Earlier this month on the Washington DC Metro, one woman died, and at least 84 others were injured when a Metro car filled with smoke. According to one news report, subway riders were escorted off the train through a tunnel, but not before dozens were exposed to the dangerous smoke.
Evidently, the incident occurred near the L’Enfant Plaza station at around 3:30 in the afternoon. One witness told reporters that suddenly smoke started pouring in from between the doors, filling the cabin in seconds. He went on to tell reporters that, while some of the passengers were fine, others started to react quickly and severely to the smoke in the cabin.
The cause of the smoke remains unknown, but it is assumed that it was nothing more than a fire and not any act of terrorism or other criminal act. Regardless, for the family of the one woman who died, and the many others who were seriously injured, the exact cause of the accident is not what is immediately important.
Determining Fault in Washington DC Accidents
Whenever someone is injured in any kind of accident in Washington DC, the first thing he or she should focus on is physical and mental recovery. Once the victim is well again, and not until then, he or she can begin to think about the possibility of getting compensated for the injuries he or she sustained in the accident.
In the District of Columbia, accident victims are entitled to recover monetary damages from those who caused the accident that resulted in their injuries. Proving a case of negligence—as it is called in legal terminology—sounds simple in theory but is more difficult in practice. Simply speaking, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant was somehow negligent and that the defendant’s negligence was the cause of the plaintiff’s injuries.
Once a plaintiff proves his or her case to a judge or jury, the case will move into another phase of the trial, where damages will be calculated. Often, damages include amounts for past and future medical expenses, past and future pain and suffering, lost wages, any decrease in earning capacity, and potentially punitive damages in cases when the defendant’s conduct was extraordinarily reckless. To learn more about negligence cases in Washington DC, contact a dedicated personal injury attorney.
Have You Been Injured in a Washington DC Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a serious Washington DC accident of any kind, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. However, given the laws in Washington DC, it may be difficult—or even impossible—for a plaintiff to recover if he or she is found to be at all at fault for the accident. Therefore, it is critical that you approach your case seriously from the outset in order to prevent any defendant from shifting even a small amount of blame onto you. Contact the dedicated Washington DC personal injury law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers today to set up a free initial consultation with an attorney today.
More Blog Posts:
Peanut Plant Responsible for Multiple Deaths Due to Salmonella Contamination, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, October 9, 2014
New Report Finds over 60 Virginia Children Have Died in Daycare Facilities Since 2004, Lack of Oversight Blamed, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, September 4, 2014
Misplaced Construction Sign Results in $100,000 Settlement with St. Louis County, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, August 21, 2014