What To Do After a Car Accident in Washington, D.C.

There's nothing ordinary about driving in the District of Columbia. The Capitol City has restricted areas, frequent road closures, tourists everywhere, eye-catching monuments, and some of the best radio in the country. All this and more contribute to the likelihood of motorist confusion and distracted driving.

D.C. drivers are no strangers to auto accidents. While you can do your best to avoid being in one, it's a good idea to prepare in case it happens. Knowing your legal obligations, when to involve the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and how to deal with insurance claims can make things much easier.

This article will tell you all about what to do after a D.C. car accident.

After the Accident: The First Steps

Feeling another car impact against yours is a sickening feeling. While frustration and possibly rage are normal reactions, take a deep breath and try to remain calm. All D.C. drivers have certain responsibilities after a motor vehicle accident.

Don't leave the accident scene, even if the contact seemed minor. Doing so exposes you to a hit-and-run charge, which carries fines and possible jail time. Check to see if anyone involved needs medical attention. This includes you! Offer the degree of first aid you feel comfortable giving. Call 911 and make sure the operator knows the seriousness of any accident injuries.

There are certain car crash conditions under which you must alert the MPD. These circumstances are:

• If there is an injury
• If there is a fatality
• If any of the vehicles can't be safely driven away
• If a domestic animal gets injured and the owner is not present
• If there is property damage and the owner is not present

If you're unsure whether to call the police after an accident, err on the side of caution and call 911. If there are no injuries and the damage seems minor, the D.C. Department of Transportation has guidelines for handling it between yourselves if you feel comfortable enough.

If you've called 911, exchange information and insurance policy information with the other driver(s) while you wait. Once the responding police officer arrives, let them take control of the accident scene. Once they've taken care of any immediate concerns, such as serious injuries and getting the traffic flowing again, they'll start on the car accident police report, the PD-10.

The police report combines the accident scene data observed by the police officer with statements taken from drivers, passengers, and witnesses. Some of the objective information includes:

• Name, address, phone number, date of birth, driver's license numbers and other contact information
• Auto insurance information and policy numbers
• Vehicle identification numbers (VIN), make, model, production year, and license plate numbers from all involved vehicles
• Diagrams showing the positions of vehicles, directions they came from, points of impact, and types of vehicle damage suffered
• Weather conditions
• Road type, conditions, and exact location of the accident
• Lighting/time of the accident
• Pertinent traffic signals/signs
• Sobriety of drivers
• Indicators such as skid marks

The police report should be an objective, third-person recreation without bias from the reporting officer. While the insurance companies will use the PD-10 as part of their process, the report should not specifically assign blame.

When giving your statement, be as calm and truthful as possible. Even if you think you caused the accident, under no circumstances admit to any fault. Let the facts tell the story.

The officer should give you a six-digit number (the CCN) for the accident report. You'll need this number when you request a copy of the PD-10. If you forgot it or didn't get it at the scene, you can request the number from the police district where the accident happened.

If you suffered an accident injury, seek medical attention. Remember to keep copies of all your medical expenses for your insurance claim and any potential injury claim lawsuits.

This can be a lot to remember in the chaos following an auto accident. To help, FindLaw has created a printable to-do auto accident checklist you can keep in your vehicle's glove box. We hope you'll never need to use it, but you'll be happy it's there if you do.

Negligence, Fault, and Car Insurance in D.C.

After a motor vehicle accident, it's natural to wonder whom to blame and how to pay for repairs and medical bills. D.C. has systems in place to handle these aspects.

D.C. Fault and Negligence Laws

If someone hits your car, it makes sense that the at-fault driver pays for your damages. Well, D.C. doesn't see it that way.

D.C. uses a no-fault policy with a small caveat. In no-fault systems, drivers use their own insurance policies to cover their losses, regardless of who may have been responsible for the accident. Your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, which you buy with your liability auto insurance, will pay your medical bills.

You have 60 days from the accident to use your PIP coverage to pay your medical bills. If you do, D.C. may still allow you to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver under two conditions. You can file if:

• Your medical expenses exceed your PIP coverage
• You suffered substantial permanent scarring or disfigurement, substantial and medically demonstrable permanent impairment, or a medically demonstrable impairment

You can waive using your PIP coverage and seek to make the other driver's insurance pay instead.

But, there is a situation where you can't recover any damages from the other driver. D.C. follows the doctrine of contributory negligence, which states that if you are at all responsible for causing the accident, even just 1%, you can't file any legal action against the at-fault driver.

Sound harsh? It is. If you are in this situation after a car crash in D.C., consider contacting a D.C. car accident attorney for legal advice.

Mandatory Liability Auto Insurance in D.C.

To drive in D.C., your vehicles must have liability auto insurance coverage. This will most likely pay for your medical bills and property damage after an accident. The District has required minimums, which are:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person in one accident
• $50,000 bodily injury liability coverage per accident
• $10,000 property damage liability coverage per accident
• $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury coverage per person/accident bodily injury coverage for uninsured motorists
• $5,000 property damage coverage per accident for uninsured motorists

Your insurer must also offer you PIP insurance coverage. Besides medical expenses, PIP covers work loss, rehabilitation costs, and funeral expenses.

Dealing with insurance companies is a chore. Look at FindLaw's Insurance Claim Process article to know what to expect and how to prepare.

Get a Legal Case Assessment

If you need help sorting out what to do after a car accident in Washington, D.C., get professional help. A personal injury lawyer can help identify possible claims and guide you through the various legal processes. Consider contacting a D.C. car accident lawyer about your car accident claim.