Senior Managing Partner
On August 13, a King County Superior Court jury entered a $3.2 Million gross verdict in a car versus pedestrian collision that occurred in Redmond, Washington two years ago. Sudipto Rakshit, a Microsoft employee was exiting a driveway on NE 24th street when he failed to see a pedestrian approaching from his right. The young woman was a remote Microsoft worker from New York who was in town for meetings at the company.
Rakshit struck the woman who fell to the ground and became lodged under his vehicle. He didn’t know he had hit her. And drove 413 feet down the road until an eyewitness was able to catch up and wave him down.
A group of good Samaritans lifted the vehicle enough for the plaintiff to crawl out. She was taken to Overlake hospital with road rash to her lower limits, a burn to her back side, and several fractures which resolved on their own.
The pedestrian was found to be 18% comparatively at fault. But the driver’s claim that the property owner was negligent for not maintaining its bushes was rejected.
This case is a reminder that vehicle drivers need to look both left and right when entering from a driveway onto a roadway. And that the consequences are grim when a 13,000 pound vehicle comes into contact with a 120 pound human.
Karen Koehler of Stritmatter Law was the trial attorney. Assisted by Jonjon Rankin second chair. Kristin Michaud and Jamie Kessler paralegals.