Kadri Atalay, a 42-year-old man from Gaithersburg, Maryland, was charged with committing second-degree murder, after driving his Mercedes SUV on the wrong side of Wisconsin Avenue, NW, in Washington D.C. and hitting a Chrysler Sebring that was being driven by a 29-year-old DC man. The 29-year-old man was later declared dead at the Medstar trauma unit of the Washington Hospital Center.
Atalay is also being treated at the Washington Hospital Center for injuries that are non-life threatening. Preliminary reports say that speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol may have caused the collision. The speed limit on Wisconsin Avenue is 25 miles/hour.
Damages From Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Accidents
If you have a loved one who has been killed in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. In Washington D.C., you have one year from the time of the accident to file a wrongful death claim. Unlike many states, the District of Columbia does not have a wrongful death cap for the amount of reward damages that may be brought.
Fatalities In Car Collisions
Every year, thousands of people in the United States are killed in car accidents. In 2003 alone, over 38,000 fatalities involving car accidents occurred on U.S. roads, killing 42,643 people. Fatal car crashes are a major cause of death for people 5-27 years of age. When these fatalities occur because someone else on the road was acting negligently or carelessly, the surviving family members of the person who has been killed have a right to be financially compensated for their suffering and loss. Over 5,000 pedestrians are also killed every year because of fatal car crashes.
Main Causes of Fatalities Occurring During Car Crashes:
· Speeding
· Driving under the influence
· Tiredness
· Recklessness
· Aggressive driving
· Not paying attention to roads or driving conditions
· Not wearing a safety belt or helmet
· Not stopping at red lights
· Faulty design of the vehicle
· Vehicle malfunction
If you have been injured in a car accident or someone you love has been killed because of another person’s negligence on the road, please call Lebowitz and Mzhen. We are a personal injury law firm that represents clients in the Washington D.C. area and throughout the state of Maryland. Your initial consultation with us is free, so contact Lebowitz and Mzhen today.
Driver Charged Following Deadly Crash, Washington Post, February 16, 2007
Accident Kills Man On Wisconsin Avenue, NBC4.com, February 16, 2007
Related Web Resource:
Personal Injury Statute of Limitations