Unfortunately there were at least 4 horrific car accidents in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area causing eight deaths and numerous personal injuries in the DC Area between Friday August 12, 2011 and Saturday August 13, 2011. At about 4 am on Friday a 2004 Mercedes Benz lost control and crashed into a utility pole in the 1300 block of Southern Avenue SE, Washington, D.C. The car caught on fire, and by the time ambulance workers arrived at the D.C. car crash scene, two juveniles were trapped in the burning vehicle and had died. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the D.C. area families who lost loved ones in these crashes. While I am sure these families are not immediately focused on their legal rights, it is important that Washington, D.C. residents know that there is a one year statute of limitations for wrongful death claims in Washington, D.C. and that any claim against the D.C. Government requires that notice be sent according to the procedures in 12-309 of the D.C. Code within 180 days of the incident. D.C. area family members who have lost a loved one in a Washington, D.C. car crash should strongly consider hiring an experienced car crash lawyer to help make sure that all deadlines are complied with. Furthermore, an attorney can generally make sure that a proper investigation is done and that crucial evidence is preserved for Wrongful Death and Survival claims.
District of Columbia residents should know that August is one of the most dangerous times to be on the road. AAA's local office for the mid-atlantic region reports that the deadliest driving period is from August 1 through Labor Day Weekend. This is because a lot of D.C. area motorists are travelling long distances for vacations during this time period. If you have a family member involved in a serious car crash in Washington, D.C. it is important to know that there may be Personal Injury Protection benefits available to help pay for the funeral. In Washington, D.C. PIP benefits are not mandatory on all car insurance policies but it seems that most insurance policies sold by reputable D.C. insurance agents include this coverage. If a Washington, D.C. resident lived in Maryland when the car insurance was purchased, there almost definitely will be at least $2,500.00 of PIP benefits available to help pay for funeral expenses. This personal injury protection money (aka "PIP Money") is available regardless of who was at fault for the fatal car crash and the claim can be made by the next of kin or Personal Representative of the D.C. resident's estate.
Since the minimum limits of automobile liability insurance in Washington, D.C. is only $25,00000 a lawyer can be helpful in identifying additional potential defendants if a person dies due to the negligence of someone else in the District. For example, a lawyer can investigate whether the D.C. Government (and make sure the 180 day deadline is complied with) may be at fault for not making appropriate repairs to the roadway. A Washington, D.C. car accident lawyer can investigate the facts to find out if the driver was on a work related phone call, and if they were, then the employer may be have a larger insurance policy and can be brought in based on agency law and respondeat superior.
