrian Accident
In Washington, an injured pedestrian may claim compensation even if they were mostly at fault for their accident. However, their settlement will be reduced by their share of fault. If you were walking responsibly, observing the rules, a driver may be responsible for all or most of your damages. You may carry a higher share of fault if you:
- Were jaywalking
- Suddenly entered the roadway in the path of an oncoming car
- Were distracted and failed to heed traffic signals, for example, a don’t walk signal
A driver has a duty to avoid injuring others whenever possible. If they could have avoided you but failed to do so, they may share liability. If you were seriously injured, recovering even a percentage of your total damages may be a big help.
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Other Liable Parties Your Bellingham Pedestrian Accident Attorney May Identify
When investigating a pedestrian accident, your attorney must take all contributing factors into account. In doing so, they may identify additional parties that have a degree of liability for your accident. For example:
- A property owner leaves debris on the sidewalk. You step into the road to bypass it and are struck by a distracted motorist. The property owner shares liability.
- Local authorities fail to repair a broken traffic light, and you are struck while crossing the road. A government entity or contractor may be partly liable.
- Another motorist causes a dangerous situation, causing the driver who struck you to take evasive action. Both motorists may share fault.
There are other scenarios that may be relevant, too, but this demonstrates the importance of attention to detail in pedestrian accident cases. Your lawyer may examine the unique circumstances leading to your accident to identify all parties who may be liable. Although multiple liable parties add complexity, it may mean more resources available for compensation.
Washington State Pedestrian Accident Facts
The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) reported a 33% rise in traffic fatalities in 2023, followed by Washington’s two-year decline in traffic deaths in 2024 and 2025. Pedestrian fatalities were the highest they have ever been in 2023, with only a slight decline in the following years.
The demographics behind pedestrian deaths show that adult men are the most at risk and that pedestrian accidents often happen in the dark or semi-dark. Apart from poor visibility, distracted walking, walking under the influence of alcohol, and risk-taking were contributing factors.
Risk-taking, distractions such as using a phone while walking, and negligence while walking under the influence may shift some degree of fault to pedestrians, depending on the circumstances. Poor lighting or visibility may mean that local authorities share liability, especially at intersections where people have been struck in the past.
A Unique Set of Circumstances May Lead to Accidents, Requiring Individual Consideration
It is not usually possible to make general statements about specific pedestrian accidents, who is liable for them, and what compensation an injured pedestrian may hope to recover. Consider consulting a professional to learn about your options.
If you have been hurt in a pedestrian accident in our area, reach out to Siegfried & Jensen’s pedestrian accident lawyer in Bellingham. They may advise you based on the unique features of your accident. Your initial assessment is free.
Call or text (801) 266-0999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form