Call now: (703) 854-9288

No Resolution, No Good End The Routine Traffic Stop That Led To A Beloved Grandfather’s Tragic Death

by Samakow Law

Dear Reader,

Recently I came across an article that hit on so many relevant and important parts of Personal Injury Law, I felt I had to share it in this blog. The article by Fox 5 DC’s digital team tells a tragic story.  A Grandfather and grandson were struck, and the grandfather killed by a teenager involved in a police chase.  (See the link to the full article below.)

Earlier the boy was pulled over because of an expired registration tag.  The driver initially acted like he’d pull over but then took off again.  He then ran a red light hitting the elderly man and boy as they crossed the street.  The boy survived, but his grandfather didn’t make it.

An expired registration and the reckless decision to run cost a man his life.  How tragic. How pointless and sad. This is one of those moments where you look a dozen directions trying to find the one responsible and there are so many places to point there appears to be everyone and no one to blame all at once.

Let’s start with the driver. This young man got behind the wheel of a vehicle and then turned it into a killing machine with his reckless and negligent behavior. He must be held accountable for his actions.

What about his parents? You’ve got to wonder what they were thinking to allow a child who obviously makes horrible choices to operate a vehicle.  Surely, they deserve some of the blame.

Maybe you see it as a failure on the part of the police officer, maybe he shouldn’t have given chase creating a dangerous situation for an offense as minor as an expired registration tag.

Whoever is at fault, the sad truth is there is no resolution for the victim’s family.  The young boy will forever be scarred by the memory of his grandfather’s death.  His family will never be the same and nothing can change that.  Knowing who to blame simply will not bring their grandfather back.

What makes this worse, if the teen driver was insured, it is not certain his insurance will pay damages to the family.   Insurance companies don’t like to pay when their driver was committing a crime which results in a deadly accident.  The victim and their family may or may not be awarded a dime, depending on the specific terms and conditions of the policy and the laws of the jurisdiction involved.

In many cases, insurance policies contain exclusions or limitations on coverage for accidents that occur while the insured is engaged in criminal activities. This means that if the driver was committing a crime at the time of the accident, the insurance company may argue that the policy does not cover the incident and may deny the claim. However, the specific language and provisions of the policy will ultimately determine whether the claim is paid or not.

There are jurisdictions that have laws which prohibit insurance companies from denying claims based on the insured’s criminal activity. In these cases, the insurance company might still be obligated to pay the claim, regardless of what the driver was doing at the time.

I pray you’re never in a situation like this, but if you or someone you care about is ever injured or killed as a result of someone committing a crime, I urge you to call my office. With over forty years’ experience handling personal injury claims, we can provide you with guidance based on the specific details of your case and the laws that apply in the jurisdiction where the incident occurred.

We are here for you and ready to help in every way we can.

Until next time, please be safe, and NEVER text while driving!

Paul Samakow

Attorney Paul Samakow

703-761-4343 or 301-949-1515

Teen hit, 75-year-old man killed by driver fleeing police near National Mall

By Fox 5 DC Digital Team

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/teen-hit-75-year-old-killed-by-driver-fleeing-police-near-national-mall

WordPress Video Lightbox Plugin
Ömer Faruk Öztürk
Ms. Tatiana and Mr Samakow they helped on my case. It’s been really quick and they did their job very professionally. They also have really cool offices and you guys can be make sure your case on safe hands. They literally know how to handle with insurance companies lol. Definitely 10 stars.
Lawrence Veelo
Webinar was excellent! Great information!
Suzanne Gellner
Brhan Abraha
I cannot say enough good things about Paul Samakow. From start to finish, he went above and beyond for me. He fought tirelessly for me after I suffered a second-degree burn on my chest from a malfunctioning device. The manufacturer was based in China, which made the case extremely challenging and lengthy, but Paul never backed down—not for a second.

During this process, I was laid off for the first time in my life, and I became genuinely fearful that the case wouldn’t resolve or that the money wouldn’t come through. Paul reassured me every step of the way and, if anything, fought even harder when I needed it most. He is truly the bearer of good news—he does not believe in delivering anything less.

Something else that sets Paul apart from other attorneys is his responsiveness. He answers his phone, every single time. He is prompt. He is reliable. Honestly, he is one of the most responsive professionals I have ever worked with, which is incredibly impressive given his caseload.

I saw firsthand the difference between Paul and another attorney my cousin was working with at the same time—and the contrast was night and day. If you have the opportunity to work with Paul Samoko, you will be blessed. I am so grateful for him!
yoselin esperanza
Great experience and helped me with all the questions I had! Vania was also very helpful! Would recommend to friends and family :)
Sarai McDougald
Very informative and helpful.. thanks 5 stars
C Sue Brewer
Cesar Morales
arlin meza
S. N.
This firm provided some great information that I think almost anyone who has been in an accident could benefit from. You still may need a lawyer like Paul to handle some of the specifics.