Washington, D.C. personal injury lawyer Paulette Chapman has been nominated to run for President Elect of the District of Columbia Bar. Ms. Chapman is a partner at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson & DePaolis and an honors graduate of George Washington University Law School. She is currently serving her...
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15 Injured in Virginia School Bus-Van Collision
Last month, a school bus and a van collided head-on at approximately 8:20 a.m. in Suffolk, Virginia. The bus accident occurred when the 32-year-old van driver reportedly fell asleep at the wheel and veered across the double lines into oncoming traffic. Twenty-five students, grades 2 to...
Read MoreMTA Talking Buses will Alert Pedestrians
Ten Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) buses are equipped with talking technology to warn pedestrians who may be unaware of an approaching bus. An audible female voice alerts pedestrians, “Pedestrians, bus is turning! Pedestrians, bus is turning!” The MTA is testing two different audio warning systems to help avoid devastating bus-pedestrian accidents. According to the...
Read MoreDC Construction Worker Killed On-Site
A Washington, D.C. construction worker lost his life last month when a heavy load of clay-like dirt collapsed on him in northeast DC. The construction accident happened when workers were performing utility work in a trench on Evarts Street. According to a fire department spokesperson, rescue workers arrived at the work site shortly...
Read MoreMetro Train Hits Woman at Rhode Island Avenue
A Metro train struck a woman at the Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood station last month at around 2:24 p.m. The accident victim apparently trapped herself between the third rail and the chain link fence when the train accident occurred. Rescuers moved the 23-year-old victim to the platform...
Read MoreSubway Accidents: Who is Liable?
The WMATA Metrorail subway system, which serves Maryland, the District and Virginia, is a transportation hub for many metro area commuters. While no mechanical system is without its flaws and occasional failures, WMATA has seen more than its fair share of safety concerns and mechanical problems. Mechanical...
Read More9-Year-Old DC Student Alleges Classroom Sexual Assault
A nine-year-old male student in the third grade at Randle Highlands Elementary in southeast DC claims two other male students sexually assaulted him this past February. The victim said he was working at a computer when the two alleged attackers began taunting him. The boy claims one boy dropped his pants while the...
Read MoreVirginia Jury Awards Mesothelioma Victim $25 Million
Last month, a Virginia jury awarded $25 million to a 72-year-old former shipyard worker suffering from mesothelioma. It marks one of the largest jury verdicts in the states’ history. The Exxon Mobil Corporation is liable for the award, which includes $12 million in compensatory damages, $12.5 million...
Read MoreState of Maryland Liable in Pedestrian Death
A Maryland jury found the State of Maryland liable last month in the 2008 death of a woman struck and killed by a car in District Heights. The Prince George County jury awarded $3.3 million to the victim’s relatives, with $2.5 million going to her daughter who was two-years-old when the
Read MoreAd Campaign Seeks to Curb Pedestrian-Vehicle Collisions
This spring, law enforcement will ticket pedestrians, bikers and drivers in DC who do not obey traffic laws. That is the purpose of the Street Smart campaign, aimed at raising awareness of the rise in pedestrian accidents in the DC area over the years. On average, a car hits a pedestrian three times every...
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