October is traditionally the “scariest” month of the year, with Halloween and horror movies and creepy tales meant to scare kids of all ages. Unfortunately, this past October was an actual, real-life nightmare for pedestrians in the DMV, as pedestrian accidents and fatalities dominated the news in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
A Series of Fatal Pedestrian Accidents in Fairfax County
On Sunday, October 9, a pedestrian on West Ox Road in Chantilly, VA, was struck and killed by a vehicle. Fairfax County police stated that the victim, 63-year-old Ligia Jeannette Herrera Betbeder of Fairfax, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. According to police, the pedestrian was not walking within the crosswalk when she was struck. Speed and alcohol were apparently not factors in the incident.
This tragedy comes just a day after another pedestrian death in the county. On the morning of Saturday, October 8, 85-year-old Gwendolyn Hayes was hit by a vehicle while walking along Little Falls Road in the Williamsburg Boulevard area of Arlington. She died at a local hospital.
Only a week before, a 74-year-old named Dalchoon Park died after being struck by a vehicle as she crossed an Annandale-area street; the driver fled the scene of the crime. And on Thursday morning, October 6, Melodie Kiem, 53, of Fort Belvoir, was killed as she was crossing Route 1 (Richmond Highway) at the Tulley Gate intersection. The driver, who had a green light and the right of way, remained at the scene; neither speed nor alcohol appeared to be factors in this accident.
Another Deadly Pedestrian Accident in DC
Early on the morning of October 5, Venancie Musabe, a 60-year-old from Fredericksburg, VA, was struck by a 2020 Dodge Charger while trying to cross Massachusetts Avenue, NW, at 10th Street in the Mt. Vernon neighborhood of the District. The victim died at an area hospital.
Four More Pedestrian Fatalities in Maryland
On Saturday, October 22, a vehicle crashed into 39-year-old pedestrian Selvin Reinery Flores Lagos at Midcounty Highway and Miller Fall Road in Montgomery County. First responders arrived to find the victim dead at the scene. Just moments earlier that same night, a pedestrian was killed by a vehicle at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Highway and Sheriff Road in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Only a couple days before, on Thursday, October 20, a road crew worker was tragically killed in Adelphi, Prince George’s County. Christopher Carter, a 52-year-old from Fort Washington, was placing cones along the northbound lane of New Hampshire Avenue at Metzerott Road when he was struck and pinned between his work vehicle and a car. Mr. Carter died at the scene.
Earlier in October, a man died after being hit by a vehicle near Temple Hill Road and Piscataway Road in Clinton, Prince George’s County. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Advice If You’re in a Pedestrian Accident in DC, Maryland, or Virginia
Based on these headlines, pedestrian accidents are still happening regularly in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas. Your well-being is always first and foremost if you or someone you know is involved in a pedestrian accident. That’s why you need to get medical attention immediately at the scene, even if you don’t believe you’re seriously injured. Call, or have someone else call an ambulance right away.
We’ve seen our share of pedestrian accidents at The Lapidus Law Firm, and injuries do not always appear at the surface. By calling an ambulance:
- You’ll receive the best medical care you can promptly, which can potentially prevent something much more serious from happening. We don’t advise going to an urgent care. Reports from an actual medical doctor in a hospital setting are the most credible, especially when it comes to legal matters.
- You’ll get a police report filed, which will serve as formal evidence and documentation of your injuries. The police report will also be used by your attorney as we seek the best possible settlement for you.
- You’ll give insurance adjusters significantly less leverage to dismiss your injuries and offer you an unreasonably low settlement because you have the police report working in your favor. When your attorneys can prove that you were injured, the negotiating advantage goes to you.
This is why you or someone nearby should call for an ambulance right away after a pedestrian accident.
Your Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Are Ready to Help
The personal injury attorneys at The Lapidus Law Firm are dedicated to helping victims of pedestrian accidents receive fair and reasonable settlements. So, if you or someone you know needs a pedestrian accident lawyer, call us at (301) 852-7500 or (202) 785-5111 for your free, no-obligation consultation. And always remember, we are committed to making justice work for you.
Written by Larry Lapidus