The Seattle area has experienced two terrible pedestrian accidents this week—one involving an 18-month-old child, and the other with fatal results. The first happened Sunday at 43rd Avenue South. A Dodge van was backing out of an apartment complex. A toddler girl darted out from behind a parked car and was hit by the van. She was transported to Harborview Medical Center with what were described as serious injuries. When authorities arrived, the driver was tested for impairment, alcohol or drugs, but none were found. The investigation into the accident is ongoing.
The other pedestrian accident involved an Amtrak train in Auburn. The victim had climbed through an idle train and was struck and killed by another oncoming train around 6 PM Tuesday. As yet, the victim has not been identified. As much responsibility as drivers have to be aware of and protect pedestrians, so do pedestrians need to take ownership of their own safety. By teaching our children how to be cautious pedestrians, and following those rules ourselves, who knows whose life you might be saving. As a personal injury attorney, I’ve seen how an injury from a pedestrian accident can change a life forever, so stay alert and aware when out on the road, especially at night.