Assistance for Car Accidents in DC
Despite increased safety features in vehicles, fatalities continue to rise. In fact, more than three million people suffer non-fatal injuries in car accidents each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These injuries can range in severity from minor cuts and bruises to major catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, amputations, and broken limbs.
Car accident injuries can cause significant financial hardships for victims who need to pay mounting medical bills. Victims may also find themselves unable to work or incapable of performing their job duties. In Washington, DC, victims have several options to recoup financial losses because of their motor vehicle accident, but there is a three-year statute of limitations to file any lawsuit. Washington, DC also follows the contributory negligence rule; in order to collect damages from someone, the negligent party must be found to bear 100 percent of the responsibility for the accident. If the court finds that someone else bears even just one percent of liability, they will be barred from receiving compensation.
If a victim is considering filing a lawsuit for their injuries, they should reach out to an experienced DC lawyer who can help them through the process. A victim can also file a claim against their own insurance company if they are injured by a hit and run or an uninsured driver. These are the minimum coverage limits for auto insurance policies that originate in Washington, DC:
- $25,000 for bodily injury to a single person
- $50,000 total for all injuries in a single crash
- $10,000 for property damage
- $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident for bodily injury caused by an uninsured motorist
- $5,000 for property damage caused by an uninsured motorist