Updated on: 11/20/2019
Seattle police say a 60-year-old man suffered critical injuries after he was hit by a car while crossing the street on 15th Avenue South in Beacon Hill Thursday morning.
According to news reports about the incident, the pedestrian was crossing legally in a crosswalk when an unidentified 79-year-old driver struck him. The pedestrian reportedly suffered life-threatening injuries in the collision and was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment of those injuries.
15th is shut down in both directions. Detectives responding to investigate car/pedestrian crash. Thanks for your patience. https://t.co/teTFHiJunE
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) July 13, 2017
Police responded to the scene to investigate the circumstances leading up to the collision, and the investigation reportedly closed both directions of 15th Ave for more than an hour. A drug-recognition expert interviewed the driver for any possible signs of impairment, but police said there was no indication that he was under the influence.
Police will continue to investigate all factors that may have contributed to the collision.
Pedestrian Struck in Crosswalks
From a legal perspective, one of the most important things to consider when it comes to pedestrian accident cases is whether the pedestrian was lawfully crossing the street at the time of the collision. Washington state has comparative negligence laws which means a pedestrian can still pursue a personal injury lawsuit even if they are found partially responsible for causing the collision.
If the pedestrian was not lawfully crossing the street, then there is a higher chance that a jury might determine that the pedestrian is mostly or even fully responsible for the collision, which obviously damages that person’s chance of a successful outcome.
If a pedestrian was legally crossing the street in a crosswalk when he or she was struck, then it is much easier to prove that the driver is legally responsible for causing the collision. In these situations, the chances of a successful outcome for the pedestrian are much higher.
