Car Accidents

Who Is at Fault When a Turning Driver Hits a Pedestrian in a D.C. Crosswalk

Published on: May 28, 2026 | by Sidney Schupak, Esq.

A turn at an intersection is one of the most common ways a driver hits someone on foot in Washington, D.C. The driver watches for a gap in oncoming traffic, rolls into the turn, and never looks for the person already stepping off the curb. You can be walking with the signal, inside the painted lines, doing everything right, and still end up on the pavement.

If that happened to you, the first question is usually who pays for the harm. In most turning crashes the driver carries the legal fault, and D.C. law gives pedestrians stronger protection than many people expect. Understanding why the driver was likely at fault, and what evidence backs that up, helps you protect a claim before an insurance company starts shifting blame onto you.

How D.C. Traffic Rules Assign the Duty to Yield at a Turn

What Maryland Drivers Should Know About Underinsured Motorist Coverage After a Serious Crash

Published on: April 28, 2026 | by Sidney Schupak, Esq.

A serious crash can leave you with medical bills, lost income, and a long recovery, only to find out that the driver who hit you carried the lowest insurance the state allows. When the at-fault driver’s coverage runs out before your losses are paid, the next place to look is often your own auto policy. Underinsured motorist coverage exists for exactly this situation, and most Maryland drivers carry it without fully understanding how it works.

Your own underinsured motorist coverage can step in to cover part of the gap between what the other driver’s policy pays and what your injuries are actually worth. Maryland sets specific rules about how that coverage is calculated, what you have to do before you settle with the other driver, and how your own insurer can fight the claim. Getting these steps right early can be the difference between a full recovery and money left on the table.

What Underinsured Motorist Coverage Does in Maryland

Underinsured motorist coverage, often shortened to UIM, is part of your own auto policy rather than the other driver’s. It applies when the person who caused the crash has some liability insurance, but not enough to cover your injuries. Maryland requires this type of protection on standard auto policies, so there is a good chance you already carry it even if you have never filed a claim under it.

This coverage matters most after the kind of crash that produces real harm. A driver carrying state-minimum liability limits may have far less coverage than a hospital stay, surgery, and months of lost wages will cost. Your UIM coverage is meant to fill in behind that limited policy so your own losses are not capped by someone else’s cheap insurance.

How Maryland Decides How Much Your Own Coverage Adds

Maryland uses what is often called a gap approach for standard underinsured motorist claims. Your UIM coverage pays the difference between the at-fault driver’s available liability limits and your own UIM limit, rather than stacking fully on top of it. If the other driver carries $30,000 in coverage and you carry $100,000 in UIM, your own policy can add up to $70,000, for a total of $100,000.

Maryland also lets drivers choose an enhanced version of this coverage that works differently. Enhanced underinsured motorist coverage stacks on top of the other driver’s limits instead of subtracting from your own, which can leave more money available after a severe crash. Checking which version you actually selected is one of the first things worth doing, since the difference can be large when injuries are serious.

Why You Must Tell Your Own Insurer Before You Settle

Maryland has a step that catches many injured drivers off guard. Before you accept a settlement from the at-fault driver’s insurance company, you generally have to give your own underinsured motorist insurer written notice of that offer. Your insurer then has a set period, 60 days under Maryland law, to either agree to the settlement or pay you the amount of the offer itself so it can protect its own right to recover from the at-fault driver later.

Skipping this step can quietly damage your UIM claim. If you sign a release with the other driver’s insurer without giving your own company the required notice and a chance to respond, you may lose the ability to collect under your own policy at all. This is one of the main reasons it helps to slow down before signing anything an adjuster sends you.

How an Insurer Can Limit or Deny a UIM Claim

One hard part of a UIM claim is that you may end up arguing against your own insurance company. When you file under your UIM coverage, your insurer steps into the position of the at-fault driver and can raise the same defenses that driver could have raised. That includes disputing how the crash happened, how badly you were hurt, and how much your injuries are worth.

Maryland’s contributory negligence rule makes this more serious than it would be in many other states. If your insurer can show that you were even slightly at fault for the crash, that finding can reduce or completely bar your recovery, the same way it could against the other driver. An insurer may also argue that your treatment was unnecessary or that your bills are inflated, which is why steady medical care and clear documentation carry real weight in these claims.

Talking With an Attorney Before You Accept a Settlement

The most useful time to involve an attorney is before you settle with anyone, not after. An attorney can read your own policy to confirm how much UIM coverage you carry and whether it is the standard or enhanced version. That review often reveals coverage that drivers did not realize they had.

An attorney can also handle the notice and consent steps that Maryland requires, deal with both insurers on your behalf, and gather the records that support the full value of your claim. Acting early protects evidence, keeps you from signing away rights you did not know you had, and gives your claim the best chance before deadlines and missing documents become a problem.

Contact The Schupak Law Firm After a Serious Maryland Crash

If you were hurt in a crash in Maryland, Washington, D.C., or Virginia and the other driver did not carry enough insurance, you do not have to sort through the coverage questions alone. The Schupak Law Firm can review your own policy, identify the coverage that may apply, handle the notice steps Maryland requires, and explain your next steps. To schedule a consultation, contact The Schupak Law Firm at 240-833-3914.

Pedestrian Accidents In Washington, D.C. And How Contributory Negligence Affects Your Claim

Published on: January 23, 2026 | by Sidney Schupak, Esq.

Walking in Washington, D.C. comes with real risk. Busy intersections, ride-share drop-offs, delivery drivers, and construction zones create constant conflict points for people on foot. When a vehicle hits you, the injuries can be severe even at low speeds. The legal challenge in D.C. is that contributory negligence can block recovery if the defense proves you played any role at all in causing the collision. That rule makes early evidence and careful case framing essential.

What Drivers Owe Pedestrians Under D.C. Law

Drivers must use reasonable care, keep a proper lookout, and yield when the law requires it, including at many crosswalk situations. Speed, distraction, failure to yield, and unsafe turns often drive liability. Evidence like signal timing, impact location, and visibility conditions can determine whether the driver violated a duty of care.

Storefront Crashes In Washington, D.C. And Who Can Be Liable When A Car Hits A Building

Published on: December 7, 2025 | by Sidney Schupak, Esq.

A storefront crash can injure you in a place that should feel safe. Drivers can jump a curb, lose control in a parking lot, or plow through a sidewalk dining area in seconds. After that, insurance companies often focus on one question: “Was this only the driver’s fault?” In many cases, the answer is no. You may have claims against more than one party depending on how the property was designed, protected, and maintained.

What Counts As A Storefront Crash Injury Case

A storefront crash usually involves a vehicle striking a building entrance, sidewalk, patio seating area, or pedestrian zone directly outside a business. These incidents often cause blunt force trauma, fractures, head injuries, spinal damage, and severe emotional distress. You may also face long recovery periods because crush injuries and orthopedic harm can require surgery and extended therapy.

Storefront Crashes in Washington, D.C. and How Injured Victims Protect Their Claims

Published on: November 25, 2025 | by Sidney Schupak, Esq.

A recent collision in Washington, D.C. shows how dangerous storefront crashes can be for customers, pedestrians, and workers. Local reporting described a vehicle that slammed into a Hip Hop Fish & Chicken location, injuring multiple people and sending three individuals to the hospital for emergency care. First responders closed the area, evaluated structural damage, and began investigating how the driver lost control before striking the building.

Situations like this demonstrate how quickly an ordinary visit to a restaurant or shop can turn into a medical emergency with serious financial consequences. Storefront crashes often raise complex questions about fault, insurance coverage, and the responsibilities of drivers and property owners. You also face pressure from insurers almost immediately. Understanding how these incidents unfold in D.C. helps you protect your rights from the beginning.

How Storefront Crashes Happen in Urban Areas Like Washington, D.C.

Busy corridors in D.C. create conditions where driver error can cause severe building damage. Drivers sometimes accelerate when shifting into drive, misjudge distances while parking, or react poorly to traffic around them. Certain intersections also combine tight turns with heavy foot traffic, which increases the risk of a sudden collision.

Bladensburg Birthday Party Hit And Run Leaves One Dead

Published on: October 24, 2025 | by Sidney Schupak, Esq.

A devastating hit-and-run at a child’s birthday party in Bladensburg left one woman dead and more than a dozen people injured, including several children. Reports indicate the car drove through a front-yard tent near Annapolis Road, with chaos unfolding as neighbors and first responders lifted the vehicle off trapped victims. Incidents like this create complicated legal questions for families who need immediate medical care, funeral support, and long-term financial stability. You deserve clear steps for protecting your rights after a large-scale crash.

Maryland Mass Casualty Injury Claims And How They Work

When many people are hurt at once, multiple insurance policies and defendants may be involved. You often see claims against the at-fault driver’s auto liability policy, but you should also consider additional sources. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage can help when the at-fault limits are too low. Some homeowners’ or renters’ policies may provide limited medical payments coverage for guests on the property. In the most severe cases, families may pursue wrongful-death claims and survival actions through the estate. Coordinating these claims requires fast notice to all carriers and careful tracking of deadlines, because insurers move quickly to minimize exposure after headline-grabbing events.

Understanding Your Rights After a Pedestrian Accident in Washington DC

Published on: August 31, 2025 | by Sidney Schupak, Esq.

If you were struck by a vehicle while walking in Washington DC, you may be entitled to compensation. Recent reports show that pedestrian fatalities in the District have risen sharply, with city officials recording some of the highest numbers in years. The combination of heavy traffic, distracted driving, and dangerous intersections places pedestrians at constant risk. Knowing your legal rights can make the difference between struggling alone and securing the recovery you deserve.

Why Pedestrian Accidents Are So Common in Washington DC

Washington DC has dense traffic patterns, frequent construction zones, and thousands of daily commuters. These conditions often lead to crosswalk violations and drivers who fail to yield. Speeding and distracted driving, particularly at night or near bus routes, increase the chances of serious injury. Pedestrians do not have the protection of a vehicle, which means even low-speed crashes can cause fractures, brain injuries, or wrongful death.

Missed Deadlines Can End Personal Injury Claims in Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Published on: June 30, 2025 | by Sidney Schupak, Esq.

Tourist activities, such as Segway rentals, guided walking tours, and bike excursions, bring crowds to cities like Washington, D.C., and nearby areas of Maryland. While these outings can be enjoyable, they sometimes result in serious accidents. When a visitor or local resident gets hurt due to someone else’s carelessness, they may have the right to pursue compensation. But as a recent case decided in 2025 shows, the clock starts ticking the moment an injury occurs.

The underlying incident happened in October 2019 during a guided Segway tour in Washington, D.C. Two individuals sustained injuries after being struck by a rider taking part in the tour. They later brought a claim against the tour operator, alleging that it had failed to train and supervise the participant who caused the harm properly.

Although the facts appeared to support a negligence claim, the timing of the filing presented a major obstacle. The personal injury complaints were submitted more than three years after the incident, beyond the statutory deadline in the District of Columbia. The claimants believed the court’s COVID-19 emergency tolling orders paused the clock, giving them extra time to file. However, both the Superior Court and the D.C. Court of Appeals disagreed.

Fatal I-495 Pedestrian Crash in Maryland Raises Questions About Roadside Safety and Liability

Published on: May 14, 2025 | by Sidney Schupak, Esq.

Pedestrian fatalities do not only happen in crosswalks or downtown intersections. A recent early morning crash on I-495 in Prince George’s County shows how quickly danger can escalate when a vehicle is left on the shoulder and someone attempts to cross fast-moving lanes of traffic. Reports confirmed that the incident took place around 3:12 a.m. near College Park and resulted in the death of a person who had exited a parked Honda Civic before being struck by an oncoming Toyota.

While full details are still under investigation, authorities believe the individual left their disabled vehicle and attempted to cross several active lanes on foot. The crash closed parts of the Beltway for hours as officials from multiple agencies worked to examine the scene and coordinate next steps with the State’s Attorney’s Office.

Breakdowns on Highways Can Become Fatal Without Warning

Vehicle trouble on an interstate is already stressful. Drivers may feel panicked when their car breaks down or they must pull onto the shoulder. In those moments, decisions are made quickly, sometimes with life-threatening consequences. Exiting a vehicle and walking near or across high-speed traffic is extremely dangerous, especially before sunrise when visibility is limited.

Pursuing Negligence Claims After an Accident Involving Large Vehicles

Published on: March 16, 2025 | by Sidney Schupak, Esq.

Living in the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC area means navigating busy roads filled with a mix of passenger vehicles, large commercial trucks, and municipal transit services like buses and shuttles. While these large vehicles are essential for moving people and goods, they also pose significant risks when accidents occur. The sheer size and weight of these vehicles can lead to catastrophic collisions, and when buses or shuttles are involved, the number of passengers multiplies the potential for tragedy. Last year, a devastating crash in Southern Maryland involving a senior citizen shuttle bus served as a grim reminder of these dangers. The accident, which involved a collision with a heavy-duty dump truck, resulted in the tragic loss of life and serious injuries, leaving families and communities heartbroken.

The crash occurred on a Friday morning in Charles County, Maryland, when a shuttle bus operated by a senior-living assisted facility lost control and crossed the double yellow line, colliding head-on with a dump truck. The impact was devastating. The bus driver and two passengers were pronounced dead at the scene, while the dump truck driver escaped unharmed. Investigators noted that the bus driver was the only person wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, which may have contributed to the severity of the injuries. This tragedy highlights the critical need for drivers of large vehicles to be properly trained and to operate their vehicles with the utmost care. When negligence or recklessness leads to such accidents, it’s essential to hold those responsible accountable, not only to seek justice for the victims but also to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Pursuing a personal injury or wrongful death claim against a commercial entity, such as a bus company or trucking firm, can be complex but is often necessary to secure fair compensation for victims and their families. Commercial drivers and the companies that employ them are held to higher standards than regular motorists. They must adhere to strict regulations regarding licensing, vehicle maintenance, hours of service, and safety protocols. When accidents occur, these regulations can play a crucial role in building a strong case. For example, if a driver was operating the vehicle beyond their legally allowed hours or if the vehicle was not properly maintained, these factors can be used to demonstrate negligence. A qualified personal injury attorney will conduct a thorough investigation, scrutinizing everything from driver logs and maintenance records to witness statements and accident reconstruction reports, to ensure that all evidence is gathered to support the claim.