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Washington, DC Personal Injury Lawyer

Gelb & Gelb, P.C. distinguishes itself by having Managing Partner Roger Gelb personally handle or oversee every case our firm accepts. Unlike most other firms, you will not be forced to navigate a maze of paralegals and legal assistants. You can speak directly to Mr. Gelb at any point during the course of your matter. Our excellent paralegals and legal assistants work behind the scenes. Mr. Gelb represents people who need a DC personal injury lawyer. This most commonly includes car accident victims, truck accident victims, and motorcycle accident victims. We also assist victims with workers’ compensation claims.

A personal injury claim may arise when someone is hurt because of the careless behavior of another person, such as a reckless driver or an incompetent doctor. These cases may also result from negligence by a business, such as a store that fails to maintain its property or a corporation that manufactures a defective product. We frequently handle cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, and nightclub injuries. We are happy to consul  you on any feasible case where you or someone you know is injured due to someone else’s negligence or intentional conduct. Victims have a right to pursue compensation from a defendant whose actions result in their harm.

If you have been hurt because someone failed to act with due care, Washington, DC personal injury lawyer Roger Gelb at Gelb & Gelb is here to assist you. We have offices in D.C. and in Maryland, and we are happy to assist those in Virginia who are seeking a car accident attorney or other personal injury claims.

    Free Case Consultation

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    Car Accidents

    With hundreds of thousands of motorists on the road in and around the District of Columbia (Washington, DC), Maryland, and Virginia, car accidents happen with unfortunate regularity. With driving being an everyday occurrence for many people, drivers often become too comfortable behind the wheel. Whether it be texting, drunk driving, or overall exhaustion, drivers have become complacent in risking the well being of everyone else on the road. When this happens, we quickly learn why driving is one of the most dangerous modes of transportation.

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    Pedestrian Accidents

    In Washington DC alone, there is over one pedestrian death per week (53 per year). Frequently, the fatalities are caused by a combination of the driver’s speeding and the pedestrian’s lack of protection. There are many reasons a pedestrian may be struck by a two ton vehicle, which is why it’s important to stay vigilant; here’s a list of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents:

    • Speeding/reckless driving
    • Hazardous weather conditions
    • Texting while driving
    • Alcohol use
    • Drug use
    • Overall tiredness
    • Running a red light
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    Bike Accidents

    According to the ROSPA, there were 18,844 reported cycling related injuries in 2015. What’s alarming about this number is that ROSPA estimates that number would be two to three times larger if we could count the unreported cases. While cycling related deaths have been decreasing in recent decades, the number of injuries is still very high. In fact, with the ever-increasing number of bikes on the streets, the chances of an accident occurring with bike involvement, continues to rise. In Washington, DC, the city now offers dedicated lanes and bike-share campaign which adds more bikes to the city’s streets.

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    Train Accidents

    Passenger train accident claims in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia are usually against Amtrak. Founded in 1971, Amtrak is the primary passenger rail service in America. While about 2/3’s of its passengers come from the 10 largest cities in the country, Amtrak’s headquarters is at Union Station here in Washington D.C. Making a claim against Amtrak, which is considered a quasi-governmental agency, requires a specific type of notice within a relatively short amount of time, in order to preserve the claim. Unfortunately, these types of cases aren’t uncommon. According to The Washington Post, from 2000-2014, there have been 447 derailments and 376 train-auto crashes.

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    Premises Liability

    When a young loved one is entrusted to the care of a daycare facility, it is particularly upsetting to learn of an injury to that minor child due to the negligence of the daycare provider. Often, in this situation, the child is very young, and typically not yet able to verbalize how they were injured. Thus, these types of claims typically require forensic evidence to support the claim, plus common sense. A great example is a case handled successfully by attorney Roger Gelb. In this particular case, a very young child, was taken to a day care facility in no apparent distress – not crying and not fussy in any way.

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    Motorcycle Accidents

    At Gelb and Gelb, we provide effective and efficient legal advocacy for people hurt by the negligent conduct of others. Washington, D.C. motor vehicle accident attorney Roger Gelb handles every case accepted, and is available for direct communication with clients throughout the course of representation. Vehicle accidents such as train collisions and bicycle accidents require careful analysis of the facts in order to recover damages. Whether you have been injured as a pedestrian on a sidewalk or as a passenger on the Metro, Attorney Gelb is prepared to strongly advocate your claim for compensation on your behalf. Our firm has represented over 10,000 clients, and can help you explore your options.

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    Truck Accidents

    Truck accident cases present different legal issues than those related to car accidents. A crash involving a commercial vehicle that may exceed 80,000 pounds can lead to devastating and often catastrophic consequences. If you or someone close to you has been hurt in a truck accident, you have the legal right to set forth a claim for damages from all at-fault parties. Federal and state safety regulations and law regulate the trucking industry, and a skilled Washington, D.C. truck accident lawyer can assess all potential avenues of compensation following a collision with a tractor-trailer.

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    Bicycle Accidents

    Bicycles offer many residents of DC a practical and economical mode of transportation. Despite their advantages, bikes also carry serious safety risks. When a cyclist collides with a car or truck, the bike rider typically gets the worst of it. In many cases, these accidents have long-term or even fatal consequences.

    If you sustained severe injuries in a bicycle accident, you might be entitled to monetary compensation.

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    Wrongful Death

    Wrongful death law is among the most devastating parts of personal injury law. If you have lost a family member, you may be entitled to pursue a wrongful death action. Unfortunately, there is no remedy under the law which will provide a family member with anything that can fill the void created by the death of a loved one. We understand this. Our experienced attorneys will fight to ensure that you receive every dollar you are entitled to under the law.

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    Nightclub Injury

    Nightclubs or bars are meant to be a place to unwind and have fun with friends. Unfortunately, where alcohol is involved, injuries can occur. If you are injured due to a bouncer or other patron’s negligent or intentional conduct, you may be entitled to compensation. Our firm has been handling injury cases since 1954. We look forward to hearing from you.

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    Pursuing Fair Compensation
    LEGAL ELEMENT

    For a successful personal injury case, the victim (“plaintiff”) generally must show negligence on the part of the adverse driver (“defendant”). To do so, the plaintiff must prove the elements of duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages. In other words, the defendant must have failed to act with the appropriate level of care under the circumstances. Further, the accident must be an actual and foreseeable cause of this failure. The plaintiff must establish each of these elements by a preponderance of the evidence. In simpler terms, the jury must believe their version of events is more believable than the defendant’s version.

    A defendant may try to argue that the plaintiff did not act with the appropriate level of care. Washington, DC and Maryland are both contributory negligence jurisdictions. So, this defense may defeat the plaintiff’s case entirely and bar the right to compensation. However, there are exceptions in the caselaw. Skillful DC personal injury lawyer Roger Gelb understands how to fight back against contributory negligence defenses. Our legal team can use its decades of experience to win your case.

    MONETARY ELEMENT

    In a successful personal injury case, a plaintiff should receive compensation for all reasonable damages causally related to the accident. This can include past, present, and prospective, both special and general. Damages are an essential element of a victim’s prima facie case for negligence. To recover any damages in a negligence claim, your legal team must prove that you did suffer the harm. In addition, the fact that the extent of your harm is not foreseeable by the defendant does not relieve him or her from liability. This is the “eggshell plaintiff” rule.

    This may apply where you already have preexisting injuries that have been aggravated. The law in DC treats this as a new injury. Our DC personal injury lawyers have decades of experience. They understand the value of your case once you finish treating and your case is ready for trial. While the insurance company’s goal is to pay you as little as possible, we fight to make sure that does not happen.

    Depending on your unique facts, you may be able to recover both economic and non-economic damages from a defendant that a court holds liable. These damages may include compensation for medical expenses, including the likely costs of future treatment or procedures that you will foreseeably need. Victims may also obtain reimbursement for lost wages and loss of future earning capacity. They generally receive compensation for the pain and suffering that they went through. A court also considers any reduction in their quality of life due to the accident.

    In addition, plaintiffs may obtain compensation for property damage. We can measure your recovery for property damage two ways, depending on the extent of damage. For more minor damage, a court will consider the reasonable cost of repair. Or, if the property is destroyed, you will receive its fair market value at the time of the accident. Roger Gelb understands the many ways in which your life may change due to someone else’s carelessness. He will work diligently to prove the full range of damages in your case.

    Our Firm Has Successfully Settled, Litigated or Arbitrated Thousands of Personal Injury Cases, Recovering Over $100,000,000.00 for our Clients

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    Importance of a DC Injury Lawyer For Your Claim

    Experience matters. If you believe you have a viable claim, choose a law firm you can trust that has been serving our community for nearly 70 years. Our goal, in addition to ensuring you obtain maximum compensation, is to make this process simpler for you. This means answering any questions you may have. It also means giving you the peace of mind to focus solely on your recovery. Let us handle the legal work as we have been doing since 1954.

    If you have recently been hurt and believe that your injuries are due to someone else’s careless conduct, you owe it to your family and yourself to seek the services of a knowledgeable DC personal injury lawyer. To schedule a free, confidential case evaluation, call Gelb & Gelb at 202-331-7227 or contact us online. We handle cases on a contingent fee basis. This means take a fee only if and when we obtain compensation for you. Roger Gelb also represents people throughout Maryland and Virginia who need a motor vehicle collision or medical malpractice attorney. He also provides counsel in most other personal injury claims.