Car accident claims: what to do next in District of Columbia

Who pays: the driver at fault

D.C. requires valid D.C. insurance to register a car. Every car registered in D.C. must have liability coverage, which pays for harm the driver causes to others. After a crash, you can usually claim against the driver at fault and their insurer.

Optional PIP coverage

Insurers in D.C. must offer personal injury protection, or PIP, but buying it is optional. PIP pays no matter who was at fault. It pays at least $50,000 for medical care and rehab, at least $12,000 for lost work, and up to $4,000 for a funeral.

Source: D.C. Code § 31-2404: Personal injury protection · as of Oct 5, 2026

If you have PIP, you must tell the insurer within 60 days of the crash whether you choose to use it. The insurer must tell you about the 60 days in writing, and the time can be made longer if you both agree in writing. If you choose PIP, you can sue the other driver only for a serious injury or for losses above your PIP. If you do not choose in time, the normal liability claim applies.

In D.C., a serious injury means serious lasting scars, or a lasting harm that doctors can show and that greatly affects your work or daily life. It also covers an injury that stops most or all of your usual daily tasks for more than 180 days in a row. A family can still bring a claim for a death either way.

How fault is shared

D.C. uses contributory negligence (a rule that can bar your claim if your own carelessness helped cause your injury). The city's top court has said D.C. is one of the few places that still keeps this rule. Under last clear chance, you may still recover if the other driver had the last chance to avoid the harm.

A D.C. law softens the rule for people on foot and other road users, such as people on bikes, scooters or motorcycles. It covers crashes with a car or with another such road user. They are barred only if their own fault helped cause the injury and was greater than the fault of all the people they sue, combined.

Coverage drivers must carry

D.C. requires at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for injuries you cause, plus $10,000 for property damage. Uninsured motorist coverage is also required. It includes $5,000 for property damage, with a $200 deductible.

Source: D.C. Code § 31-2406: Required and optional coverage · as of Oct 5, 2026

Source: D.C. DMV: Vehicle insurance · as of Oct 5, 2026

A 2026 D.C. law raises these minimums, including uninsured motorist coverage, on October 1, 2027. The new amounts will be $50,000 per person, $100,000 per crash and $20,000 for property damage.

Source: D.C. Law 26-155: Motor Vehicle Insurance Modernization Amendment Act of 2026 · as of Oct 5, 2026

Reporting the crash

If someone is hurt, call 911 or have someone call, and stay at the scene until police arrive. Give your name and other details to the police and to the person who is hurt. If you hit an empty car or other property, tell the owner. If the owner is not there, give your details and the crash location to the police or 911.

The D.C. DMV says not to report any crash to the DMV. The city transportation department says to call 911 right away if medical or police help is needed, or if a car cannot be driven. It also has a checklist for crashes with no injury.

Deadlines

Most D.C. injury lawsuits must be filed within 3 years. A claim for a death must be brought by the estate's representative within 2 years of the death. A lawsuit for PIP benefits usually must start within 3 years of the injury, and in some cases from a later date. The 60-day PIP choice is a separate, much shorter step.

D.C.'s strict fault rule and its 60-day PIP choice make the details of a crash matter, and exceptions can apply to any deadline. People's Justice is not a law firm. We do not review your crash or recommend a lawyer. If you want, you can use the form on this page to ask to be connected with a law firm that pays us to advertise.