People on foot have no bumper, no airbag, and no seat belt. A car moving at city speed can change a life in a second. If that happened to you or someone you love, Rich Martin can help. He’s a Tacoma pedestrian accident lawyer whose results include a $1.05 million jury award for a pedestrian left with a brain injury. Our Tacoma office is close by, and the first call is free.
Tacoma: local facts
- County
- Pierce County
- Court
- Pierce County Superior Court, County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Avenue South, Tacoma
- Major roads
- I-5, SR 16, SR 509, Pacific Avenue, South 38th Street
- Hospitals
- Tacoma General Hospital and St. Joseph Medical Center
- Population
- 231,000 (Washington OFM estimate, April 1, 2026)
- Our office
- Our Tacoma office is about 8 miles away (about 13 minutes without traffic).
Hit by a car while walking in Tacoma?
You may be facing surgery, weeks off work, and bills that keep coming. Meanwhile, the driver’s insurer may already be building a story that you stepped out without looking. We make sure your side is told, with evidence.
- We get the video from buses, businesses, and doorbell cameras before it’s erased.
- We find the witnesses who saw the driver turn, speed, or look away.
- We line up payment for your care through every policy that applies.
- No Win, No Fee. You owe no fee and no case costs unless we win.
Walking in Pierce County has gotten more dangerous
People killed while walking or rolling in Pierce County
In its latest yearly report, the state’s traffic safety agency noted that half of all walker and roller deaths in Washington happened in just two counties: King and Pierce. In Pierce County, the yearly count almost doubled in two years.
The Tacoma streets where people on foot get hurt
Tacoma’s Vision Zero report found that about 40% of the crashes that killed or seriously injured a pedestrian from 2019 to 2023 happened on just three streets:
- Pacific Avenue, which also has the most serious crashes of any kind in the city.
- South Tacoma Way.
- Portland Avenue.
These are busy main streets. The city is studying safety fixes on these and other corridors through its Vision Zero program. Your own case is built on the evidence from your crash, like video, witnesses, and the police report.
Bus stops, the T Line, and Hilltop
Many pedestrian crashes happen on the way to or from transit. Sound Transit’s T Line extension added 2.4 miles and seven stations along Martin Luther King Jr. Way through Hilltop in 2023 (Sound Transit). More riders means more people crossing busy streets to reach a stop.
If a Pierce Transit bus hit you, the claim starts with Pierce Transit. State law then requires a 60-day wait before a lawsuit (RCW 4.96.020).
Your rights on foot in Washington
| Situation | The rule | Law |
|---|---|---|
| In a marked or unmarked crosswalk | Drivers must stop for you when you’re in their half of the road or within one lane of it | RCW 46.61.235 |
| Crossing between intersections | You must yield to cars | RCW 46.61.240 |
| Any time you’re on foot | Every driver must use due care to avoid hitting a pedestrian | RCW 46.61.245 |
| Part of the blame is yours | You can still recover, reduced by your share | RCW 4.22.005 |
Crossing mid-block doesn’t automatically end a claim. Read Washington jaywalking rules.
Who pays your medical bills
Even though you were walking, car insurance usually pays first. Washington’s PIP law covers a person struck by an insured car, and it also covers you and your household under your own policy (RCW 48.22.005). PIP pays early, no matter who was at fault.
- PIP from your own policy or the car that hit you.
- Your health insurance for care PIP doesn’t cover.
- The driver’s liability insurance when the case settles.
- Your UIM coverage if the driver had too little insurance or fled (RCW 48.22.030).
Hit-and-run crashes
Some drivers don’t stop. If that happens, report it to police within 72 hours. Your UIM coverage may still pay, but the law requires a police report within that time and proof beyond your own word, like a witness or video (RCW 48.22.030).
Hit by a driver who didn’t stop? Call police within 72 hours, even if you’re still in the hospital. Ask a family member to help.
Common pedestrian injuries
- Head injuries. Read about brain injury claims.
- Broken legs, hips, and pelvis from the bumper and the fall.
- Shoulder and arm injuries from hitting the hood or the ground.
- Back and neck injuries.
- Fear of walking near traffic. We had a $600,000 settlement for a pedestrian left with PTSD.
Tacoma has two adult Level II trauma centers, Tacoma General Hospital and St. Joseph Medical Center, plus Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital for kids, according to the state Department of Health.
What to do after you’re hit
- Call 911 and get checked, even if you can walk.
- Write down the plate number and the driver’s insurance, or ask someone to do it for you.
- Take pictures of where you were hit, the walk signal, and the street lights.
- Note any cameras on nearby buildings or buses.
- Keep your shoes and clothes. They can show the impact.
- Call us before you talk to the driver’s insurer.
Hurt on foot while working
Some people are hit while doing their job: delivery drivers stepping out of a van, flaggers in a work zone, or workers crossing a lot between buildings. If that’s you, you may have an L&I claim through work and a separate claim against the driver who hit you (RCW 51.24.030). The second claim can cover pain and losses L&I doesn’t. Because the two claims affect each other, tell us about both from the start.
Commercial vehicles bring their own rules and insurers. Read about commercial vehicle crashes involving pedestrians.
Children and older adults
Kids are small and hard to see, and they don’t judge speed well. Older adults may need more time to cross and heal more slowly. In both cases, Washington law still expects drivers to watch out for them. A claim for a child also has to account for growth and years of future care.
What your Tacoma pedestrian case may be worth
No two cases are alike. We look at the medical care you’ve had and will need, the pay you’ve lost, how the injury changes daily life, and how much insurance the driver carries.
- $9 million mediated settlement for a pedestrian hit by a semi-truck.
- $1.05 million from a jury for a pedestrian’s brain injury.
- $750,000 policy-limits settlement for a pedestrian with broken bones.
Past results don’t guarantee future results. See all results.
Where your case would be filed
Most cases settle without a lawsuit. If yours doesn’t, a case from an injury in Tacoma can be filed in Pierce County, where it happened (RCW 4.12.020). Pierce County Superior Court is in the County-City Building at 930 Tacoma Avenue South, in downtown Tacoma.
Most lawsuits must be filed within three years (RCW 4.16.080). Claims against the city, county, or Pierce Transit need a claim form first.
Visit our Tacoma office
Our Tacoma office is at 10116 36th Ave Ct SW, #206, Tacoma, WA 98499. The office line is (425) 449-1005. Call ahead and we’ll set a time to meet. If it’s hard for you to get out, we can start by phone.
Why people choose Rich Martin
- Strong pedestrian results, including a $9 million settlement and a $1.05 million verdict.
- A Tacoma office for families across the South Sound.
- Rich handles your case himself.
- No upfront cost. Ever.
Read what to do after a pedestrian accident and the main causes of pedestrian crashes. You can also learn about Rich or visit our Seattle pedestrian page.
Talk to a Tacoma pedestrian accident lawyer today
Call (425) 635-2000 or send us a message. If you’re still in the hospital, a family member can call for you.
Pedestrian Accidents: results for our clients
Past results don't guarantee future results. Every case is different. See all results →
Your attorney: Rich Martin
28 years. More than 2,000 injury cases. More than 30 jury trials. When you call, you talk to Rich, and he handles your case himself.
About Rich Martin →Questions about Tacoma pedestrian accidents
What does No Win, No Fee mean?
You pay nothing up front. Our fee comes out of the money we win for you. No hourly bills. No retainer. If we don't win, you owe us nothing. Not even the case costs.
Does car insurance cover me if I was walking?
Often, yes. PIP can cover a pedestrian hit by an insured car, and your own car policy may cover you too, even on foot.
I was crossing outside a crosswalk. Can I still recover?
Possibly. You had to yield, but drivers must still use due care to avoid hitting a pedestrian (RCW 46.61.245). Your recovery goes down by any share of fault (RCW 4.22.005).
A Pierce Transit bus hit me. What do I do?
File a claim with Pierce Transit first. State law requires a 60-day wait before a lawsuit (RCW 4.96.020).
The driver didn't stop. What now?
Report it to police within 72 hours. Your UIM coverage may pay if you have a report and other proof, like a witness or video.
Where would my case be filed?
If it goes to court, usually in Pierce County Superior Court in downtown Tacoma.
Can a family member call for me?
Yes. If you're in the hospital or can't get out, a family member can call and we can talk by phone.
Can I meet you in Tacoma?
Yes. Our Tacoma office is at 10116 36th Ave Ct SW, #206, Tacoma, WA 98499. Call (425) 449-1005 to set a time.
Talk to a lawyer today. The call is free. Call (425) 635-2000.
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