DC Car Accident Law

District of Columbia Car Accident Fault

The District of Columbia has adopted the Contributory Negligence standard of negligence. Contributory Negligence prevents an injured party from recovering for an injury if he was in any way at fault for the injury.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CAR INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS AND LIMITS

District of Columbia Bodily Injury Liability Minimum Coverage

Personal Injury (single passenger): $25,000 in coverage for injury to an individual.

Personal Injury (multiple passengers): $50,000 in coverage for the driver and passengers in the car at the time of the accident.

Property Damage: $10,000 of minimum coverage.

District of Columbia Small Claims Limit: Car accident claims under $5,000 should be filed in the Small Claims Court.

District of Columbia Personal Injury Statute of Limitations: The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in the District of Columbia is 3 years from the date the injury occurred, or the time the injury was discovered if it could not have been immediately discovered.

District of Columbia Statutes Online: District of Columbia Code Title 12, Ch. 3, § 12-301 (Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury); District of Columbia Code § 50-314 (Insurance Requirements); District of Columbia Code § 11-1321 (Small Claims Limits).

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CAR ACCIDENT REPORTS

District of Columbia Police Reports: You can request a copy of a police Incident/Offense Report (Form PD-251) by writing a letter to the Metropolitan Police Department requesting a copy of a car accident report.

DMV: In the District of Columbia, in case of a car accident, notify the Metropolitan Police Department. Do not report the car accident to the DMV.

Insurance Notification: You should promptly notify your auto insurance company of a car accident. Additionally, your auto insurance company may have specific notification requirements, so you should check your insurance policy for these notice requirements.