Davis Law Group, P.S.

Woman injured Lakewood pedestrian accident

Story Highlights:
One injured in Lakewood accident
Pedestrian collision caused by distracted driving



Date: July 24, 2011, 07/24/2011
Location: Lakewood, Pierce County, Washington
Type: Pedestrian accident, Motor vehicle collision
Outcome: One injured

One woman was seriously injured in a pedestrian hit-and-run collision in Lakewood on Sunday.

Around 7:30 p.m. 23-year-old Yoni Valencia was driving north on Bridgeport Way, having an argument with his mother on his cell phone, when he had to swerve to avoid stopped traffic. His truck went across the intersection, onto the sidewalk, hitting a woman who was pumping her gas at a Union 76 station.

The crash nearly severed the 54-year-old woman's foot. A U.S. Army medic

Valencia was charged with vehicular assault, felony hit-and-run, driving with a suspended license and obstructing a police officer.

Lakewood Fatal Accident Statistics
    Fatal accident count: 3
    Vehicles involved in fatal accidents: 6
    Fatal accidents caused by drunken drivers: 1
    Fatalities: 3
    Persons involved in fatal accidents: 8
    Pedestrians involved in fatal accidents: 0

RCW 46.52.020
Duty in case of personal injury or death or damage to attended vehicle or other property

A driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in the injury to or death of any person or involving striking the body of a deceased person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible but shall then forthwith return to, and in every event remain at, the scene of such accident until he or she has fulfilled the requirements of subsection of this section; every such stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

•  Pedestrian Deaths in 1995: 5,584
•     Pedestrian Deaths in 2005: 4,881 (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts)
•     Pedestrian Injuries in 1995: 86,000 (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts)
•     Pedestrian Injuries in 2005: 64,000 (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts)
•     According to the National SAFEKIDS Campaign, more than 46,000 children are injured each year in pedestrian accidents
•     The total cost of pedestrian death and injury among children ages 14 and younger is $5.2 billion per year (Safe Kids Worldwide).
•     70 percent of pedestrian killed in 2005 were males.
•     Almost three out of every four pedestrian fatalities occur in urban areas (74 percent).
•     The top four states for pedestrian fatalities are California, Florida, Texas, and New York. These four states make up 42 percent of pedestrian fatalities nationwide while only accounting for 29 percent of the total traffic fatalities across the country.
•     Nearly half (48 percent) of pedestrian fatalities occur on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

Seattle Pedestrian Accident Attorneys
If you or a family member has suffered as the result of a crosswalk or pedestrian accident in Washington state,  pedestrian accident attorney Chris Davis and the Davis Law Group, P.S. can help you.  We are committed to helping injured pedestrians recover the just and fair compensation they are entitled to receive under the law.