AI Insights Key Takeaways
- In Washington, D.C., you generally have three years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (D.C. Code § 12-301(8)). A few claims, like assault or battery, have a shorter one-year deadline.
- D.C. follows the strict common-law rule of contributory negligence: in most cases, being found even slightly at fault can bar you from recovering anything, so what you say to the insurance company matters.
- D.C. protects people on foot and on bikes. Under D.C. Code § 50-2204.52, a pedestrian or “vulnerable user” struck by a vehicle can still recover unless they were more than 50% at fault.
- Unlike many states, D.C. does not cap the compensatory damages (including pain and suffering) you can recover in a personal injury case.
- D.C. injury cases at Schehr Law PLLC are handled on contingency by Kalyn Hoyle, Esq., a member of the D.C. Bar. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover for you.
General information, not legal advice. Every case is different — talk to an attorney about yours.
An injury in Washington, D.C. is not the same as one across the river in Virginia or up in Maryland. The District has its own courts, its own insurance rules, and one of the strictest fault rules in the country. If a careless driver, property owner, or business hurt you in the District, Schehr Law PLLC can help you recover compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering, so you can focus on healing. Contact us today for a free consultation.
What Makes a D.C. Injury Case Different
Three features of District law shape almost every personal injury claim here, and they catch people by surprise. Understanding them early can be the difference between a full recovery and nothing at all.
D.C. Follows Contributory Negligence, One of the Strictest Fault Rules Anywhere
Washington, D.C. is one of only a handful of U.S. jurisdictions that still applies pure contributory negligence. Under this common-law rule, if the insurance company can pin even 1% of the blame on you, you can be barred from recovering anything. Insurers know this, and in the District they lean on it hard, which is why an offhand apology at the scene or a recorded statement can quietly sink an otherwise strong claim. The fix is not to argue fault with the adjuster. It is to build the evidence that the other party caused the crash.
If You Were on Foot or on a Bike, D.C. Law Protects You
There is a major exception that D.C. carved out for the most exposed people on the road. Under D.C. Code § 50-2204.52, a pedestrian, cyclist, or other “vulnerable user” struck by a vehicle is not barred by their own carelessness unless their share of the fault was greater than the combined fault of everyone else who caused the crash (in a typical one-driver case, that means more than 50%). The 2020 Vulnerable User Collision Recovery Amendment Act broadened this to cover cyclists, e-scooter riders, and similar users. In a city as walkable and bike-heavy as D.C., that distinction decides a lot of cases, and it is a rule many drivers, and even some out-of-town lawyers, do not know applies.
D.C. Has No Cap on Your Compensation
Many states put a ceiling on what an injured person can recover for pain and suffering. The District does not. In an ordinary D.C. personal injury case, there is no statutory cap on compensatory damages. Your recovery is measured by your actual losses, not an arbitrary limit.
The Clock: Three Years, With Shorter Exceptions
Under D.C. Code § 12-301(8), you generally have three years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in the District. Some claims run shorter. Assault and battery, for instance, must be filed within one year. Claims against the D.C. government carry their own early notice requirements. Because the deadline that applies depends on the facts, it is worth confirming yours with an attorney well before it runs.
D.C. Injury Cases We Handle
Schehr Law PLLC represents people hurt across the District in the full range of personal injury matters:
- Car accidents, including rush-hour crashes on New York Avenue, North Capitol Street, and the DC-295/Anacostia Freeway.
- Pedestrian accidents, among the cases the vulnerable-user rule most often protects, from downtown crosswalks to neighborhood corners.
- Bicycle accidents, including dooring, right-hooks, and crashes on D.C.’s growing network of bike lanes and trails.
- Truck and commercial-vehicle accidents, from delivery and box trucks to tractor-trailers moving through the District.
- Motorcycle accidents, rideshare (Uber and Lyft) accidents, and Metro and bus-related injuries.
- Slip, trip, and fall and other premises liability claims against negligent property owners.
- Catastrophic injuries and construction accidents, where a lifetime of care is at stake.
- Defective and dangerous products that injure the people who use them.
- Medical malpractice, birth injuries, and nursing home negligence.
- Wrongful death claims for families who have lost a loved one.
Where We Serve Across Washington, D.C.
We represent injured people in all four quadrants and eight wards of the District. Wherever your injury happened, your case is handled by Kalyn Hoyle, Esq., a member of the D.C. Bar.
Northwest (NW)
Georgetown · Dupont Circle · Adams Morgan · Columbia Heights · Shaw · U Street · Petworth · Chevy Chase · Foggy Bottom
The District’s largest quadrant, from the downtown core to upper NW. DDOT’s High Injury Network flags Georgia Avenue NW, Florida Avenue NW, New York Avenue NW, and the U Street and H Street NW corridors among its most crash-prone roads.
We handle D.C. car accident claims, pedestrian injury cases, and bicycle crash claims across Northwest.
Northeast (NE)
Capitol Hill (north) · Brookland · H Street / Atlas District · NoMa · Trinidad · Ivy City · Woodridge · Fort Lincoln
A mix of residential streets and busy commuter routes east of North Capitol Street. DDOT flags Benning Road NE, Minnesota Avenue NE, New York Avenue NE, Florida Avenue NE, and Eastern Avenue NE among NE’s highest-injury corridors.
We handle D.C. car accident claims, pedestrian injury cases, and truck accident claims across Northeast.
Southeast (SE)
Anacostia · Capitol Hill (south) · Navy Yard · Congress Heights · Hillcrest · Fairlawn · Barry Farm
East of the Anacostia River and south of the Capitol, carrying heavy commuter and commercial traffic. DDOT flags Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Alabama Avenue SE, Minnesota Avenue SE, Benning Road SE, and Southern Avenue SE among its most dangerous roads.
We handle D.C. car accident claims, truck accident claims, and pedestrian injury cases across Southeast.
Southwest (SW)
The Wharf / Southwest Waterfront · Navy Yard · Buzzard Point · Fort McNair · L’Enfant Plaza · Bellevue
The smallest quadrant, but a busy one, with the Wharf, Nationals Park, and federal offices drawing dense event and commuter traffic. The South Capitol Street corridor and the Southwest Freeway carry the heaviest volumes.
We handle D.C. car accident claims, pedestrian injury cases, and rideshare (Uber and Lyft) claims across Southwest.
Where D.C. Injury Claims Are Filed
Most District personal injury cases are filed in the Civil Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (500 Indiana Avenue NW). D.C. is a compact but busy jurisdiction, and its procedures, mediation requirements, and jury pool differ from the surrounding Maryland and Virginia courts. Handling a case here well means knowing those differences, not treating a D.C. claim like a suburban one.
A Note on D.C. Auto Insurance
The District requires drivers to carry at least $25,000/$50,000 in bodily-injury liability coverage and $10,000 in property damage, plus uninsured-motorist protection. D.C. also lets drivers add optional personal injury protection (PIP), a “no-fault” benefit with strict rules and deadlines about when and how you can use it without giving up your right to sue. If you were hit in the District, those choices can affect your recovery. Our D.C. car accident page goes deeper.
Why Injured People in D.C. Choose Schehr Law PLLC
You get a licensed District of Columbia attorney who actually knows D.C. law, not a national ad firm that treats your case like a file number. Kalyn Hoyle, Esq. is a member of the D.C. Bar and handles the firm’s District cases personally, backed by a team that has recovered more than $10 million for injured clients. Every case gets honest advice, clear communication, and genuine preparation, and you never pay a fee unless we win.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Washington, D.C.?
In Washington, D.C., you generally have three years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit under D.C. Code § 12-301(8). Some claims have shorter deadlines; for example, assault and battery must be filed within one year. Missing the deadline usually bars the claim, so it is best to speak with an attorney promptly.
Can I still recover in D.C. if I was partly at fault?
In most D.C. cases, the answer is difficult: the District follows pure contributory negligence, meaning that being found even slightly at fault can bar recovery. There is an important exception. Under D.C. Code § 50-2204.52, a pedestrian, cyclist, or other vulnerable user struck by a vehicle is not barred unless they were more than 50% at fault. Because fault is often disputed, it is worth having an attorney evaluate your case.
Do I have to live in Washington, D.C. to file a claim there?
No. What generally matters is where the injury happened. If you were hurt in the District, whether you are a D.C. resident, a commuter, or a visitor, your claim can generally be brought in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
Does D.C. limit how much money I can recover?
D.C. does not cap the compensatory damages you can recover in an ordinary personal injury case, including non-economic damages like pain and suffering. This is different from many states that impose statutory caps.
Is Schehr Law PLLC able to handle a Washington, D.C. injury case?
Yes. Schehr Law PLLC’s District of Columbia personal injury cases are handled by Kalyn Hoyle, Esq., a member of the District of Columbia Bar. The firm serves injured people throughout D.C.; consultations are free and there is no fee unless we recover for you.
Talk to a D.C. Injury Lawyer Today
Don’t face the District’s contributory-negligence rule and the insurance companies alone. For a free, confidential case review with a D.C.-barred attorney, contact us today or call (202) 344-9721.