Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog
After a D.C. car accident, victims may be suffering from physical injuries as well as dealing with the financial losses of property damages, lost wages, and medical expenses. To hold a negligent party responsible for the victim’s losses after a crash, a victim may be able to file a Washington, D.C. negligence claim.
What Does a Car Accident Victim Need to Prove to Recover Money Damages?
In a negligence claim after a car crash, a plaintiff has to prove that the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff, that the defendant deviated from the applicable standard of care, and that there is a causal relationship between that deviation and the plaintiff’s injury. The plaintiff bears the burden of proving these issues.
To show the applicable standard of care and that the defendant deviated from the applicable standard of care, an expert may be required if the subject area is beyond the knowledge of the average juror. To prove a causal relationship, a plaintiff must show that the defendant was a proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injury. Proximate cause has two components: cause-in-fact and a “policy element.” In deciding whether an injury is a cause-in-fact of a plaintiff’s injury, a plaintiff must show that the defendant’s negligent conduct was a substantial factor in bringing about the harm. Proximate caused has been a cause “which, in natural and continual sequence, unbroken by any efficient intervening cause, produces the injury, and without which the result would not have occurred.” The policy element of proximate cause limits liability based on the foreseeability of the injury—according to D.C. courts, a defendant may not be held liable if the chain of events that led to the plaintiff’s injury was “highly extraordinary in retrospect.” Generally, proximate cause is a question of fact for the jury to decide.
D.C. Police Cars Crash After Alleged Drag Race
Two D.C. metro police cars crashed recently after they were allegedly caught on camera drag racing on a narrow residential street in the city, according to one news source. Footage of the incident was caught on one of the officer’s body cameras. It reveals that the officers began speeding down a road near the Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens when one vehicle pulled up alongside the other car and swerved into it, causing both cars to crash. Both police vehicles had two officers inside each and all four officers were treated for minor injuries. The Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Chief of Police called the incident “embarrassing” and in a subsequent news conference. One officer was reportedly fired while the other three continue to be investigated.
D.C. Personal Injury Lawyers Fighting for the Rights of Victims
When you are dealing with the aftermath of a Washington, D.C. car crash or another accident, you cannot afford to go it alone or take any chances. At Lebowitz & Mzhen, our attorneys take pride in advocating for the rights of victims against careless drivers, incompetent health care providers, and other defendants, as well as their insurers. With decades of combined experience, we are familiar with the complex issues that can arise in personal injury cases. To schedule a free consultation, call us toll-free at (800) 654-1949 or can contact us online.