Seattle, Washington – Pedestrian Hospitalized After Getting Struck by Car on Rainier Avenue

Seattle, Washington (September 10, 2019) – A pedestrian was taken to the hospital after getting struck by a ca on the 7800 block of Rainier Avenue South on Tuesday evening. Witnesses on the scene provided first-aid to the victim, and medics from the Seattle Fire Department later transported the victim to Harborview Medical Center. The driver was uninjured and stayed on the scene.

The accident happened before 5:30 p.m. The pedestrian was crossing the street mid-block when he was struck by a southbound minivan. It has been determined that the driver was not impaired at the time of the accident. The collision remains under investigation.

About Pedestrian Accidents

Unfortunately, as shown in this case, pedestrians are at also risk while on the streets, with the National Center for Health Statistics estimating 7, 450  pedestrian deaths in 2017. Pedestrian accidents can fall under traffic or non-traffic depending on the location where they were struck. Traffic incidents happen on public roads, while non-traffic incidents occur on non-traffic areas such as driveways, parking lots and other private property. Most pedestrian deaths occur in urban settings, on urban roads (72%) versus on intersections (18%), and mostly at night. Much like motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents can happen simply because people are not as visible as other vehicles, a problem which is worse during night. And in an event of a car crash, similar to motorcycle drivers and passengers, the risk to pedestrians are greater than those inside a car, with fatality rate being 1.5 times greater than any car passenger.When it comes to risk, older adults, children, and alcohol-impaired drivers or pedestrians are at most risk in pedestrian accidents. The risk is further heightened in a situation where a vehicle is at high speed. Lately, distractions also cause accidents not only for drivers, but also pedestrians, specifically those who are using their phones while crossing the road. We urge everyone to exercise area awareness at all times and to keep their attention on the road. Avoiding accidents not only prevents loss, damage, injuries and death to one’s self, but also on other people in the surroundings.

[cta]