FATAL CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS IN WASHINGTON, DC
Fatal Car Accidents in Washington, DC
When a loved one is killed in a fatal car accident in Washington DC, the trauma that the family endures is significant. During this time, there are a a whole mess of other factors that are vying for your time and attention, all while you are trying to grieve, and put the pieces back together.
If you believe that your loved one has been killed as the result of someone else's negligence in a fatal car crash in the District of Columbia, you should contact an experienced car accident attorney right away. Joe Blaszkow and his team know how difficult this time is for you, and we can help shield you from some of the stresses, and let you grieve while we investigate.
Every fatal car accident case is different, and requires unique time and attention. Because of how complicated these wrongful death cases can be, it is important that you engage a lawyer who has fought and won in these kinds of cases.
Who is the Responsible Party?
There may be multiple responsible parties in the event of a fatal DC car accident, both individuals and companies. There may be a government party involved, if the vehicle was owned by an arm of the government, or being driven on government business. There may be criminal proceedings as well, such as DUI charges arriving from the accident against the at-fault driver.
There are a lot of deadlines that start running if you wish to pursue a wrongful death claim, from filing the appropriate notice to coordinating insurance coverage. It is vital that you contact an experienced car accident lawyer right away. Once you do, we can begin investigating, and working to hold the negligent parties responsible.
How We Investigate Fatal DC Car Accidents
Blaszkow Legal's team of attorneys, investigators and paralegals begins to investigate a case as soon as we are retained. This involves a deep dive into the crash, so we can find out a) what happened, b) how, and c) why.
A competent investigation begins with facts, and we set to work to develop those facts right away.
Camera Footage - cameras don't lie, and they don't misinterpret. This footage can be essential in these cases, especially when an insurance company tries to argue that the decedent caused the crash. However, camera footage does not last forever! Many camera systems record footage for a finite period, and then overwrite the recorded footage to make room for new stuff. This loop can last for 30 days, but in some systems, that time is even shorter. The sooner you get us on the case, the sooner we can begin our review of the scene, to search for these cameras.
Witness Statements - witnesses are another excellent source of information. But, just like camera footage, a witness's memory can fade over time, and become less reliable, and less clear. We work to interview witnesses and preserve their recollections as soon as possible, so the information is preserved. This can be done in certain circumstances via recorded interview statements.
Scene Reconstruction - an independent review of the scene of the fatal car accident is also vital. This includes taking measurements of nearby items such as telephone poles and trees, so that video footage can be reconstructed and speeds calculated (which involves some rather complicated math!). Construction happens all the time in the Capital, so we want to see the area as it was on the day of the crash - not a year after!
Lawsuits for Fatal Car Accidents
While it is true that most car accident cases will settle without litigation, the same is not true for fatal car accidents. A fatal car accident is considered a wrongful death claim. A wrongful death lawsuit is the final part of the process when trying to get justice when you have lost a loved one. However, there are a lot of things that have to be done before this lawsuit is filed.
In order to bring a wrongful death claim, we have to prove that your loved one died has the result of someone's negligence, carelessness, recklessness, or intentional action (through our investigation).
Of course, before filing a wrongful death lawsuit, we have to establish all of the negligent parties, as we may need to properly name them all (in the lawsuit).
Fatal Auto Accidents and Roadblocks to Recovery
Washington DC is one of the jurisdictions that practices the contributory negligence doctrine. That means that the person who has been harmed, meaning your loved one, cannot have been responsible for the happening of the accident. If for example, your loved one was killed because a drunk driver was illegally and dangerously joy riding through town, but your loved one did not stop at a red light or stop sign, the insurance companies are going to use those facts to attack, and potentially defeat you and your family's claim. A person bringing a claim cannot be even 1% responsible for the accident.
Fighting for Justice After a Fatal DC Car Accident
If your loved one was killed in a fatal crash in the District of Columbia, you and your are grieving. We know this, and we understand that. However, because of the need to investigate the case to preserve your rights, you have got to talk to an attorney. We cannot promise it will be an easy conversation, but once you have retained a lawyer, that lawyer can take some of the stress away from you: insurance, debtors, the press, and more. The attorneys job is not only to investigate the claim, but also to shield you so you and your family can process, and work to rebuild lives shattered by your loss.
Joe Blaszkow and his team are ready to fight for justice for your family, to hold the negligent parties accountable, and get your family the compensation it deserves. No amount of money can bring your loved one back, but we can make sure the guilty parties pay, and are held responsible.
Call today for a free consultation - 703-879-5910