All FIVE lanes of the Capital Beltway closed due to crash

While traffic on the Washington, D.C. Capital Beltway can be aggravating at times, today’s closure of all 5 Southbound  lanes on I-495 looked like a scene from Los Angeles, where total stoppage of traffic in both directions on the highways is not unusual. However, today’s multi-vehicle crash in Fairfax County caused long delays, even after the wreckage was removed. The outer loop of the Beltway were blocked just past exit 54, which is the popular Braddock Road (Virginia Route 620) exit. According to the Metropolitan Area Transportation Operations Coordination alert, traffic was backed up for about 5 miles from the crash scene.

While we have excellent police in Fairfax County, and they have unique abilities to investigate crashes, the harm caused by reckless, impaired and distracted drivers causes millions of dollars of unnecessary harm to innocent motorists in Northern Virginia.

With today’s summer-like weather, after a rainy, overcast Daylights Savings weekend, perhaps drivers were distracted, with their roofs down, or in a hurry to get home and enjoy the wonderful sunny weather.  But distracted driving can lead to catastrophic injury, as momentary lapses in concentration on the high-speed lanes of the Capital Beltway can changes lives in an instant. The experienced crash injury team at ABRAMS LANDAU has helped victims of crashes on the Beltway, and in one case, where the truck drove off the road, the matter will be in the Fairfax Courthouse in May. “Helping injured drivers and passengers who have been harmed by the unsafe actions of others on the road is something we do every day,” notes attorney Doug Landau.

Doug Landau, shown here teaching lawyers in Richmond how to use black box data to prove crashes for their injured clients, at the Virginia Trial Lawyers Advanced Retreat last month.

Lawyer Landau adds: “Getting the surveillance videos, cell phone footage and other digital recordings timely is critical to success in these cases. Plus, too often, the victims of Beltway crashes and Virginia highway collisions wait until AFTER the unsafe Defendant driver has beaten the traffic ticket and vehicle black box data and other important evidence is lost. We ALL know people who have been charged at the scene, but not been convicted. Retaining an experienced lawyer EARLYin the process can save a lot of time, unnecessary anxiety, headaches and heartache. Also, we often see victims of I-495 and other DC area roadway pileup give taped or written statements that come back to haunt them when they bring their claims for reimbursement for their injuries, lost wages and other damages. That is another reason why bringing on a top legal team makes sense.”

Crashes on the Beltway due to excessive speed, sudden lane changes, distracted driving or impaired drivers have all contributed to the dangers for motorists around the Nation’s Capitol. Today’s pile up closed 5 lanes on this important highway is just the most recent example of unsafe driving on I-495

If you, or someone you care about, has been injured in a Beltway crash,  DC area car wreck or Virginia roadway pileup, and there are questions about the law, their legal rights and the process to recover, please call us at 703-796-9555 or e-mail Frontdesk@LandauLawShop.com today, as there are strict legal time limits for Virginia highway crash cases.