Washington Injury Law Blog

A 24 year old woman was hit by a van while in a marked crosswalk on 98th Avenue NE in Kirkland, Washington earlier this week. The driver was on his cell phone and failed to see the woman in the crosswalk. The force of impact caused the woman to be thrown several feet into the air and suffer serious head injuries. She was taken to Harborview Medical Center were she spent several days before being release to recover at home.  

As a Kirkland Pedestrian Accident Attorney I have seen the devastating and serious injuries caused by cars hitting people while in crosswalks. Although not clear from the reports, if the driver had the cell phone to his ear he was driving – he was breaking Washington law. Back on July 1, 2008 talking on cell phones while driving with the phone in your hand being held to your ear became illegal. You may only talk on your cell phone while driving if you use a hands free device. Cell phones distract you from driving and should not be used while driving. It’s safer for you and everyone around you.

This young woman in all likelihood will suffer lingering effects from her head injuries in the years to come. I have a young boy who is a client that was also hit by a van while crossing a Kirkland street. He suffered a serious broken ankle that required surgical repair. He has been left with a big nasty scare that wraps around his ankle. The ankle is sore and aches whenever the weather changes. This young man will live the rest of his life with the consequences of this serious ankle injury.

The serious nature of injuries commonly suffered by pedestrians hit by cars makes it very important, if not imperative, to seek legal guidance quickly after a pedestrian v. car accident. A good place to start is collecting as much quality information about the injury claim process as you can. A good place to start is my FREE book The Guide To Washington Injury Cases. If you’ve been injured as a pedestrian by a car please order my book immediately before giving a recorded statement to the insurance company or signing anything.

Max Meyers, Esq.