District of Columbia · Personal injury
District of Columbia Personal Injury Lawyers and Laws
Rankings
Cities we rank in District of Columbia
The law
District of Columbia injury law in 60 seconds
Filing deadline
3 years
For most injury claims (D.C. Code § 12-301).
Fault rule
Contributory negligence
If you are found even 1% at fault, you can be barred from recovering anything. This is one of the strictest rules in the country. Pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users hit by a vehicle get a modified comparative (51% bar) rule instead. (D.C. common law; D.C. Code § 50-2204.52)
Car insurance
Choice no-fault state
No-fault coverage and the traditional right to sue can both apply, depending on the options chosen on the policy and after the crash. Which applies affects your claim.
Pending attorney review. General information, not legal advice. Deadlines can be shorter for claims against government agencies and for some case types.
Case types
Rankings by case type
Open a city above, then narrow its ranking to the kind of case you have:
- Car accident lawyers
- Truck accident lawyers
- Motorcycle accident lawyers
- Rideshare accident lawyers
- Slip and fall lawyers
- Wrongful death lawyers
FAQ
District of Columbia personal injury questions
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in District of Columbia?
In most cases, 3 years from the date of the injury (D.C. Code § 12-301). Claims against a government agency often have much shorter notice deadlines.
What if I was partly at fault for my injury in District of Columbia?
If you are found even 1% at fault, you can be barred from recovering anything. This is one of the strictest rules in the country. Pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users hit by a vehicle get a modified comparative (51% bar) rule instead. (D.C. common law; D.C. Code § 50-2204.52)
Is District of Columbia a no-fault car insurance state?
District of Columbia is a choice no-fault state. No-fault coverage and the traditional right to sue can both apply, depending on the options chosen on the policy and after the crash. Which applies affects your claim.