A driver hit you while you were on foot in Spokane, and the insurance company wants your version of events before you have finished treatment. That call feels routine, but how you handle the first days can shape what your claim is worth, especially once an adjuster hints you stepped where you should not have.

While you focus on healing, evidence fades and the three-year filing clock keeps running.

Our pedestrian injury team handles Spokane claims from our Moses Lake and Spokane offices. We deal with the insurer, build the record while it exists, and push back when a company blames the person who got hit. You pay no fee unless we recover for you, and consultations are free.

Why Spokane Pedestrian Clients Choose McPartland Law Offices

When a driver hits you and says you came out of nowhere, you need a firm that will challenge that story. A hit pedestrian is often the most injured person in the crash and the one the insurer blames hardest.

We have practiced injury law in eastern Washington since 2012. Our clients have left more than 350 five-star reviews, and we have recovered more than $75 million for injured people across the region. When an insurer deals fairly, we negotiate, and when it will not, we are prepared to go to court.

Client Testimonials

“I was so nervous, because I had never been involved in a car accident and personal injury case before. From the first day that I came into the office, I was immediately put at ease and was comfortable handing everything over to you. You handled everything, and I could focus on running my business.” — Mary

“When all others wouldn’t take or wanted nothing to do with my case, he took it and stuck with it and saw it through til the end. Bryce also was determined to get me what I deserved. He always was honest and held nothing back. He also kept my husband and I very informed and was very professional. My family and I are thankful for his hard work and determination on my case and believed in my case. I would recommend him to all anybody who needs legal help. Thank you again Bryce.” — Joey

“Without going into specifics, I have been stressed out for almost a month trying to figure out how to handle a legal issue. I contacted Bryce McPartland for a consultation where I expected him to tell me I had no case. Instead, Bryce looked at my documentation and asked me a few questions. Within an hour, Bryce had a letter written which was sent out that day. The next day, I was informed that my issue was resolved. I couldn’t believe it.” — George

What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Spokane

Washington drivers owe people on foot a duty of care, and the law expects them to stop at marked and unmarked crosswalks. That duty does not disappear because an insurer claims you were careless, and what you do early helps prove whether the driver met it.

Get medical attention right away, even if you feel able to walk away, because injuries can hide behind adrenaline and a gap in treatment lets an adjuster argue you were not hurt. A police report puts the officer’s account of the crash on record.

TIP: Use your phone. Take a picture of the car, the street, and your injuries, and get the contact information of every witness before they leave. Memories fade and intersections get repainted, but a photo taken that day keeps its value.

Who Is at Fault When a Driver Hits a Pedestrian in Washington?

Washington follows a pure comparative fault system under RCW 4.22.005. If you are found partially responsible, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you can still recover unless you are 100% at fault. A driver who blames you does not get the last word, because fault is a question of evidence.

Crosswalk rules matter, too. Under RCW 46.61.235, a driver must stop and stay stopped for a pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk, while a pedestrian cannot step off a curb into the path of a car too close to stop.

Being outside a crosswalk does not end your claim, because drivers still owe a duty to watch the road. No fixed multiplier applies to pain and suffering in Washington, whatever an adjuster suggests.

Why Insurers Fight Spokane Pedestrian Claims Harder

Pedestrian claims often draw more dispute than ordinary car accident claims. A person on foot has no airbag, frame, or seatbelt, so injuries tend to be severe, and severe injuries mean larger claims and closer scrutiny.

Fault is also easier to contest when one party was walking. There is rarely a second vehicle to inspect, witnesses can be scarce, and an adjuster may suggest the pedestrian darted out. So we move quickly to lock down the police report, find witnesses while memories are fresh, and meet the insurer’s version with facts.

How to Know If You Have a Spokane Pedestrian Accident Case

A claim generally comes down to four plain ideas: a driver owed you a duty of care, broke that duty, the breach caused your injuries, and you have losses the law can compensate. If those pieces are present, you likely have a case.

Several factors shape what that claim is worth, and a free consultation is the fastest way to see where yours stands.

• The severity and permanence of your injuries
• How clear the fault is and what evidence supports it
• Whether you were in a marked or unmarked crosswalk when hit
• The insurance coverage available, including underinsured motorist coverage if that coverage applies and you purchased it or did not reject it
• How much the injury affects your income and daily life

No two cases carry the same value, and Washington keeps no public database of private settlements to average.

What a Pedestrian Accident Claim Can Recover in Washington

Washington law lets an injured pedestrian recover the real costs the crash created. That starts with medical bills, from the emergency room through any surgery, therapy, or future care. It also covers lost income and earning capacity when the injury keeps you from working as before.

You can also seek compensation for pain and suffering. Washington does not cap non-economic damages in personal injury cases, but the amount depends on the evidence and the facts. Family-based claims may also be available under Washington law, but those depend on the relationship and specific facts.

The numbers rest on proof, not formulas, so two pedestrians with similar bills can recover different amounts.

How to Choose a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Spokane

Start with a firm that knows the local ground. A lawyer familiar with Spokane County roads, intersections, and courts can frame your case in a way an out-of-area firm cannot. Our Spokane office handles these cases across eastern Washington.

Ask whether the firm is willing to try a case, not only settle one. An insurer treats a demand differently when it knows the firm will go to court, which can change a claim’s value before trial.

McPartland Law Offices handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay legal fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Spokane Pedestrian Accidents

How Long Do I Have to File a Pedestrian Accident Claim in Washington?

You generally have three years from the date of the accident, under RCW 4.16.080. Miss that window and a court will usually refuse to hear the case. Limited exceptions can apply for minors or those who were incapacitated.

Can I Still Recover If I Was Not in a Crosswalk?

Yes, often. Washington uses pure comparative fault, so being outside a crosswalk reduces a recovery by your share of fault rather than barring it, unless you are 100% at fault. Where you were hit affects the value of the claim, not your right to bring one.

What Does It Cost to Hire a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?

Nothing upfront. McPartland Law Offices handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay legal fees unless we recover compensation for you. Consultations are free.

What If the Driver Who Hit Me Had Little or No Insurance?

Other coverage may matter. Washington’s minimum liability requirements may leave an injured person with losses that exceed the at-fault driver’s available coverage. In that situation, underinsured motorist coverage, if that coverage applies and you purchased it or did not reject it, may help cover the gap.

Get Help With a Spokane Pedestrian Accident Claim

A pedestrian crash in the Spokane area often leaves you hurt, out of work, and fielding calls from an insurer who wants to talk fault. We answer those calls, build the record, and handle the claim so you can focus on recovering, and the first consultation is free.

Call McPartland Law Offices at 509-495-1247 or fill out our contact form to tell us what happened.