You were walking across the street in Bellevue when a driver blew the stop sign and slammed into you. Everything hurts, and you don't know what to do. Ye Law Firm Injury Lawyers is ready to support you. Our skilled Bellevue pedestrian crash attorneys are prepared to assist if you've sustained severe injuries or lost someone dear in an accident. With a solid history of winning settlements and jury awards, our Bellevue pedestrian accident lawyers have the experience to manage substantial cases effectively.
Why Choose Ye Law Firm Injury Lawyers?
At Ye Law Firm Injury Lawyers, our Bellevue pedestrian accident lawyers prioritize respect, excellence, service, and transparency for every injured client. We have a proven record of achieving significant settlements and jury verdicts, representing victims of car accidents, truck collisions, pedestrian crashes, and pedestrian incidents. Our auto accident attorneys are recognized among the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. Recent victories include a $210,000 pedestrian accident settlement, a $1 million settlement for a truck accident, a $300,000 car accident settlement, and a $200,000 resolution for a box truck crash.
Our Bellevue office is easily accessible. It is located at the intersection of NE 40th St. and 148th Ave., near the North Bellevue Community Center and one block from the Microsoft Building. Call us today at (425) 322-0577 for prompt legal help. We offer free consultations to all pedestrian accident victims and will carefully assess your recovery options.
Compensation in Bellevue Pedestrian Accident Claims
In Washington, the compensation available in a pedestrian accident case hinges on factors like injury severity, crash circumstances, and fault. A Bellevue pedestrian accident attorney from our firm may secure the following types of compensable damages for you:
Economic Damages
This compensation covers measurable financial losses, such as:
- Medical Costs: Hospital stays, doctor appointments, surgeries, prescriptions, therapy, and future care tied to your injuries. You may also be entitled to future medical expenses for a severe pedestrian crash injury.
- Lost Income: Payment for income lost from missed work, including future earnings if your injuries impair your long-term ability to earn.
- Property Damage: Funds to repair or replace your pedestrian and other affected belongings.
Non-Economic Damages
Sadly, many pedestrian accidents in Bellevue are serious, and you can have terrible pain and suffering. Non-economic damages deal with less tangible losses, including:
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical discomfort and emotional strain from the crash and injuries.
- Loss of Enjoyment: For inability to enjoy hobbies, activities, or life as before.
- Emotional Distress: For mental struggles like anxiety or PTSD caused by the pedestrian accident.
Factors Influencing Pedestrian Accident Compensation
Many pedestrian claims lead to high compensation, but your payout depends on the following factors:
- Injury Severity: Serious injuries from a pedestrian accident drive up costs and suffering, increasing claim value. Minor injuries like scrapes yield smaller amounts.
- Medical Costs: Higher expenses from treatment, emergency care, or ongoing needs boost the claim.
- Lost Earnings: Includes current lost income and diminished future earning capacity if injuries are permanent.
- Property Damage: Expensive bikes or severe damage raise this amount.
- Fault: If the other driver is liable, your claim may be stronger.
- Pain and Suffering: Often calculated as a multiple of economic damages, with severe cases justifying more prominent awards.
- Insurance Limits: The at-fault party's policy caps payout unless you have underinsured motorist coverage or they have substantial assets.
- Evidence: Strong proof, such as surveillance video and eyewitnesses, can enhance your claim; weak evidence may reduce it.
- Legal Support: A capable Bellevue pedestrian accident attorney often secures higher compensation through negotiation or trial.
What Causes Pedestrian Crashes in Bellevue?
The driver causes most most Bellevue pedestrian accidents. Common reasons are:
- Driver Negligence: Car drivers often miss pedestrians, especially during left turns or misjudging speed.
- Distractions: Texting or phone use diverts attention from smaller vehicles like pedestrians.
- Speeding: High speeds by any party cut reaction time and worsen crashes.
- Road Conditions: Rain-slicked or uneven roads, frequent in Bellevue, can make it harder for cars to slow down.
- Visibility: pedestrians' small size makes them less noticeable in traffic, like on I-405 or SR-520.
- Impairment: Drunk or drugged drivers cause many collisions with pedestrians. Yielding Failures: Drivers not yielding at intersections often hit motorcyclists.
High-Risk Areas in Bellevue For Pedestrian Accidents
Bellevue has considerable vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Common areas where pedestrian accidents happen include:
Downtown Bellevue
The dense urban core, with its mix of heavy vehicle traffic and significant pedestrian activity, is a hotspot. Areas around busy streets like Bellevue Way NE, NE 8th Street, and 106th Avenue NE see frequent crossings by shoppers, workers, and residents, increasing the chance of collisions, especially during peak hours or at night when visibility drops.
Busy Intersections
Intersections equipped with red-light cameras indicate higher crash risks. Notable ones include:
- NE 8th Street and 112th Avenue NE: A major crossing with substantial traffic flow.
- NE 8th Street and 116th Avenue NE: Another high-traffic intersection prone to accidents.
- 148th Avenue NE: Near commercial zones and close to the Ye Law Firm Injury Lawyers office, this area sees both pedestrian and vehicle movement.
Interstate 405 Overpasses and Access Points
As a major north-south highway cutting through Bellevue, I-405 has pedestrian crossings and nearby sidewalks where crashes can occur, especially if pedestrians attempt to cross near ramps or in poor weather conditions common to the area.
Interstate 90 Vicinity
This east-west freeway connects Bellevue to Seattle, and pedestrian incidents often happen near access points or overpasses where foot traffic meets fast-moving vehicles.
Commercial and Transit Hubs
Areas near shopping centers like Bellevue Square, transit stops like Bellevue Transit Center or office districts around the Microsoft campus are prone to pedestrian crashes due to the volume of people walking and drivers navigating crowded streets.
Common Bellevue Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Unfortunately, pedestrian accident injuries may be severe. You can have many serious injuries after a Bellevue pedestrian accident:
Head and Brain Injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): A pedestrian's head may hit the car's hood, windshield, or the ground, causing concussions, skull fractures, or brain hemorrhages. The force can be severe even at low speeds.
- Contusions or Lacerations: Cuts or bruises from impact or debris on the scalp.
Lower Extremity Injuries
- Leg Fractures: The tibia, fibula, or femur often break when struck by a car's bumper, especially in front-end collisions. These are common because legs are typically the first point of contact.
- Knee Damage: Ligament tears or dislocations occur if the knee is twisted or crushed.
- Ankle and Foot Injuries: Sprains, fractures, or crushing injuries happen if the pedestrian is run over or lands awkwardly.
Spinal Injuries
- Back and Neck Trauma: Whiplash from sudden jolts or more severe spinal cord damage if the pedestrian is thrown or lands hard.
- Fractured Vertebrae: High-impact crashes can break spinal bones, potentially leading to paralysis in extreme cases.
Upper Body Injuries
- Arm and Hand Fractures: Instinctively raised to brace for impact, arms may break upon hitting the car or ground. Wrist and forearm fractures are frequent.
- Shoulder Injuries: Dislocations or collarbone fractures occur when the upper body absorbs force.
- Rib Fractures: A direct hit to the torso can crack ribs, sometimes causing internal injuries like a punctured lung.
Facial Injuries
- Fractures: Broken nose, jaw, or cheekbones from hitting the car or ground.
- Dental Damage: Teeth may be knocked out or cracked.
Speak to a Bellevue pedestrian accident attorney immediately if you suffered injuries because of a car accident. Even if you think you were partially at fault, you still may receive compensation.
Fighting With The Insurance Company After A Bellevue Pedestrian Accident
Can you imagine breaking several bones and suffering road rash after a serious pedestrian accident? In addition, the at-fault driver's insurance company is hassling you about a fair settlement. This scenario is all too common after pedestrian accidents. Frequent insurance hassles that a Bellevue pedestrian crash attorney may assist with are:
Disputing Liability
The insurance company may argue that you, the pedestrian, were partially or fully at fault, claiming you jaywalked, crossed against a signal, or stepped into traffic unexpectedly. They might use police reports, witness statements, or even traffic camera footage to shift blame, reducing or denying your claim. This can drag out the process as they investigate, leaving you waiting for coverage on medical bills or other losses.
Lowball Settlement Offers
Insurers often contact you soon after the accident, offering a quick, low payout to close the case. They bank on your immediate need for cash (e.g., to cover bills) and hope you'll accept before realizing the full extent of your injuries or costs. For example, a $5,000 offer might sound tempting but won't touch ongoing therapy or lost income from a broken leg. Rejecting it means negotiating harder, often with delays.
Delays in Payment
Even if fault seems clear, the insurer might stall. They can request excessive documentation, medical records, proof of expenses, or multiple statements from you, while they "investigate." This can take weeks or months, piling stress onto your recovery as bills mount and you're unable to work.
Undervaluing Injuries
The company may downplay your injuries to cut costs. For instance, they might argue a concussion is "minor" or that your knee surgery wasn't "necessary," ignoring long-term effects like chronic pain or reduced mobility. They often rely on their own adjusters or hired medical "experts" to challenge your doctor's assessments, shrinking your compensation.
Policy Limit Constraints
Suppose the at-fault driver has minimal coverage. In that case, their insurance might not cover all your damages, especially if you've got hospital bills, lost income, or severe injuries like a TBI. Once the limit is hit, they stop paying, leaving you to pursue the driver's personal assets (rarely viable) or your own underinsured motorist coverage (if you have it).
Claim Denials
In some cases, they might outright deny your claim, citing exclusions in the driver's policy or alleging insufficient evidence of fault. For example, if the driver claims you darted out unpredictably and there's no clear proof, they can refuse to pay, forcing you into a legal battle to prove your case.
Pressure to Settle Early
Adjusters may push you to sign a release soon after the accident, waiving your right to further claims. If your injuries worsen later, like a fracture leading to arthritis or a head injury causing cognitive issues, you're stuck, unable to seek more compensation after signing.
Reimbursement Demands
If your health insurance covers initial medical costs, the at-fault driver's insurer might delay payment, expecting your provider to foot the bill first. Later, your health insurer can demand reimbursement from any settlement, cutting into what you actually receive.
Bottom line: The last hassle you want after a pedestrian crash is an insurance company fighting your claim. Our skilled Bellevue pedestrian accident attorneys know the insurance game and will handle the situation for you.
What Should You Do After A Bellevue Pedestrian Accident?
The initial minutes and hours after a pedestrian crash are stressful, painful, and scary. You should take the following actions to ensure the best medical and legal outcomes for your case:
After an accident, you should do the following:
Document The Pedestrian Accident
Take photos and videos of the accident scene. Note vehicle positions, where you were when the crash happened, and write down anything you remember. This early accident information may be critical to proving liability.
Talk To Eyewitnesses
Note if anyone saw the accident and get their contact information and statements. Eyewitness testimony can be critical to your Bellevue pedestrian accident attorney's proof of fault.
See A Doctor And Follow Up
Get immediate medical care and follow the doctor's treatment plan. The insurance company will argue that you aren't seriously hurt if you do not.
Last, always talk to a pedestrian accident attorney in Bellevue for the best case result.
Contact a Bellevue Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
If you're badly hurt in a pedestrian crash, act fast to consult a lawyer. You may deserve compensation for your losses. Contact Ye Law Firm Injury Lawyers at (425) 322-0577. With our no-win, no-fee promise, you pay nothing unless we win, and there are no upfront costs.