Contributory Negligence in Washington DC

If you have been injured recently and another party was involved, it is important that you know the laws regarding personal injury and contributory negligence in DC. Many people who get into accidents and are injured do not even realize the rights that they have regarding recovery of funds. There is no need to stay in the dark when there are lawyers in the DC area who can assist you and your injury claim–attorneys who can explain how contributory negligence relates to your case so that you are able to pursue your injury claim with all the relevant facts.

What is Personal Injury?

When talking about personal injury, it is important to know what the term includes. Personal injury includes, but is not limited to, loss of limbs, permanent scars, disfigurement, loss of any one of the five senses, and disability, whether temporary or permanent. It can also include mental problems caused by the accident, such as trauma or mental anguish. The number one cause of personal injury is automobile accidents. Some other well-known causes of personal injury are birth injuries, construction accidents, misdiagnosis of life threatening disease, or food poisoning. Since this list is by no means exclusive, it is imperative to seek help if you have experienced any kind of personal injury, whether it was caused by malicious intent or just an accident. You do not want to end up in a bad place legally and financially because you did not seek help within the proper time frame.

How Does Contributory Negligence Come Into Play?

Contributory Negligence in DCSince states have differing laws in the area of contributory negligence, it is important to know these before moving forward with a claim. Washington, DC is one of the few places in the country that recognizes contributory negligence. Contributory negligence is a defense in a lawsuit used by someone who is being charged with injuring another person, often in a car accident or premises liability case. It means that if the court finds that the plaintiff contributed to the accident in any way, he or she is not entitled to any compensation from the defendant. One thing that it is important to note when dealing with injury cases and contributory negligence in DC is that, if the injury is caused by an employer not providing safe work conditions for his employee, contributory negligence may not be used as a defense. Another important fact to note is that it has to be proven that the negligent behavior actually contributed to the injuries in the accident or contributory negligence will not work as a defense.

What Are Some Examples of Contributory Negligence?

Since contributory negligence can play such an important role in personal injury cases in DC, here are a few examples of contributory negligence that could potentially prevent an injured party from pursuing an injury claim in court: The injured party was driving a car that had known mechanical problems. Someone injured by walking across the street did not look both ways. The injured driver was speeding or not following other road laws. The injured party made sudden, unexpected moves while driving.

Why Should I Seek Help?

If you have recently been involved in an accident involving personal injury in DC, it is important to seek help as soon as possible. There are definitive time constraints governing how long you can wait after an accident to take legal action. If you are being wrongfully blamed for an accident that you know was completely caused by negligence on the other person’s part, seek legal action immediately. Personal injury lawyers in the DC area are available to help you sort out the specifics of your case and will try their best to help you win fair treatment in the court of law, so that you may claim the financial compensation you’re entitled to.

If you are the injured party and you do not seek legal help, you run the risk of pursuing a legal claim without all the facts. A lack of information and sound legal advice could jeopardize your chance at winning compensatory damages. As you can see, it is very important to seek legal help immediately after a personal injury in order to prove your case. Procrastination could cause you to miss court deadlines, allow important evidence to disappear, and give up your opportunity to win compensation for medical bills, lost work, and other accident-related expenses. Call Price Benowitz LLP today to learn about your legal rights in your situation and to seek the assistance you deserve.