Updated on: 11/18/2019
Police say a man was critically injured in a pedestrian accident early Thursday morning after being struck by an SUV as he crossed International Boulevard near SeaTac.
Emergency medic crews and officials with the King County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene at 160th Street and International Boulevard – also referred to as Highway 99 or Pacific Highway South – in SeaTac at approximately 1 a.m. Thursday after receiving reports of a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle.
When police arrived, they found a man lying in the roadway with serious and possibly life-threatening injuries. Medics stabilized him before he was rushed to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment. According to KOMO, investigators with the sheriff’s office say they do not believe the man was walking in a marked crosswalk at the time of the collision.
Officials also said the driver who struck the pedestrian remained at the scene of the collision and rendered aid to the man while emergency crews were on their way. The driver was reportedly interviewed by police and did not exhibit any signs of impairment, according to KOMO. He was released from the scene pending the outcome of the investigation.
How Comparative Negligence Impacts Liability
From a legal standpoint, the fact that officials went on the record to say they do not believe the pedestrian was walking in a marked crosswalk at the time of the collision does suggest that he may be at least partially responsible for the collision. But that does not necessarily mean he will be unable to pursue a personal injury claim for his injuries resulting from the auto accident.
Washington state’s comparative negligence law allows accident victims to recover damages even if they are found to be partially at fault for the accident. The law can affect all personal injury cases differently, but generally speaking a victim can recover the level of damages that the defendant is found to be liable for.
If a pedestrian is found to be partially at fault for their own injuries after an accident, then there is a chance they may not be fully compensated for their damages. However, they would still be able to recover some level of compensation for their injuries and other losses. Contact the award-winning personal injury legal team at Davis Law Group today to learn more about your legal rights after an injury.