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Auto accidents are a serious problem in the United States, and recent data shows that numbers are only getting worse. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration* (NHTSA), there were an estimated 42,915 people killed in auto accidents nationwide in 2021. This number represents a 10.5% increase from the 38,824 deaths seen in 2020, as well as the highest auto-accident fatality rate seen since 2005.
If you are injured in an auto accident at little to no fault of your own, you should speak to an experienced Washington D.C. car accident attorney as soon as possible to preserve your right to compensation from the at-fault party. Since 1911, the car accident lawyers at Marks & Harrison have helped injury victims fight for the full and fair compensation they deserve.
Explore the results we have secured on behalf of our clients here, and do not hesitate to contact us today for a free consultation with a compassionate car accident attorney near you.
What Kinds of Car Accidents Do We Handle?
The majority of auto accidents involve a straightforward collision between two standard passenger vehicles. That said, there are many other kinds of auto accidents as well. In our many decades of helping accident victims secure compensation for their injuries, we have seen them all. Contact our Washington D.C. car accident lawyer today.
Among other things, our car accident attorneys have the experience and skill to handle:
- Impaired driving accidents
- Distracted driving accidents
- Uber/Lyft accidents
- Work zone accidents
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist accidents
- Tractor-trailer accidents
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
Leading Causes of Car Accidents in Washington, D.C.
Because each auto accident is different, it is best to avoid generalized discussions of causation. Instead, auto accidents should be evaluated based on the unique circumstances of each case. In many instances, if not most, multiple factors will conspire to give rise to an accident.
Some of the most common factors we see in cases handled by our car accident injury law firm include:
- Impaired driving
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy driving
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving and road rage
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Ignoring traffic signs and signals
- Unsafe turns, lane changes, and merges
- Following too closely
- Mechanical defects
- Poor road conditions
- Inclement weather
No matter the circumstances, our experienced legal team is ready to evaluate your case. The sooner you consult with one of our car accident lawyers, the sooner they can get started investigating your accident and compiling evidence to build a strong claim on your behalf.
How Is Fault Evaluated in a Car Accident?
Establishing fault is the primary hurdle plaintiffs must overcome to secure compensation for injuries sustained in an auto accident at little to no fault of their own. There are several legal concepts that may come into play when evaluating fault for an auto accident. This section explores each in turn.
- Negligence – Most personal injury claims, including those involving car accidents, will begin by alleging negligence. This legal jargon simply refers to a failure to take precautions that a “person of ordinary prudence” would in a similar circumstance to avoid causing harm to others. Examples of negligence include things like failing to check blind spots before merging or following too closely behind another vehicle.
- Negligence per se– Normally, proving negligence requires a close and contextualized look at all the facts in each case. However, in cases where the at-fault party caused an accident by violating a law specifically designed to keep everyone safe, the violation itself may serve as automatic evidence of negligence per se. Because there are so many rules designed to keep road users safe (e.g., laws against running red lights, intoxicated driving, and using your cell phone while driving), this legal doctrine comes up frequently in car accident cases.
- Contributory negligence– This refers to situations in which an injured party seeking compensation was partly at fault for the accident. Unfortunately, D.C. is one of the few jurisdictions left in the United States that still prohibits injured parties from recovering any compensation when they contributed even slightly to the underlying cause of an accident. Therefore, it is important to have an experienced attorney in your corner who can push back hard when the at-fault party tries to pin the blame on you.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Car Accident Lawsuit?
Once liability is established, injured victims in car accidents may receive a wide variety of legal compensation. Depending on the case, they may be compensated for both economic and non-economic losses, including things like:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lowered earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lowered quality of life
- Wrongful death
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Damaged personal property
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Filing a Car Accident Claim in Washington?
Injured victims normally have three years from the date of a car accident to file a lawsuit seeking compensation from the at-fault party. This deadline is strictly enforced and subject to very few exceptions. Failure to file your case on time will result in your case being dismissed and the destruction of your legal right to seek compensation in civil court.
This result will also have the collateral effect of destroying your leverage in out-of-court settlement negotiations with the at-fault party and their insurers. To avoid the devastating consequences a late filing can have on your case, speak to a car accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident. This is the best way to ensure that your case gets off to a strong start.
What Should You Do After a Car Accident?
The top priority after any accident is your well-being. Therefore, the first thing to do is evaluate your own injuries, followed by those of any passengers riding in your vehicle. Seek medical attention as needed, including by calling 911 for emergency assistance in cases involving life-threatening injuries.
Once you have taken these initial steps to protect your safety and that of your passengers, you can begin thinking proactively about preserving your right to compensation from the at-fault party.
Take the following steps to begin laying a strong foundation for your car accident case:
- Report all accidents to the police for documentation in an authoritative police report.
- Use your phone to collect photographic and video evidence of your injuries, damage to all vehicles involved, road and weather conditions, signs of intoxicated driving, and nearby surveillance equipment.
- Talk to the other driver and collect their name, contact information, vehicle registration number, driver’s license number, insurer name, and insurance policy number.
- Identify witnesses and collect their contact information.
- Save all medical treatment and billing records related to the accident to be used as evidence in your case.
- Avoid posting about your accident on social media.
- Report the accident to your own auto insurer if the governing policy requires you to do so.
- Do not provide a recorded statement, sign a medical record release, admit fault, or accept a settlement offer from the at-fault party’s insurer before securing legal representation.
- Consult with a car accident attorney so they can start building a strong claim on your behalf.
Contact a Washington, D.C., Car Accident Lawyer Today
At Marks & Harrison, we maintain our century-long commitment to excellence by providing the best legal representation possible to each and every one of our clients. With 26 car accident lawyers, over 100 support staffers, and decades of experience fighting for the rights of injury victims, we are ready to help you along the path toward maximum compensation. Contact us today to get started with a free consultation with a Washington, D.C., car accident lawyer.
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