Articles Posted in Car Accidents

As modes of transportation become more varied and diverse, the kinds of collisions that happen on the road can evolve for the worse. Drivers are always adapting to new sets of circumstances, underscoring the importance of the need for drivers and pedestrians to work together to create a safe environment on roadways for all involved.

A recent news article revealed details of a collision in Washington, DC that happened towards the end of last month. According to the article, an individual was riding on a scooter near downtown when he was suddenly struck by an SUV. The man fell on the ground, immediately unconscious but still breathing. The driver of the SUV left the scene of the crash, and investigators are still looking for him so they can press charges.

The crash victim was brought to the hospital as soon as first responders arrived at the scene. There are currently no details about the severity of his injuries or about what kind of scooter he was using at the time of the crash.

Drunk driving accidents can be devasting and scary, and can happen in a flash. Victims of these types of crashes may have absolutely no connection to the drunk driver but may find themselves suffering as a result. In other situations, victims of these types of crashes may have some type of relationship with the drunk driver and may find themselves injured as passengers in the car of the drunk driver. In both situations, passengers may suffer from injuries that leave them wanting to figure out next steps for possible personal injury claims.

A recent news report revealed information regarding a recent fatal car accident in Maryland involving a DUI. According to the report, deputies found a single vehicle that had run off the roadway and struck a light pole. The driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger of the vehicle was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Initial investigations revealed that speed and alcohol contributed to the crash, although the accident is still under investigation.

What Are Common Passenger Injuries in Drunk Driving Accidents?

In unfortunate scenarios involving a drunk driver, passengers may suffer injuries as a result of accidents that occur as a result. When this occurs, you may be wondering what passengers can do to recover from the loss or damages they suffered as a result of their injuries. Passengers may suffer economic loss from medical bills and hospital visits, for example. Firstly, when a driver is identified as the at-fault driver in the accident and is found to have been the only negligent driver who was under the influence of alcohol, passengers are able to file insurance claims with the insurance company of driver who is found at-fault. In some situations, if the passenger was injured as a passenger in the drunk driver’s vehicle, there may be instances where the insurance company can make an argument that the passenger should have known that the driver was intoxicated. This can be a tricky argument to consider, and something that an attorney with expertise in personal injury lawsuits can help with. In addition, there may be questions about how much fault each driver is responsible for in the accident, which can be another aspect that impacts recovery.

Accidents on highways can be devastating, especially because the higher speed limits at which drivers are legally able to go. In D.C., the posted speed limits are the maximum lawful speeds, however, no driver should drive at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions, including paying close attention to potential hazards. As of September 2022, D.C. has recently reduced the speed limits to 25 miles per hour on some of their major streets. In addition to being mindful of the maximum speed limits and potential hazards, drivers should also be sure to never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

According to a recent news report, one woman was killed in a crash involving an impaired driver. A 35-year-old woman died, and two other individuals were injured after a Tesla and Chevrolet hit a Toyota on I–270 in Montgomery County, Maryland. The driver responsible for hitting the minivan first was taken into police custody due to suspicion of impaired driving. According to the initial investigation, the driver of a Tesla ran into the back of a Toyota, causing both vehicles to come to a stop on the interstate. The driver and two of the five passengers in the Toyota stayed in the minivan, which was severely damaged and unable to be moved from the highway. The driver of the Chevrolet attempted to swerve out of the way of the stopped vehicles but rear-ended the Toyota. The police were called to the scene at 3:35 am. The 35-year-old was declared dead at the scene, while two other individuals in the Toyota were taken to a trauma center. The Tesla driver failed a sobriety test.

What Should You Do Immediately After a Car Accident?

After an accident, it always advised that all involved in an accident move their vehicles to safe location. This advice is suggested to prevent further harm from happening to those already involved in an accident, especially because for unsuspecting drivers, when vehicles are randomly stopped on a road or highway, it can be tricky to maneuver around the stopped vehicles at the last second. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, transportation data analysis firm Impact Research estimated that 566 people were killed and 14,371 injured each year over 2016-18 in crashes on all types of roads involving a disabled vehicle in which visibility was likely a factor.

In high-traffic areas, car accidents can have harmful implications that extend far beyond the involved cars’ passengers and drivers themselves. In a recent crash in Arlington, Virginia, 15 people were injured because of an accident involving only one motor vehicle with three passengers. Unfortunately, even collisions with only one automobile can have chain reactions that extend to people who were not on the road at the time of the crash.

According to the news article detailing the incident in Arlington, it was approximately 7:00pm on a Friday when a vehicle crashed directly into a local pub. A large crowd was gathered at the pub when the driver hit the establishment head on, causing the building to immediately erupt in flames. Police reports indicate that the driver was working for Uber, transporting a group of people to their post-work destination.

Six people were treated at the scene of the accident, and six others were hospitalized and released. By Saturday, the police department’s numbers indicated that 15 people were injured from the incident. Two of the individuals remained in critical condition through the weekend. Reports do not yet indicate if there was any alcohol, foul play, or impairment that could have contributed to the cause of the crash.

All unsafe driving habits are risky, but speeding can be deadly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding was the cause of 11,258 traffic fatalities in 2020. And of the 23,824 individuals killed in vehicles in 2020, over half were not wearing seatbelts. On the other side of the coin, NHTSA estimates that seatbelts saved 14,955 lives in 2020 and could have saved another 2,549 more if those people had been wearing seatbelts.

When speeding and lack of seatbelt use combine, the results can be unfortunately fatal. According to a recent article, a Washington, D.C. man was killed in a single-car accident in a car speeding on a highway. The car was traveling at 100 miles per hour in a 65-mile-per-hour zone when a trooped attempted to pull it over. The driver attempted to speed up but ran off the road shortly after, crashing into a guardrail. The deceased man, a passenger, was ejected from the vehicle and died from the scene. Two other passengers, a man and a 13-year-old boy, were also seriously injured and not wearing seatbelts. An infant who was strapped in a safety seat survived the crash.

Wearing your seatbelt and driving safely can help, but sometimes are not enough to keep all drivers and passengers injury-free on the road. Utilizing safety devices is key, but you may be a passenger in a vehicle with a driver behaving recklessly. If you are in a collision with another car or even in a single-car accident as a passenger and are injured because of your driver’s negligence, you may have claims against the driver.

While many car accidents are the result of reckless driving or disobeying traffic laws, sometimes, drivers are rendered unconscious or unresponsive because of a medical emergency. Medical emergencies can range from choking or fainting to even more severe emergencies such as strokes, heart attacks, or seizures. Car accidents involving medical emergencies can be serious and often fatal, as nearby pedestrians and other cars are not aware of the sudden loss of control by the individual experiencing the medical emergency.

In a recent news report, a Washington D.C. car accident occurred when a pickup truck ran a red light before hitting a male bicyclist and ultimately careening off the road and crashing into a firework stand. The accident occurred in Northeast D.C. around 5:30 p.m. near Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave Northeast and Minnesota Avenue. The police officers on the scene stated that they believed the driver of the pickup truck experienced a medical emergency when the crash happened. Both the male bicyclist and a man standing behind the firework stand were pronounced dead according to the police. The police stated that nobody else was killed or injured during the accident.

How Can D.C. Accident Victim Prove Another Driver Was at Fault?

When it comes to Washington D.C. car accident cases, defendants claiming to have experienced a medical emergency that led to a car accident have the option to pursue an Act of God defense. An Act of God defense in Washington D.C. offers a defense when the force of nature is uncontrolled and uninfluenced by humans and could not be prevented or avoided. Such a defense is difficult to successfully deploy and both parties need to examine the at-fault driver’s medical records to determine several issues. (1) Did the driver have pre-existing medical conditions, (2) was the driver taking medication for their condition, and (3) were any medical restrictions in effect at the time of the accident? Establishing if a medical emergency did in fact occur, and if so, to what degree it was foreseeable, and what steps the at-fault driver took to mitigate the risk of medical emergencies is vital to arriving at a proper result for a plaintiff’s claim. Successfully defeating a defense revolving around a medical emergency potentially involves proving that there were symptoms of the medical emergency that the at-fault driver negligently ignored, ultimately causing the accident.

Car crashes oftentimes lead to both property damage and physical injury, and they can be especially devasting when a vehicle catches fire. Fires may erupt in the aftermath of a car accident for numerous reasons. These reasons include leaking fuel tanks and lines, as well as electrical system failures. In addition to navigating property damage claims as a result of collisions, victims of these types of car accidents may experience injury as a result of the fire, such as burns or exposure to toxic fumes.

In a recent news report, three vehicles were involved in a car accident in Washington D.C. this month. The accident occurred in Southeast D.C. at the 2300 block of Southern Avenue SE at about 7:45pm. First responders arrived to the scene of the accident to find two people trapped inside one vehicle and a third person trapped in another vehicle. Two men and one woman were taken by helicopter to trauma centers. Two of the victims were in critical condition while one was in serious condition. As a result of the accident, at least one of the cars caught on fire. An investigation is taking place to determine what led to the crash.

How to Obtain Evidence To Establish Fault in Car Accidents

Obtaining evidence from the scene of a car accident is an important part of building a case when injured due to a car accident. Establishing fault after a car accident is a critical component to being able to successfully recover damages, but establishing fault can be especially tricky when an injured party must also navigate medical bills, insurance claims, and pain management. In addition, injured parties may have little memory of the accident or may not have been able to take photographs or take information down at the scene of the accident.

If you were injured recently in an accident because of another party’s negligence, recklessness, or carelessness, you may have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation against them. Before you proceed, however, it is crucial that you understand the basic elements of a Washington, D.C. personal injury lawsuit—namely, how fault is allocated between the parties and how it will affect the success of your claim.

According to a recent local news report, at least four people were injured after a vehicle crashed into a hotel lobby in northwest Washington, D.C. Local authorities reported that the accident took place mid-morning when a vehicle drove into the lobby through the glass façade of the Yotel hotel on New Jersey Avenue. Although there were no structural integrity issues observed in the hotel building following the accident, four patients were transported to local hospitals for treatment of their injuries, with at least one of them suffering from serious injuries. A separate individual was also treated on the scene for minor injuries but declined to be transported to the hospital. The accident remains under investigation as the immediate cause of the crash into the hotel is unknown.

How is fault determined in Washington, D.C. personal injury lawsuits?

Washington, D.C., like other parts of the United States, has unique laws and rules governing personal injury claims. Although specific differences such as the time available for a statute of limitations or the elements required to successfully file your initial personal injury claim are important, understanding the fault rules in D.C. could provide you with a clearer picture of the potential success of your claim—and whether you should bring a lawsuit at all. Washington, D.C. follows a fault framework called the “contributory fault” rule for claims that involve personal injury cases. This means that if an injured person is found to have shared fault or contributed to the accident taking place in any way, they will be prevented from recovering compensation against the at-fault party entirely.

Among the various configurations that an accident can take place in, perhaps the most dangerous is the head-on collision. When a head-on collision happens, it can be devastating because both vehicles are usually moving at rapid speeds and the force of the two cars crashing frequently results in significant injuries or in severe crashes, death. Understanding the common causes of these accidents can help you avoid them as a proactive driver.

According to a recent local news report, a major accident involving a Metrobus and van left five people injured, one dead, and another in critical condition. Local authorities reported that the Metrobus and van collided head-on and the van driver, a separate passenger, and a boy were trapped in the wrecked vehicle. The van crashed into the front driver’s side of the bus and was extensively damaged and crumpled following the accident. After officials pulled everyone from the van, the separate passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. The boy was taken to the hospital in critical condition and the bus driver and the bus’s four passengers had minor injuries and were also treated at local hospitals. The circumstances leading up to the accident remain under investigation.

Where Do Head On Accidents Happen the Most?

Washington, D.C. head-on collisions usually take place on two-lane roads, where both lanes have traffic moving in different directions. When a driver crosses the center line separating the two lanes and another driver is approaching from the opposite direction, they could crash head-on. Head-on accidents also happen when a driver enters a highway ramp from the wrong direction or enters a highway from the wrong side of the divider. To best protect yourself and your passengers, there are a number of steps you can take to best prevent these accidents from taking place.

During the course of COVID-19, outdoor dining has become even more popular than ever before because of social distancing and public health measures. For many restaurants and businesses, incorporating an outdoor dining option has become a means of survival. Now, more than two years into the pandemic, dining outdoors is as popular as ever. For a lot of restaurants in busy metropolitan areas, however, these outdoor dining areas are often located only inches away from busy streets and often share their space with cars passing by. What happens when a passing vehicle crashes into the dining area and causes a major accident?

According to a recent local news report, two individuals died after a driver crashed his vehicle outside a restaurant in Washington, D.C. Around lunchtime on a busy Friday last week, an older driver lost control of his car and crashed into an outdoor seating area. 11 people were injured in total and eight individuals were transferred to local hospitals. Two individuals died, and at least three are facing life-threatening injuries. According to nearby witnesses, the car accelerated outside the restaurant and drove straight into the outdoor seating area. The driver responsible for the accident was seen driving through a parking lot adjacent to the restaurant at a high speed just moments before the collision. The accident remains under investigation and the driver responsible for the collision is cooperating with the authorities.

Unfortunately, this tragic collision in Washington, D.C. was not the first of its kind. With the weather warming up and more people choosing to dine outside than ever, several similar accidents have taken place around the country. To keep yourself safe, it is crucial that you understand what steps to take following an incident like this.

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