Proven Results for Injured Clients
Personal Injury Law Firm in Friendship Heights
Representing injured individuals and families in high-stakes personal injury and negligence cases in Friendships Heights and across the DMV region.
When an injury disrupts your health, finances, and daily life, the legal process should not add to that burden. A Washington DC personal injury claim exists to hold negligent individuals, businesses, and institutions accountable for the harm they cause. Whether your injuries stem from a medical error, unsafe property conditions, or another preventable incident, having experienced legal representation can make a meaningful difference in the outcome of your case.
Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP has spent decades helping injury victims pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and long-term care needs. Our attorneys take the time to understand each case and guide clients through every step of the process with clarity and care.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Friendships Heights
Over our near 50 year history, we’ve seen many types of personal injury claims, but some of the most common ones are:
Car accidents: These come in many forms and result from different types of negligent behavior, such as drunk driving and drowsy driving. A defendant may also be held criminally liable, but you would pursue compensation in civil court.
Premises liability: This refers to injuries suffered on another person’s or business’s property. Among these are slip and falls, dog bites, swimming pool accidents, and exposure to asbestos.
Product liability: A dangerous consumer product, anything from a prescription drug to a child’s toy, could injure you or a loved one and give rise to this type of claim. The product may be dangerous because of its design, the way it was built or manufactured, or because of a lack of adequate warnings or instructions.
Traumatic Brain Injury: Any injury to the brain that was caused by the carelessness of another is a serious, life-changing event that always requires expensive care.
Burn Injuries: Whether it happens at work, at home, due to a faulty product, or even a public stunt, a burn injury should be taken very seriously and the responsible party has the responsibility to pay for their actions.
Medical malpractice: A doctor, nurse, hospital, or other healthcare practitioner or facility may fail to treat you with care. Malpractice can cause serious injury or disability, or it can cause diseases such as cancer to spread and result in other health complications.
Public Transportation: Accidents involving buses, trains, and other modes of public transportation can be the result of negligent behavior, such as texting and driving or drowsy driving. In these types of cases, plaintiffs may be able to hold the driver or transportation company liable for their injuries.
While every injury case is different, our approach remains the same: careful investigation, clear communication, and preparation for trial when necessary. This approach allows us to pursue accountability and compensation even in complex or heavily disputed claims.
What to Do After an Injury Accident
What you do after an accident can affect both your health and your ability to pursue compensation.
Seeking medical treatment as soon as possible is important both for your recovery and for documenting the injury. It is also helpful to document the accident scene, preserve photographs and records, gather witness information when possible, and keep copies of medical records and other documentation related to the incident.
Understanding what evidence is used in accident cases can help explain how injury claims are evaluated and what information may support a claim.
How Liability Is Determined
One of the most important questions in any personal injury case is who is legally responsible for the accident.
Determining liability often involves reviewing how the accident occurred, whether someone acted negligently, and what evidence supports the claim. Insurance companies, property owners, and other parties may dispute fault, which is why evidence and documentation are often critical.
These issues are part of how liability is determined after an accident and whether another party may be held responsible for injuries and damages.
Washington DC Contributory Negligence Rules
Washington DC follows strict contributory negligence rules.
Under this rule, an injured person may be prevented from recovering compensation if they are found even slightly responsible for the accident. Because of this, insurance companies often try to argue that an injured person contributed to the incident in some way, whether by failing to notice a hazard, acting carelessly, or not exercising reasonable caution.
This makes liability disputes especially important in Washington DC personal injury cases, particularly when fault is contested.
What Compensation May Be Available?
A personal injury claim may include compensation for both financial and non-financial losses.
Depending on the circumstances, compensation may include medical expenses, lost wages, future treatment costs, pain and suffering, and other losses related to how the injury has affected daily life. In more serious cases, damages may also account for long-term medical care, reduced earning capacity, or ongoing physical limitations.
Understanding the difference between economic damages and non-economic damages can help explain how the value of a personal injury claim is evaluated.
Filing Deadlines for Washington DC Injury Claims
Personal injury claims in Washington DC are subject to strict filing deadlines.
In most cases, injury lawsuits must be filed within three years of the accident. Missing this deadline may prevent a claim from moving forward.
Understanding filing deadlines for personal injury claims is important when pursuing compensation after an accident.
