If you get into a car accident while driving in Washington D.C.
, the law requires you to report it to the police department. You may be able to claim damages through your insurance company or by filing a personal injury lawsuit. Few things are more stressful than a car accident. Even a minor fender bender will probably cost you time and money, and more serious accidents can leave you with an undrivable car or major injuries. Filling out an accident report probably isn’t the first thing on your mind after a collision, but understanding car accident laws can reduce stress and help you get through the process quicker.
Feel like you need a better understanding of the District of Columbia’s car accident laws? In this guide created by the car insurance
shopping app Jerry
, we’ll review when and how to report a car accident. We’ll also go over what financial responsibility, personal injury lawsuits, and comparative fault mean in Washington D.C. Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers What to do after a crash: car accident reporting laws in the District of Columbia
No matter where you get into a car accident, your main concern
should be making sure that you and your passengers are safe. Move the car to the side of the road if you can, and immediately call 911 if anyone involved in the collision requires medical assistance. It’s also important to exchange insurance information with the driver of the other car and document any damage by taking pictures or notes. Next, you’ll need to call the police and your insurance company to report the accident. Here’s a closer look at how Washington D.C.’s car accident laws handle accident reporting.
When to report an accident to the police
If you get into a car accident in the District of Columbia that results in injury, death, or at least $250 of property damage, you are required to report the crash to the police immediately. If there are police officers present at the scene of your accident, you don’t need to file a report—the responding officers will file one. But if you need to make the report yourself, you can contact the Metropolitan Police Department
at (202) 727-4106. Financial responsibility and coverage minimums: insurance laws in the District of Columbia
In Washington D.C., all drivers must carry a car insurance policy with liability coverage. Here’s what the minimum insurance requirements look like in the District of Columbia:
Driving without insurance or the inability to provide proof of insurancewhen you’re pulled over by law enforcement results in an initial fine of $150. An additional $7 will be added to the fine every 30 days until the driver submits proof of insurance. Paying fines is hassle enough, but driving without car insurance can also make it difficult to claim damages through your insurance
or a personal injury lawsuit. Unfortunately, many drivers in Washington D.C. still drive without insurance, despite the penalties. Believe it or not, a 2019 study by the Insurance Information Institute (III)
found that 19.1% of D.C. motorists don’t carry the minimum required coverage. Under normal circumstances, getting into an accident with someone who let their coverage lapse makes it much harder to claim damages—even if the collision wasn’t your fault. But Washington D.C. protects its drivers by including uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
in its minimum insurance requirements. Claiming damages after an accident: personal injury laws in the District of Columbia
Because the District of Columbia follows a no-fault
car insurance system, drivers are usually required to collect damages through their insurance company. However, there are a few cases in which a driver may be exempt from the no-fault system, such as: The accident resulted in substantial or permanent disfigurement or scarring
The accident resulted in the medically demonstrable inability to perform daily activities for 180 days or more
The accident resulted in medical bills that exceed the limits of no-fault insurance policies
In the event that you meet one of these requirements, you can hire a lawyer and file a personal injury lawsuit to collect damages. The Code of the District of Columbia
states that you have three years from the date of your accident to file. Who’s to blame: comparative negligence law in the District of Columbia
After you report a car accident to your insurance company, the first thing your adjuster needs to determine is who was at fault. Let’s say that Beth runs a red light and hits Jordan’s car, but Jordan was talking on his cellphone at the time. Both drivers broke traffic laws, so who’s actually to blame? And who gets to collect damages?
The District of Columbia takes a contributory negligence
stance on collecting damages after an accident. This means that you cannot collect damages if it’s determined that you share any of the blame for the accident. Going back to Beth and Jordan's accident, if we imagine that the insurance companies determined that Beth was 70% at fault and Jordan was 30% at fault—neither driver is entitled to damages, since they both contributed to causing the accident. However, if we change the scenario and imagine that Beth ran a red light and hit Jordan’s car, but he was doing nothing wrong at the time, then Jordan would be entitled to damages since Beth would be 100% at fault.
Contributory negligence is the harshest version of comparative negligence law, but other forms of the law exist in different states. If you’re crossing state lines, it’s a good idea to look into whether that state applies contributory negligence, modified comparative negligence, or pure comparative negligence.
How to save money on car insurance in the District of Columbia
Trying to find a lower rate on your car insurance
after you’ve been in a collision can seem overwhelming. You might imagine dealing with office visits, sales calls, and lots of paperwork, only to end up with a rate or coverage you’re not happy with. But if you let Jerry
shop for you, you won’t need to worry about any of that. As a licensed broker
, Jerry compares plans from over 55 insurance companies to find you the best price for the coverage you need. Have a question about coverage? Jerry’s friendly agents are here to answer your questions and provide advice on the best coverage options. As your life changes, your insurance changes, and Jerry is ready to make those adjustments for you.
“Amazing! I’ll admit, I’m young with 2 accidents. This spiked my insurance rates and every quote I found. Jerry
, though, helped me find affordable insurance. It truly helped me!” —Marcus F.
RECOMMENDEDThis app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍
