District of Columbia Law Summary

Washington, DC, Maryland, & Virginia

Each state has established its own laws to cover auto and truck accident claims. The District of Columbia has enacted the following laws:

Insurance Requirements

The District of Columbia mandates that all drivers carry the following minimum auto insurance coverage:

Bodily injury coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
Property damage coverage of $10,000 per accident
Uninsured motorist coverage

Contributory Negligence

The District of Columbia is one of the few states that still use the doctrine of contributory negligence. This law has serious implications for auto accident victims.

According to the doctrine of contributory negligence, the defendant will only be required to pay damages if he is 100% responsible for the accident. If you are even 1% negligent, you will receive nothing for your injuries.

This strict law makes it essential to hire a skilled auto accident attorney who will make sure you are not found partially responsible for the accident. The attorneys at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. always conduct an in-depth analysis of your claim, and you can be assured that it is very rare that a defense attorney is able to successfully argue contributory negligence against us.

Statute of Limitations

The District of Columbia requires you to file your claim within three years of the date of the accident. There are a few exceptions to this law:

If you are a minor, the statute of limitations is three years from the date of your 18th birthday.
If you are under a disability, as defined under the law, the statute of limitations is delayed an additional period of time until after the disability, as defined by the law, ends.

Joint and Several Liability

The District of Columbia goes by the system of joint and several liability. In claims involving more than one defendant, each party found liable in your claim may be held responsible for paying the entire sum of damages. If one of the negligent parties fails to pay his portion of the damages, one or more of the other liable parties will be forced to cover this portion of the settlement.

Seatbelt and Helmet Laws

All drivers and passengers over the age of 16 must always wear a seatbelt in the District of Columbia. All motorcycle riders are required to wear a helmet at all times.

When you have been seriously injured in an auto or truck accident, you need to be represented by a lawyer who has a thorough knowledge of your state's laws and who will provide you with aggressive, personalized legal counsel. The attorneys at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, and Siegel P.C. have the skills to obtain the best possible settlement for your injuries. Please contact our District of Columbia auto accident attorneys today to schedule a consultation at one of our Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia offices.

Print this page