Downtown Bellevue keeps growing. New towers, new light rail stations, and lots of people walking to work, to shops, and to the bus. When a driver isn’t paying attention, the person walking pays the price. As a Bellevue pedestrian accident lawyer, Rich Martin took a pedestrian’s brain injury case to a jury and won $1.05 million. Our office is right here in Bellevue.
Bellevue: local facts
- County
- King County
- Court
- King County Superior Court, King County Courthouse, 516 Third Avenue, Seattle (crashes in the Seattle case area)
- Major roads
- I-405, I-90, SR 520, Bellevue Way NE, NE 8th Street
- Hospitals
- Overlake Medical Center (Level III trauma center)
- Population
- 158,300 (Washington OFM estimate, April 1, 2026)
- Our office
- Our Bellevue office is in town, at 11811 NE 1st Street.
Hit by a car while walking in Bellevue?
You might be facing a long recovery, time away from work, and a driver’s insurer who says you stepped out without looking. That’s their opening move. Let us answer it.
Our job is the proof, the insurers, and the full tally of your losses. Yours is healing.
Walking in Bellevue is getting riskier
Bellevue’s own reports show the problem. In 2024, deaths and serious injuries among people walking and rolling were 9.8% above the city’s ten-year average, according to the city’s 2024 Vision Zero report. For people in cars, the rise was 1.5%.
Change vs. Bellevue’s ten-year average (2024)
Statewide, 148 pedestrians died in 2025 (preliminary), according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
Where Bellevue pedestrians get hurt
- Downtown crosswalks, especially where drivers turn across people walking.
- The downtown loop of Main Street, NE 1st and 2nd Streets, and 108th Avenue NE, part of the city’s High Injury Network.
- Wide, fast streets like 156th Avenue NE and BelRed Road.
- Light rail and bus stops. Sound Transit’s 2 Line opened in Bellevue in April 2024, bringing more people on foot to stations.
- Shopping center parking lots and garages, where drivers back up and turn without looking.
How these crashes happen
- Turning drivers who watch for cars and miss someone in the crosswalk.
- Drivers backing up in lots and garages.
- Speed. A faster car has less time to stop and hits harder.
- Phones and distraction.
- Dark, rainy evenings when people on foot are harder to see.
Each of these is a driver’s choice. Camera footage, the officer’s report, and people who saw it can show what a careful driver would have done instead.
Your rights on foot in Washington
| What the law says | In plain words | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Crosswalk stops | A driver has to halt and wait while you cross their half of the street, or the lane next to it | RCW 46.61.235 |
| Unmarked crosswalks count | At most corners, a crosswalk exists even without paint | RCW 46.04.160 |
| Crossing mid-block | You must yield to cars, and between two signals you must use a marked crosswalk | RCW 46.61.240 |
| Shared blame | A mistake on your part lowers the award by your share. The driver can still carry most of the fault | RCW 4.22.005 |
Crossed against the light or mid-block? You may still have a case. Every driver has a duty to look out for people on foot.
Who pays your medical bills
You weren’t in a car, but car insurance can still help. Washington’s PIP law covers people on foot who are struck by a vehicle (RCW 48.22.005), whether through your own policy or the one on the car that hit you. Fault doesn’t matter for PIP, so it can pay early bills quickly.
- PIP covers the first medical bills.
- Health insurance picks up what PIP doesn’t.
- The at-fault driver’s insurer pays for the whole loss at the end.
- UIM on your own policy covers the gap if the driver was underinsured or fled (RCW 48.22.030).
Common pedestrian injuries
- Concussions and other brain injuries. See traumatic brain injuries in Bellevue.
- Broken legs, hips, and pelvis.
- Back and spinal cord damage. Read about spinal cord injury compensation.
- Fear of walking again. That harm is real and counts in your claim.
Serious injuries in Bellevue are often treated first at Overlake Medical Center, a Level III trauma center. Some patients are moved to Harborview in Seattle.
What to do after you’re hit
- Dial 911. You need care, and the officers will write a report.
- Write down the driver’s details: name, license plate, insurance company.
- Take pictures of the crossing, the walk signal, the vehicle, and where you were hurt.
- Ask who saw it. People waiting for a bus or working in nearby shops make good witnesses.
- Set aside your shoes and clothes without washing them.
- Call us before talking to the driver’s insurer.
More help: what to do after a pedestrian accident in Bellevue and jaywalking rules.
Hit-and-run and city claims
If the driver left, call police right away and look for cameras. Your own UIM coverage may pay when the driver isn’t found.
Hurt because of a city street, sidewalk, park, or vehicle? A claim against the City of Bellevue starts with a claim filed with the City Clerk, usually online through the city’s damage claim page. State law then requires a 60-day wait before you can sue (RCW 4.96.020).
Children and older adults
Young children and older adults tend to suffer the worst injuries. State law sets double penalties for crosswalk violations in school and playground speed zones (RCW 46.61.235). If the injured person is a child, a parent handles the claim, and a judge usually reviews any settlement for a minor. We walk families through that process.
What your Bellevue pedestrian case may be worth
Because injuries to people on foot tend to be severe, these claims can be worth a great deal. Three things drive the number: how you were hurt, how strong the evidence is, and how much coverage exists.
- $9.0 million: a pedestrian struck by a semi-truck, settled in mediation.
- $1.05 million: a jury’s verdict for a walker who suffered a brain injury.
- $600,000 settlement in mediation for a pedestrian left with PTSD.
Past results don’t guarantee future results. See all results and pedestrian injuries in Bellevue.
Where your case would be filed
Most cases settle without a lawsuit. If yours goes to court, an injury that happened in Bellevue is assigned to King County Superior Court’s Seattle case area, so it’s heard in Seattle (King County LCR 82).
Most claims must be filed within three years of the crash (RCW 4.16.080).
More walkers near light rail
Sound Transit’s 2 Line brought new stations to Bellevue, and with them, more people walking to and from trains and buses. Station areas mix pedestrians, buses, drop-offs, and turning cars. When a driver rushes through, people on foot get hurt.
Getting back on your feet
Healing after being hit on foot is slow. Surgery is common, followed by weeks or months of rehab to regain a normal walk. Some people need a hand at home for a while. All of that belongs in the claim, so we wait until your doctors can describe your recovery before we put a number on it.
The experts we may use
- A reconstruction specialist who can rebuild the driver’s speed and line of sight.
- A lighting and visibility expert when the crash happened after dark or in rain.
- Your medical team, who can describe the care you’ll need down the road.
Expert fees aren’t your burden up front. We carry those costs, and if the case doesn’t succeed, you don’t repay them.
Visit our Bellevue office
Our office is in the Eastridge Corporate Center at 11811 NE 1st Street, Suite 303, Bellevue, WA 98005, near I-405 and Main Street. Call ahead and we’ll set a time to meet. If you can’t come in, we can talk by phone.
Why people choose Rich Martin
- Pedestrian trial results, including a $1.05 million jury verdict.
- Local. A Bellevue office near downtown.
- Personal. Rich handles your case himself.
- No Win, No Fee. Lose, and you owe neither a fee nor costs.
Meet Rich Martin or see our Seattle pedestrian accident lawyer page.
Speak with a Bellevue pedestrian accident lawyer
Tell us what happened. The conversation costs nothing. Phone (425) 635-2000 or write to us.
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 Bellevue 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.
When a car hits someone walking in Bellevue, who's to blame?
Usually the driver. State law requires drivers to stop at crosswalks and stay alert for people on foot. The facts decide it, though, and blame can be split.
I wasn't in a crosswalk. Can I still recover?
Often, yes. Washington's comparative fault rule lowers your payment by your share of blame, but doesn't end your claim (RCW 4.22.005).
Will my auto policy help if I was on foot?
Quite possibly. PIP follows you when a vehicle strikes you while walking. Send us the policy pages and we'll look.
What if a city vehicle or a broken sidewalk was involved?
A claim against the City of Bellevue starts with a claim filed with the City Clerk, then a 60-day wait before suing (RCW 4.96.020).
Where would my case be filed?
If it goes to court, in King County Superior Court in Seattle. Most cases settle first.
What's the filing deadline?
In most cases, three years from the date you were hit (RCW 4.16.080).
The driver's insurer wants a statement. Should I give one?
Talk to us first. Recorded statements and signed forms tend to help the insurer, not you.
Do I have to go to your office?
No. Many clients start with a phone call. If you'd like to meet, our office is at 11811 NE 1st Street in Bellevue. Call ahead to set a time.
What if I was hurt while working?
You may have an L&I claim and a separate claim against whoever caused the injury (RCW 51.24.030). The two affect each other, so tell us early.
I was hit in a garage or parking lot. Do I have a case?
Possibly. Drivers in lots have to look out for people on foot. Bad lighting or a confusing layout can also put some responsibility on the owner.
Talk to a lawyer today. The call is free. Call (425) 635-2000.
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