Best Car Accident Lawyers in Washington DC

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Washington DC?

  The Washington Police Department can be reached at (202) 576-8222 and (202) 698-0555.

• Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in Washington DC?

  1. You can pick it up yourself by going to Room 3075 in the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters, the Henry J. Daly Building, 300 Indiana Avenue, N.W. Please provide the time, date, and place of the incident, along with the report number.

  2. You can also obtain the report by mail. Write a letter asking for a copy of the incident report and send it to the following address:

  Metropolitan Police Department, Public Documents Unit ATT: Accident/Incident Reports, Room 3075 300 Indiana Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001

  The mail must include:

  • Your full name
  • Time, date, and place of the incident
  • The six-digit report number or CCN

  Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope with $3 made out to the DC Treasurer.

• I was in a Lyft in Washington, D.C. and the car crashed. Should I sue Lyft or the driver?

  Unfortunately, Lyft and other similar ride-sharing companies have fought to have their drivers be classified as independent contractors instead of employees. This makes it challenging to have them be held liable for accidents caused by their operators. However, there may still be other factors that contributed to the accident that need to be considered before placing all the blame on the driver. A skilled attorney who deals with cases like this would know how to gather evidence such as eyewitness statements, accident reconstruction, and police reports to build a strong case for your compensation claim.

• I got in a car accident in Washington, DC, and couldn't work for 7 months. Can I sue the other party for this?

  Yes, you can. Washington, DC is a no-fault state, but there are exceptions to the rule.

  1. If your medical or repair expenses can no longer be covered by your policy. If your insurance can only cover $10,000, but your expenses go over that, then you can file a claim against the other party.
  2. If you suffered severe injuries that include disfigurement, permanent scarring, and impairment that lasted 180 days or more.

  In cases like these, it would be wise to acquire the assistance of an attorney, since this would require proving that the other party was at fault.

• The other driver caused the accident which wrecked my car in Washington, DC. How come I am not eligible to receive compensation?

  The court must have found that you were partially responsible for the crash. Washington DC follows the contributory negligence law which states that if the plaintiff was proven to have contributed to the accident, they will not be entitled to receive compensation from the defendant.

• I got in a car accident in Washington, DC. What information should I take down for later use?

  It is important to take note of the following information that you can give your attorney later:

  The other driver's

  • Full name
  • Contact information
  • License and plate number
  • Vehicle type, color, and model
  • Insurance company and policy number

  Other helpful information you can add:

  • A copy of the accident report from the responding officers
  • Pictures and videos of the scene
  • Names of the responding officers
  • Names of everyone involved in the accident
  • Location of the accident

• How long do I have before my car accident case in Washington, DC gets dismissed by the court?

  You have three years from the date of the accident to start taking steps toward filing your claim before the deadline expires. Some people think that it is long enough to wait, but building a case may take longer than you think. In addition, some evidence may be lost with time, such as eyewitnesses forgetting what happened. However, if you are filing for a loved one who passed away as a result of the accident, then the starting date moves to the date of death instead of the date of the accident. Pursuant to D.C. Code section 16-2702, this should be filed within two years.