Updated on: 11/19/2019
Little is known about this story at this time, but the Seattle Fire Department says that a 5-year-old pedestrian was hit by a pick-up truck around 9 o'clock this morning. Medics rushed the boy to the Harborview Medical Center.
The collision happened near South Orcas Street and Rainier Avenue South.
Police are still working the scene.
Pedestrian Accident Legal Options
Investigators need a clear image of what's going on with all of the parties involved in this accident. Clarity (and the objectivity it brings) are essential for the family members to understand their legal options.
The pedestrian accident investigation into all contributing factors to this devastating accident will help paint a clearer picture of the legal rights available to the surviving family members of the victim. Liability, causation, and even available insurance coverage will be important details for an investigator to determine in order to better understand the best course of legal action.
Pedestrian accident negligence laws affect the options available to family members in substantial ways. Washington state, for instance, has contributory negligence laws. This means that even if an individual is found to be responsible for their own injuries (to some degree) they can still pursue a legal claim against the other parties who contributed to the negligence that led to the accident.
Even if it is determined that the girl did dart out into traffic, that does not mean that her family would not be able to pursue a wrongful death claim on her behalf. Determining all of these factors is much easier said than done and would be best addressed by a qualified Washington personal injury lawyer with experience handling pedestrian accident cases.