Washington, D.C. is not an easy place to drive. With numerous highways, bridges, round-a-bouts and a somewhat complex system of mostly one-way streets, the District of Columbia can be difficult to navigate even for those who have lived in the city for years. At the same time, Washington, D.C. is a city that sees an extraordinary number of tourists, many of whom rent cars. These tourists are often unaccustomed to the District’s layout, and can pose a serious hazard when trying to navigate the city’s unfamiliar roads.
Earlier this month, a wrong-way accident on Interstate 295 claimed the lives of two people and injured three others. According to a local news report covering the tragic accident, the collision occurred around shortly before 3 a.m. when a vehicle traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of Interstate 295 collided head-on with a Mercedes Benz. The vehicle then also collided with a Toyota Corolla.
Evidently, shortly after the initial collision, a Chevrolet Suburban was approaching the accident in the southbound lanes of I-295. The driver swerved to avoid the collision ahead of him. While the driver avoided the vehicles that had just been involved in the collision, the driver lost control of the Suburban, which collided with a concrete barrier.
The driver of the Suburban was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The wrong-way driver was hospitalized in critical condition, and later died from the injuries he sustained in the accident. The driver of the Toyota, as well as the passengers in the Suburban, were hospitalized with varying non-life-threatening injuries. Police are still investigating the cause of the accident.
Washington, D.C. Wrong-Way Car Accidents
Wrong-way car accidents are one of the deadliest types of Washington, D.C. car accidents. Often, the injuries in a wrong-way accident are so severe because they result in a head-on collision at a high rate of speed, as was the case above.
While tourists may be more likely to cause an accident due to their unfamiliarity with the area, out-of-town drivers are responsible for only a portion of the Washington, D.C. wrong-way car accidents that occur each year. Due to the fact that a wrong-way accident requires a motorist disregard signage that is designed to be very visible, Washington, D.C. wrong-way accidents are generally not the result of a momentary distraction or daydream. In fact, it is common that wrong-way accidents, especially those occurring on an interstate, are the result of the wrong-way driver driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Have You Been Injured in Washington, D.C. Car Accident?
If you or someone you love has recently been injured in a Washington, D.C. car accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation through a Washington, D.C. personal injury lawsuit. At the law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC, we represent injury victims in car accident cases across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Our team of dedicated Washington, D.C. personal injury attorneys work closely with our clients to ensure that each client receives fair compensation for their injuries. To learn more, call 410-654-3600 to schedule a free consultation today.