Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog

Every year, thousands of people are hurt in slip and fall accidents. While this type of injury accident sounds simple and harmless enough—how dangerous can a simple slip accident while standing be? Our DC premises liability lawyers have seen enough slip and fall injuries to tell you that they can often be painful, debilitating, and costly.

A simple slip on liquid on the ground or a rough patch of ice or any other slippery item on a flat surface or staircase can lead to broken bones, displaced hips, back injuries, and in some cases, traumatic brain injury resulting in death. Whether or not you have grounds for a Washington DC slip and fall case will depend on where the accident happened, who owns the property where the accident occured, and whether there is a premise owner or another party who was responsible for making sure that this type of injury accident didn't happen.

Usually, the property owner or someone must have cause the spill or other slip hazard, knew that there was a dangerous area but did nothing to remedy or repair it, or didn’t know about it but should have known about the slip danger because that is what a “reasonable” person taking care of the property would have done. Of course, each Washington DC slip and fall case is unique and the specifics of each accident, as well as how much evidence can be gathered, play a role in determining liability. Your case may even require the help of an experienced expert that knows how to prove exactly how your slip and fall accident happened.

Recovery from a slip and fall accident can take months, and for some people, permanent injury can result. An elderly person who shatters his/her hip may no longer be able to walk without the use of a cane or wheelchair. A teenager who strikes his/head against the pavement may die from a permanent brain injury. The sooner you have someone working on your case, the better your chances of obtaining the best outcome possible.

Related Web Resources:
Slip and Fall, Nolo

Slip and Fall, Justia

More Blog Posts:
Washington DC Slip and Fall Accidents Can Cause Hip Injuries, Broken Bones, a Strained Back, and Other Painful Injuries, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, February 23, 2010

Woman Claims Maryland Fall Accident Left Her with a Russian Accent, Maryland Accident Law Blog, June 3, 2010

Former Supreme Court Nominee Robert Bork Settles Slip and Fall Accident Lawsuit With Yale Club, Maryland Accident Law Blog, May 13, 2008

Continue reading "Washington DC Slip and Fall: An Injury Accident that May Be Grounds for a Lawsuit" »

A woman was killed late Wednesday night when she fell from the rooftop patio of the W Hotel in Washington DC fall accident. According to witnesses, the victim, who had been drinking, climbed over the patio fence and dangled on an overhang before falling 10 stories.

The woman, who has been identified as 47-year-old Stephanie Huebner, landed on the sidewalk. She was pronounced dead at the DC injury site.

Authorities are claiming that Huber’s death was a suicide. However, the DC medical examiner’s office has still not ruled on her cause of death.

Obviously, at this time, the specifics of what happened are not known. Was Huebner’s death an accident or a suicide? Could the hotel have done anything to prevent the fatal from happening? Was the patio designed so that no one could easily fall or jump from there? Was Huebner really inebriated when she fell? Was she obviously under the influence, and if so, did hotel staff serve her liquor even though she appeared drunk? Was Huebner at fault in causing her death? Should someone be liable for her Washington DC fall accident?

Hotel Accidents
Hotels know that accidents can occur on their premises and it is important they make sure that the make sure that the appropriate safety measures in place to prevent such incidents from occurring. Examples of Washington DC hotel accidents that can result in injuries or wrongful death:

• Fires
• Sexual assault
• Pool or spa drownings
• Swimming accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Fall accidents from balconies, patios, roofs, or staircases
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Physical assault
• Food poisoning
• Step and fall accidents
• Trip and fall accidents

Woman falls to her death from rooftop of the W Hotel, Washington Post, June 28, 2011

Stephanie Huebner dies after fall from W Hotel roof, WJLA, June 29, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Proving Fault in Accidents on Dangerous or Defective Property, Nolo

W Hotels

More Blog Posts:
Washington DC Escalator Accident Injures 52-Year-Old Metro Rider, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, April 28, 2011

Maryland Fall Accident?: Police Probe Death of Man Discovered in Trash Chute, Maryland Accident Law Blog, August 16, 2010

Woman Sues Ocean City, Maryland Hotel Over Carbon Monoxide Deaths of Her Husband and Daughter, Maryland Accident Law Blog, February 21, 2008

Continue reading "Woman Dies in Washington DC Fall from W Hotel Rooftop" »

According to the Washington Post, two men were rushed to the hospital after they were exposed to what appears to have been carbon monoxide while working in an apartment complex parking garage. Officials say that at the time of the accident, they had been operating pressure washers in an unvented area of the underground garage. High CO levels were also detected in other areas of the building.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Exposure to excessive levels of CO poisoning can be deadly. This is why premise owners and managers may make sure that patrons, guests, residents, visitors, clients, or employees are not exposed to this colorless and odorless gas. If you or someone you love was injured from exposure to carbon monoxide poisoning, you should contact our DC personal injury lawyers today.

If your CO poisoning accident occurred on the job, not only may you be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, but you may also have a Washington DC injury case against other parties, such as the owner of the property where the carbon monoxide incident occurred, a negligent service professional, a builder, the manufacturer of a defective CO detector or a device that emitted the deadly gas, or others.

Victims of CO poisoning may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost income, emotional trauma, disability, quality of life loss, and other damages. Families who have lost someone as a result of exposure to carbon monoxide poisoning may be entitled to compensation for funeral costs, medical bills, income and benefit losses, companionship loss, and other damages.

2 workers in DC taken to hospital after they were found unconscious in carbon monoxide case, The Washington Post, June 20, 2011

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, CDC

More Blog Posts:
No CO Detector in Rowhouse Where Fatal Baltimore Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Occurred, Maryland Accident Law Blog, December 29, 2010

Baltimore County Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Incident Kills 2 People and Sickens At Least 10 Others, Maryland Accident Law Blog, December 14, 2010

Woman Sues Ocean City, Maryland Hotel Over Carbon Monoxide Deaths of Her Husband and Daughter, Maryland Accident Law Blog, February 21, 2008

Just two days before the Memorial Day holiday weekend, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled approximately 1 million pool and hot tub drain covers because they could pose drowning and entrapment hazard to children and adults. Hundreds of thousands of pools and hot tubs, both private and public, may be affected. CPSC chairwoman Inez Tenenbaum is asking for public pools that have been using the recalled drain covers to temporarily shut down operation until the drain cover can be inspected, repaired, and/or replaced. However, she did also say that not all of the recalled drain covers will need to be changed or fixed.

The recall was announced because the CPSC found that many of the drain covers, which were supposed to meet the safety regulations that were implemented in 2008, were certified by labs that applied faulty standards. As a result, some of the drains have inaccurate flow ratings.

Our DC injury lawyers are familiar with the serious injuries that can result from pool drain covers that don’t meet the safety standards mandated by 2008 law. The vacuum effect of some drains can be so powerful that without the proper covering, a swimmer can get suctioned to a drain and drown. In 2007, one 6-year-old girl’s intestines were partially sucked out by a swimming pool drain. She had to have transplants of the small bowel, liver, and pancreas, and she eventually died.

The pool and hot tub drains included in the recall were made by a number of companies: A & A Manufacturing, Color Match, AquaStar Pool Products, Hayward Pool Products, Custom Molded Products, Rising Dragon USA, Pentair Water Pool and Spa.

Drain cover recall could close thousands of pools, USA Today, May 26, 2011

Drowning Risk Prompts Biggest Ever Recall Of Backyard Pool Drain Covers, ABC News, May 26, 2011

Eight Manufacturers Recall Pool and In-Ground Spa Drain Covers Due to Incorrect Ratings, CPSC, May 26, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Pool Safety

Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act

More Blog Posts:
CPSC Offers Tips to Prevent Washington DC Pool Drowning Accidents, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, May 4, 2011

Pool Drain Sucks Small Intestine From Six-Year-Old Girl; Maryland Residents Push For Tougher Pool Safety Laws, Maryland Accident Law Blog, July 9, 2007

Continue reading "CPSC Recalls 1M Pool and Hot Tub Drain Covers Because They Pose Drowning and Entrapment Risks" »

With the swimming season fast approaching, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission is reminding parents and guardians to exercise caution so that tragic drowning accidents are avoided. Already, the CPSC says there have been 38 near-drowning and 37 drowning incidents in the US this year. The government agency, along with the Y and American Red Cross, are launching a Pool Safety campaign this year to reduce the amount of child drowning accidents in spas and swimming pools.

Considering that about 300 kids under the age of 5 drown annually and thousands of others are injured in near drowning accidents, employing the proper safety precautions will hopefully save lives. To help prevent Washington DC drowning accidents:
• Makes sure that there is a fence around the pool so that kids can’t get in when there isn’t an adult around
• Don’t allow children to swim unsupervised
• Make sure there is someone at the pool that knows how to perform CPR in the event of an emergency

A pool or spa owner can be held liable for Washington DC personal injury to a child if he/she did not make sure that the pool or hot tub is safe for swimmers. For example, if someone drowns at a public pool that should have (but didn’t) have a lifeguard on duty or because the wasn’t properly cleared of leaves and other debris so that it would be easy to spot someone in trouble at the bottom of the pool, the victim or his/her family may have grounds for a lawsuit.

Common causes of pool or spa drownings:
• No fence or pool cover
• Inadequate warning signs
• Lack of rescue equipment in the pool area
• Drain entrapment (Could be grounds for a DC products liability case)
• Inadequate pool maintenance
• No lifeguards
• Defective pool or spa equipment

Our Washington DC injury lawyers represent families throughout the DC area and Maryland.

Pool & Spa Safety Educational Video Transcript, Pool Safety.gov

75 Drownings and Near-Drownings in 15 Weeks, CPSC, April 21, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Unintentional Drownings, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Drowning Prevention Fact Sheet, Safe Kids USA

More Blog Posts:
Six-Year-Old Girl Dies in Washington DC Drowning Accident at Turkey Thicket Pool, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, July 12, 2010

In Maryland, Accidental Drowning Of Anne Arundel County 5-Year Old Renews Calls For Greater Pool Safety, Maryland Accident Law Blog, October 13, 2006

Family of Baltimore County Woman that Drowned in Apartment Complex Pool Files $100 Million Wrongful Death Lawsuit, Maryland Accident Law Blog, August 15, 2008

Continue reading "CPSC Offers Tips to Prevent Washington DC Pool Drowning Accidents" »

A female Metro passenger was injured last week in a Washington DC escalator accident. The woman suffered chin and knee injuries when she fell into an escalator access hatch at the Pentagon Station. At the time, the escalator was not moving. It had, however, been undergoing maintenance so that the workers could replace the step rollers.

The opening, which was at the top of an escalator, was about the size of a manhole. Officials say that that it should have been covered and barricaded. The injured woman was hospitalized for two days for her injuries.

Escalator Accidents
Escalator accidents can cause serious injuries. Just last month a 4-year-old boy was killed in an escalator accident. In another Washington DC escalator accident last February, several steps on one at the Foggy Bottom Metro Station bucked to pile atop each other, creating a three-foot-hold. One passenger lost her balance and fell backwards. Fortunately, she did not fall into the hole, as two other passengers helped pull her up. Last October, four people got hurt in a DC Metro escalator accident at L'Enfant Plaza station. Riders fell on top of each other after the brakes failed.

If faulty maintenance, elevator malfunction, or some other safety issue caused your escalator accident, you may be able to file a Washington DC personal injury lawsuit against the owner of the property where the elevator is located, the elevator manufacturer, and/or other liable parties. Other common causes of escalator accidents include improper installation, missing or loose parts, inadequate inspections, escalator parts defects, and clothing/hand/foot entrapment.

UPDATE: Metro rider falls into escalator hatch left open, Washington Examiner, April 28, 2011

L'Enfant Escalator Collapse, NBC Washington, February 26, 2011

Escalator Steps Collapse at DC Foggy Bottom Metro Station, MyFox DC, February 18, 2011

4-Year-Old Boy Killed in Escalator Accident, ABC7, March 14, 2011

Related Web Resources:
DC Metro

Danger on the escalator, CBS News, February 17, 2005

More Blog Posts:
Escalator Malfunction at DC Metro Station Injures Four, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, October 14, 2011

DC Metro Assault Crimes: Does WMATA Provide Adequate Security?, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, August 27, 2010

One Person Dead and One Injured in DC Metro Stabbing Incident, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, May 31, 2010

Continue reading "Washington DC Escalator Accident Injures 52-Year-Old Metro Rider" »

With spring well under way, more kids are making their way back outdoors and onto playgrounds. Unfortunately, playground accidents are a leading cause of injuries to children in the 5-14 age group. SafeKids USA reports about 150,000 playground injuries a year result in ER visits, with injuries ranging from cuts, bruises, and scrapes to traumatic brain injuries, fractures, broken bones, dislocations, amputations, and other serious injuries. Approximately 10 playground fatalities occur in the US annually. Washington DC playground accident injuries can occur in public parks, private backyards, residential areas, daycare centers, on school grounds, and other premises where playground equipment has been set up for kids to use.

Common Causes of DC Playground Accidents:
• Inadequate supervision
• Defective or deteriorating playground equipment and rides
• Poorly designed playgrounds
• Inadequate maintenance
• Rust or sharp edges on equipment
• Inadequate protective surfacing that doesn’t provide a proper cushion in case of a fall
• Not enough space between equipment
• Trip hazards
• Playground equipment that is inappropriate or too advanced for the kids that are likely to use them
• Elevated surfaces that lack guardrails

Playground operators must make sure that their premise and the equipment on it are safe for use and that all precautions have been taken to decrease the chances of a DC playground accident. It is also the responsibility of playground equipment manufacturers to make sure that their products are safe for us.

Examples of Common Playground Accidents
• Falls from slides or jungle gyms
• Trip and fall accidents
• Burn injuries from equipment made of metal that can get hot
• Falls from swings

Playground Injuries, CDC

Playground Safety, Safekids

More Blog Posts:
Six-Year-Old Girl Dies in Washington DC Drowning Accident at Turkey Thicket Pool, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, July 12, 2010

Baltimore's Public Housing Authority Says It is “Not Possible” To Pay Judgments in Maryland Lead Poisoning Cases, Maryland Accident Law Blog, April 11, 2011

Family of Girl Electrocuted at Druid Hill Park Softball Field Revisits Maryland Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against the City of Baltimore, Maryland Accident Law Blog, May 12, 2010

Continue reading "Washington DC Playground Accidents are a Leading Cause of Injuries to Minors" »

A tragic DC traffic crash last Wednesday evening has claimed the life of a 41-year-old man. Oswaldo Hernandez-Cruz, a roofer, and three friends were headed to a job where they would be clearing snow all night when the pickup truck they were riding was struck by a falling tree.

The vehicle was stuck in DC traffic when the tree collapsed. The other three people in the truck, a wife and husband and another man, also sustained injuries, as did two people riding in another car that the tree’s braches also struck. The DC injury accident occurred in the 1700 block of Military Road NW. Hernandez-Cruz leaves behind his wife and three children.

Falling Tree Accidents
Falling trees or even just their tree branches can cause serious injuries. In 2008, a woman, Kay Plyler, died when a tree fell on the car that she and her teen daughter were riding. In 2009, a jury awarded one man 1.7 million for injuries he suffered when a tree fell on the vehicle he and his wife were riding in 2006. Mieczyslaw Wisniewski sustained numerous injuries and neck fractures. In 2007, 49-year-old Michael Gandy died when a giant tree fell onto his van. His family filed a wrongful death lawsuit blaming the city for improperly cutting the trees roots and causing it to become unstable. There have also been tragic falling tree accidents involving a pedestrian or bystander injured or killed by a falling tree branch.

Property owners must make sure that trees on their premise are properly maintained. There may be more than one party who can/should be held liable for Washington DC personal injury.

Tree kills man in car waiting in bad traffic, The Washington Post, January 28, 2011

Settlement Reached In Wrongful Death Lawsuit, WSOCTV, December 7, 2009

Falling Tree, Lawyers and Settlements, February 27, 2008

Related Web Resource:
Premises Liability, Nolo

More Blog Posts:
Escalator Malfunction at DC Metro Station Injures Four, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, October 31, 2010

Six-Year-Old Girl Dies in Washington DC Drowning Accident at Turkey Thicket Pool, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, July 12, 2010

Washington DC Slip and Fall Accidents Can Cause Hip Injuries, Broken Bones, a Strained Back, and Other Painful Injuries, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, February 23, 2010

Continue reading "Falling Tree Causes Fatal Washington DC Car Accident" »

Just two weeks after 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner stood outside a Safeway in Arizona, fatally shooting six people and injuring 13 others, including US Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, another shooter has shot dead two people and injured two others outside a Walmart store in the state of Washington. The two incidents are unrelated. Like everyone else in America, the thoughts and well wishes of our Washington DC injury lawyers are with the injured, the deceased, and their loved ones.

The latest tragic incident happened late today after three sheriff’s deputies arrived at the store to follow up on a bystander’s call that there was a suspicious looking person in the store. When deputies approached a man outside the store he tried to flee before turning around and shooting at them. The male shooter was eventually shot dead in the Walmart parking lot.

Two of the deputies were injured in the shooting. A young female, who CNN.com is reporting might have been a teenager, later died from her injuries. An investigation is underway to determine what happened.

The question is, will the injured parties and the surviving family members of those killed in both shootings seek personal injury and wrongful death damages from Walmart and Safeway because the violent crimes occurred right outside their doors?

In Washington DC, a property owner can be held liable for DC premises liability if failure to keep the premise safe or other acts of negligence allowed a violent crime to happen there. Other states have similar personal injury laws. Yet in the Arizona Safeway massacre and now the Washington Walmart shooting, how could either department store have anticipated that such horrible incidents would ever occur? Also, in the case of the Arizona shooting, did Safeway provide adequate security at the store while Rep. Gifford hosted her “Congress on Your Corner” there, given that she had received death threats in the past? Whose responsibility was it to provide this security? The answers at this point are unclear.

2 dead, 2 cops hurt in shootout outside Washington state Walmart, CNN, January 23, 2011

Paper: Surveillance video shows Tucson attack, CNN Justice, January 18, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Premises Liability Overview, Justia

Inadequate Security, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog

Four people were transported to the hospital on Saturday following a Washington DC escalator accident at the L'Enfant Plaza Metro station stop. Officials are trying to determine what happened.

The escalator injuries sustained by the victims are reportedly non-life threatening. However, according to MyFox.com, one person who was hurt says that 19 people reportedly ended up in a pile after they were thrown off the moving staircase when it suddenly accelerated out-of-control. Wtop.com quotes one witness as describing the incident as a “frightening carnival ride.” Another witness to the Washington DC injury accident noted the smell of “burning brakes.”

Escalator Accidents
Every day, hundreds of millions of people in this country ride escalators. In a 2005 CBS.com article, the news outlet reported that approximately 10,000 people a year end up in hospital emergency rooms because of escalator accidents. Some of these incidents have proven fatal.

Common causes of escalator accidents:
• Design flaws
• Escalator malfunction
• Manufacturing defect
• Missing escalator parts
• Step collapse
• Inadequate maintenance
• Installation errors
• Missing escalator teeth
• Worn escalator belt

Elderly seniors and young children are at higher risk of injury than teens and adults of becoming involved in and getting hurt during an escalator accident. Fall accidents, trip and fall accidents, and hand and foot entrapment accidents are some examples of accidents that can occur on an escalator. Broken bones, head injuries, asphyxiation injuries (from the victim’s clothing getting stuck in the escalator), head injuries, serious hand and foot injuries, and wrongful death can occur.

Questions remain after Metro escalator accident, wtop, November 1, 2010

4 Hurt in Metro Escalator Accident, MyFoxDC, November 1, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Deaths and Injuries Involving Elevators and Escalators, ELCOSH.org

Escalator Injury Articles, Science Daily

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Continue reading "Escalator Malfunction at DC Metro Station Injures Four" »

The DC fire chief says that arson may have been a factor in the fire at a Northwest Washington apartment building. They are still investigating the cause of the blaze, which took place early Wednesday.

Four people were hospitalized with serious injuries, including a 2-year-old girl. Another fire victim, a 38-year-old male, died when he jumped from the fifth floor of the building to escape the fire. Several people were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation and burn injuries. Up to 40 people were treated at the scene. The 63-unit apartment building, which was likely constructed in the mid-20th century, did not have a sprinkler system. Also, some 125 people have been displaced.

If you or someone you love sustained burn injuries in a fire or another accident that you believe was caused by another party’s negligent or careless actions, please call your Washington DC burn accident law firm to request your free case evaluation.

Burn Injuries
Burn injuries can be extremely painful and can result in disfigurement, scarring, nerve damage, limb loss, emotional trauma, depression, other serious injuries, and death. Burns are a leading cause of death in the US. According to Burn-Recovery.org, about 4,000 Americans die of burn injuries annually.

Treatment for burn injuries can be very painful and expensive. A person may have to undergo skin grafts, reconstructive surgery, and other medical procedures in order to recover.

Examples of serious burns:
• Full thickness burns
• Partial thickness burns
• Facial burns
• Burns to a person’s extremities
• Chemical burns
• Electrical burns
• Smoke inhalation injuries

Man leaps to his death in NW DC apartment fire, The Washington Post, September 29, 2010

1 Dead, Several Injured After 16th Street Fire, MSNBC, September 29, 2010

Burn Injuries, Burn-Recovery.org

Related Web Resources:
Fire Deaths and Injuries, CDC

Fire Safety

Two adult males say they were assaulted on a Green Line train that was going to Branch Avenue. Metro Police arrived at L’Enfant Plaza Station early Thursday following the alleged incident.

According to the Washington Post, one witness says that when the train arrived at the station and the doors opened, one man was on the ground. Another victim was being beaten by another man.

This assault incident comes just a few weeks after at least four people suffered injuries during a brawl involving 70 people that began in rail car and moved onto the platform at the L’Enfant Plaza Station on August 6. Metro Transit Police say the dispute occurred as young people boarded the train to abide by the 11pm youth curfew. Two juveniles were arrested.

It was just earlier this summer that several boys beat a teenager unconscious over a pair of Air Jordan shoes. The fight took place at Union Station.

With the school year about to kick off, more transit officers are expected to ride the DC Metro to keep a watch on students.

Washington DC Premises Liability
Property owners are supposed to ensure there is adequate security to prevent violent crimes from occurring on their premise. Failure to provide that security—especially when there has been a history of violent crimes—can be grounds for a Washington DC injury case. Additional security guards, regular security patrols, surveillance cameras, proper lighting, crowd control measures, and emergency alarm devices are just some examples of measures a property owner can take to make a premise safer for others.

2 men injured after late-night assault on Green Line train, The Washington Post, August 27, 2010

Youth Metro brawl leaves 5 in hospital, countless others injured, Examiner, August 9, 2010

3 Charged, 4 to Hospital, in 70-Person Brawl at L'Enfant Metro, ABC7, August 7, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority

Crime Statistics, WMATA

Premises Liability, Justia

Continue reading "DC Metro Assault Crimes: Does WMATA Provide Adequate Security?" »

A Washington DC drowning accident has claimed the life of a young girl. The six-year-old girl who was pulled from a Turkey Thicket Recreation Center pool on June 23 was later pronounced dead at Children's National Medical Center.

Bystanders performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the victim while waiting for fire and rescue officials to arrive. A lifeguard was on duty when the girl drowned.

Witnesses say the girl jumped into the deep end from the diving board and that at the time the pool was very crowded. According to reports, it was the next person to get on the diving board who notified the lifeguard that the young girl was at the pool bottom. The pool is about 12-feet deep.

Child Drowning Facts (CDC):

• There were 3,443 accidental drowning deaths in the US in 2007.
• More than one in every five drowning deaths are kids from the 14 and under age group.
• For every child drowning death, four other children will have received emergency medical care for their drowning injuries.
• Drowning injuries can result in permanent brain damage.

Reasons why a pool drowning victim or his/her family may have grounds for a Washington DC personal injury or wrongful death claim:

• Inadequate safety equipment
• Lack of supervision by a lifeguard or a qualified adult
• Failure to warn that there is no lifeguard on duty
• Improper maintenance
• Improperly attached ladders
• Maryland slip and fall hazards
• Improperly installed diving boards
• Failure to clean the pool properly, which can make it hard to see anyone who may be drowning
• Failure install the regulation pool drain that is now mandated by law
• Failure to secure/lock pool area during off hours

6-year-old drowns in NE D.C. public pool, Washington Post, June 23, 2010

Young Girl Drowns At DC Rec Center Pool, WUSA9, June 23, 2010

Unintentional Drowning: Fact Sheet, CDC

Related Web Resources:
Turkey Thicket Recreation Center

Pool and Spa Safety Publications, Consumer Product Safety Commission

Maryland Accident Law Blog

Continue reading "Six-Year-Old Girl Dies in Washington DC Drowning Accident at Turkey Thicket Pool" »

According to DC police, the man who was found fatally stabbed at the top of an escalator at the Congress Heights Station early Sunday has died. A second stab victim, who was found close to the underground station kiosk, was treated at a hospital and later released. Meantime, a third person that may have suffered a medical problem during the stabbing incidents also was taken to the hospital.

Police are trying to determine the motive behind the stabbings, which appear to have been related. It is possible that physical struggles took place in different spots at the station before the victims were left alone. DC police were called to the scene shortly before 3 am.

Washington DC Premises Liability
The owners of public and private properties are supposed to make sure that there is adequate security on a premise so that no one ends up becoming the victim of a robbery, sexual assault, or murder. Depending on the premise, property owners may want to make sure that there is:

• Adequate lighting
• Entrances and exits with locks, alarm systems, video cameras, or security guards
• Surveillance cameras

Even if the property owner had nothing to do with causing the actual crime, the failure to act to prevent such incidents from happening—especially if similar crimes were recently been committed on the premise or in the surrounding area—can be grounds for a Washington DC inadequate security lawsuit. You also may be able to sue the assailant for Washington DC personal injury.

1 killed, 1 wounded in stabbing; men are found at D.C. Metro station, The Washington Post, May 31, 2010

Inadequate Security, Justia

Metro

Continue reading "One Person Dead and One Injured in DC Metro Stabbing Incident" »

Washington DC slip and fall, step and fall, and trip and fall accidents can cause serious personal injuries that are painful and debilitating. While a fall accident at ground level may sound harmless enough, it can lead to traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and even death.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that more than 17,000 people in the US die because of trip and fall and slip and fall accidents. 15% of work injuries also occur during these types of falls.

Property owners, including business owners, landlords, homeowners, and the owners of public properties, are supposed to make sure that there are no hazards on a premise that can cause a trip accident, a slip accident, or a fall accident. When failure to clean up the danger and/or to warn about the hazard results in an accident, the injured party may have grounds for filing a Washington DC slip and fall accident lawsuit.

Some common causes of slip and fall accidents:

• Wet floors
• Uneven pavement
• Snow or ice that hasn’t been properly treated or cleared
• A leak or spill
• Broken floorboards
• Steep staircases without handrails
• Poor lighting
• Objects left on the ground
• Debris on the floor
• Spilt liquids or other soft/wet food items

Our Washington DC slip and fall lawyers represent clients injured in slip and fall accidents and other kinds of fall accidents. Slip and fall injuries can take a long time to recover from. Not only can they be costly to treat, but also the injured party may have to take an extended period of time off from work. He or she may be unable to drive, tend to daily tasks, or live independently during recovery. If the injury is a permanent one, then special nursing care and other medical services may be required for the duration of the victim’s life.

Related Web Resources:
Slip and Fall, Nolo

Premises Liability, Justia

In the last 18 months, at least 11 sexual assault crimes following a similar pattern have occurred in and around the Georgetown University campus. The sexual assault incidents generally involve an assailant entering through a female student’s unlocked window or door while she is asleep, getting into her bed, and groping her until she wakes up, screams, and the attacker runs off.

However, although the sexual assaults are following this pattern, the victims’ assailants do not appear to be the same person. White male, Middle Eastern male, and Hispanic male, short, tall, choppy, thin, and muscular build are among the descriptions that the women have given. The assailants also appear to belong to different age ranges.

Just last week, the beginning of the 2009-2010 academic school year, one student was sexually assaulted in her Georgetwon dorm room in Village A when her assailant entered her residence at around 4:30am last Tuesday.

Students are calling the assailant “the Georgetown Cuddler” and investigators are worried that not everyone is taking the sexual assault crimes seriously. While to date, no one has been seriously injured, police are worried that it could just be a matter of time.

Inadequate Security
Sexual assault crimes that occur on another party’s premise can be grounds for a premises liability lawsuit if the premise owner, manager, or supervisor could have done more to prevent the assault incident from happening. For example, if there has been a history of crimes occurring on or around the premise or property, then the premise owner should warn residents, patrons, or visitors and install the proper safety precautions to prevent further incidents from happening. Adequate security measures might include:

• Proper lighting
• Video cameras
• Alarm systems
• Secured entries and exits
• Security personnel
• Safety policies and procedures

If you have been a victim of a violent crime on another party's premise you should speak with an experienced Washington DC injury law firm today.

ex Assaults Around Georgetown Campus Stymie Police, Washington Post, September 4, 2009

"Georgetown Cuddler" May Be Back, NBC Washington, September 1, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Premises Liability, Justia

Georgetown University

Two kids suffered burn injuries in Washington DC on Monday during a fire accident on a playground at the Columbia Heights Village Apartment Complex. Neighbors blame careless workers for leaving a can of gasoline at the playground.

Police say that a boy was playing with the can of gas when the fire started. A little girl sitting on a bench got burned and was later hospitalized. Neighbors say they called emergency crew members when they heard screaming.

According to The Burn Institute:

• Children younger than 5 are two times as likely as other people to die in a fire accident.
• Children are at highest risk of dying from their burn injuries.
• Playing with fire is the number one cause of death for very young children.
• 18-month old toddlers have been known to start serious fires.

Property owners and managers and those in charge of overseeing job sites, public events, public areas, and other premises frequented by kids, patrons, employees, visitors, and others are supposed to make sure that there are no unsafe conditions on a premise that can lead to serious injuries or deaths.

Common causes of fire injures to children younger than 15:

• Fireworks
• Ovens
• Curling irons
• Heaters
• Matches and lighters
• Hot liquids and hot foods
• Household appliances
• Defective electrical products

Kids Playing with Fire Leave Two Hurt in D.C., MyFoxDC.com, September 2, 2008

Burn Injury Fact Sheet, CT Safe Kids

Related Web Resources:

The Burn Institute

Fire Deaths and Injuries: Fact Sheet, CDC

Continue reading "Two Kids Suffer Burn Injuries in Washington DC Apartment Complex Playground" »

A DC teenager, who was raped by a counselor at a Pennsylvania clinic in 2005, has filed a federal lawsuit suing Washington DC and nonprofit group KidsPeace Corporation for personal injury. The girl, who is a former ward of the city, had been consigned to the clinic, which is run by KidsPeace. In her lawsuit, the teenager says she was sent to the KidsPeace clinic despite reports of previous abuse incidents at the Pennsylvania site.

The plaintiff alleges that the city therefore plaid a role in allowing the brutal sexual assault incident to occur. KidsPeace counselor, Jerry McChristian, has admitted to raping the girl, and he pled guilty to institutional rape in 2006.

This is not the first report of children under welfare becoming the victims of abuse, and Washington DC has agreed to send less children to remote clinics. Just this month, a monitor appointed by the US Congress reported that children at a Florida clinic were being treated like “garbage.” DC officials only found out about the abuse through media reports. In 2007, schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee found out that several children under KidsPeace’s care had suffered broken arms while under “therapeutic restraint.” Rhee is no longer sending kids to KidsPeace clinics.

Sexual Assault Crimes and Negligent Security
If you were sexually assaulted on a premise, you may be able to hold the landlord, property owner, premise manager, or another party liable for the harm that you have suffered. Premise manager, owners, or any entities in charge are supposed to implement the proper safety measures to make sure that no physical or property crimes are committed so that visitors, patrons, patients, customers, and employees do not get hurt, assaulted, raped, robbed, or murdered while on a premise.

If there is has been a history of crimes committed on the premise or in the area, then the premise owner or manager must secure the property so that similar crimes cannot happen again. If you or your child has been placed under the care of a government entity, and you were injured because they were negligent in their hiring of staff or they failed to implement the proper safety/security measures, you may be able to sue the liable party or parties for personal injury.

Our Washington DC personal injury law firm can help you explore your legal options.

Teen sues D.C. for $10M, saying city put her in clinic where she was raped, Examiner.com, June 19, 2008

Ex-KidsPeace counselor admits to sex with teen, Isaccorp.org, July 20, 2006

Youth Counselor Sentenced in Sex Case, Action News, November 30, 2006

Related Web Resources:

KidsPeace lays off 79 employees, Mccall.com, October 20, 2007

Continue reading "Teenager Files $10 Million Personal Injury Lawsuit Against Washington DC For Rape in Clinic" »

The District is suing the 23 property owners of 71 rental buildings (46 rental homes and 25 apartment buildings) for “egregious” code violations. It is also demanding that 13 of the properties be declared “public nuisances” so that repairs are made immediately.

Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty says the lawsuit does not even name all of the egregious properties in the District. D.C. officials say that the lawsuit comes after years of trying to get landlords to improve the conditions on their properties through fines, requests, demands, and civil lawsuits filed by the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs.

The owners of the 58 building that have not been placed in receivership reportedly have a history of refusing to make the necessary building repairs or secure the proper licenses to rent out their properties. The lawsuit is intended to force the owners into compliance.

Leaks, pest infestations, mold, and inadequate security are some of the conditions on a number of the premises that require repair or remedy. Because many of the tenants are poor and/or are immigrants, the the landlords may not feel as much pressure to make the necessary repairs. Other landlords reportedly allow the conditions on their properties to deteriorate so that their tenants are forced out due to “eviction by neglect” and the buildings can be rebuilt into upscale housing without violating any tenant conversion laws.

Unfortunately, poor and unsafe conditions on a rental property can pose a health and/or danger risk to tenants and their visitors. Inadequate security can lead to residents becoming the victims of crimes, including sexual assault, physical assault, murder, and robbery.

Not making the proper repairs on a property can lead to slip and fall accidents, electrocution accidents, fires, asbestos or lead paint hazards, and other premises liability-related accidents or dangers.

If you have been injured or someone you love has died on another person’s property because of the property owner’s negligence or carelessness, our Washington D.C. personal injury law firm would like to talk to you.

District Sues 23 Landlords for Code Violations, WashingtonPost.com, April 5, 2008

Premises Liability Overview, Justia

Related Web Resources:

Renter's Rights and Responsibilities: The Basics, Virginia State University

Tips on Renting in the District of Columbia, Washington Post

Continue reading "Washington D.C. Cracks Down On 23 Landlords with Lawsuit for Code Violations Due To Poor Conditions on the Premises" »

In the wake of a bus shelter falling on waiting passengers on Macarthur Boulevard near Cathedral Avenue in Washington D.C., all metro bus shelters in the area are to undergo a safety inspection.

The accident happened earlier this month when a Metrobus ran into the shelter, shattering the structure that then fell on waiting passengers. One woman became trapped under the shelter’s metal roof and another woman was also injured. Both women were treated and released from a local hospital.

A Metro spokesperson says that one of the bus’s mirrors had hit the metal-framed shelter structure, causing the glass to shatter and the metal structure to fall.

A similar accident occurred in the exact spot last year where the shelter was then rebuilt. Local residents are concerned that the bus shelter was once again built too close to the road and have expressed worry that similar structures nearby were also built in unsafe locations.

The DDOT (District Department of Transportation), which maintains the shelters, and Metro have said they will investigate the accident together.

If you have been injured on public, private, or commercial property because of unsafe conditions, you may be able to file a personal injury claim and recover compensation for your pain and suffering.

Premises liability consists of claims arising from unsafe buildings, slip and fall accidents, falling objects, or any other unsafe conditions on a premise that leads to someone being injured.

If You Have Been Injured On Unsafe Premises
There are many factors and issues that can arise during a premise liability case, and a good personal injury attorney will know what questions to ask and how much damages can be claimed for your injury. An experienced personal injury lawyer will also know who can be held liable for your accident, especially if the property where you were injured is a public or commercial property—there may be more than one party that can be held responsible for your injury accident.

Bus accidents where the driver may be held liable for your injuries tend to be more complicated than car accident claims because so there are special rules and regulations governing bus drivers and their responsibility to keep the roads, passengers, and pedestrians safe. A personal injury lawyer who is familiar with these rules and regulations can skillfully handle the complexities of your bus injury claim for you.

Continue reading "All Metro Bus Shelters in DC to Be Inspected After Glass Structure Falls and Leads to Injuries" »