Washington D.C. Car Accident Attorneys

Motor Vehicle Accidents in Washington, D.C.

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If you have been seriously injured in an automobile accident, do not accept a settlement from an insurance company without first consulting an attorney at the Motor Vehicle Accident Law Offices of “insert attorney name” in Washington, D.C. You might be entitled to more compensation than the insurance company is willing to pay.

Overview

There are many reasons motor vehicle accidents occur:
- Driver negligence
- Road hazards
- Defects in the automobile
- Weather – rain, icy roads

Car accidents are the most common type of personal injury case in the courts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that an automobile accident happens every 10 seconds in the United States.

Motor Vehicle accidents are covered by the law of negligence except when the state has a No-Fault law.

If you have sustained physical injury, do not talk to anyone associated with the person who caused the accident.
- Example: the insurance company
- Do not accept a quick settlement

Make sure you take pictures of the damaged automobile – before it is repaired.

Do not delay in filing a lawsuit - Be aware that there are statutes of limitations.
- Investigating an automobile accident involves:
  - Talking to witnesses
  - Getting medical treatment and reports

Once a case is settled, you can not reopen it if you forgot a detail.
- Best time to file a lawsuit:
  - medical treatment has ended
  - your injuries have improved – you are fully recovered

Uninsured Motorist Coverage
- It is wise for you to have uninsured motorist coverage (UM) in your own policy.
- If you were injured by an uninsured driver, you can make a claim under your own policy.
- The same applies in the case of a hit and run driver.
- Once your claim is settled, the insurance company will sue the uninsured driver if they are known.
- If your policy has underinsured motorist coverage (UIM), your insurance company will pay the difference between the other driver’s policy and your own.

Wrongful Death
- The loss of a loved one due to the negligence of another person.
- In Washington, D.C., the heir of a person who died a wrongful death can sue for monetary damages.
- The court determines the financial loss by seeing how much the deceased earned, saved and the finances of the survivors.
- The court will also consider the funeral and medical expenses.
- Consult an attorney – there is a statute of limitation for action to be taken. Once this period of time expires, you can no longer file a lawsuit.

If an automobile accident takes place

Call the police immediately – do not attempt to settle
Wait for the police to arrive
Exchange information with the other driver:
- Name
- Address
- Telephone number
- Driver’s license
- Insurance company name and policy number
- Get all passenger and witness names (if any)
Call an attorney as soon as possible
Get a copy of the police report as soon as you can
Keep a disposable camera in your car - take photos of all damages

Who is at fault?

Determining who is at fault can be difficult.
The court looks at a number of factors, including:
- Driving drunk
- Did not signal when making a turn
- Did not stop at a light or stop sign
- Speeding or driving too slow
- Bad road conditions

What causes an automobile accident?

A reckless driver drives:
- unsafely with no regard for the next automobile
- speeds
- improperly changes lanes
- does not signal
- Etc.

A driver who is threatening or harassing – road rage for example.
- Criminal charges can be served
- Road rage is considered to be an assault – 60% of drivers consider unsafe driving by others
- Avoid aggressive drivers by:
  - getting out of their way
  - avoid eye contact
  - avoid gestures
  - pull over and call the police

Drunk Driving

A drunk driver causes a death-related accident every 30 minutes.
In one year, there were over one million people injured due to alcohol-related accidents.

Conclusion
If you have been involved in an automobile accident, contact an attorney at the Motor Vehicle Accident Law Offices of “insert attorney name”. We have helped hundreds of seriously injured people involved in car accidents and we have helped them secure compensation for these injuries.