Washington, D.C. Beltway Accident Lawyer
When you are involved in an accident on the Washington, D.C. Beltway, it is important to have a lawyer who knows the area and can help you get the compensation you deserve.
If you have been hurt or lost a loved one in an accident on the Capital Beltway, the Baltimore Beltway, or supporting highways, including I-495, I-695, I-95, I-295, D.C. and Maryland 295, I-270, I-66, or the Springfield Interchange (the “Mixing Bowl”), the personal injury lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel, P.C. can help. Please contact us today for a free initial consultation.
The Capital Beltway
The Washington, D.C. metro area is home to some of the busiest highways in the United States. The Capital Beltway, also known as Interstate 495 (I-495), loops around Washington, D.C., and travels through the suburbs of Alexandria and Fairfax County in Virginia and Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties in Maryland.
The Capital Beltway is popular for commuters from the area who work in the city, those traveling up or down the east coast, and tourists. It’s 64 miles long and consists of an inner and outer loop.
High volume, constant construction, complex structure, and a mixture of local, commercial, and long-distance commuter traffic make driving these highways a deadly danger that many people are forced to risk daily.
The Dangers of Driving on The Capital Beltway
For decades lawmakers have been calling for increased emphasis on the safety of the Washington, D.C. Capital Beltway, the Baltimore Beltway, and supporting highways in both Maryland and Virginia. Numerous efforts have been made to improve the safety of the roads, but they remain some of the more dangerous highways in America.
HIGH VOLUME, HIGH-RISK
Construction of the Capital Beltway began in 1955, although it did not take the name officially until Maryland and Virginia’s officials approved it in 1960. When construction began, its planners did not imagine the volume of traffic it would one day have to carry. As a result, the entire Capital Beltway system, its feeder highways, and major connected routes are all subject to high levels of congestion daily.
Congestion leads not only to delays but also to frustration and car accidents. With the high level of traffic, a simple one-or two-car accident often becomes a chain reaction and leads to many-car pileups.
CONSTRUCTION: SOLUTION AND CONTRIBUTING CAUSE
Because its designers initially imagined a more modest level of traffic, many sections of the road originally had only four lanes. To keep up with increasing traffic volumes, many major construction projects have been primarily aimed at widening the roads.
The current plan is to increase the lanes in most sections up to twelve but to accomplish this has required numerous roadway construction projects that may last up to a decade. These construction projects often contribute to congestion by narrowing existing roadways in the short term. They can also create a greater likelihood of accidents since they change the normal pattern of merging.
Large trucks can be especially dangerous in construction zones. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) data, about a quarter of all vehicle fatalities in construction zones are due to large truck accidents. Construction zone traffic accidents involve a complex web of responsible parties. Our experienced truck accident lawyers know how to unravel the web and identify the best threads to weave into your case.
COMPLICATED INTERCHANGES
The dangers of driving on the Capital Beltway, Baltimore Beltway, and supporting roads are increased by the complicated nature of some of the exchanges. Complicated exchanges can force drivers to merge rapidly or move across several lanes of traffic to get where they want to be.
While additional lanes can help accommodate the higher volume, these additional lanes can become additional hazards when attempting to negotiate a complex intersection like the Springfield Interchange, sometimes called the “Mixing Bowl,” in Virginia, once rated one of America’s deadliest interchanges.
Some intersections are poorly designed and unreasonably dangerous. We can help you determine whether an unsafe highway contributed to your crash.
MIXED TRAFFIC
Part of the danger of the Capital Beltway and Baltimore Beltway is that these roads carry a complex mixture of traffic. Traffic includes bored and potentially distracted commuters driving the same road day after day and traffic carrying freight from major ports to destinations all up and down the East Coast. The combination becomes potentially deadly when you add to this tourist traffic and other visitors to the Washington, D.C. area. Complicated interchanges become even more dangerous when navigated by drivers unfamiliar with the area.
Causes of Beltway Accidents in Washington, D.C.
Many factors can contribute to accidents on the Beltway, including:
Speeding: Speeding is one of Washington’s most common causes of accidents in D.C. and speeding is often a factor in accidents on the Beltway.
Distracted Driving: Distracted driving is another leading cause of accidents in Washington, D.C. Drivers texting, talking on the phone, or otherwise not paying attention to the road are more likely to cause accidents.
Reckless Driving: Reckless driving is another problem on the Beltway. Drivers who tailgate other vehicles and weave in and out of a traffic lane or drive aggressively are more likely to cause accidents.
What to Do After a Car Accident on the Beltway
If you are involved in a car accident on the Beltway, you should do a few things to ensure your safety and protect your rights.
- Move your vehicle to the shoulder of the road if possible. If you cannot move your vehicle, turn on your hazard lights and stay inside your car.
- Call the state police and report the accident. Be sure to give the dispatcher your location and the number of vehicles involved in the accident.
- Do not leave the scene of the accident until the police arrive.
- Exchange information with the other driver, including your name, contact information, insurance company, and policy number.
- Take pictures of the accident scene if possible.
- See a doctor as soon as possible, even if you do not think you were injured. Injuries such as whiplash and concussions do not always immediately show symptoms.
- Contact a Washington, D.C. car accident lawyer to discuss your case.
What We Can Do For You
The Washington, D.C. car accident lawyers with Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. have a proven track record of success in helping clients obtain the maximum compensation possible for injuries they have suffered due to the negligence of others. Our firm has consistently demonstrated we have the expertise needed to help our clients see that justice is served. We have the resources needed to conduct thorough investigations of all the circumstances contributing to a motor vehicle accident, gathering the evidence to establish negligence and other types of liability.
Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. has obtained more than $500 million in verdicts and settlements, and our attorneys have more than a century of combined legal experience. Two of our partners are certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Our firm has also earned the highest AV® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, the most respected attorney-ranking service organization in the United States. Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. attorneys work passionately on behalf of our clients to help them secure fair compensation – there is no type of case that is too complex for us to litigate.
We Get You The Compensation You Deserve
The lawyers at https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/iStock-912151500-scaled-1.jpg have years of experience representing clients in Beltway accidents. We know how to get results, and we will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Here are some of the settlements we have obtained for our clients:
- $6 million for a client who suffered a brain injury after being involved in a rear-end collision.
- $4.8 million for a severely injured client after another vehicle struck his motorcycle.
- $1.9 million for a client who suffered a permanent back injury due to a car accident.
- $1.5 million for a client who had to undergo multiple surgeries after a negligent motorist cut off his motorcycle.
- $1 million settlement was obtained on behalf of our 19-year-old client who was a passenger in a car in which the driver lost control, causing a collision. As a result, our client suffered extensive brain damage with cognitive impairment. He was in a coma for an extended period of time. Although he has regained consciousness, he is unable to care for himself. The law firm asked the Court to appoint him a guardian to care for him. The law firm is helping to establish a special needs trust so that the proceeds from the settlement will be protected against any medical liens.
- $1 million settlement on behalf of a client who suffered a brain injury when the driver of the car in which he was a passenger lost control of his vehicle.
Contact a Beltway Accident Lawyer in Washington, D.C. Today
If you are looking for the highest level of representation available for your personal injury case, turn to Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. Our firm has helped clients recover more than $500 million in compensation, and we have more than 100 years of combined experience. All of our partners are recognized by Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers®, and our firm includes three past presidents of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.
We work to help our clients obtain fair settlement offers to compensate them for the injuries they’ve suffered, but our attorneys are extremely well-equipped to go to trial if needed.
Whether your accident was in Washington, DC, and involved a distracted driver, a freight truck, or a negligent tourist, the personal injury lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel, P.C. can help. Please call (202) 659-8600 or contact us online
