Wrongful Death

Washington DC Fatal Hit-and-Run on U Street

May 28, 2025 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A recent tragedy on U Street has once again brought attention to the devastating impact of hit-and-run crashes in Washington, D.C. These incidents not only leave families in mourning but also raise urgent questions about justice and civil accountability. When a driver flees the scene after causing fatal injuries, the law does not just look at the crime; it also allows surviving family members to seek compensation through a wrongful death claim.

According to reports, officers responded to the 1200 block of U Street NW shortly after 4 a.m. following reports of a serious traffic collision. They found an unconscious man in the roadway. Emergency responders attempted lifesaving measures, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver had already fled, and as of the latest reports, law enforcement is still searching for the individual responsible.

Wrongful Death Claims After a Hit-and-Run in Washington, D.C.

In a civil context, families of victims killed in car accidents may file a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault party. These claims can proceed even if no criminal charges have been filed or the responsible person has not been located. The key issue in a wrongful death case is whether someone’s negligence or wrongful conduct caused the death.

DUI Accidents in Washington, DC Still Rising as Regional Fatalities Increase

May 3, 2025 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Despite nationwide improvements in drunk driving statistics, Washington, D.C, and its surrounding counties continue to experience an alarming rise in DUI-related deaths. The region, which includes parts of Maryland and Northern Virginia, saw a more than four percent increase in DUI fatalities in 2023, going against the national trend. These numbers are not just statistics; they represent real families shattered by preventable crashes.

If you or a loved one was injured in a DUI accident in D.C., civil law allows you to seek compensation from the person responsible. Criminal charges may punish an impaired driver, but they do not address the medical bills, emotional trauma, and lost income that victims face. A personal injury or wrongful death claim may help your family move forward after a tragedy.

Recent Crashes Show the Stakes Remain High

In Northern Virginia alone, recent cases underscore how dangerous impaired driving continues to be. A 16-year-old high school student was killed in a head-on crash in Centreville in February. Weeks later, a driver was sentenced for causing another deadly DUI crash at 110 miles per hour. Both incidents left behind grieving families and courtrooms filled with unanswered questions.

Washington D.C., has not been spared. Although Fairfax County saw a decline in DUI deaths in 2023, Arlington’s numbers doubled over two years. The District itself contributes to the region’s rising trend, according to data from the Washington Regional Alcohol Program. These events illustrate just how difficult it remains to stop impaired driving entirely, even in areas with strong public awareness campaigns.

Six Construction Workers Presumed Dead After Baltimore Bridge Collapse

April 2, 2024 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

The recent collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore, Maryland led to widespread destruction and the tragic death of six construction workers. According to CNN, a large container ship lost power and crashed into the bridge in the early morning hours. As a result of the collision, the bridge collapsed, and several vehicles fell into the water. Tragically, eight construction workers were inside the vehicles when they fell. Two people were rescued and later discharged from the hospital. The U.S. Coast guard has ended its search for the other six workers, who are presumed dead. The bridge collapse has halted the flow of traffic and container ships in and out of Baltimore. It will likely take years to rebuild.

Who Can Sue a Ship’s Owner for Damages?

Multiple parties may file a claim for economic and non-economic damages against the ship’s owner. According to the Associated Press, the deceased construction workers’ families may be able to sue for wrongful death. In Maryland, a deceased person’s spouse, parents, and/or children may bring a wrongful death action. Filing a Maryland wrongful death action may allow a deceased person’s loved ones to recover damages for harm resulting from the victim’s death. A person filing a wrongful death action can recover compensation for the deceased’s lost future earnings, emotional pain and suffering, loss of the deceased’s companionship, or loss of parental care, among other damages. However, when suing a company such as a ship owner, the ship’s insurer may seek to limit its liability by asking the judge to impose a cap on the maximum amount of damages it would pay. In this scenario, the plaintiffs would need to respond quickly to ensure the cap is high enough to adequately compensate for their harm. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you act quickly if an insurance carrier attempts to cap your damages award.

On the other hand, businesses whose bottom line will suffer from the collapse may not be able to recover damages against the ship’s owner. A lawsuit for economic damages involving a cargo ship would likely pose complex questions of maritime law, which tends to bar recovery for pure economic loss. Unless the plaintiff has also suffered physical harm, they likely cannot recover damages solely for economic harm. The only exception is for pollution-related losses such as oil spills, which are different from the Baltimore bridge collapse.

Family Receives Massive $13.5 Million Jury Award in D.C. Fire Truck Crash Lawsuit

March 15, 2024 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Crashes involving commercial vehicles and large automobiles such as fire trucks or semi-trucks are inherently more dangerous than other types of collisions for a number of reasons.

Why Are Truck Accidents More Serious than Other Collisions?

Trucks, especially very heavy ones such as logging trucks or emergency vehicles result in more serious accidents when they are involved in crashes. Additionally, the conditions that many truck drivers operate under force them to drive extreme distances, resulting in fatigue. Further, large emergency response trucks, such as fire trucks, are often driving at extremely high speeds and operating under different driving rules than ordinary traffic, creating more opportunities for accidents. Finally, commercial trucks are also potentially carrying hazardous cargo, complicating truck crashes and accidents. While many people intuitively understand the greater risks involved in truck accidents, they may not know that according to the statistical analysis organization Policy Advice, truck accidents have increased by 52% since 2009, and 74% of all fatal passenger vehicle accidents include a large truck. A recent article discussed a large jury award following a serious D.C. fire truck crash.

According to the news article, a D.C. jury has awarded more than $13.5 million to the family of a man killed in a 2018 crash involving a speeding D.C. fire truck. The award, to be paid to the widow of DeAngelo Green and his six children, came after a jury found that the District was “grossly negligent” in the March 9, 2018 crash. Green, a maintenance man, was killed when the speeding fire engine, which was responding to an emergency with its lights and sirens activated, sped through a red light at an intersection at Rhode Island Avenue and 12th Street in Northeast D.C., plowing head-on into his car. Two other people, including a pregnant woman walking on the street, were hurt.

Two Killed in Fatal Washington D.C. Hit and Run at the National Mall

August 20, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Hit-and-run accidents are often characterized by certain specific factors. Common characteristics include the crash having few witnesses and or poor lighting. If there are many witnesses or the scene is highly visible, people are less likely to flee the scene of a crash. Relatedly, people are much more likely to flee a crash between the hours of midnight and 4:00 am, than between 8:00 am and 11:59 am. This is due to a host of reasons, but one explanation is that nighttime drivers generally engage in more risky behavior. A recent article described a hit-and-run accident involving a truck and a motorcycle.

The recent article described how a fatal hit-and-run collision unfolded on Thursday, July 13. Around 1:30 pm, Secret Service agents stopped the driver of the vehicle at the corner of 17th Street NW and Constitution Avenue over an alleged expired registration. According to the Secret Service, the unidentified driver allegedly signaled he would slow down and pull over, but just before he stopped, he sped up. After speeding up, the driver allegedly crossed through a red traffic signal light and struck two people before driving away from the scene. The victims were a 75-year-old man from Philadelphia and a 13-year-old girl according to the U.S. Park Police. The 75-year-old man was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital while the 13-year-old girl was treated at the scene and released.

What is the Definition of a Hit and Run Accident?

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety defines hit-and-run accidents as collisions in which at least one person involved in the crash flees the scene before offering any (or sufficient) information or aid to the other involved person(s) or fails to properly report the crash. Hit-and-run accidents are a major issue for a number of reasons, but in particular, they can increase the severity of outcomes given delays or the complete absence of medical attention for the victims. As of 2017, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has found that both the rate and fatality levels of hit-and-run collisions are on the rise. There were an estimated 737,100 hit-and-run crashes in 2015 (NHTSA, 2016). This translates to a hit-and-run crash happening somewhere in the U.S. every 43 seconds. The 2,049 fatalities that resulted from hit-and-run crashes in 2016 were the highest number recorded up to that point.

Maryland Accident Leaves One Man Dead After Hit by Two Vehicles

January 21, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

With interstate highways, speed limits may vary depending on the state and the particular highway. It is no surprise that vehicles on highways are moving at a much higher rate of speed compared to vehicles on local roads, school and residential areas, or roads with traffic lights or stop signs, for instance. As a result, it is very important for drivers of all vehicles to remain alert and aware of their surroundings, including remaining aware of vehicles that may be pulled over on the shoulder, and being sure to steer clear.

According to a recent news report, a 23-year-old man was hit and killed in Columbia, Maryland on I-95. The 23-year-old man was hit by two cars, and one of the drivers left the scene. The deceased person was parked on the shoulder of the road and was having a discussion with an unidentified woman next to their car when the woman attempted to walk onto I-95. The 23-year-old man attempted to pull her back from the road, but he was hit by a Nissan Altima, which continued driving. As he lay on the road, a second car also struck him and pulled over on the road, and called 911. The victim was pronounced dead on the scene.

Why Are Roadside Accidents So Common?

Highway shoulders were created with the idea that vehicles would be able to check their surroundings in order to safely pull over to the side in cases of emergencies (i.e. a malfunctioning car). However, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), 12 percent of all interstate highway deaths include vehicles that are stopped on the shoulder of a highway. It is always important to signal and make clear to other nearby drivers if you must make the transition into pulling over on the shoulder. Additionally, it is important to ensure that other drivers can see you and that you remain visible while pulled over, which may include being mindful of visibility issues, including inclement weather and nighttime driving. Drivers and passengers should be sure to remain away from the highway, and call for help to ensure that any time spent on the highway shoulder is as short as possible.

Medical Emergency Results in Fatal Washington D.C. Car Accident

July 10, 2022 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

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.

Why Criminal Charges Do Not Guarantee Compensation Following a Washington, D.C. Car Accident

February 15, 2022 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

When you are the victim of a Washington, D.C. car accident, it may be difficult to navigate the legal fallout following the incident. For many people who are unfamiliar with the legal system, they may wrongly assume that if the at-fault party who caused their injuries is criminally charged, they will automatically receive compensation as the victim also. This is not the case.

According to a recent news report, a Washington Commanders player is now facing involuntary manslaughter charges following a fatal car accident. Local authorities reported that the player was driving more than 90 miles per hour in an area where the speed limit was 45 miles per hour when his car swerved off the road and flipped. The passenger in the car was a 29-year-old woman, who died following the accident.

In Maryland, like other states, personal injury claims are considered to be a civil issue, rather than a criminal one. Thus, just because the at-fault party may have been charged criminally, does not mean that you will automatically receive compensation. To receive compensation, potential plaintiffs will have to consider filing a personal injury lawsuit that is separate from the state’s criminal charges against the at-fault party.

Recovering from a Washington, D.C. Wrongful Death Accident

September 16, 2021 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

As drivers, we all try to maximize safety when navigating the road. Sometimes, however, there are things we cannot control. Even the most proactive and careful of drivers may experience bad weather, poor road conditions, or reckless drivers—all of which can have devastating consequences.

When a car accident takes place because of the negligence of another person, however, and the accident results in physical injury, significant property damage, or even death, those who are responsible can be held accountable for their negligent behavior.

According to a recent news report, three people were killed after a deadly head-on car accident. Police on the scene reported that a Chevrolet was going more than 100 miles per hour when it plowed into another vehicle heading in the opposite direction. The Chevrolet was speeding east in westbound lanes when it crashed head-on into a Toyota. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene, along with an additional passenger of the Chevrolet. Debris from the car accident also disabled a third vehicle, but the driver and its passenger did not need to be transported to the hospital for treatment. The investigation remains ongoing.

Claims of Bad Faith Against D.C. Insurance Companies

June 17, 2021 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

The aftermath of a car accident can be stressful, if not devastating, for many Washington, D.C. accident victims. Victims of D.C. car accidents often rely on insurance companies to resolve accident claims. But what can accident victims do when an insurer fails to act in good faith to resolve a claim?

What Is a Bad Faith Insurance Claim?

Under D.C. law, all contracts, including insurance contracts, contain an implied covenant for all parties to act in good faith. Parties to the contract may be able to recover damages for a breach of contract if a party fails to act in good faith. D.C. courts have not recognized a separate tort of bad faith by insurance companies in the handling of policy claims. However, in addition to breach of contract claims, there may be other claims relating to insurance contracts, such as fraud and negligent misrepresentation. Some states recognize a separate claim of bad faith. One recent case reflects how a claim of bad faith may be interpreted by a court.

In that case, a drunk driver hit a woman’s vehicle at a railroad crossing, causing it to crash into an oncoming train. The woman suffered permanent injuries, and her eight-year-old son was tragically killed in the crash. The other driver was arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter. He later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. The insurer of the drunk driver quickly offered a total of $20,000 to the woman and her son’s estate, amounting to the full bodily injury policy limits under the policy.