This page answers the questions injured people ask most: about hiring a lawyer, what a case costs, how long it takes, what your case may be worth, and what makes one firm different from another. Every answer comes from the attorneys who handle these cases daily. If your question isn’t here, call 202-960-4596 or fill out the form for a free consultation with an attorney.
Complete this form and our team will get back to you as soon as possible
Contact the firm anyway. Regan Zambri Long offers free consultations with no obligation, and injuries that seem minor at first often have costs that emerge weeks or months later. The firm will tell you honestly whether you have a viable claim — and if you do, what it may be worth.
Â
Complex cases are where Regan Zambri Long is built to excel. The firm has served as lead counsel in mass disaster litigation in DC federal court, litigated against WMATA, the FAA, and the U.S. Army, and handled multi-party cases involving commercial trucking companies, healthcare systems, and Fortune 500 corporations. Founding partner Patrick Regan is currently the lead counsel representing families of victims of American Airlines Flight 5342. Complexity is not a barrier; it is where the firm’s resources and trial experience make the most difference.
The firm represents clients across all three jurisdictions and litigates regularly in local and federal courts throughout the region. Attorneys are licensed in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Each jurisdiction has its own deadlines, fault rules, and procedural requirements — the firm knows all three firsthand.
Do not assume your case is lost before speaking with an attorney. DC, Maryland, and Virginia follow contributory negligence, one of the strictest fault standards in the country, but there are exceptions, and insurance adjusters routinely overstate a plaintiff’s fault as a negotiating tactic. Regan Zambri Long has extensive experience defeating contributory negligence arguments across all three jurisdictions. Call the firm before drawing any conclusions about your eligibility.
You may still have options. Regan Zambri Long identifies every available source of recovery, including uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on your own policy, third-party liability involving vehicle owners or employers, and government entity liability where applicable. Unrepresented claimants routinely miss these avenues.
Â
Nothing upfront and nothing unless the firm wins. Regan Zambri Long works exclusively on a contingency fee basis; legal fees are a percentage of the recovery, taken only if and when your case is won. If there is no recovery, you owe nothing.
No. The firm advances all case costs — investigation, expert witnesses, medical record retrieval, court filing fees — and recoups those expenses from the settlement or verdict. You will not be asked to pay anything while your case is pending.
Â
The contingency fee is discussed and agreed upon before representation begins. It is a percentage of the final recovery and is outlined clearly in your representation agreement. The firm’s fee is never taken before your medical liens and case expenses are resolved.
Â
Over $1 billion in total verdicts and settlements. Individual results include a $77 million wrongful death settlement, a $20 million brain injury verdict, a $19.5 million wrongful death verdict, a $16 million premises liability settlement, a $15 million car accident settlement, a $15 million medical malpractice settlement, and a $10.6 million car accident settlement involving paraplegia and traumatic brain injury, among many others.
Â
Two reasons. First, the firm retains medical and economic experts to project lifetime costs and lost earning capacity, not just current bills, which is how cases that might settle for six figures at a volume firm reach seven or eight figures here. Second, the firm actually tries cases. Insurance companies know which firms avoid the courtroom and price their offers accordingly. Regan Zambri Long’s trial record forces insurers to make serious offers rather than risk a verdict.
Â
Yes, and it has, with significant results. The firm evaluates cases independently and has recovered millions in cases that other attorneys passed on. The best way to know is a free consultation with an attorney who will assess the facts directly.
Â
High-volume firms settle cases quickly because speed drives their revenue — not because quick settlements serve clients. Insurance companies know these firms avoid trial and offer less accordingly. Regan Zambri Long is a boutique trial firm: clients work directly with named partners, the firm tries cases when trial serves the client’s interest, and its eight-figure verdicts and settlements reflect that approach. Three founding partners are board-certified trial attorneys — a credential held by fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers.
Â
Several things set the firm apart. Clients work directly with partners — not paralegals or junior associates. The firm is selective about the cases it accepts, which means every case gets serious attention and resources. Partner Jacqueline Colclough is both a licensed attorney and a former registered nurse, giving the firm a clinical advantage in medical malpractice and birth injury cases that most firms cannot match. Partner Chris Regan established the legal precedent for rideshare liability in the DC area. And founding partner Patrick Regan is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers — an invitation-only distinction held by fewer than 1% of U.S. attorneys — with more than 150 trials as lead counsel.
Â
Yes, you will speak directly with an attorney. If you call, an intake coordinator will take down your information so the team can prepare for your conversation, and an attorney will call you back for your free consultation. If you text or email, an attorney responds directly. From that point forward, your case is handled by attorneys, not paralegals or case managers acting as go-betweens.
Â
You have the right to change attorneys at any time. Contact Regan Zambri Long for a second opinion; there is no cost for that conversation, and the firm will tell you honestly whether a change makes sense for your situation.
Regan Zambri Long will give you a realistic timeline after reviewing your situation. Straightforward cases may resolve in several months. Cases involving catastrophic injuries, disputed liability, government defendants, or multiple parties typically take one to three years. The firm will not push you toward a premature settlement; resolving a case before you reach maximum medical improvement almost always costs you money.
Your attorney handles the courtroom entirely. Your role is typically limited to testimony about your experience and injuries. Regan Zambri Long prepares every case as if it will go to trial — that preparation is what produces strong settlements and, when necessary, strong verdicts.
Yes. Regan Zambri Long works with medical providers who treat injured patients on a lien basis, they defer payment until the case resolves. The firm facilitates those arrangements so you receive the care you need without out-of-pocket cost during the case. Delaying treatment hurts both your health and your case value; the firm’s job is to make sure cost concerns don’t cause either.
Not before speaking with an attorney. Early offers are made before the full extent of your injuries is known, and once you accept, you cannot go back for more. Regan Zambri Long can review any offer you have received and tell you whether it reflects the true value of your case, including future medical costs and long-term impacts that initial offers routinely exclude.
Do not assume your time has run out without checking first. Filing deadlines vary by jurisdiction and case type, and certain circumstances can toll those deadlines. Claims against government entities have shorter windows and specific notice requirements. Contact Regan Zambri Long as soon as possible, the firm can tell you quickly whether your claim is still viable.
The firm’s founding partners — Patrick Regan, Salvatore Zambri, and Victor Long — are all board-certified trial attorneys through the National Board of Trial Advocacy, a credential held by fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers. Patrick Regan is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and was inducted into the 2026 Lawdragon Hall of Fame, joining just 103 attorneys nationwide recognized for decades of sustained impact. Salvatore Zambri was named to the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America and has been selected to the Top 10 Washington, DC Super Lawyers list. Victor Long chairs the DC Court of Appeals Clients’ Security Fund and is dual board-certified in Civil Trial and Civil Pretrial Advocacy. Paul Cornoni was named the 2026 Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs in Washington, DC, and received the DC Bar’s 2025 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year award. Jacqueline Colclough brings a unique dual background as both a former registered obstetrical and neonatal nurse and a trial attorney, and has been recognized by Best Lawyers and the Lawdragon 500. Chris Regan has established the leading local precedent on rideshare liability and was named to the 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers guide. All six partners have been recognized by Best Lawyers in America and the Lawdragon 500. These recognitions are based on peer review and demonstrated results, not paid listings.
Yes, client testimonials are available at rhllaw.com/testimonials. Representative feedback includes clients describing attorneys as “the very best of trial lawyers,” “a godsend,” and a team that treated them “like family.” The firm’s Google reviews reflect consistent themes of direct attorney access, clear communication, and outcomes that exceeded expectations.
Call 202-960-4596 or complete the contact form at rhllaw.com/contact. The firm serves clients throughout Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Free consultations are available by phone, video, or in person at the Washington, DC office at 1919 M Street NW, Suite 600.
Bring whatever you have: police reports, medical records or bills, photographs, insurance correspondence, or any written communication with the at-fault party or their insurer. If you don’t have these yet, don’t wait. The consultation can proceed without them, and the firm can help you obtain records.
If you have more questions about a personal injury matter, we would happily provide the answers you need during your free initial consultation. We believe that being well-informed about your rights and options enables you to make strategic decisions for yourself and your loved ones. Our answers are reviewed by experienced attorneys. See our Editorial Guidelines.
Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.