Augment LeadsWritten for injury firms licensed in the District of Columbia: the crash numbers, the claim rules and the intake questions that matter here. Every state's deadline sits in our statute of limitations table.
District of Columbia crash data (2024)
District of Columbia recorded 47 motor vehicle crash deaths in 2024: 6.7 per 100,000 people and 1.33 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. By population rate, that's 48th highest of the 50 states and DC.
- People on foot: 18 pedestrian deaths, or 38% of the District of Columbia total (18% nationally).
- Speeding was involved in 18 District of Columbia deaths, 38% of the total, versus 29% nationwide.
- 68% of the District's crash deaths (32) came from single-vehicle crashes; the all-state figure is 52%.
- Motorcyclists: 9 deaths, 19% of the District's total, against 16% across all states.
Data: IIHS state-by-state fatality statistics for 2024. National percentages are our sum of the same table's 50 states and DC.
District of Columbia rules that shape a car accident claim
Insurance system in the District of Columbia
The District of Columbia isn't one of the 12 no-fault states listed by the Insurance Information Institute. Instead, insurers must offer optional personal injury protection under D.C. Code 31-2406. Under 31-2405, a victim with PIP must tell the PIP insurer within 60 days of the accident whether they elect PIP benefits. Electing PIP limits a suit against the other driver to cases of substantial permanent scarring or disfigurement, substantial permanent impairment, an impairment preventing usual activities for more than 180 continuous days, or medical, rehabilitation or work loss above the PIP available.
Minimum liability coverage
D.C. Code 31-2406 requires third-party liability coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, $10,000 for property damage, and uninsured motorist coverage at the same bodily injury limits plus $5,000 for property damage.
Comparative fault rule
The District follows contributory negligence, so an injured driver's own negligence can bar recovery. For pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable users of a public highway or sidewalk hit by a motor vehicle, D.C. Code 50-2204.52 changes the rule: their negligence doesn't bar recovery unless it was a proximate cause and greater than the combined negligence of all defendants.
Deadline to file an injury lawsuit
D.C. Code 12-301(8) allows three years from when the right to maintain the action accrues for actions not otherwise specifically provided for, which covers personal injury from a crash.
Statutes change, so treat this as general information and confirm with the source.
Questions to ask District of Columbia callers
- Ask whether the caller has PIP and whether they've elected PIP benefits. Under 31-2405, the choice is due within 60 days of the accident, and electing PIP limits the suit to the listed injury thresholds.
- Ask whether the caller was walking, cycling or on another non-motorized device. Under 50-2204.52, contributory negligence doesn't bar those claims unless the caller's negligence was greater than the defendants'.
- Get the crash date on every call and count forward three years, the period in D.C. Code 12-301. Files close to that line go to an attorney the same day.
- Ask which insurers are involved, theirs and the other driver's. District of Columbia's required minimum is $25,000 per person for bodily injury, so in a serious injury case ask about the caller's own coverage too.
- Ask whether the caller was walking or standing near the road when hit; pedestrians made up 38% of the District's crash deaths in 2024. Route those to your pedestrian accident screen.
- Ask whether the police report or witnesses mention speed; speeding was a factor in 38% of the District's 2024 crash deaths.
Augment Leads in the District of Columbia
We run car accident campaigns nationwide and send District of Columbia leads only to firms that pick the District of Columbia. The injured person fills in the form, each lead goes to one firm and is never resold, and unqualified leads are replaced under a written policy. Over 50 law firms work with us. See MVA leads.
Spanish-speaking MVA leads are part of our regular product.
Frequently asked questions
What is the statute of limitations for a car accident in the District of Columbia?
Generally three years, under D.C. Code 12-301. Exceptions apply, so confirm the deadline on every file.
Does contributory negligence bar every DC crash claim?
No. Drivers face the contributory negligence rule, but under D.C. Code 50-2204.52 a pedestrian or cyclist hit by a motor vehicle is barred only if their negligence was a proximate cause and greater than all defendants' combined.
What car insurance does District of Columbia require?
D.C. Code 31-2406 requires third-party liability coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, $10,000 for property damage, and uninsured motorist coverage at the same bodily injury limits plus $5,000 for property damage.
How many traffic deaths did District of Columbia have in 2024?
IIHS counted 47 crash deaths in the District of Columbia in 2024, or 6.7 per 100,000 people.
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