Our Tenacious Washington D.C. Personal Injury Lawyers Fight For the Compensation You Deserve
At the heart of each personal injury claim is an accident victim who has suffered harm due to someone else’s wrongful actions. At Lightfoot Law, PLLC, our Washington, D.C. personal injury law firm represents victims who’ve suffered injuries in vehicle accidents and other incidents.
Contact us today if you have been injured in a preventable accident and schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. Call (202) 919-5453or reach us online.
Why Choose Our Firm for Your Personal Injury Case?
- We are a team of determined District of Columbia injury attorneys who stand up to even the most powerful defendants.
- We offer a personalized approach that is tailored to your unique goals and addresses your concerns.
- We maintain clear communication with our clients and provide reliable solutions to their legal problems.
Why You Need a Washington, D.C. Personal Injury Lawyer
To succeed in a personal injury lawsuit in Maryland or Washington, D.C., you must show that the defendant’s negligent conduct caused the accident that resulted in your injuries. And because both the District and the state observe the doctrine of contributory negligence, you can be barred from recovering compensation if you bear even the slightest amount of fault.
When you retain us, we begin by thoroughly researching and preparing your case before engaging in negotiations. That way, if negotiations fail, we stand ready to proceed to trial. In all cases, we are committed to seeking full compensation for medical expenses, property damage, and other losses.
Many people are reluctant to enlist the assistance of a personal injury lawyer due to concerns over the cost of hiring one. However, most personal injury lawyers who serve residents in the District of Columbia are willing to operate on a contingency basis, which means that you only have to pay them if they win the case.
Types of Cases We Handle
Rollover Accidents
Surviving a rollover accident is a horrifying experience that — physical injuries aside — would leave anyone shaken. SUVs are more likely to be involved in rollovers due to their high center of gravity, but these types of accidents can occur with any vehicle. At Lightfoot Law, PLLC, our firm’s focus is on providing exceptional representation to accident victims, including those injured in vehicle rollover accidents. We meticulously prepare each client’s case to maximize the likelihood of a favorable outcome.
Truck Accidents
We are an experienced truck accident law firm that competently handles even the most complex accident cases. Semi-truck accidents frequently result in serious injury or death to the occupants of much smaller vehicles, and many may involve more than one liable party in addition to the driver.
At our Washington, D.C. law office, we handle truck accident claims by diligently researching the relationship between the truck driver, the truck’s owner, and the trucking company, potentially uncovering additional theories of liability. Truckers and the companies that employ them are bound by federal and state regulations designed to limit the potential for serious accidents. We will investigate whether these rules were violated as we seek the damages you deserve.
Dedicated personal injury lawyers represent victims of vehicle rollovers
Wrongful Death
Losing a family member to an accident is a tragedy that’s compounded when someone’s negligent or wrongful act was the cause. While nothing can bring your loved one back, we can assist with a claim that seeks compensation and a measure of justice.
In Washington, D.C., the representative of the deceased’s estate must bring a wrongful death claim on behalf of a spouse or partner. If no spouse exists, family members can file wrongful death claims and may obtain damages awarded by a judge or jury for the deceased’s funeral, medical, and other expenses as well as losses suffered by survivors, such as lost wages, lost support, and lost companionship.
In Maryland, primary beneficiaries such as spouses, parents, and children can file wrongful death claims for similar damages, but these claims may also be brought by secondary beneficiaries such as siblings and other relatives if immediate family members don’t exist or don’t wish to file a claim. At Lightfoot Law, PLLC, we can advise you whether you are eligible to file a wrongful death claim and guide you through the process.
Our firm has extensive experience in handling a wide variety of other personal injury cases, including but not limited to:
- Car Accidents
- DUI Accidents
- Autonomous Car Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Premises Liability
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Construction Accidents
- Workplace Injuries
- Burn Injuries
- Dog Bites
- E-Scooter Accidents
- Mass Torts
- Zantac Claims
- Civil Litigation
- Product Liability
- ATV Accidents
- Boat Accidents
- Train Accidents
- Negligent Security
- Nursing Home Abuse
- Workers’ Compensation
Do not hesitate to contact us, even if you do not see your accident type on this list. We will listen to the details of your case then discuss your potential legal options.
Types of Personal Injury Compensation
In a personal injury case, you are entitled to compensation from the individual or entity legally responsible for your harm. The legal term for this compensation is “damages.” Damages are broken into two groups: compensatory damages and punitive damages.
Compensatory Damages
Compensatory damages are a form of compensation meant to monetarily replace what you, the injured person, have lost. This is an easy number to come up with when adding up medical bills, lost wages, or property damage, but very difficult to figure out when placing a value on how your life has changed due to your pain and suffering as well as any physical limitations. Here are the types of compensatory damages you may be entitled to:
- Medical Treatment: reimbursement for past and future medical care is typically always included in the settlement you receive.
- Lost Income: for the income you lost while recovering from your injury. You may also be awarded damages related to your “loss of earning capacity,” which means your inability to earn future income because of the accident.
- Property Damage: any property damaged or lost in the accident can likely be reimbursed. This, for example, can include your vehicles, items within the vehicle, and clothing. All of which will be appraised at fair market value.
- Pain and Suffering: the physical pain and suffering that you have endured. This type of damages can be challenging to measure. Still, one of our experienced attorneys can consider various factors, such as your accident and injury severity, to help you come up with a monetary value.
- Emotional Distress: often combined with pain and suffering damages, but differs in that it relates to the mental anguish caused by your accident instead of the physical. Common symptoms include terror, anxiety, shock, sorrow, confusion, and lack of sleep.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: if you are now physically limited due to your injury, you may be unable to engage in hobbies, recreational activities, exercise, and any other activities you were previously able to enjoy.
- Loss of Consortium: these damages refer to the impact your injury has had on your relationship with your spouse, such as a loss of companionship and/or inability to engage in sexual intimacy.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant in that they are similar to fines. If the defendant’s actions are found to have been malicious or excessively careless, then they may be awarded.
How Much is My Personal Injury Case Worth?
There is, unfortunately, no exact “formula” to determine how much your case is worth. However, a personal injury lawyer can evaluate and analyze multiple factors to determine the value of your specific case. Those factors include:
- The severity of your injury.
- The total value of your medical bills and projected costs of future healthcare.
- The extent to which your injury has impacted your future.
- The amount of expenses incurred as a result of the injury, such as hospital and medical bills, rehabilitation costs, prescription drug costs, lost wages, and lost earning capacity.
- The physical and emotional pain and suffering you have and are experiencing.
- The percentage you are found to be at fault.
If you have been injured, discuss the facts of your case with an attorney who can assess how much money you may be owed and explain your legal options.
District of Columbia Personal Injury Laws
It is essential to be aware of the following laws that may apply to your personal injury case.
Pure Contributory Negligence
Washington D.C. is one of the last supporters of the particularly harsh pure contributory negligence law. Under a pure contributory negligence system, a plaintiff (victim) is completely barred from recovering compensation if they were even slightly at fault for their accident. Whether the plaintiff is found 1 percent to blame or 99 percent, they will not receive a monetary award.
Statute of Limitations in Washington D.C.
Washington, D.C., has a deadline for filing a personal injury claim, also known as a statute of limitations. It requires you to file a lawsuit within three years of the date you were injured. If this deadline passes, your case will most likely be dismissed, and you lose your right to pursue compensation.
“No-Fault” Car Insurance System
Washington, D.C. has a “no-fault” auto insurance law system. In this system, drivers use their own Personal Injury Protection, or PIP coverage, to cover a collision regardless of who is at fault. A PIP policy provides coverage that can range anywhere from $2,500 to $100,000. However, PIP insurance will only cover medical bills and a percentage of lost wages.
Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia have different laws and regulations regarding PIP. In Washington DC, for example, making a PIP claim can be a waiver of your right to pursue a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. If you are a resident of one state and have an accident in another, you could also face a “choice of law” problem.
Because of the complexity of these issues, you should consult with an attorney following an accident to ensure you recover all forms of compensation you are entitled to.
Consult With Our Washington, D.C. Personal Injury Law Firm
At Lightfoot Law, PLLC, we represent accident victims across Maryland and Washington, D.C., in their pursuit of justice and fair compensation. For help with your case, call (202) 919-5453or contact us online to schedule a free consultation at our Washington, D.C.