Personal injury law in District of Columbia
How long you have to file, how shared fault is treated, whether District of Columbia is a no-fault auto state, and what damages caps can limit a jury award. Every figure sourced.
Key rules at a glance
| Statute of limitations | 3 years Government claims: 6-month notice (D.C. Code § 12-309). |
|---|---|
| Negligence rule | Contributory negligence (1% bar) DC applies contributory negligence; even 1% fault can bar recovery. |
| Auto no-fault | No |
| Damages caps | No general cap on compensatory damages. No general cap on compensatory damages. |
What the filing deadline means in District of Columbia
Personal injury claims in District of Columbia must generally be filed within 3 years of the date of injury. Government claims: 6-month notice (D.C. Code § 12-309). If you miss the statute, the claim is time-barred regardless of how strong it is. Discovery rules can shift the start date for latent injuries, and government claims often carry much shorter notice deadlines (sometimes 60 to 180 days).
How shared fault works under contributory negligence (1% bar)
If you are even 1% at fault, recovery is completely barred. One of the strictest rules in the U.S. DC applies contributory negligence; even 1% fault can bar recovery.
Practical effect: if a jury values your case at $200,000 and assigns you any of the fault, you recover $0 in District of Columbia.
Damages caps in District of Columbia
No general cap on compensatory damages.
A cap does not change the value of your injuries; it changes what a jury is allowed to award. Caps most often apply to non-economic damages (pain and suffering) and to medical malpractice cases. Economic damages, like medical bills and lost wages, are generally not capped.
Case types in District of Columbia
These case-type hubs explain how settlement value is built and how each type interacts with District of Columbia's rules above.
Related reads
How District of Columbia's contributory negligence (1% bar) rule shapes auto settlement value.
Multi-party liability, FMCSA regulations, and the 30-day evidence window.
Helmet laws, anti-rider bias, and how comparative fault hits riders.
Premises liability and the negligence elements you must prove.
Standard of care, statute of repose, and District of Columbia's med-mal caps.
Workers' comp vs third-party liability claims.
Strict liability vs one-bite rule by state.
Who can file and what damages are recoverable.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
Want a different state? See all 50 state hubs.