Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Vancouver WA
Pedestrians have no protection when struck by a car, truck, or motorcycle. VanWa Legal PLLC helps injured pedestrians in Vancouver and Clark County pursue compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and long term care.
Serving Vancouver and Southwest Washington
$1.15M wrongful death settlement
No fee unless we win
Attorney led representation
Hit by a Car in Vancouver, WA?
There is nothing between a pedestrian and a vehicle at the moment of impact, which is why pedestrian crashes so often cause serious, lasting injuries. Even a crash at low speed can mean broken bones, a traumatic brain injury, or worse.
Despite this, drivers and insurance companies are often quick to question whether a pedestrian had the right of way, especially when there is no crosswalk nearby or the crash happened at night. Getting immediate medical care and preserving evidence, from the scene, witnesses, and any nearby cameras, is critical to keeping that narrative from taking hold.
The days right after a pedestrian crash matter more than most people realize. Camera footage gets overwritten, witnesses move on, and the driver's insurer is often building its version of events before you are even out of the hospital, which is exactly why getting legal help early can change the outcome of a claim.
VanWa Legal PLLC represents injured pedestrians across Vancouver and Clark County, from busy downtown intersections to parking lots and school zones. We offer a free consultation, and you pay nothing unless we recover for you.
Common Scenarios
Common Pedestrian Accident Scenarios
Crosswalk Accidents
A driver failing to stop or yield at a marked crosswalk can strike a pedestrian who had every right to be there.
Intersection Accidents
Turning vehicles at intersections often fail to check for pedestrians crossing with the signal, leading to serious collisions.
Parking Lot Accidents
Low speeds do not mean low risk, drivers backing out or pulling through parking spaces frequently fail to see pedestrians nearby.
School Zone Accidents
Distracted or speeding drivers near a school put children and pedestrians of all ages at serious risk.
Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accidents
When a driver flees the scene, identifying who caused the crash becomes harder, often shifting the claim toward uninsured motorist coverage.
Drunk Driving Pedestrian Accidents
An impaired driver's slower reaction time and poor judgment make pedestrian crashes involving alcohol especially severe.
Distracted Driving Pedestrian Accidents
A driver looking at a phone instead of the road may never see a pedestrian in a crosswalk or along the roadside.
Backover Accidents
Drivers backing out of driveways or parking spaces without checking behind them can strike a pedestrian, often a child, with little warning.
Uninsured or Underinsured Drivers
Not every driver on the road carries enough insurance, or any at all, which is why uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage becomes critical to your recovery.
Common Causes
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Most pedestrian crashes come down to a driver who was not paying attention or not yielding the right of way, the same failures behind so many car accidents. Common causes include:
- Failure to yield
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Impaired driving
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Unsafe turns
- Poor visibility
- Driver fatigue
- Dangerous property or road design
Common Injuries
Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries
With no vehicle frame to absorb the impact, pedestrians face some of the most serious injuries seen in any type of accident claim, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Hip and leg injuries
- Facial injuries
- Scarring
- Wrongful death, in the most tragic cases
What If the Driver Says the Pedestrian Was at Fault?
It is common for a driver or their insurance company to claim a pedestrian was jaywalking, crossed outside a crosswalk, or was hard to see. Washington's comparative fault rule means that even a claim of shared fault does not eliminate your right to compensation, it simply requires evidence to establish where the fault truly lies.
Traffic camera footage, witness statements, and a careful review of the crosswalk, lighting, and road design at the scene can all challenge an unfair account of what happened. Police reports are not always complete or accurate either, particularly when the officer did not witness the crash directly, which is another reason a full legal investigation matters before accepting any version of events as final.
Right of way is also more nuanced than an insurer's quick account suggests. In Washington, an intersection generally has a crosswalk whether or not it is painted, and drivers owe pedestrians a duty of care even outside one. An adjuster who reduces a serious crash to whether someone was inside painted lines is telling only part of the story, and the fuller picture usually comes from the physical evidence and the road itself rather than the driver's recollection.
Insurance Coverage
Insurance Coverage After a Pedestrian Accident
The at fault driver's liability insurance is usually the primary source of recovery in a pedestrian accident claim. Depending on your situation, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) may also apply, even though you were not in a vehicle at the time of the crash.
If the driver fled the scene or did not carry enough insurance to cover your injuries, underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) can help fill the gap. Health insurance often pays medical bills as treatment happens, and in serious injury cases, more than one policy may need to be pursued to reach a full and fair recovery.
Because a pedestrian is not driving a vehicle, people often assume there is no coverage available to them, and that assumption leaves real money unclaimed. In reality, your own auto policy can respond even when you were on foot, and layering it with the driver's liability coverage and any available health coverage is frequently what makes a serious pedestrian claim whole rather than partial.
Compensation
What Compensation Can Injured Pedestrians Recover?
A pedestrian claim can draw on several sources of coverage, from the at-fault driver’s policy to your own PIP and UM/UIM coverage. Working through those insurance claims, recoverable damages include:
- Emergency medical care
- Hospitalization
- Surgery
- Rehabilitation
- Future medical care
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Wrongful death damages, where applicable
*The compensation available depends on the facts of your case,
What to Do After
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident
- Call 911
- Get medical attention, even if you feel fine
- Photograph the scene and any visible injuries
- Get the driver's information and contact information from any witnesses
- Do not admit fault, even in casual conversation
- Avoid giving a recorded statement to any insurance company
- Save the clothing and any items damaged in the crash
- Contact a pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible
Why Choose us
Why Choose VanWa Legal for Your Pedestrian Accident Case?
Local Representation
Based in Vancouver, with firsthand knowledge of local intersections, crosswalks, and courts.
Serious Injury Focus
Deep experience with the severe injuries pedestrian crashes often cause.
Insurance Negotiation
Skilled at pushing back when a driver or insurer tries to shift blame onto the pedestrian.
Evidence Preservation
We move quickly to secure camera footage, witness accounts, and scene evidence before it's lost.
Courtroom Experience
Trial readiness that carries weight in every settlement conversation.
No Upfront Fees
You pay nothing unless we win your case.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian Accident Claims
Drivers are required to yield to pedestrians in a marked crosswalk. If a driver failed to do so, they are generally liable for the resulting injuries.
Got some more questions? Send us a message at contact@vanwalegal.com
Contact us
Contact a Vancouver Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
If you were hit while walking, you do not have to face the driver's insurance company alone. Talk to an attorney about your case at no cost, and pay nothing unless we win.