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Washington pedestrian law combines the strongest crosswalk-protection statute in the country (RCW 46.61.235, which requires drivers to STOP rather than yield when a pedestrian is upon or within one lane of the driver's half of the roadway) with one of the most plaintiff-favorable damages frameworks (no statutory caps after Sofie v. Fibreboard Corp., 1989, plus pure comparative negligence under RCW 4.22.005, plus the Made Whole Doctrine and Collateral Source Rule). Effective January 1, 2025, the updated Vulnerable Road User Law layered on top: negligent driving that causes serious injury or death to a pedestrian, cyclist, or other vulnerable road user now carries criminal penalties up to 364 days jail and $5,000 fines, producing admissible civil evidence. The result is one of the highest-value pedestrian-injury jurisdictions in the US, illustrated by the $30 million Michael Weilert WSDOT settlement (faulty Highway 7 crosswalk signal in Parkland) and the $29,011,000 Jaahnavi Kandula settlement (Seattle Police Department officer struck and killed a pedestrian at 74 mph in a South Lake Union crosswalk).
Key facts at a glance
Washington Pedestrian Accident Settlement Values (2026)
Last updated
- RCW 46.61.235 (STOP not yield)
- Drivers must STOP and remain stopped when a pedestrian is upon or within ONE LANE of the half of the roadway the vehicle is traveling on. Strongest pedestrian crosswalk law in the US. Vehicles approaching a stopped vehicle from the rear cannot overtake or pass.
- No statutory damage caps (Sofie v. Fibreboard 1989)
- WA Supreme Court declared RCW 4.56.250 (the age-based non-economic cap) unconstitutional under Article 1 Section 21 (inviolate jury trial right). No legislative caps on pedestrian pain and suffering or wrongful death.
- Pure comparative (RCW 4.22.005)
- Recover damages even at 99% fault. Adopted 1973. Award reduced by your share, never eliminated. One of 13 pure comparative states.
- Vulnerable Road User Law (Jan 1 2025)
- Negligent driving causing pedestrian DEATH = up to 364 days jail + $5,000 fine + 90-day license suspension. Serious injury = $5,000 fine + suspension + community service + traffic safety education. Conviction record is powerful civil evidence.
- Made Whole Doctrine (strong)
- Subrogating insurers (health insurance, PIP, etc.) cannot recover until plaintiff is fully made whole for ALL damages including pain and suffering. Settlement below policy limits does NOT presume full compensation. Maximizes net recovery to the pedestrian.
- 21.7% uninsured driver rate (5th highest in US)
- Per IRC, roughly 1 in 5 WA drivers has no auto insurance. UM/UIM coverage is critical. WA law requires mandatory offer at liability-equivalent limits unless waived in writing (RCW 48.22.030).
Source: SetCalc analysis of RCW 46.61.235 (pedestrian crosswalk stop requirement); RCW 46.61.245 (driver due care); RCW 4.22.005 (pure comparative negligence); Sofie v. Fibreboard Corp., 112 Wn.2d 636 (1989) (no-caps rule); RCW 48.22.085 et seq. (mandatory PIP offer); RCW 48.22.030 (mandatory UM/UIM offer); RCW 4.16.080 (3-year personal injury SOL); RCW 4.92.110 (state agency pre-suit notice + 60-day wait); RCW 4.96.020 (local government pre-suit notice); 2025 Vulnerable Road User Law (effective January 1, 2025); Washington Traffic Safety Commission annual reports; Seattle DOT Vision Zero Action Plan (May 2024); Insurance Research Council uninsured driver data; Washington plaintiff-firm reported settlements, 2022 to 2026. Get your free Washington pedestrian accident settlement estimate →
How Much to Expect From a Pedestrian Accident Settlement in Washington
Washington pedestrian struck-by-vehicle settlements span from $15,000 for minor cases to over $30 million for catastrophic wrongful death. The state combines a uniquely strict crosswalk statute (RCW 46.61.235 stop requirement), pure comparative negligence, no statutory damages caps after Sofie v. Fibreboard, the strong Made Whole Doctrine, the preserved Collateral Source Rule, and the new January 1, 2025 Vulnerable Road User Law. The result is one of the highest-value pedestrian-injury jurisdictions in the country.
Cited representative outcomes from Washington plaintiff firms and reported settlements include:
- • $30,000,000 Washington State (WSDOT) settlement to the family of 13-year-old Michael Weilert killed at a faulty crosswalk signal on Highway 7 in Parkland/Pierce County in July 2022; largest WSDOT settlement ever recorded
- • $29,011,000 Seattle settlement (February 2026) with the family of Jaahnavi Kandula struck and killed in a South Lake Union crosswalk in January 2023 by an SPD officer traveling 74 mph
- • $10,000,000 Seattle Injury Law settlement for a 48-year-old man struck by a tour bus in 2017
- • $3,600,000 Snohomish County verdict (2023) for a pedestrian struck on the street in Edmonds with surgical left ankle injury
- • $1,850,000 King County jury verdict (2022) for a pedestrian struck at an intersection with concussion, cerebral contusions, arm degloving injury, lacerations, fracture, and lacerated liver
Who Pays Your Medical Bills as a WA Pedestrian (PIP Mandatory Offer)
Washington is a tort state with optional Personal Injury Protection (PIP). Under RCW 48.22.085 et seq., auto insurers MUST OFFER PIP with every liability policy at a minimum of $10,000 medical expenses (covering bills incurred within 3 years of the accident). The customer can decline in writing, but if the carrier cannot produce a signed waiver, the customer automatically has $10,000 of PIP at no extra charge.
Medical Coverage Stack for a WA Pedestrian
- PIP from the at-fault vehicle: If the vehicle that struck you has Washington PIP, you (as a pedestrian) are typically a 'covered person' for medical expenses regardless of fault. Minimum $10,000; common $25,000 to $35,000.
- Your own PIP: If you own a Washington-insured vehicle with PIP, your own PIP also covers you as a pedestrian, cyclist, or vehicle occupant. Stack with the at-fault vehicle's PIP as applicable.
- Your own health insurance: Primary payer for the remainder, subject to deductibles and copays. Made Whole Doctrine protects net recovery from subrogation until full compensation.
- Hospital and provider medical liens: Treat now, recoup from settlement.
- At-fault driver's bodily injury policy: Pays at the end as part of the third-party settlement.
- Your own UM/UIM coverage: Required to be offered at liability-equivalent limits under RCW 48.22.030; follows you as a pedestrian. Critical given the 21.7% uninsured driver rate.
PIP Subrogation Is Capped by the Made Whole Doctrine
RCW 46.61.235: The STOP Requirement (Strongest Crosswalk Law in the US)
RCW 46.61.235 is the central liability statute in any Washington pedestrian crosswalk case, and it is uniquely strict in requiring drivers to STOP rather than simply yield. Most states impose only a yield duty; Washington requires the vehicle to come to a complete stop and remain stopped.
The Core Rule
The operator of an approaching vehicle shall STOP and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian, bicycle, or personal delivery device to cross the roadway within an unmarked or marked crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon or within ONE LANE of the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning.
'Half of the Roadway' Defined
'Half of the roadway' means all traffic lanes carrying traffic in one direction of travel, and includes the entire width of a one-way roadway. On a 4-lane road with 2 lanes each direction, 'half' is the 2 lanes in your direction.
No-Passing Rule for Following Vehicles
Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a marked or unmarked crosswalk to permit a pedestrian to cross, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle. The rule prevents the deadly 'pass-through' scenario where a stopped vehicle is overtaken by an unwary driver who strikes the crossing pedestrian.
Why RCW 46.61.235 Matters for Your Civil Case
A driver's violation of RCW 46.61.235 supports negligence per se under Washington law: the statutory violation establishes the negligence element once the violation is proved. The driver has essentially no defense to liability where the pedestrian was in the crosswalk and within one lane of the half of the roadway. Combined with the no-overtake rule, the statute eliminates most factual defenses (sight-line, can't see the pedestrian, traffic was moving). In school, playground, or crosswalk speed zones under RCW 46.61.440, the fine doubles and cannot be waived or reduced.
Compare to RCW 46.61.245 (Driver Due Care)
2025 Vulnerable Road User Law (Criminal Penalties Against the Driver)
Effective January 1, 2025, Washington's updated Vulnerable Road User Law imposes elevated criminal penalties on drivers whose negligent driving causes death or serious injury to vulnerable road users. Pedestrians are at the core of the protected class.
Who Is a 'Vulnerable Road User'?
Any person traveling on Washington's roads or sidewalks who is not protected by the steel frame of a vehicle, including:
- • Pedestrians
- • Bicyclists
- • Scooter and skateboard users
- • Wheelchair users
- • Horseback riders
- • Moped operators
- • Motorcyclists
- • Farm-equipment operators (tractors, etc.)
Negligent Driving Causing DEATH of a Vulnerable Road User
- • Up to 364 days in jail
- • Fine up to $5,000
- • 90-day driver's license suspension
Negligent Driving Causing SIGNIFICANT BODILY INJURY
- • Fine up to $5,000
- • 90-day driver's license suspension
- • Up to 100 hours of community service
- • Required enrollment in traffic safety education
Why the Vulnerable Road User Law Matters for Your Civil Case
A Vulnerable Road User Law charge or conviction against the at-fault driver produces a criminal record that is powerful civil evidence. The conviction supports negligence per se in the civil case (statutory violation establishes negligence). The criminal record creates additional settlement pressure on the at-fault carrier because the driver has a personal interest in resolving the civil case without further litigation that could expose bad facts. The law is similar in spirit to NYC's Admin Code 19-190 (the criminal Right of Way Law) but applied statewide in Washington.
Pure Comparative Negligence Under RCW 4.22.005
Washington adopted pure comparative negligence in 1973 and codified it at RCW 4.22.005. Under pure comparative, contributory fault chargeable to the claimant diminishes the recovery proportionately, but does NOT bar recovery.
What Pure Comparative Means in Pedestrian Cases
- • You recover damages even at 99 percent fault; award reduced by your share, never eliminated.
- • A pedestrian who crossed mid-block, was assigned 30 percent fault, and had $400,000 in damages recovers $280,000.
- • A pedestrian assigned 80 percent fault with $500,000 in damages still recovers $100,000.
- • Washington is one of only 13 pure comparative states (others include California, New York, Arizona, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Alaska, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Rhode Island).
Pure comparative is dramatically more plaintiff-favorable than the modified comparative regimes in neighboring states. Oregon (51 percent bar), Idaho (50 percent bar), and Montana (51 percent bar) all eliminate recovery at the bar threshold. Colorado's 50 percent bar kills the case at exactly 50 percent fault. Washington plaintiffs benefit from the most lenient comparative-fault framework in the Pacific Northwest.
No Damage Caps: Sofie v. Fibreboard Corp. (1989)
Washington has no statutory cap on non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life) in pedestrian or auto cases. In Sofie v. Fibreboard Corp., 112 Wn.2d 636 (1989), the Washington Supreme Court struck down RCW 4.56.250 (the legislature's age-based non-economic cap) as unconstitutional under Article 1 Section 21 of the Washington Constitution, which protects the inviolate right to jury trial.
The Sofie Rule
The statute's damages limit interfered with the jury's traditional function to determine damages. Therefore RCW 4.56.250 violated Article 1 Section 21, which protects as inviolate the right to a jury. The court reinstated the jury's $3,712,929 award to Mr. Sofie (who had mesothelioma from asbestos exposure as a pipefitter). Sofie was the first state supreme court decision in the US to overrule a non-economic damages cap on constitutional grounds.
Combined with pure comparative negligence and RCW 46.61.235, Washington produces some of the highest pedestrian verdicts in the country. The $30 million Michael Weilert settlement and the $29 million Jaahnavi Kandula settlement would be impossible in damages-capped states like Colorado (which caps non-economic damages at $1.5 million under HB 24-1472 as of January 2025), Texas (which caps government-claim damages at $750,000 under the Texas Tort Claims Act), or many medical-malpractice cap states.
Made Whole Doctrine + Collateral Source Rule
Two Washington doctrines protect the net recovery to the injured pedestrian and prevent the at-fault driver and insurers from clawing back compensation the plaintiff needs to be made whole.
Made Whole Doctrine
Washington's Made Whole Doctrine is one of the strongest in the country. The Washington Supreme Court has held that an insurer (health insurance, PIP, Medicare, Medicaid, ERISA plan to the extent permitted) cannot subrogate or seek reimbursement from the injured person's third-party tort recovery until the injured person has been fully compensated for ALL damages, including pain and suffering, lost wages, and future losses. Settlement for less than the tortfeasor's policy limits does NOT create a presumption of full compensation.
Collateral Source Rule (Preserved)
Washington preserves the traditional Collateral Source Rule: the defendant cannot reduce damages by pointing to collateral payments (health insurance, PIP, Social Security disability, employer wage replacement, etc.) made to the plaintiff. The rule prevents the at-fault driver from receiving a 'financial reward' because the pedestrian had the foresight to maintain insurance coverage.
Net-Recovery Math Favors WA Plaintiffs
Public-Entity Vehicles: 60-Day Pre-Suit Notice
Washington requires a written pre-suit claim notice plus a mandatory 60-day waiting period for any claim against a public entity.
- • RCW 4.92.110 (state agencies): Claims against the State of Washington (WSDOT, WSP, state universities, the state itself) must be presented to the Office of Risk Management, with a 60-day waiting period before suit.
- • RCW 4.96.020 (local governments): Claims against cities, counties, school districts, transit authorities (Sound Transit, King County Metro, Pierce Transit, Community Transit, C-TRAN), and public utility districts must be presented in writing with a 60-day waiting period.
- • The 3-year RCW 4.16.080 SOL still applies and is NOT tolled by the 60-day waiting period. File the claim early.
High-Value WA Public-Entity Pedestrian Cases
Two of the largest reported Washington pedestrian settlements involve public-entity defendants:
- • $30,000,000 WSDOT settlement (largest in WSDOT history) for the death of 13-year-old Michael Weilert in July 2022; the state knew the crossing signal on Highway 7 in Parkland/Pierce County was defective
- • $29,011,000 City of Seattle settlement (February 2026) with the family of Jaahnavi Kandula struck and killed in a South Lake Union crosswalk in January 2023 by an SPD officer traveling 74 mph
Washington courts and state and city risk-management offices have demonstrated willingness to settle for high values when government negligence (defective signals, excessive police-vehicle speeds, transit operator errors) contributed to a pedestrian death.
Crosswalk vs Mid-Block: How Comparative Fault Works
Washington applies pure comparative negligence under RCW 4.22.005. You recover even at 99 percent fault; award reduced by your share but never eliminated. In pedestrian cases, the strike location (crosswalk vs mid-block), the RCW 46.61.235 stop-requirement framework, and the Vulnerable Road User Law drive the comparative analysis.
| Pedestrian Position | Right of Way | Typical Comparative Fault Range |
|---|---|---|
| In marked crosswalk with walk signal, within 1 lane of driver's half | Full RCW 46.61.235 stop right; negligence per se | 0-10% |
| In marked crosswalk without signal, within 1 lane of half-roadway | RCW 46.61.235 stop requirement | 0-15% |
| In unmarked crosswalk at intersection | RCW 46.61.235 covers unmarked crosswalks | 0-20% |
| Crossing against don't walk / red signal | Vehicle has right of way | 25-50% |
| Mid-block crossing (no crosswalk) | Vehicle has right of way under RCW 46.61.240; driver still owes RCW 46.61.245 due care | 20-50% |
| In roadway not crossing | Vehicle has right of way; pedestrian must yield | 30-60% |
Even at high comparative-fault percentages, Washington's pure comparative system means the case is not eliminated. A pedestrian who crossed mid-block, was assigned 40 percent fault, and had $500,000 in damages still recovers $300,000. Combined with no statutory caps, this produces large net recoveries even in shared-fault cases.
Washington's Deadliest Pedestrian Corridors
Washington recorded 154 pedestrian fatalities in 2023, the highest annual total on record according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. Seattle 2024 saw 27 traffic deaths with 18 of them pedestrians (66.7 percent), including a tragic week in May 2024 when 6 people were killed in 7 days.
Aurora Avenue North (20% of Seattle Traffic Deaths)
Aurora Avenue North accounts for approximately 20 percent of all Seattle traffic deaths. The wide arterial corridor has high speeds, limited pedestrian infrastructure, and frequent hit-and-run incidents. Stephen Willis was killed walking near Aurora Avenue and Northgate Way in the same week as multiple other pedestrian deaths in May 2024.
Rainier Avenue South + MLK Jr. Way South
Rainier Avenue South and MLK Jr. Way constitute a high-speed arterial corridor where more than 20 percent of Seattle traffic fatalities occur. 15 people have been killed on MLK in the last 6 years; most were walking, with at least one in a wheelchair. The corridor passes through historically marginalized South Seattle neighborhoods.
Other High-Risk Corridors
Lake City Way NE, Fourth Avenue South, Pacific Highway South (SR 99) through the south-of-Seattle metro, Highway 7 (Pacific Avenue South) through Parkland and Tacoma, and SR 99 through Snohomish County. The Seattle DOT Vision Zero Action Plan (May 2024) targets these high-injury network corridors. Tribal lands, rural state highways, and unlit suburban arterials produce a disproportionate share of pedestrian fatalities.
Use WTSC Dashboards for Strike-Location Data
The Washington Traffic Safety Commission publishes public crash dashboards at wtsc.wa.gov/dashboards that map fatal and serious-injury crashes by location. Prior crashes at the strike location support foreseeability and notice arguments against WSDOT, the city, or county defendant.
Washington Pedestrian Settlement Ranges by Injury Type
Pedestrian impact mechanisms produce more catastrophic injury patterns than auto-on-auto crashes. Combined with Washington's plaintiff-favorable framework (no caps, pure comparative, made whole, RCW 46.61.235 stop requirement, 2025 Vulnerable Road User Law), Washington pedestrian settlements run higher than comparable auto-occupant cases.
| Injury Type | WA Pedestrian Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Soft tissue (rare from pedestrian impact alone) | $15,000 - $75,000 | Pedestrian impact rarely produces pure soft-tissue; min PIP $10K provides floor |
| Wrist or hand fracture | $75,000 - $250,000 | Common from fall-arrest reflex; ORIF surgical cases at upper end |
| Tibia / fibula / ankle fracture | $150,000 - $600,000 | Most common pedestrian fracture; $3.6M Snohomish surgical ankle cited (severe) |
| Pelvic fracture | $300,000 - $1,500,000 | From hood-height impact; often surgical, prone to long-term gait limitation |
| Herniated disc / spinal injury (non-cord) | $200,000 - $1,500,000 | Surgical cases (microdiscectomy, fusion) at upper end |
| Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) | $500,000 - $10,000,000+ | Common from windshield or curb strike; $1.85M King County multi-injury cited |
| Spinal cord injury / paraplegia | $3,000,000 - $25,000,000+ | Catastrophic; lifetime care costs drive economic damages; no Sofie cap |
| Wrongful death | $2,000,000 - $30,000,000+ | $30M Weilert WSDOT; $29M Kandula Seattle. No statutory caps. Public-entity cases reach the high end. |
Source: SetCalc analysis of Washington pedestrian accident settlement data, 2022 to 2026. Cited verdicts: $30M Weilert WSDOT (Highway 7 Parkland faulty signal); $29.011M Kandula Seattle (SPD officer at 74 mph); $13.1M Mettler Auld King County sidewalk (May 2024, sidewalk-defect, not vehicle strike); $10M Seattle tour bus 48-year-old pedestrian; $3.6M Snohomish County surgical ankle (Edmonds); $1.85M King County multi-injury concussion + liver laceration + arm degloving. Pedestrian wrongful death cases against public entities have reached $30M in WA.
How to Maximize Your Washington Pedestrian Settlement
Five steps tailored to Washington pedestrian cases. Each is designed to lock in the RCW 46.61.235 stop-requirement evidence, file public-entity notices in time for the 60-day waiting period, leverage the Vulnerable Road User Law criminal record, and stack every available coverage layer.
Identify the At-Fault Vehicle, the PIP Carrier, and All Public-Entity Defendants Within Days
Photograph plates and policy declarations. If the vehicle is WSDOT, WSP, Sound Transit, King County Metro, Seattle Police Department, or any state or local public entity, the RCW 4.92.110 or RCW 4.96.020 pre-suit notice plus 60-day waiting period applies. File the notice early. The 3-year RCW 4.16.080 SOL still controls overall.
Key point: If the at-fault vehicle has Washington PIP (mandatory offer at $10K minimum under RCW 48.22.085), you as a pedestrian are typically a 'covered person' for medical expenses regardless of fault.
Demand the Police Report and Any RCW 46.61.235 Citation
A 46.61.235 citation (failure to stop for pedestrian in crosswalk) is one of the strongest civil evidentiary tools in Washington pedestrian law because the statute requires stop (not just yield). Subpoena body-cam, dash-cam, 911 audio, and witness statements. For fatal or major-injury crashes investigated by Washington State Patrol, request the WSP Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) reconstruction.
Key point: Negligence per se under WA law follows statutory violation. A 46.61.235 violation effectively establishes liability.
Leverage the 2025 Vulnerable Road User Law Criminal Record
Effective January 1, 2025, negligent driving causing serious injury or death to a vulnerable road user (which includes pedestrians) is criminally penalized with up to 364 days jail, $5,000 fines, license suspension, and traffic safety education. Subpoena the criminal court file, charging documents, and any plea materials.
Key point: The conviction is admissible negligence-per-se evidence and creates additional settlement pressure on the at-fault carrier.
Stack PIP, Health Insurance, Liens, and UM/UIM (21.7% Uninsured Driver Rate)
Washington's 21.7 percent uninsured driver rate (5th highest in the US per IRC) means roughly 1 in 5 at-fault drivers has no insurance. Stack every available layer: (1) PIP from at-fault vehicle or your own PIP, (2) health insurance, (3) medical liens, (4) at-fault BI liability, (5) your own UM/UIM (mandatory-offer at liability-equivalent limits under RCW 48.22.030 unless waived in writing).
Key point: UM/UIM follows the insured person and covers you as a pedestrian. Stack UM/UIM across household vehicles.
Build the Made Whole Doctrine and Collateral Source Record
Washington's strong Made Whole Doctrine prevents subrogating insurers from clawing back from your tort recovery until you are fully compensated for all damages. Track every category of damage rigorously. The preserved Collateral Source Rule prevents the defendant from reducing damages by collateral payments.
Key point: For damages calculation see our pain and suffering calculator. For WA auto framework basics see our Washington car accident guide.
Washington Pedestrian Settlement Examples
Five Washington pedestrian scenarios calibrated to the RCW 46.61.235 framework, the Vulnerable Road User Law, public-entity claims, and the Sofie no-caps environment. Each example highlights a Washington-specific dynamic.
Example 1: Michael Weilert WSDOT Faulty Highway 7 Crosswalk (Cited Settlement)
Case Details:
- 13-year-old struck and killed on Highway 7 in Parkland (Pierce County) in July 2022
- Pressed rapid rectangular flashing beacon to warn oncoming traffic
- Crossing signal at traffic median for second lane was defective
- State (WSDOT) knew signal was broken before the crash
- RCW 4.92.110 pre-suit notice + 60-day wait
- Sofie no-caps rule applied
Outcome:
- Settlement: $30,000,000
- Largest WSDOT settlement ever recorded
- State self-insurance fund
Cited Settlement:
$30,000,000
Public-entity defendant (WSDOT) with knowledge-of-defect liability, child plaintiff, no caps under Sofie v. Fibreboard, RCW 4.92.110 pre-suit notice timely filed.
Example 2: Jaahnavi Kandula SPD Officer at 74 MPH in SoMa Crosswalk (Cited Settlement)
Case Details:
- Pedestrian struck and killed in South Lake Union crosswalk (Seattle)
- January 2023
- Seattle Police Department officer traveling 74 mph
- Posted speed limit 25 mph; SPD officer 49 mph over limit
- RCW 4.96.020 pre-suit notice + 60-day wait (city defendant)
- RCW 46.61.235 stop-requirement violation
Outcome:
- Settlement (Feb 2026): $29,011,000
- City of Seattle self-insurance
- Extreme-speed police-vehicle case
Cited Settlement:
$29,011,000
Public-entity defendant (City of Seattle), wrongful death, gross speeding (74 in a 25), strong RCW 46.61.235 + 46.61.245 due-care violation, no Sofie caps.
Example 3: Edmonds Pedestrian Surgical Ankle Fracture (Cited Verdict)
Case Details:
- Pedestrian crossing street in Edmonds (Snohomish County)
- Struck by vehicle in 2023
- Left ankle injuries requiring surgery
- RCW 46.61.235 stop-requirement violation
- Pure comparative under RCW 4.22.005
Outcome:
- Verdict: $3,600,000
- Driver's auto liability + umbrella excess
- Surgical orthopedic damages
Cited Verdict:
$3,600,000
Snohomish County venue, surgical ankle (significant residual disability), RCW 46.61.235 violation as negligence per se, no caps, clear crosswalk strike pattern.
Example 4: King County Multi-Injury Pedestrian (Cited Verdict)
Case Details:
- Pedestrian struck at Seattle intersection (2022)
- Concussion + cerebral contusions
- Arm degloving injury
- Multiple lacerations + fracture
- Lacerated liver (internal injury)
- King County venue (plaintiff-friendly)
Outcome:
- Verdict: $1,850,000
- Driver's liability policy + UIM stacking
- Multi-injury catastrophic pattern
Cited Verdict:
$1,850,000
King County jury (plaintiff-friendly venue), multi-injury (TBI + abdominal + orthopedic + degloving), pure comparative, no caps.
Example 5: Mid-Block Crossing on Aurora Avenue (Hypothetical, Uninsured Driver)
Case Details:
- Pedestrian crossed Aurora Avenue North mid-block at night
- At-fault driver uninsured (1-in-5 likelihood in WA)
- Driver speeding (15 mph over 30 mph limit)
- Femur fracture (surgical) + concussion
- Medical bills: $165,000 (PIP from own policy paid $25K, remainder lien)
- Plaintiff has $100K UIM on own auto policy
Settlement Breakdown:
- PIP first dollar: $25,000
- UIM (uninsured driver): $100,000
- Gross damages estimate: $400,000
- Less 35% comparative fault: -$140,000
- Net recovery: ~$260,000 (UIM cap binds)
Estimated Range:
$100,000 - $260,000
Aurora Avenue venue, uninsured at-fault driver (21.7% WA rate), UIM cap binds the recovery, RCW 46.61.245 due-care still applies despite mid-block crossing, pure comparative under RCW 4.22.005 means case still recovers despite 35% fault.
For broken bone settlement data see our broken bone settlement calculator. For WA auto framework basics see our Washington car accident guide.
Calculate Your Washington Pedestrian Settlement Value
Every Washington pedestrian case is different. Your settlement value depends on the vehicle that struck you (private auto, commercial, public entity), the crosswalk vs mid-block strike location, the RCW 46.61.235 evidence, the Vulnerable Road User Law status, the injury severity, the available liability stack including UM/UIM, and the venue.
WA Pedestrian Framework Analysis
- • RCW 46.61.235 stop-requirement evaluation
- • RCW 46.61.245 due-care obligation
- • 2025 Vulnerable Road User Law criminal record
- • Public-entity 60-day notice (state/local)
- • PIP layers + health insurance + lien stack
- • UM/UIM availability and stacking (21.7% uninsured rate)
Case-Specific Analysis
- • Strike location (crosswalk, mid-block, half-roadway lane)
- • Injury type and severity
- • Treatment type (conservative vs surgical)
- • County jury tendencies (King, Pierce, Snohomish, Spokane)
- • Available insurance layers (PIP, BI, UM/UIM, umbrella)
- • Pure comparative (RCW 4.22.005) + no caps (Sofie)
What Is Your Washington Pedestrian Case Really Worth?
Washington pedestrian claims uniquely combine RCW 46.61.235's STOP requirement (the strongest crosswalk law in the US), the Sofie v. Fibreboard no-caps rule, the 2025 Vulnerable Road User Law, the Made Whole Doctrine, and the preserved Collateral Source Rule. Get a Washington-specific estimate based on real settlement data, reviewed by a licensed personal injury attorney.
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