Car accidents occur every day due to many different reasons. Distracted drivers are the most common cause of accidents in the District of Columbia, especially with the advent and proliferation of cell phones. Drivers are often distracted and ignore what is on the road. Regardless of why the accident occurred, if a driver’s negligence caused an accident, you can pursue the claim. A local car accident lawyer can determine the exact cause of your wreck and help you hold the negligent driver accountable for your damages. Speak to an attorney to learn about the common causes of car accidents in DC and your legal options for seeking compensation.
The common causes of car accidents are spread far and wide. Much of it concerns how confusing various parts of the DC infrastructure can be. For example, those driving along K Street NW will notice two sections of road traveling in the same direction. Broken down more precisely, starting from right to left, there is a sidewalk, tree dox, parking lane, 12-foot drive lane, 11-foot buffer, and then a 46-foot drive lane with two lanes going in each direction. K Street is worth discussing because it intersects with DC’s major boulevards. Vermont Avenue, Connecticut Avenue, and 16th Street intersect with K Street. This means that K Street is one of the most important streets in DC, which relates to the city’s common causes of car accidents. Conveniently, it is also one block from our office downtown.
Studies have shown that K Street is less busy on the weekend. This indicates that K is used mainly as an avenue for commuters.
The common causes of car accidents in DC extend beyond the most commonly traveled streets. As prefaced above, K Street, for example, has two different sections of road, divided by a barrier, that travel in the same direction. This section of road is used partially for street parking and as a turning lane. Naturally, this becomes a common cause of car accidents as many drivers misunderstand these roads. They may try to turn right from the middle lanes, colliding with a car turning right from the far right lane. Or, one of the cars in the far right lane may try to go straight through the intersection, colliding with a car with the right of way going straight, not accounting for a car misunderstanding the rules of the road. Then, there are issues where commuters will use the far right lane to get ahead in traffic.
While this is still a negligence issue, it involves a greater degree of recklessness and leads to more accidents.
Another example of DC’s unique traffic laws that is a common cause of car accidents in DC is when Canal Road turns into a one-way road. This consistently confuses commuters going in and out of Maryland. While local drivers may understand the road signs after years of experience, they can be confusing for the uninitiated. The same is true for Kalorama Road NW between 18th Street and Columbia Road (westbound only), Wyoming Avenue NW between 18th and 19th Streets (eastbound only), and various stretches on streets like 26th Street NW, 32nd Street NW, and C Street NW, with specific directions depending on the location. Understandably, this is confusing and is a common cause of car accidents in Washington, DC.
A third example that is specific to Washington, DC, is the number of roundabouts. There are about 36 roundabouts in Washington, DC. Not only that, but there are several exits in many of these roundabouts, distinguishing DC roundabouts from many others across the country. Thus, drivers may not know when to get to the outer lane to prepare to exit. Or, they may be in the outer lane prematurely and are forced to exit at the wrong time. When this happens, many negligent drivers disobey traffic rules, causing accidents.
Motor vehicle crashes occur often in DC. There are a myriad of reasons why a collision could occur, including:
When someone drives drunk and causes an accident, there may be a criminal claim that is pursued by the police and the prosecutor’s office. However, it does not impact the value of the negligence claim of the claim for monetary damages for the bodily injury portion of a case. Whether the criminal claim is successful does not affect the injury claim’s value.
The statute of limitations in an auto accident claim means the point or the date by which any lawsuit must be filed to preserve the claim against the negligent party. The statute of limitations varies by the type of claim being pursued. A negligence claim has a three-year statute of limitations in the District of Columbia.
If the case is not settled or filed before the expiration of the statute of limitations, the case cannot be pursued further. One exception is if an injured party was a minor when the accident occurred, the three-year statute of limitations begins to run for their claim for pain and suffering once they turn 18. However, the parent’s claim for medical expenses does start from the date of the accident, as long as the parent begins to run from the date of the actual accident and has a three-year limitation.
Many forms of evidence could be used in a car accident case. Evidence from the accident could include any independent or eyewitness testimony to the accident. Other substantial evidence regarding an accident would consist of photographs from the scene, pictures of the property damage, scarring, medical bills and records, lost wage documentation, and tax returns. Once the case is filed, other evidence could include testimony from the client, or if any testimony was provided before litigation, if that testimony was recorded, then that could also be admissible.
In every car accident case, a police report may be filed in an accident, but that is typically not admissible. As a general rule, a police report is considered hearsay unless it is admissible, and that’s because the police officer is simply writing down what other people tell them about how the accident occurred. There are exceptions to the hearsay rule, and the report may come under an exception.
When a collision occurs, the courts will look at the actions of the plaintiff and the defendant to determine liability. In DC, if a plaintiff is even one percent at fault for causing the accident, then they are barred from recovery in most cases. There is an exception to the rule. Generally, minors under a certain age cannot be contributorily negligent. For example, depending on their age, they may not be considered contributorily negligent when a child runs out in front of a car. It is best to speak to a local attorney to learn more about the laws regarding contributory negligence.
If someone is injured in an accident after seeking medical treatment, they should retain the services of a dedicated attorney. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer could investigate the cause of the crash and help the injured person seek compensation from the responsible party. Contact us today to learn about the common causes of car accidents in DC.
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