Washington, D.C. sets a hard deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit. As a general rule the deadline is 3 years from the date of injury. Wrongful death claims run on their own clock: 2 years from the date of death. Miss the deadline and the court can throw out an otherwise strong case, no matter how badly you were hurt.

Claims involving a city, county, or state agency are stricter still. Written notice to the District government is required within 6 months of the injury under D.C. Code sec. 12-309. Because these notice periods can be a fraction of the normal deadline, accidents involving public buses, government vehicles, or hazards on public property should be reviewed by an attorney right away.

There are exceptions that can shorten or extend these timelines, including claims by minors and injuries that were not discovered immediately. The safest approach in Washington, D.C. is to have your case looked at within days, not months.

Washington, D.C. applies contributory negligence — any fault on your part can bar recovery entirely in most cases. That single rule shapes everything about your case, because the insurance company's cheapest defense is almost always to argue that the accident was partly, or entirely, your fault.

On damages, no general cap on damages in personal injury cases. A full claim can include emergency and follow-up medical care, future treatment, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and pain and suffering. Documenting each of those categories is what separates a quick lowball offer from a fair settlement.

Insurers in every state move fast after a crash or fall — recorded statements, early offers, and requests for broad medical authorizations are routine. You are not required to agree to any of it before you understand what your claim is worth.

For car, truck, and motorcycle crashes, Washington, D.C. uses an at-fault system; drivers may opt into limited no-fault benefits, but tort claims remain the norm. Knowing which system applies tells you who pays your first medical bills and whether you can pursue the at-fault driver directly for pain and suffering.

Get evaluated even if you feel fine at the scene. Soft tissue injuries, concussions, and back injuries often surface days later, and a gap in treatment is the first thing an adjuster points to. Consistent medical records from providers across Washington, Arlington, Silver Spring and Alexandria and the rest of Washington, D.C. are the backbone of any injury claim.

Keep everything: the crash or incident report, photos, names of witnesses, out-of-pocket receipts, and a short daily note about pain and missed work. It costs nothing now and it is very hard to recreate later.