Washington, D.C. Personal Injury Lawyers

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit in the District 

When someone else behaves carelessly or negligently causes you harm, you have the right to seek fair compensation for your damages. At Mike Slocumb Law Firm, our Washington, D.C. personal injury lawyers provide highly personalized legal representation tailored to the unique needs, goals, and concerns of each individual client. 

We know that no two cases are exactly alike, which is why we take the time to get to know you and learn how we can help you in your recovery. As your legal team, we will do everything we can to maximize your recovery. To date, our firm has secured more than half a billion dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients; we are not afraid to aggressively advocate for your rights and take your case to trial if necessary. 

When you hire us, you do not pay any attorney fees unless/until we recover compensation for you, so you have nothing to lose in reaching out to our team today to learn how we can help you seek the justice you deserve.

Contact us online or call (202) 759-7807 to request a complimentary consultation and case evaluation with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys in Washington, D.C. Hablamos español.

How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in D.C.? 

Washington, D.C. has its own statute of limitations, or filing deadline, when it comes to personal injury lawsuits. In D.C., you have just three years from the date of injury to bring your claim in court. If you fail to file your lawsuit within three years, the court will almost always dismiss your case. 

There are some exceptions to this rule, but they are rare. One occurs when an injury cannot and is not discovered right away. When this is the case, the plaintiff may have three years from the “date of discovery," or the date on which the injury could have been discovered or actually was discovered, to file a lawsuit. 

Proving a Personal Injury Claim in Washington, D.C.

As the person bringing the personal injury claim, known as the “plaintiff,” you have the burden of proof. This means that you are the one responsible for proving your claim against the defendant, not the other way around.

To prove your personal injury claim, you will likely need to prove each of the following points: 

• The defendant had a legal responsibility, or “duty of care,” to take certain actions to prevent injury and avoid others that could cause foreseeable injury 
• The defendant failed to uphold, or “breached,” this duty of care, most often through negligent or wrongful act or omission 
• The defendant’s failure to uphold the duty of care, whether through negligent or wrongful act or omission, caused you to be injured 
• Your injuries led to measurable damages for which you can be compensated, such as medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering 

Because the District follows a plaintiff-unfriendly rule of contributory negligence, you must also prove that you were in no way responsible for the incident that caused your injury. If you are found to be even one percent to blame, you cannot file a claim or receive any compensation for your damages.