When is a pedestrian jaywalking?

Does walking at a marked crosswalk require precision from the pedestrian? Seattle’s answer might surprise you… Below is a snippet of the City of Seattle’s Motion for Summary Judgment, arguing that its design of the protected bike lane, transit island, and pedestrian crosswalk (only a few yards north of the main crosswalk) had nothing to…

Read More

Can you spot “reasonably safe roads”?

Reasonably Safe Travels — Part 1 Did you know that our cities, towns, counties, and state owe all travelers reasonably safe roads? Why does this matter? It matters! Read on, if you want to learn this powerful rule that is intended to ensure safer roads in Washington State. When you are injured on the road…

Read More

SDOT needs to make S. Jackson safer for bicyclists

SDOT attempts to show the safest way "through" tracks for people on bikes.

In Seattle, do we need to resign ourselves to bike injuries? We have the right to ask for reasonably safe roads. This is the law. But why do we so rarely get this from our cities, towns, and the state? How many more injuries and catastrophic crashes for people on bikes are needed before SDOT…

Read More

Confidential pedestrian v. driver – $490,000

Picture of Fremont Bridge where Fleming Law pedestrian injury client suffered after car hit

Seattle software developer was walking to his job, when a driver hit him with their car near the Fremont Bridge. He lost weeks of work and time to enjoy with his family for the entire summer and fall of 2019. After the injured pedestrian was taken to the hospital, his family contacted Catherine Fleming to…

Read More

Who needs AOC? WA senator for safer roads and rails

Senator photo

Did you hear about the $13.8 million for Western WA to improve rail infrastructure and to prevent landslides? How about her discussion yesterday at the Spokane National Weather Service about improving fire forecasting tools?  In her mild mannered way, she’s successfully pushed for safer roads, rail and communities. Sure, AOC has a flashier way that grabs people’s attention. Maybe…

Read More

Dangerous crosswalk for pedestrians: Roosevelt protected bike lane

Traffic Fatality Trends 2004-2017 graph

Seattle recently reported its new and improved proactive approach to pedestrian safety (to use FHWA’s language.  Below are excerpts of a 2020 City of Seattle Dept. of Transportation (SDOT) report: …the number of overall traffic-related fatalities continues to trend downward. However, pedestrian and cyclist crashes have remained relatively steady. To meetthe growing demand while improving safety, the City…

Read More