Best Motorcycle 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 DC Police Department can be reached at (202) 576-8222 and (202) 698-0555.

• Where can you get a copy of the police report for the accident in Washington DC?

  1. You can pick up accident reports yourself by going to Room 3075 of the Washington DC 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 mailed request must include your full name; the 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.

• If your insurance includes Personal Injury Protection, should this cover all of your expenses after a motorcycle accident in Washington DC?

  It depends on the severity of your injuries following your motorcycle accident and if the medical care required to treat you does not go above your coverage. Fortunately, having PIP in Washington DC means not having to wait for the insurance carrier to determine who was at fault, and the bill gets paid right away. Be informed that PIP does not cover lost income or non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, and trauma.

• If you get into a motorcycle accident in Washington DC with someone who is not a local, can you still sue the other driver?

  Yes, you can still sue out-of-state motorists. It doesn't matter where all the involved parties come from. If the motorcycle accident happened within the territories of Washington DC, then the individuals who are involved will be held to the laws of the jurisdiction and the authority of the local courts.

• The driver who crashed into your motorcycle in Washington DC was drunk. What do you need to know?

  Because the other party was driving under the influence, which is a criminal offense, the motorcycle accident is no longer just a personal injury case. One important difference you have to take note of is the drastic difference in the statute of limitations, which has now been reduced to just one year. However, just because the at-fault, drunk driver has been charged with a crime, it does not mean that you will automatically be compensated for whatever losses you are suffering from. Civil claims are different from criminal proceedings, which means you would still have to pursue your own insurance company and theirs, and navigate Washington DC's civil legal system.

• You damaged a parked motorcycle in Washington, DC, but you couldn't find the owner so you left. Are you in trouble?

  In Washington, DC, this is specifically known as Leaving After Colliding and carries some criminal weight. If this is your first time committing this crime, you may be fined up to $250 and spend 30 days in jail. Luckily, this does not happen a lot. You are most likely to undergo a period of unsupervised probation and a diversion program, such as community service, in exchange for the charges being dropped. Your driving privileges in Washington DC will most likely get suspended for at least 6 months, however.

• Is there an option to go the no-fault route after a motorcycle accident in Washington DC?

  Yes, you do. You have 60 days to do this. Be informed that choosing to file for no-fault insurance compensation means that you won't be able to submit a claim against the other driver later. However, if your medical bills soar higher than your insurance coverage or if you suffered severe injuries or impairment that lasted for more than 6 months, then you can file a claim on your own policy AND submit a claim against the at-fault driver.