Highway driving involves greater speed than driving on surface streets, and as a result, vehicle accidents on these roads often lead to severe injuries. When drivers fail to exercise caution behind the wheel and cause a collision, they may be held legally responsible for any resulting harm. At Gelb & Gelb, DC highway car accident lawyer Roger Gelb represents vehicle collision victims in their claims for compensation. Mr. Gelb’s experience and tenacity have earned him accolades as a top personal injury lawyer in the region.
Most importantly, car accident lawyer Roger Gelb takes pride in personally handling every case and directly interacting with clients throughout the process. Having represented thousands of clients and secured verdicts and settlements in the multi-millions, Mr. Gelb and the team at Gelb & Gelb are prepared to set forth a claim on your behalf. Our office helps accident victims throughout the Washington, D.C., area.
Due to the rate of impact, damages, and injuries can be particularly severe in highway collisions. Additionally, small passenger vehicles share the highway with large trucks and SUVs, and collisions involving these massive vehicles tend to lead to serious harm, including fatalities. Multiple vehicle pile-ups rear-end collisions, and accidents while merging are common types of highway vehicle accidents.
Unfortunately, driver negligence causes many highway accidents. This legal term refers to a failure to exercise reasonable care. All drivers must avoid injuring others and use caution behind the wheel. If drivers exhibit careless conduct or fail to meet their duty of care, they may be liable for any resulting harm. Examples of negligent driving can include excessive speeding, texting while operating a vehicle, following too closely, or tailgating.
As the victim plaintiff in a personal injury lawsuit following a highway accident, the injured individual usually asserts that the defendant driver’s negligence caused the collision that led to their harm. To prove negligence, the victim shows that the driver owed them a duty of care, breached this duty, and directly caused the accident and injuries. Regarding a duty of care, all drivers must conduct themselves reasonably while behind the wheel. The law requires that drivers be reasonably careful.
Witness statements or police reports detailing the at-fault driver’s actions may show a breach of duty of care. For example, if a police report confirms that the driver was speeding and lost control, it supports the victim’s negligence claim. This violation demonstrates that a reasonable driver would have acted differently.
Showing that the driver’s negligence caused the victim’s injuries means that the crash and resulting harm would not have occurred without the driver’s negligent conduct. Legally, there cannot be other intervening causes for the collision. The defendant may sometimes assert that the victim contributed to the crash. Contributory negligence is a legal defense that bars a plaintiff from recovering damages if they had any role in causing the accident. DC follows this strict rule, meaning even minimal fault can prevent compensation. A skilled DC highway car accident lawyer can build a strong counterargument to challenge this defense.
As the final step in a personal injury claim after a highway vehicle crash, the victim will set forth their monetary and non-monetary losses. The injured individual places a dollar amount on their harm, which includes financial, emotional, and physical suffering. Monetary damages include medical costs for past hospital care, as well as future medical needs and rehabilitation. Lost wages from work missed due to injuries and property damage suffered in the crash will be calculated. Non-monetary losses tend to be more challenging to assess. For some individuals, the pain and suffering that accompany an accident center upon emotional distress.
If a highway accident was fatal for a loved one, a wrongful death claim by family members may be appropriate. The judge or jury will set the damages available in this case, including burial costs and medical bills. If the deceased was the primary wage earner for the family, lost wages and benefits may also be appropriate. For all wrongful death claims, it is important to abide by the statute of limitations.
The highways in Washington, DC, are some of the busiest in the region. They see so much travel every day because they are providing a means of transportation for commuters. DC is known for its population, which has nearly doubled during the workday, increasing by about 80%. While DC is not the most populous city in the Country, it is home to some of the busiest and hardest working people in the country. Anyone who has commuted even once into DC knows how brutal traffic can be. Below, we highlight the five busiest and most dangerous highways on which our DC highway car accident lawyers represent clients.
I-395 connects Virginia to downtown DC and features high-speed merges, sudden lane shifts, and frequent construction zones. The 3rd Street Tunnel adds hazard due to reduced visibility and limited shoulder space, making accidents more severe. If you are a Virginia resident and your car accident happens on I-395, our DC highway car accident lawyers will gladly assist.
I-295 runs along the eastern side of DC and is a major route for commuters from Maryland. This highway is notorious for speeding, aggressive driving, and frequent bottlenecks near the 11th Street Bridge and Pennsylvania Avenue exits. As with Virginia residents on I-395, our DC highway car accident lawyers regularly represent accident victims who reside in Maryland but are injured in DC. Moreover, if the defendant also resides in Maryland, we may file a lawsuit in a Maryland District or Circuit Court despite the accident occuring in the District. Contact our office today for legal advice pertinent to the facts of your case.
I-695 runs from Anacostia, past Navy Yard, until it connects with I-395. This highway can get particularly busy during a Nationals game.
New York Avenue, also known as US-50, connects downtown Washington, DC, to I-95, I-495, and Baltimore. It is the main road east out of the District and is almost always busy, no matter the time of day.
Canal Road NW is a scenic yet confusing highway in Washington, DC, connecting commuters from Montgomery County. Anyone who has traveled on Canal Road during rush hour quickly understands why it is so dangerous. In the morning, as long as it is not a federal holiday, traffic only goes in one direction towards DC. At the end of the day, the direction reverses. But in the middle of the day and on the weekend, traffic is normal and goes in both directions. This seems to confuse locals, so it can be especially dangerous when someone from outside the area is traveling down this road. If you are in an accident on Canal, speak with a DC highway car accident lawyer to weigh your options.
Attorney Roger Gelb understands that accident victims often feel overwhelmed by medical bills, property damage, and life-altering challenges. At Gelb & Gelb, we work with you to pursue the compensation you deserve. For years, Mr. Gelb has passionately advocated for accident victims, and he understands how to approach and counter insurance company arguments that seek to diminish claims. Contact our office today to learn more about your legal options. A free consultation can be scheduled by calling (202) 331-7227 or filling out our online form.
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