Awarding punitive damages is rare in Washington, D.C., personal injury cases. For a case to qualify for punitive damages, a court must determine that the defendant went beyond ordinary negligence, demonstrating malice or intentionally harming someone. If you believe your claim might qualify for punitive damages, consult a knowledgeable D.C….
Electric scooters have become increasingly common on DC streets and sidewalks in recent years, especially as companies have begun operating shared scooter fleet businesses. To address this fact, the District of Columbia government has enacted laws to ensure that e-scooter riders remain safe by keeping accidents to a minimum. Before…
All motorcyclists in D.C. must follow The District’s strict laws. Among the most critical rules are the requirements that all riders have a motorcycle endorsement on their license, wear a safety helmet and eye protection, and ensure that their vehicle is registered and insured. D.C.’s motorcycle laws are designed to…
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be as debilitating and life-altering a consequence of an accident as any physical injury. According to a study of PTSD in motor vehicle crash patients, nearly 30 percent of traffic accident survivors suffer crash-related PTSD. Symptoms include flashbacks of the collision, distressing thoughts and emotions,…
A deadly collision on July 20, 2024, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, claimed the lives of three people after a FedEx truck overturned on a Honda Accord. 43-year-old father Donnell Hickson, his son Decir Hickson, 18, and daughter Kyla Hickson, 11, were driving on the PA Turnpike in Penn Township around…
If you are in an accident with a FedEx truck, the truck’s driver and, by extension, FedEx are the parties most likely to be liable for your injuries. However, other parties could also share legal responsibility. These include the manufacturer of the truck or its parts, the company that maintained…
As frustrating as it is to be tailgated, it is illegal in Virginia to respond by brake checking. If you do, you could face a reckless driving charge, usually a Class 1 misdemeanor, with penalties including license points, fines, and jail time. You could also be liable for an ensuing…
Virginia’s right-of-way laws govern traffic flow and help minimize accidents by defining who has the right to proceed in a given situation. When drivers, pedestrians, or cyclists fail to follow right-of-way laws, they can disrupt the traffic flow nearby, which can cause an accident. Make sure you know the rules…
When a loved one dies because of another’s actions, your family might be entitled to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit and a survival action. A wrongful death suit pursues money for the family’s losses. Survival actions seek compensation for the harm the deceased suffered before they died, with the money…
Virginia law generally holds people responsible for their own actions, and parents are not liable for the traffic accidents their children cause under most circumstances. However, there are exceptions, such as when parents negligently entrust a vehicle to an unsafe child. That said, while parents typically are not personally liable for…
