Earlier this month in northwest Washington, D.C., a 79-year-old woman was killed while she was struck by a delivery truck. According to one local news source, the accident occurred at the intersection of 37th Street NW and Calvert Street NW.
Evidently, the grocery delivery truck was at the intersection facing southbound on 37th Street, waiting to make a right turn. As the truck made its turn, it struck the woman as she was crossing Calvert Street. The driver of the truck remained on the scene until police arrived. Sadly, the elderly woman was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident by emergency workers.
Peapod, the company that owned the grocery delivery truck, released the following statement: “On behalf of all of us at Peapod, we offer our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the person involved in the tragic accident in Glover Park this evening. We will cooperate with the investigation into this matter.”
The police investigation is still underway, and liability for the accident has not yet been assigned. However, as the investigation concludes, the driver of the truck may face criminal charges for his involvement.
Truck Accidents and Establishing Legal Liability
In Washington, D.C., establishing who is at fault in a truck accident is often a job left up to the police. A police investigation is most often very thorough and generally does a good job determining the underlying causes of the accident. Once police conclude an investigation, they may issue a traffic citation or file criminal charges, depending on the surrounding circumstances.
However, on occasion an accident victim or their family may take issue with the police department’s failure to find liability or failure to institute appropriate sanctions against the at-fault driver. In such a case, the accident victim or their family may be able to seek financial recovery through a negligence action filed against the allegedly negligent party.
Of course, if a defendant driver is issued a citation, recovering financially in a civil lawsuit against the driver may be easier. However, it is important to keep in mind that this is by no means a requirement. By speaking with an experienced attorney, an accident victim or their family will be able to gain a greater understanding of this area of law and what they can do to preserve their right to seek recovery.
Have You Been Involved in a Washington, D.C. Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a serious Washington, D.C. truck accident, you may be entitled to monetary damages. This may even be the case if the accident was initially determined to be a “no fault” accident by police. The skilled attorneys at the D.C. personal injury law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of experience protecting and enforcing the rights of injured Marylanders, Virginians, and residents of the District of Columbia. Call 410-654-3600 today to set up a free consultation.
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Maryland Appellate Court Defines Limitations on Injury Victims’ Insurance Coverage, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, May 1, 2015
Tyson Meat Company Recalls 15,000 Pounds of Contaminated Ground Beef Over E. Coli Concerns, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, June 10, 2015