Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog
Earlier this year in April, a Washington, D.C. police officer admitted to hitting and killing a 68-year-old woman on Southern Avenue SE. According to a recent news report, criminal charges of involuntary manslaughter have formally been filed against the officer by the D.C. police department.
Evidently, just before nine at night on April 28th of this year, the 68-year-old woman was coming home from United Medical Center. She was traveling southeast when a tan Mercedes hit her. The Mercedes, driven by a female police officer, failed to stop and see if she needed any medical assistance and instead continued on its way.
Three hours later, the driver of the car called police, explaining that the vehicle had just been stolen. During that conversation with police, they told her that the car had been involved in a very serious accident. She denied any knowledge of the accident.
It was not until the next day that police received a call from the owner of the vehicle, the woman’s brother-in-law, telling them that the woman had been driving the car at the time of the accident. Later, she too told police the truth.
According to court documents, she was traveling between 50 and 55 miles per hour in a 30-mile-per-hour zone. She was evidently on her way home, where she was a security guard for the apartment complex where she lived.
Hit-and-Run Liability
Traffic accidents are upsetting enough as it is, even when the responsible driver remains on the scene and does everything they are supposed to do. However, a surprising number of hit-and-run accidents occur each year in Maryland.
Drivers in Maryland are required to stop after an accident and check on the other drivers and passengers involved. Additionally, they are required to provide certain identifying and insurance information when requested by the other people involved. If a driver causes an accident and then flees the scene, they may be charged not only for causing the underlying accident but also for leaving the scene of the accident.
In civil cases brought by those injured in hit-and-run accidents, the fact that the responsible party left the scene of the accident can be telling evidence of that driver’s callousness and indifference to human life. Often, this type of evidence is very helpful for accident victims seeking financial compensation for the injuries they have sustained in an accident.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Hit-and-Run Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a Maryland hit-and-run accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation based on the other driver’s negligence in leaving the scene as well as for causing the accident in the first place. Of course, it is not always as simple as it initially seems, since insurance companies are involved, and they may try to offer a low-ball settlement in hopes of a quick resolution. Don’t be afraid to tell the insurance company no. Call 410-654-3600 to set up a free consultation with a dedicated attorney who is familiar with the rights of Maryland accident victims.
More Blog Posts:
Maryland Appellate Court Defines Limitations on Injury Victims’ Insurance Coverage, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, May 1, 2015
Blue Bell Creamery Recalls All Products over Listeria Concerns, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, April 28, 2015