Skip to content
MyClaimWorth
DC
★ US · Northeast

Personal injury in
District of Columbia.

By Reviewed by Abd Shanti, Founder7 min read

The District of Columbia applies pure contributory negligence with a narrow statutory exception for cyclists and pedestrians, and a relatively long 3-year statute of limitations.

The District of Columbia is one of five US jurisdictions still applying pure contributory negligence, 1% claimant fault bars all recovery. The Motor Vehicle Collision Recovery Act of 2016 (D.C. Code § 50-2204.52) creates a narrow statutory exception: cyclists, pedestrians, and other "vulnerable users" recover unless they were more than 50% at fault.

PIP coverage is optional. A claimant who elects PIP receives no-fault medical and wage benefits but is restricted from suing the at-fault driver in tort except where injuries are above a serious-injury threshold. The personal injury statute of limitations is three years, longer than most US jurisdictions.

united states · sister site
In the US? See what your case could be worth.

FairSettlement runs a free case check in about two minutes. Real settlement ranges for your state, no cost and no obligation.

Check my case
★ statute of limitations
3 years from date of injury

D.C. Code § 12-301

★ fault rule
Pure contributory negligence

Pure contributory negligence, 1% claimant fault bars recovery, with a narrow exception for cyclists and pedestrians under D.C. Code § 50-2204.52.

★ DC · key facts

What makes District of Columbia different.

The handful of details that distinguish this jurisdiction from its neighbours.

★ DC · by injury

Claim values by injury type.

Reported decisions, the limitation clock, and how fault is apportioned for each injury type under District of Columbia law.

★ DC · court decisions

What District of Columbia courts have decided.

Reported District of Columbia decisions for each injury type, each with a link to the judgment and to the full injury guide.

★ DC · rules that decide claims

The rules in District of Columbia.

Statutes and rulings that come up again and again in District of Columbia injury claims, each with its source.

Pedestrians and cyclistsA pedestrian or cyclist hit by a vehicle is barred only if their negligence was greater than all defendants’ combined.D.C. Code § 50-2204.52(a)
Fault ruleThe District keeps contributory negligence: any negligence of your own that helped cause the injury can bar recovery, as it did for Civic even though the jury found the defendants negligent.Civic v. Signature Collision Centers (D.C. 2019)
Seat belt useNot wearing a belt is not evidence of negligence or contributory negligence, and may not be used to reduce damages.D.C. Code § 50-1807
Disability pay offsetsEmployer funded short term disability payments were advance payments of compensation that could be deducted from later comp.Felder v. DOES (D.C. 2014)
Your own testimony countsA denial of continued medication was reversed because the judge did not adequately consider the worker’s testimony.Holland v. DOES (D.C. 2018)
Deadline to sueThree years for actions “for which a limitation is not otherwise specially prescribed,” which covers personal injury.D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(8)
Future post concussive damagesThe trial court barred future damages for permanent post concussive syndrome, and the verdict was otherwise affirmed.Destefano v. Children’s National Medical Center (D.C. 2015)
Notice of the hazardWithout evidence that the owner knew or should have known the trim was loose, a head injury claim failed, and res ipsa loquitur did not help.Jones v. NYLife Real Estate Holdings (D.C. 2021)
★ other US jurisdictions

Compare across United States.

How District of Columbia compares with its neighbours in the Northeast on fault rule and limitation period.

JurisdictionFault ruleLimitation
District of Columbia· you are herePure contributory negligence3 years from date of injury
Connecticut (CT)Modified comparative, 51% bar2 years from date of injury
Delaware (DE)Modified comparative, 51% bar2 years from date of injury
Maine (ME)Modified comparative, 50% bar6 years for personal injury, longest in the US
Maryland (MD)Pure contributory negligence3 years from date of injury
Massachusetts (MA)Modified comparative, 51% bar3 years from date of injury
New Hampshire (NH)Modified comparative, 51% bar3 years from date of injury
New Jersey (NJ)Modified comparative, 51% bar2 years from date of injury
New York (NY)Pure comparative negligence3 years for personal injury; 2 years 6 months for medical malpractice
Pennsylvania (PA)Modified comparative, 51% bar2 years from date of injury
Rhode Island (RI)Pure comparative negligence3 years from date of injury
Vermont (VT)Modified comparative, 51% bar3 years from date of injury

Every United States jurisdiction compared

★ DC · frequently asked

Common questions.

Common questions about personal injury claims in District of Columbia, answered with the relevant statutory references.

united states · sister site
Injured in District of Columbia? See what your own claim could be worth.

FairSettlement, our US sister site, gives you a free estimate in about two minutes. No cost and no obligation.

Check my case
★ federal context
Back to United States

All injury bands, statutes, and procedural pathway at the US level.

★ the working
How we derive bands

Per-jurisdiction methodology, estimates, and known limits.

★ standing authority
Sources we cite

The statutes, guidelines and court sites the pages cite.

★ editorial note

This page summarises the District of Columbia statutory framework as of 2026-05-09. It is not legal advice. Statutes change, published verdicts move, and the position within any band depends on facts the page can't see. For representation, consult an attorney qualified in District of Columbia. See /methodology, /sources, and /disclaimer.