Tacoma Pedestrian Accident Lawyers: Free Consultation

Pedestrian accidents are often devastating. The body can't withstand the violent forces of a motor vehicle crashing into it. Severe injuries commonly occur, requiring significant medical treatment to heal. At Park Chenaur Injury Lawyers, we understand what you're going through and want to help. Call us or complete our online contact form for a free consultation today. Our experienced Tacoma pedestrian injury lawyers will review your case with you and determine what we can do for you.

Why Choose Park Chenaur and Associates LLP?

At Park Chenaur and Associates LLP, our legal team has over two decades of experience representing accident victims. Since opening our firm, we've handled more than 10,000 personal injury cases. Our track record speaks for itself, with notable case results, such as:

  • $200,000 settlement for a young man struck by an SUV, causing lacerations and a fractured fibula and tibia
  • $100,000 settlement for a homeowner who sustained a concussion and broken ribs and hip when hit by a car while chasing vandals out into the street

When you hire us, we will provide personalized attention and support until the end of your case. We know how challenging it can be to pursue action against a negligent driver while treating a serious injury. It's stressful and overwhelming. You don't have to go through this alone. We will remain by your side and do everything we can to simplify your life.

Park Chenaur and Associates LLP holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating possible. We also have five-star reviews on Facebook and Google. Call us at (253)-INJURED for a free consultation, or meet us at our Tacoma office, conveniently located less than two miles from State Route 16.

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An Overview of Pedestrian Accidents in Tacoma

Tacoma is a beautiful city with multiple districts to explore. An inattentive driver can hit you with their vehicle whether you're walking on the sidewalks to visit the boutiques in the Proctor and Stadium districts or strolling along Sixth Avenue searching for a restaurant or music venue. According to statistics from the Washington Department of Transportation, pedestrian-involved crashes resulted in seven fatalities and 17 suspected serious injuries in a single year in Tacoma. Pedestrian laws outline the rights and responsibilities of pedestrians and other road users, including:

  • Obey traffic control devices and signals unless otherwise directed by a police or traffic officer
  • Bicyclists and drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and sidewalks
  • Pedestrians must use sidewalks when they're available or walk on the left side of the road or shoulder facing traffic if no sidewalks are available
  • Pedestrians cannot leave a curb and move into traffic so suddenly a driver cannot stop
  • Every motorist must exercise care to avoid crashing into a pedestrian on any roadway and shall warn the pedestrian when necessary by sounding the horn
  • Drivers must stop at intersections with a marked or unmarked crosswalk for pedestrians to cross
  • Vehicles have the right of way if a pedestrian crosses the street anywhere other than within a marked crosswalk or at an intersection

Another law requires accident victims to file a lawsuit within a specific timeframe. In Washington, the statute of limitations allows an injured person three years to initiate a lawsuit against another party. That means you have three years from the date of the pedestrian accident to file suit against the negligent motorist.

Common Types of Pedestrian Accidents and Injuries

Pedestrian accidents can occur for various reasons. Driver error is often a contributing factor, such as distracted driving or failing to yield. The most common types of pedestrian accidents include:

  • Parking lot accidents. Although collisions in parking lots are typically at low speeds, pedestrians can still sustain severe injuries. A driver might enter a lot without checking for passing pedestrians or focus on finding their destination and fail to notice someone walking in front of their car.
  • Crosswalk accidents. Crosswalks exist so that pedestrians have safe places to cross the road. However, some drivers disobey right-of-way laws and crash into people walking in the crosswalk.
  • Left-turn accidents. A left-turn accident can occur if a motorist turns left at an intersection without checking the street they're turning onto for pedestrians.
  • Backing up accidents. Drivers must look behind them before backing out of a parking spot. They can drive into a pedestrian behind their vehicle if they don't.
  • Right-turn accidents. Drivers can turn right at a red light in some situations. However, completing the turn without allowing pedestrians to cross in front of them can lead to an accident.

Pedestrians don't have the same safety devices as motor vehicle occupants. They're at the mercy of the car, flying debris, and other factors. Injuries can be severe or life-threatening. Sometimes, the consequences of a pedestrian accident are fatal. The most common injuries pedestrians sustain in traffic accidents include:

  • Broken bones
  • Road rash
  • Permanent scarring or disfigurement
  • Paralysis
  • Back and neck injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Nerve damage
  • Deep lacerations
  • Disability

Pedestrian Injury Compensation

Every Washington resident driving a motor vehicle must meet one of these liability insurance requirements:

  • Carry liability insurance with minimum coverages for bodily injury and property damage
  • Apply for a certificate of deposit to pay the Department of Licensing for liability insurance
  • Have at least a $60,000 liability bond filed by an authorized surety bond company in Washington

You can file a claim with the at-fault driver's auto insurance company even though you were a pedestrian when the crash occurred. You can also file a lawsuit if you're within the statute of limitations. The compensation you receive can cover your accident-related losses, such as:

  • Ambulance services, surgeries, physical therapy, and other medical expenses
  • Loss of earnings
  • Lost future earnings
  • Pain and suffering
  • Inconvenience
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of business or employment opportunities
  • Cost of repairing or replacing personal property

Determining the value of your case can be challenging. Calculating expenses is simple. However, monetizing non-economic losses such as pain and suffering might be tricky. Multiple factors can affect the compensation you recover, such as:

  • Liability insurance policy limits
  • The total cost of medical care and other necessary expenses
  • Whether the injury is permanent or disabling
  • Emotional effects of the accident
  • Length of the recovery period
  • Availability of evidence against the negligent party
  • Type and severity of the injury
  • Effect of the injury on daily life, such as the ability to complete basic tasks, go to work, or participate in physical activities
  • The estimated cost of medical treatment needed in the future

You should hire a Tacoma pedestrian injury lawyer from Park Chenaur and Associates LLP immediately after getting hurt in an accident. Pedestrian injury claims and lawsuits are complex and challenging to handle, especially while trying to recover from an injury. We can take over and handle the entire process so you can focus on what matters most-attending doctor's appointments and getting your life back on track.

Our legal team knows how to investigate pedestrian accidents to determine fault and collect the available evidence to maximize the value of a case. We will aggressively negotiate with the insurance company for a settlement we believe is fair. If the insurer denies the claim or doesn't offer an adequate amount of money to cover your losses, we can file a lawsuit.

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Fighting the Insurance Company

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 223,135 hospitalizations and 64,362 deaths related to traumatic brain injury occurred in one year in the United States. These figures represent over 611 brain injury-related hospitalizations and 176 deaths daily. You must comply with state laws to sue someone for causing a brain injury. In Washington, the general personal injury statute of limitations allows a three-year timeframe to file a lawsuit. That means you have three years from the date of your brain injury to initiate a lawsuit against the negligent party.

The timeframe differs if a healthcare professional's error causes brain injury. The statute of limitations for medical malpractice allows a three-year or one-year time frame depending on the circumstances. You must file suit within three years of the medical malpractice or within one year of discovering the injury is due to a medical error, whichever period ends later. However, you can't bring legal action against the medical provider more than eight years after the date of the medical malpractice.

You can toll or delay the statute of limitations if the negligent act involves intentional concealment, fraud, or a foreign body without diagnostic or therapeutic effect or purpose left behind in your body. That means the timeframe temporarily pauses if a foreign body causes injury or the doctor participates in fraudulent activity or attempts to hide what happened. The one-year period starts when you have actual knowledge of the concealment, fraud, or foreign body.

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What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident

The steps you take after a pedestrian accident can affect the outcome of your case. You must be careful while discussing details with anyone other than your lawyer. Anything you say can become evidence against you, so it's better to say less. You or someone else involved in the crash will have called 911. Law enforcement can investigate to determine who is at fault. They should have written a police report outlining their observations and opinions about the collision. However, the report isn't solid evidence of liability. You can use it to support your claim, but the insurer might argue whether the officer's report is factual. Park Chenaur and Associates LLP can handle gathering evidence from the scene of the accident if you can't. Contact us as soon as possible so we can start working on your case. We will investigate to find out whether any video surveillance captured the accident. We can use that information to find out if there were witnesses, and if so, we could obtain witness statements that could help your case. You likely already started treatment before seeking representation. If not, go to the hospital for an examination immediately. You need physical documentation of your injury to show it happened in the crash. If your initial doctor recommends follow-up care, listen to them.

You should attend every necessary appointment regularly without allowing significant time to pass between each one. Gaps in treatment are helpful to insurance companies eager to avoid payouts. They look at gaps as evidence of a non-existent or non-serious injury. It can lead to a denied claim or a lower settlement than you deserve. That's why following the recommended treatment plan is vital. Maintaining adequate documentation is another essential step. You should keep copies of your medical records, bills, and anything else related to the accident. Although we have the resources to acquire evidence to use in claims and lawsuits, sending us everything you have can help. We can compare your documents with ours to ensure we have complete and accurate records. You should avoid social media while your case is pending. You might think commenting on someone's post or sharing a photo of a dinner outing is harmless. However, you might not realize insurance companies and defense attorneys review public online accounts for evidence they can use to disprove an accident victim's allegations. Some posts might contradict the severity of your injury. Frequent online activity can suggest you care more about your social status than about healing.

Get Help With Your Case From a Tacoma Pedestrian Injury Lawyer

Seeing a car coming toward you and knowing you can't prevent an accident is scary. Your injuries might prevent you from proceeding with your usual routine. Affording your medical bills and other expenses seems impossible if you can't return to work. It's an overwhelming situation for anyone to face. Park Chenaur and Associates LLP is ready to step in and help. We can protect your rights and aggressively pursue the maximum possible compensation. We understand no amount of money can change what happened, but it will provide some financial security after the accident. Reach out to a personal injury lawyer. If you sustained injuries in a pedestrian accident due to someone else's negligence, contact us online for a free consultation. We take cases on contingency, so you're not responsible for upfront fees or costs. We're also available 24/7, so you can reach us when you need us the most.

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Client Reviews

Highly recommend! I was in a car accident in November of 2023 and my insurance didn’t do much to help me so I contacted Park Chenaur Law to see if I can get someone that will help me out. Paty and Natalya were working on my case and were very helpful and communicative throughout the whole case. Thank you guys again for ...

Bri

I was in a car accident and tried to deal with the other insurance company on my own. The person I was dealing with was very aggressive and not easy to work with. She offered me a settlement that was very low and didn't include much for my medical expenses. I reached out to a law firm and was lucky to be connected with Nataly...

Max Terterov

Lola is a great person/paralegal to work with. She helped me with my case few years back and she did a fantastic job. I recommended my husband to Park Chenaur because of the great service I got from this firm.

Suze

Not only did the team (multiple people- very hands on!) get me the maximum insurance settlement for a car accident I was in, but they went above and beyond to stay engaged and work for me. They helped me find effective, compassionate chiro care, and were helpful in discussing case details along the way. I highly recommend Pau...

Arianna S.

I use this firm for the first time on 2012 and over the years I had an excellent experience but, I have to say is thanks to Lola. She goes above and beyond, twice I had cases that they couldn't help me with, but she always takes her time to talk (at least an hour), she listen and finally always comes with something to help, i...

James G.

Kimberly was so reliable, honest and helped me with integrity.  I recommend to contact her to anyone who is looking for great help when you go through unexpected car accident.  I was really frustrated when the accident was happened.  Kimberly always took the time to answer any questions I might have, went throu...

Hye C.

This is my second time coming back to Park & Chenaur. I came back because Lola was an amazing Team member And unfortunately, she had gone to retirement. But reassured me that I would be Taken good care of and put in good hands with colleagues of Park & Chenaur Talia was one that I would communicate with more and I'm p...

B. Cruz

I’ve been incredibly pleased with the support and dedication from Komo Thiara and Marco Martinez as they work on my personal injury case. Even though my case is still ongoing, I’ve been impressed by their professionalism and commitment. Komo Thiara is attentive to every detail and has been proactive in keeping me ...

Jasmin T.

This is a great firm to work with. I’ve been working directly with Lola Serna and Mr. Kim. They’ve been working diligently on my case and keeping me up to speed each step along the way. Lola has been extremely communicative of the entire process. When I’ve mentioned to others that they are working on my case...

C. Rhzie

Lola and her team are incredible! Top notch law firm with a deep, rich knowledge of the system and how to best take care of their clients.

Preston D.

Gina Kim is a great attorney! She is very experienced and explained the process every step of the way. I was very pleased with the outcome of my case. I highly recommend her!!

Donna G.

After I had my auto collision, I reached out to Park Chenaur and Lola quickly reached out and immediately took my case. Since hiring the law firm, and working with Lola, I have been able to concentrate on my healing knowing that my claim is in good hands. Lola has been super responsive throughout this process which I apprecia...

Jacob L.

I have been so impressed with the level of care this group has provided in my auto accident case. Especially Lola, who on the first meeting made me feel at ease. She explained everything throughout the process and kept me informed every step of the way. The value of peice of mind is beyond anything I could have expected. I wo...

Trina P.

I got into a bad accident where I lost my car back in 2017, I was young, scared and anxious. I contacted Park Chenaur & Associates when I was offered $500 from the other driver’s car insurance…let’s just say that was a spit in the face compared to what I actually received thanks to their help. They took...

Chels

Park Chenaur Law Offices was great helping me navigate everything after a MVA in 2016. They were recommended to me several months after and I wish I had contacted them sooner!

They listened to my concerns, patiently explained next steps, figuratively held my hand through mediation, and helped calm me as I expressed my ...

인정

In the summer of 2022, I found myself in a stressful situation after a car accident.  Despite it not being my fault, dealing with insurance was intimidating.  A friend recommended Parks Chenaur & Associates LLP, and it turned out to be a lifesaver.  They not only guided me through the insurance process but ...

Hyuna J.

I highly recommend Park Chenaur for assisting me with my case. I was involved in an accident and Lola made the process very easy for me and my family.

She was very understanding, she listened to all our concerns. I can't say thank you enough.

Kristy C.

I cannot thank Kimberly and her team enough. Between two accidents that were very complex, Kimberly and her team helped me get settlements for both. I couldn’t have gotten through this without her dedicated work. I highly recommend using Kimberly and her team - I will be recommending them to anyone I personally know. I ...

Morgan G.

Senior Manager Yoon and her team took care of my two traffic accident cases and achieved satisfying results. Highly recommend this legal group.

Minwoo L.

I would like to thank Park Chenaur Lawyers for helping my Son with his injury claim. Lola has been very helpful and supportive in this process. It’s good to know that my Son is being treated well and we appreciate all the help! The Hutchinson family.

Tamara H.

Kimberly Yoon helped me resolve my car accident. She helped me a lot during difficult times. She was very accurate in her work and always responded. I think she is the best.

Yunmi L.

Angel Chenaur & Rick Park are very good  excellent lawyers because of unstoppable care and energy to win your case. They are a Team that are professional and  asure a thorough understanding of the processes  throughout the  wait for the results of your claim. They've been my lawyers for my claims and &...

Linda C.

I appreciate the phone call back first of all. The case taken was two years old. Something was gotten out of it. Appreciated, but I will Never understand how 40 percent of $15,000 leaves me with $4,600 and No explanation good enough Can be given Even with the so called breakdown. Make it make sense. But still I appreciate eve...

Annaray H.

Paula Burger is wonderful! She is a person I go to when I know things will get done. Her communication skills are excellent and anyone who works with her can expect nothing but the best.

Annette T.

A Case Manager Gina Kim, she was always kind and considerate when my wife and I had a car accident. Usually people panic when they have a car accident. And there are many cases where we don't know how to handle it. After this traffic accident, my family has learned a lot about how important experienced lawyers and experienced...

Jay
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