You were on foot, doing nothing wrong, and a driver hit you. Now there are doctor visits, missed shifts, and an adjuster asking questions. An Everett pedestrian accident lawyer can take that weight off you. Rich Martin has spent 28 years on injury cases, including a jury trial that ended in a $1.05 million award for a pedestrian’s brain injury.
Everett: local facts
- County
- Snohomish County
- Court
- Snohomish County Superior Court, 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Everett
- Major roads
- I-5, US 2 (Hewitt Avenue Trestle), SR 526, Evergreen Way, Broadway
- Hospitals
- Providence Regional Medical Center Everett (Level II trauma center)
- Population
- 114,900 (Washington OFM estimate, April 1, 2026)
- Our office
- Our Bellevue office is about 29 miles away (about 39 minutes without traffic).
Struck by a car in Everett? Start here
People hit while walking are often blamed for it. The driver says you stepped out suddenly, or wore dark clothes, or weren’t in the crosswalk. Our job is to test that story against the facts.
- Cameras. Buses, shops, and doorbells often record the moment. We ask for that video quickly.
- People who saw it. We track down and talk to witnesses.
- Your bills. We sort out which insurance pays, and in what order.
- Our fee. Nothing unless we win, and that includes case costs.
Walking in Everett
Fatal crashes involving pedestrians on Everett streets
Nearly half of Everett’s fatal crashes from 2019 to 2023 involved people walking, rolling, or biking, according to the city. Across Snohomish County, 17 people walking or rolling died in 2022, 11 in 2023, and 13 in 2024 (Washington Traffic Safety Commission; 2024 is preliminary).
The city’s plan points to major, higher-speed roads like Broadway, Evergreen Way, and SE Everett Mall Way, where most of the serious crashes happened.
What Washington law expects from drivers
At any crosswalk, painted or not, a driver has to stop and stay stopped when you’re in the driver’s half of the road or one lane away (RCW 46.61.235). Outside a crosswalk, you’re expected to give cars the right of way (RCW 46.61.240). Even then, the law still requires every driver to take care not to hit someone on foot (RCW 46.61.245).
If you share some of the blame, your recovery shrinks by that share. It doesn’t disappear (RCW 4.22.005). See jaywalking rules in Washington.
Paying for your care
Here’s something many people don’t know: auto insurance often covers a person who was walking. The PIP part of a car policy pays for a pedestrian struck by that insured car, and your own household’s car policy may cover you too (RCW 48.22.005). PIP doesn’t wait to see who was at fault.
| Source | When it helps |
|---|---|
| PIP (auto policy) | Early, for medical bills and some lost wages |
| Health insurance | For treatment PIP doesn’t reach |
| Driver’s liability policy | At the end, when the claim settles |
| Your UIM | When the driver has little or no coverage, or can’t be found (RCW 48.22.030) |
If the driver took off, call police within 72 hours. Your UIM claim also needs proof beyond your own account, such as a bystander or footage (RCW 48.22.030, subsection 8).
Bus riders and transit stops
Two bus systems serve Everett. Community Transit’s Swift Blue Line runs between Everett Station and Shoreline, and the Swift Green Line runs between the Seaway Transit Center near Boeing-Everett and Canyon Park in Bothell (Community Transit). Everett Transit is a department of the City of Everett. Light rail isn’t here yet: Sound Transit expects the Everett Link extension to open between 2037 and 2041 (Sound Transit).
Claims against government follow special rules. A claim against the City of Everett must be signed by hand and filed with the City Clerk by mail or in person. The city doesn’t accept electronic signatures. Snohomish County claims go to its Risk Management office, and Community Transit takes claim forms by email or mail. After filing, state law requires a 60-day wait before a lawsuit (RCW 4.96.020).
Injuries after being hit on foot
The bumper usually strikes the legs first, then the body hits the hood or the pavement. That’s why knee, leg, and hip fractures are common, often along with head and shoulder injuries. Brain injuries can be hard to spot at first. Read about brain injury claims.
The emotional side counts too. Some people can’t cross a street without panic afterward. One of our pedestrian clients with PTSD settled for $600,000.
Serious injuries in Everett are often treated at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, a Level II trauma center for adults and Level III for children, according to the state Department of Health.
Your first few days
- Get examined, even if you walked away.
- Write down the plate, or ask someone nearby to.
- Photograph the spot where you were hit, the signal, and the lighting.
- Note any cameras on nearby buildings.
- Save your clothes and shoes without washing them.
- Send insurer calls to us.
More reading: steps after a pedestrian accident and why pedestrian crashes happen.
Case value
We can’t name a number before we see your records. What drives it is the injury, how long recovery takes, the work you miss, and how much insurance stands behind the driver.
For context, our pedestrian results include a $9 million mediated settlement after a semi-truck struck a pedestrian, the $1.05 million brain injury verdict, and a $750,000 policy-limits settlement for broken bones. No result is promised, since each case differs. See our case results.
Court and deadlines
Few injury claims ever reach a courtroom. When one does, Washington lets the injured person sue in the county where the harm happened (RCW 4.12.020). For Everett, that’s Snohomish County Superior Court at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue in downtown Everett. You won’t need to travel to Seattle for hearings.
You generally have three years from the injury to file suit (RCW 4.16.080). Claims against a city, county, or transit agency come with an earlier claim-form step.
Working with us from Everett
We don’t have an office in Everett. Our Bellevue office, at 11811 NE 1st Street, Suite 303, is about 29 miles away. Many Everett clients never need to make the drive. We can handle most of your case by phone, email, and mail, and meet in person when it helps.
Call an Everett pedestrian accident lawyer
Reach us at (425) 635-2000 or through our contact form. If you’re still recovering, a relative can make the call. In King County? Visit our Seattle pedestrian page.
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 Everett 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.
Will my own car insurance help even though I was walking?
It may. PIP on your household's auto policy can cover you as a pedestrian, and so can PIP on the car that hit you.
I crossed in the middle of the block. Is my claim over?
Not necessarily. You had to yield, but the driver still had a duty of care (RCW 46.61.245). Any fault on your part reduces, not erases, your recovery.
The car never stopped. What should I do?
Report it to police within 72 hours and look for a witness or video. That keeps a UIM claim possible.
Is my case heard in Seattle?
No. If it goes to court, it's usually filed in Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett.
Do I need to visit your office?
No. Most of the work can happen by phone and email. Our Bellevue office is about 29 miles away if you want to meet.
Talk to a lawyer today. The call is free. Call (425) 635-2000.
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