Top Causes of Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in Washington

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on August 13, 2015

With business booming in Seattle and other Washington cities, people are flocking to these areas. This doesn’t just mean more bikes and cars on the road, but more pedestrians as well. Although walking can be good exercise and help reduce your environmental impact, it can also pose many risks.  Distracted or careless drivers can easily cause an accident that leaves a pedestrian seriously injured.

In an attempt to track safety data and improve pedestrian safety, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) collects and analyses information about pedestrian accidents in Seattle and other cities each year.  Here are some of the top causes of fatal pedestrian accidents identified in the Factors in Pedestrian Fatal Crashes 2008-2012 Report:

• Between 2008 and 2012, 332 pedestrians were killed in Washington traffic accidents, totaling 14 percent of all traffic accident deaths. Nationwide, pedestrians account for only 9 percent of crash deaths.
• Crashes were most likely to happen in the fall and winter. 61 percent of pedestrian deaths take place between October and March each year.
• Daylight helps reduce the risk of a pedestrian crash, with 7 percent of all deaths occurring at night.
• Urban roads see more pedestrian fatalities than rural ones, with 7 percent of pedestrian deaths were in urban areas.
• Although Native Americans make up only 2 percent of Washington’s population, they lose their lives in 4 percent of all pedestrian accidents.
• A pedestrian killed in a car accident is nine times more likely to be the victim of a hit and run than someone who dies as a result of any other type of motor vehicle accident.

A distracted driver can do a lot of damage. The pedestrian they hit isn’t the only victim; families are left behind to sort out what needs to happen yet. This is why you need the experienced pedestrian accident attorneys of Hardwick & Pendergast by your side.