{"id":1278,"date":"2017-07-26T18:12:40","date_gmt":"2017-07-26T18:12:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cochranfirm.com\/washington-dc\/venus-williams-denies-liability-in-wrongful-death-lawsuit\/"},"modified":"2025-08-22T17:25:52","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T22:25:52","slug":"venus-williams-denies-liability-in-wrongful-death-lawsuit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cochranfirm.com\/washington-dc\/venus-williams-denies-liability-in-wrongful-death-lawsuit\/","title":{"rendered":"Venus Williams denies liability in wrongful death lawsuit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Documents show tennis star alleges victims\u2019 own negligence caused injuries<\/b><\/h2>\n

In 2017, tennis star Venus Williams was involved in a tragic car accident in Florida that resulted in a fatality and a subsequent wrongful death lawsuit. Williams later denied all liability, arguing that the victims contributed to their own injuries. While that specific case has since concluded, it highlights the complex legal challenges many car crash victims and families face.<\/p>\n

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a car accident, it's important to understand how these cases are handled, and why working with an experienced Washington, D.C. car accident attorney<\/a> helps your case.<\/p>\n

How Fault Was Determined in Venus Williams' Wrongful Death Lawsuit<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Lawyers for the 37-year old tennis player argue the elderly couple\u2019s own negligence was the cause of death, claiming the pair failed to properly maintain their vehicle and were not wearing their seatbelts at the time of death. Furthermore, the response indicates Williams had a green light when she drove her her SUV into an intersection moments before the plaintiffs\u2019 car slammed into her.<\/p>\n

Williams\u2019 lawyers also asked the court to have accounts of the widow\u2019s injuries stricken from the court record, calling the victim\u2019s cracked sternum, a shattered right arm, broken right wrist, hand, and fingers \u201cimmaterial\u201d to the case. Additionally, the two sides have also allegedly spared over discovery of key facts in the case, including phone records, vehicle inspections, and electronic vehicle data that could potentially indicate Williams rate of speed before crash.<\/p>\n

Police find Williams at fault in fatal car crash but decline to charge tennis champion<\/b><\/h2>\n

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida police found Williams at fault in the crash but declined to charge the tennis pro with any criminal counts, as is usual in most traffic collisions. Typically, an at-fault driver\u2019s conduct would have to be so wanton and reckless in order for it to rise to the level of criminal conduct.<\/p>\n

While the standards for criminal charges remains quite high, our civil justice system does allow for victims and surviving family members to bring their own car crash lawsuit against negligent drivers to hold these individuals responsible. Although no amount of money can undo the harm caused by someone\u2019s careless actions, the law provides monetary compensation as a main form of relief to injury victims.<\/p>\n

What This Means for Car Accident Victims in DC<\/h3>\n

Car accidents in Washington, D.C. don\u2019t always make national news. But for victims and families, the consequences of a car accident can be life-altering. The Venus Williams case shows how even when police assign fault, legal liability still requires evidence, advocacy, and persistence.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how this applies to your situation if you\u2019ve been hurt in a car crash in the D.C. area.<\/p>\n

While every case is different, most car accident lawsuits follow a timeline similar to the one below:<\/p>\n