What to do after a car accident in District of Columbia
Every rule below is quoted from District of Columbia law or a state agency, with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
At fault state
The short answer
DC requires drivers to carry liability insurance that pays for another person's injuries and damage when the insured driver is at fault. Insurers must also offer an optional no-fault personal injury protection add-on that a driver can choose to buy. MPD investigates and writes a report when a crash causes a death or any reported injury, or when a vehicle is damaged badly enough that it has to be towed from the scene. You have 3 years to sue over injuries from a car crash.
Deadlines in District of Columbia
- 3 years
- to sue for injuriesD.C. Code § 12-301(8)
- 3 years
- to sue for car or property damageD.C. Code § 12-301(3)
- 2 years
- for a family to sue after a deathD.C. Code § 16-2702
- 6 months
- to notify the government if a public vehicle or road was involvedD.C. Code § 12-309
Miss one of these and you can lose the right to claim, even with a strong case.
At the scene
Stop, share your information and help anyone hurt
A driver in a DC crash must stop right away. If someone is hurt, the driver must call 911 or get emergency help, stay until police arrive, and give identifying information to police and to the injured person. If only property is damaged, the driver gives identifying information to the owner, or reports it to police or 911 if the owner is not there.
“Any person who operates or who is in physical control of a vehicle within the District who knows or has reason to believe that his or her vehicle has been in a collision shall immediately stop”
When you must call the police
MPD investigates and writes a report when a crash causes a death or any reported injury, or when a vehicle is damaged badly enough that it has to be towed from the scene.
“A fatality or any reported injury (regardless of how severe) occurs. A motor vehicle sustains body or mechanical damage that renders it inoperable and the damage requires the vehicle to be towed from the scene.”
Moving your car out of traffic
DC does not have a specific law requiring drivers to move a driveable car out of traffic after a minor crash, but the city's transportation department tells drivers to move vehicles to avoid blocking traffic if it is safe to do so.
“Move vehicle(s) to help avoid a traffic jam and to keep yourself and your passenger(s) safe.”
In the days after
Whether you must file a report yourself
DC does not require drivers to report a crash to the DMV. For a property damage only crash where police did not respond, drivers fill out the District's Motor Vehicle Crash Report for Property Damage Only form and return it within 5 days.
“Use only if NO police report was taken. Complete and return form within 5 DAYS of crash”
Getting a copy of the crash report
To get a copy of a DC crash report, called a PD-10, the involved party or their attorney can request it from MPD by email, mail, or an in-person appointment. There is no fee for a first party request, and mail-in requests can take about six weeks to process.
“For Mail-In requests, please allow six weeks for processing from the date the request is made.”
Who pays for the damage
DC requires drivers to carry liability insurance that pays for another person's injuries and damage when the insured driver is at fault. Insurers must also offer an optional no-fault personal injury protection add-on that a driver can choose to buy.
“Third-party personal liability coverage shall provide that any liability of an insured to pay for injury arising from an accident within or outside the District of Columbia, in accordance with applicable law, shall be paid by the insurer up to the amount established in the policy.”
Insurance rules in District of Columbia
What insurance every driver must carry
DC drivers must carry at least $25,000 in liability coverage for one injured person, $50,000 total for everyone injured in one crash, and $10,000 for property damage.
“$25,000 per person injured in any 1 accident and $50,000 for all persons injured in any 1 accident”
Personal injury protection (PIP)
Personal injury protection is not required in DC. Insurance companies must offer it as an option, and a driver can buy it or turn it down.
“shall offer to each person required to have insurance under this chapter optional personal injury protection insurance”
If the other driver has no insurance
DC insurance policies must include uninsured motorist coverage of at least $25,000 for one injured person, $50,000 for everyone injured in one crash, and $5,000 for property damage.
“$25,000 per person injured in any 1 accident, or $50,000 for all persons injured in any 1 accident, and coverage for property damage in an amount of $5,000”
Medical payments coverage
DC does not have a separate required medical payments coverage. Instead, insurers must offer optional no-fault personal injury protection that pays medical and rehabilitation expenses of at least $50,000 if a driver chooses to buy it.
“The maximum benefits payable pursuant to this subsection for any victim shall not be less than $50,000.”
If an insurance company treats you unfairly
DC's Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking takes consumer complaints against insurers online, by phone, mail, fax, or in person, and most complaints are resolved in about 45 days.
“Most complaints are investigated and brought to resolution in approximately 45 days.”
The deadline rules, word for word
Deadline to sue for injuries
You have 3 years to sue over injuries from a car crash.
“for which a limitation is not otherwise specially prescribed, 3 years”
Deadline to sue for car damage
You have 3 years to sue over vehicle or property damage from a crash.
“for the recovery of damages for an injury to real or personal property, 3 years”
Deadline for a wrongful death claim
A wrongful death lawsuit from a crash must be filed within 2 years of the death.
“within 2 years after the death of the person injured”
If a government vehicle or road was involved
If a DC government vehicle or road is involved, you must give the Mayor written notice of the crash within 6 months, or the case cannot move forward.
“within six months after the injury or damage was sustained”
Sources on this page
Each one was opened and checked on September 17, 2026.
- D.C. Code § 31-2406(c)
- D.C. Code § 31-2404(a)(1)
- D.C. Code § 31-2405(b)
- Wingfield v. Peoples Drug Store, Inc., 379 A.2d 685 (D.C. 1977)
- D.C. Code § 12-301(8)
- D.C. Code § 16-2702
- D.C. Code § 12-309
- MPD Metropolitan Police Academy, 13.1 Traffic Crashes (approved 4/26/2023)
- Government of the District of Columbia Motor Vehicle Crash Report for Property Damage Only form
- D.C. Code § 50-2201.05c
- DDOT, What To Do After A Non-Injury Crash
- MPD, Request an Accident Report (PD-10) or an Incident/Offense Report (PD-251)
- DISB, File a Complaint or Report Fraud
- D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.5(c)
Know My Claim is not a law firm or a government agency, and this page is not legal advice. Laws change, so check the linked source before you rely on a deadline.