Pedestrians don’t always feel safe when they travel Spokane streets, and there are actions the city should take to better protect people on foot.
The Spokane Regional Health District puts out safety warnings for local pedestrians. They found that over a three year period, 3% of pedestrian collisions in Spokane County were fatal, another 13% resulted in serious or disabling injuries. The most hazardous area for pedestrians wasn’t hard to pinpoint and is probably not surprising. There is a concentration of accidents between I-90 and Main Avenue, including the busiest sections of downtown.
Unfortunately, every safety measure to protect pedestrians can fail when drivers choose to drive drunk. They put their lives and every other life on the road in jeopardy.
Pedestrian Struck and Killed by DUI Driver in Spokane
A pedestrian was tragically killed in downtown Spokane Wednesday night. KHQ-TV reports the accident happened on West 3rd Avenue and South Howard Street on December 9, 2020.
Spokane police believe that a 50-year-old man was driving under the influence of an intoxicant when he hit a pedestrian. Medical support was provided, but the victim was declared dead at the scene.
The 50-year-old suspect was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide.
Support for Spokane Families after a Pedestrian Accident
Tragic pedestrian accidents will leave families behind to question why they had to lose a loved one in such a senseless act. A collision involving a DUI suspect will be heartbreaking and infuriating at the same time. Drivers can make the choice to get behind the wheel when they have no business starting a car.
Families can question how they’ll get justice for this crime and avoid shouldering the high financial consequences of the criminal act. The costs of emergency response, hospital bills, and funeral expenses can target close relatives in the days and weeks after an accident.
Families can rely on a wrongful death lawsuit to make sure they don’t get stuck with the bills an at-fault driver caused. A wrongful death claim can provide for the family’s financial burden by targeting the driver’s insurance company. A claim can earn compensation for the financial support victims would have provided the family through their jobs had they survived. A claim can also factor in the emotional support a spouse or children would have expected from the victim in the years to come.
A close family member or an attorney working on behalf of the family can file this claim. In Washington, families have up to three years from the date the victim passed on to file a wrongful death claim. It’s important to try to proceed with a claim as soon as possible while evidence and witnesses are easier to locate. An attorney can guide families through this process and make sure they get everything they’ll need financially to protect them as they grieve.
Contact a Spokane Wrongful Death Attorney
After a tragic accident caused by a drunk driver, make sure your family’s rights are protected.
Established in Spokane in 1948, Crary, Clark, Domanico, & Chuang, P.S. is committed to providing families with the absolute highest quality legal representation. If our Spokane Wrongful Death Lawyers represent you for your accident case, you have our assurance that we will use our absolute best efforts to win your case. Contact us after any accident that claims the life of a loved one for a free, confidential consultation and case evaluation. We will only offer you advice that is in the best interest of your family.
